The NCAA is the biggest joke of all-time, here is the news if you have not heard it, five Ohio State players were busted for selling memorabilia: quarterback Terrelle Pryor, running back Daniel Herron, wide receiver DeVier Posey, offensive lineman Mike Adams and defensive end Solomon Thomas. Here is the NCAA release:
As part of their reinstatement, Adams must repay $1,000 for selling his 2008 Big Ten championship ring and Herron must repay $1,150 for selling his football jersey, pants and shoes for $1,000 and receiving discounted services worth $150.
Posey must repay $1,250 for selling his 2008 Big Ten championship ring for $1,200 and receiving discounted services worth $50, while Pryor must repay $2,500 for selling his 2008 Big Ten championship ring, a 2009 Fiesta Bowl sportsmanship award and his 2008 Gold Pants, a gift from the university.
Solomon must repay $1,505 for selling his 2008 Big Ten championship ring for $1,000, his 2008 Gold Pants for $350 and receiving discounted services worth $155.
So, these players get to skate by and play in the Sugar Bowl and will appeal their suspension and most likely get their suspension reduced. However the biggest farce in this situation is this backwards reasoning by the NCAA:
The NCAA said none were suspended for the bowl game because the "student-athletes did not receive adequate rules education during the time period the violations occurred."
No! No! No! This angers me to no end, because basically saying I didn't know is a valid reasoning by the NCAA. This is ridiculous. Anyone who played any NCAA sanctioned sport will understand where I am coming from. When I played water polo and swam at Iona College I had to sign quite a few papers going over what would make me ineligible and there is a section about selling items one received from the team which would make a person ineligible. The time frame of course varied on the severity, but we all laughed at the clause because we had nothing of value to offer.
People correct me if I am wrong on this, but that quote -- "student-athletes did not receive adequate rules education during the time period the violations occurred." -- makes me think that the players should be constantly reminded every second of every day that if the sell memorabilia that they will be suspended. This ruling is a joke, because the players have to sign paperwork and attend a meeting with a compliance officer from the school about eligibility requirements each year.
Expect the players eligible to go pro to do so and not have to be punished in any capacity. So, the excuse that they did not know or where not given the proper education is a joke. I can guarantee USC is very upset about this ruling and how the Cam Newton case ended up. Enough ranting, but before I go here are some of the best tweets about this situation.
So to the NCAA "I didn't know" is an acceptable justification of a rules violation unless you're a USC student athlete
Scott Enyeart
scottenyeart
USC is getting more n more fans thanks to the NCAA. USC lacks LOIC, but tOSU doesn't b/c they didnt educate their team. Isnt that LOIC?
Lisa Horne
LisaHorne
What odds could you have gotten on Cam Newton not being the biggest eligibility story of the bowl season?
Andy Hutchins
AndyHutchins
Folks call the SEC dumb but they're sure as hell smarter than everyone about this stuff.
Michael Felder
InTheBleachers
Not sure whats been going on last few hours while I've opened gifts, but the gold pants my aunt got me from eBay rock!
Ryan Longbrake
rdlongbrake
Ohio State did such a bad job explaining the NCAA rules that players are eligible for bowl game. Who was teaching? Maurice Clarrett?
Clay Travis
ClayTravisBGID
THIS---->RT @ClayTravisBGID: The NCAA's continued acceptance of, "I didn't know," as a legit defense makes the entire organization worthless
SPORTSbyBROOKS
SPORTSbyBROOKS
What I take the most from this is that why agree to talk to the NCAA because there is no benefit in cooperating, and that the SEC yet again bested Ohio State. (Zing!)
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