NCAA Troubles

Coming up through the ranks of competitive athletics, everything from the little leagues to the pros shares the same sentiment. Evolving expectations, codes of ethics, and rules that make whatever sports level an athlete is playing on, fair for all. But now in 2010 it seems that the silver lining that divides these different levels of athletic completion are becoming too often crossed. Crossing these boundaries means students miss out on the competition, the reward that comes with victory, and the opportunity for others to continue a winning tradition. Big name colleges like USC, University of Alabama, and the University of Florida have become all to familiar with this dark truth, as rules violations swirl around them with developments of possible misconduct.

It was only 5 years ago when current New Orleans Saint running back Reggie Bush helped the USC Trojans win a BCS National Championship in 2004, and propelled the team back to the BCS Nation Championship game in 2005. But not even the 2005 USC Heisman Trophy winning football icon himself was impermeable to the world around him, as the NCAA hammered strong sanctions onto the University of Southern California. During bush’s time at USC, it is said that his parents received a San Diego home in exchange for Bush signing as an agent’s client. Thereby violating NCAA rules and making Bush ineligible to compete in completive NCAA sports.

After long speculation and investigation, the NCAA eventually took action against USC and docked a total of 30 scholarships over a three-year span. The NCAA additionally has taken away wins from USC during the 2004 and 2005 football seasons in games Reggie Bush played due to his pronounced ineligibility. Things continued to look bad for the Trojans, as the team will be banned from postseason bowl play for the next 2 years, and charged with a total of 4 years of probation. 

To show the NCAA that action is being taken to better the situation at USC, all jerseys and photographic murals that depict the embattled Bush, and former USC college basketball player OJ Mayo, will be purged from the school to separate USC from these scandals. This move comes on the heels of USC firing their athletic director Mike Garrett who had managed the athletic department for USC over the past 17 years. It is said that even though the school had a remarkable knack for winning under his watch. The management of scandalous situations over Garrett’s stay was lacking, and requiring his removal as Athletic Director.

 This ultimately begs the question, “Why do college teams and coaches even put up with the headache media and outside visitors to coming close to their college athletes?” University of Alabama Head Football Coach Nick Saban expressed his frustration when he said, “I don’t think its anthing but greed that is creating it right now on behalf of the agents. Agents that do this, I hate to say this, but how are they any better than a pimp? I have no respect for people who do that to young people, none.”

Saban’s vented aggravation follows the allegations that Alabama Junior Defensive Lineman Marcell Dareus attended an agent’s party in Miami. “We tell our players, we don’t want you to do any business on a street corner. We’re not trying to keep our guys away from agents. We’re just trying to keep what happens on the street corner from happening. We’re not trying to deny our guys access. We’re proactive in allowing them, the times that they’re allowed to talk it agents, get all the education they need about making a good selection when their season is over.”

While in a perfect world a college organization may be able to limit an athlete’s interaction with possible agent eligibility violators on the school’s campus. Like Alabama Football Coach Nick Saban expressed, the real violations come away form the friendly confines of the college setting, and in an environment as simple as a street corner. Saban spoke about the NFL’s in the subject stating, “I’m about ready for college football to say, ‘Let’s just throw the NFL out. Don’t let them evaluate players. Don’t let them talk to players. Let them do it at the combine.’ If they are not going to help us, why should we help them?”

With Saban taking a bold stand, a set of rules and ethics should be created for agents when it comes to interaction with NCAA athletes. An appropriate retribution many believe should be enforced is to have these agent offenders have their license taken away for a year. It makes sense since they currently do not receive any punishment for these types of infractions with nothing holds them back from continuing to commit the act.

In the end, you can add another great school’s name to the hat with the University of Florida now under investigation. Former player Maurkice Pouncey, currently a Center with the Pittsburgh Steelers, is under investigation for possibly taking $100,000 from a representative of a sports agent during the time between Florida’s loss to Alabama in the SEC Conference Title Game, and their victory over Cincinnati in the Sugar Bowl.

Only time will tell if we see agents become held responsible for their violations of interacting with college athletes. The truth is, more will fall and the possible repercussions similar to USC’s could follow. But when that happens, the NCAA could take more than what it did with USC. They could possibly strip away a National Championship from a school in the process.