When you think about it, was the NCAA right for punishing The Ohio State University (OSU) football program for violations of its rules, committed by the Head Coach and a number of OSU players? Well, yes AND no.
First, here's the back story (short version): In an investigation originally unrelated to any Ohio State students, the FBI raided a Columbus, Ohio tattoo parlor for drugs, gambling and other illegal activities. During the course of the subsequent investigation it was discovered by law enforcement authorities that at least 5 OSU players, including star quarterback Terrelle Pryor, had traded OSU football memorabilia for tattoos and cash payments. The authorities immediately alerted the NCAA which began its own investigation into the allegations. The Ohio legal authorities found no legal grounds with which to charge any of the players involved. However, the NCAA found that the players had indeed violated NCAA rules. They found that the players had traded football memorabilia (like signed helmets and game jerseys) in exchange for tattoos and cash. It was also alleged that drugs and gifts such as cars may have also been exchanged. The NCAA further found fault with the OSU Head Football Coach, Jim Tressel. They alleged that Coach Tressel had at least given tacit approval to the players supporting their behavior and had, possibly, even given them direct support by supplying some of the memorabilia (a game jersey signed by players AND Tressel found at the tattoo parlor was given as evidence). The NCAA handed the OSU football program a penalty of a 5 game suspension for Pryor and the 4 other players, as well as for Coach Tressel. The suspensions were to begin at the start of 2011 season.
However, as the investigation continued, the evidenced mounted that the legendary OSU football program, considered squeaky clean under the evangelical Tressel, was rife with violations. And it became even more apparent that Tressel had played a key role in establishing the type of entitlement that leads to such selfish behavior. Criticism of Tressel and Prior became so intense that Tressel, one of OSU's most successful and beloved coaches, was forced to resign in disgrace. Terrelle Pryor became the poster boy for all the greed and selfishness that has become synonymous with the label jock. He decided to forgo a very promising senior season at OSU and declare himself eligible for the NFL's supplemental draft.
Well, was Tressel and Pryor that wrong. Sure, they were wrong. They all knew that what they were engaged in was strictly forbidden by the NCAA and could lead to severe penalties. Was it selfish by the players to risk not only their own seasons but that of their teammates for what amounted to baubles? Absolutely. Should they have been punished? Definitely.
But there is an underlying hypocrisy here that doesn't easily meet the eye. First, Coach Tressel. He is an evangelical Christian who used a lot of so-called Christian methodology in his coaching technique. He regularly lead prayer groups for players and staff. He encouraged prayer in the locker room. And he used his version of Christian morality to guide his players. Well, were is that Christian morality now? As the investigation continued to explore the situation, it became more obvious the Good Coach was more involved in nefarious activities than anyone could have imagined. It seemed that he reached the height of hypocrisy by living the philosophy of do as I preach, not as I live! In a sense, his TRUE religion became winning at all costs for OSU.
As a BIG TIME coach of a BIG TIME program, Tressel made millions of dollars. OSU makes millions of dollars on the BIG TV contracts and BIG BOWL games that the football team participates in. The NCAA, KING of BIG TIME college sports, makes BIG MONEY on the BIG TIME programs like OSU. Then, there are the players on whose backs Tressel, the NCAA, and OSU makes those millions and millions of dollars. And what do the players get; a good and valuable education (if they pursue it), free - Preferential treatment at a local restaurant or gin mill - Free room and board - And, if they're skilled enough and lucky enough, perhaps an NFL career. What they DON'T get is millions of dollars. Yet, the Universities that they represent make millions. And, in addition to what they make in any given season, the NCAA continues to make additional millions by selling the image of great college players to video game producers, long after that player has left the school! What does the player get? Zip. Zilch. Zero. Perhaps slavery may be too strong a word to describe it. Indentured servitude could certainly be applied here. (writers note: "South Park" did a fantastic parody of the NCAA and student athletes. Go to SouthParkStudios.com for more)
So, in a sense, can we really BLAME 19,20,21 year old kids for trying to make a buck off the fruits of their own labors? No. I don't think that you can. Certainly, you can at least understand it. Look, I've been to a Michigan-Ohio State game. I went to cover the game after Michigan's legendary coach, Bo Schembechler, died suddenly. This was to be the first game after his untimely death. I have to say that I've never seen anything like it. As soon as I got off the plane in Columbus, everything and everyone was covered in the OSU school colors; Silver and Crimson. And it was that way all the way to the stadium. The legendary "horse shoe" was filled with over 100,000 similarly clad crimson and silver lunatics, screaming their lungs out for their beloved Buckeyes! As a former small college football player, I had to say that I was awestruck. I would have given my left testicle to play one down in that stadium on that day.
It was a setting that showed the power and might of not just a university but the whole state of Ohio. And the crowed reveled in it. And the community made money. The bars. The restaurants. The parking lots. The police. The sanitation workers. The utility company. The taxis. The limos. The street vendors. The souvenir shops. Etc., etc., etc. Get the picture?EVERYONE made MONEY except the young men providing the very product that they were all hawking- BIG TIME COLLEGE FOOTBALL!
The NCAA's position is that each player receives a free, quality eduction from the school of his choice and that he is made aware that the NCAA reserves the right to use their image to promote its own image. Really? And that's fair? How dare they hand down this punishment to young men just for wanting what they see other young guys having (as foolish as those things may be :) )! If the damned NCAA paid each athlete a small stipend for his or her performance, it would eliminate the need to acquire things illegally or unethically. After all, aren't other students who work FOR their universities, PAID by that university? If a kid works in the school library isn't he compensated? Why should what athletes do for their schools on a playing field or gym floor be any different? Aren't student athletes, in a sense, also WORKING for that school? Therefore, is it so perverse to pay them as well?
No, when you think about it, those kids weren't ALL bad or ALL wrong. Tressel has his own demons to answer too. And the NCAA better start considering who it desires to serve most; the athletes it supposes to support or itself.
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