After writing my last article I realized I needed to elaborate more on this subject.
For a while I was really on the fence about paying players, but as things go on and on and we see more and more issues crop up it becomes obvious; those following the rules are at a disadvantage. Couple that with the fact that the NCAA has absolutely no way to actually police its own rules and that's a big issue.
Spurrier came out the other day and said he thought that players should be paid $300 per game out of the coaches salary. It's an interesting idea, with an arbitrary number. I absolutely get where he is coming from and agree with the principle of his idea, although I don't think he has the correct answer it is a great place to start.
In my opinion, NCAA President Mark Emmert is asking the wrong question, just like the city of Iowa City is while they go through their 21 only downtown legislation. They are asking the wrong question. The city continues to ask the question "How can we stop underage drinking?" Don't get me wrong, I am not advocating underage drinking, but anyone with any sort of sense realizes you can't do it. If a kid wants to drink they will find a way. The question the city should be asking is "How can we keep our students safe?" What this ordinance has done is it has taken kids away from well lite, downtown Iowa City where they are police-able and sent kids on mile hikes to house parties on dimly lite streets. As a parent that would scare me.
I feel Emmert is in the same boat, he is continuing to ask how the NCAA can make the most money and how players can't be paid and the biggest one, how we can police it. The real question he should be asking is how the playing field can be competitive for everyone. Right now it's not. If you follow the rules you're at a disadvantage.
How to level the playing field? First and foremost Football needs a playoff. without question in my mind that is one huge step towards making things equal. I outlined here my thoughts about that last year. I still think that idea holds a lot of water. Once NCAA has a playoff I think at that point they can logically address paying players. The idea has been thrown around that some players would feel they deserve more then the players that don't play. So then why not do it? Give incentive for players to work harder. Have a base pay system of $100 per game and add in $x per snap a player plays or $y for a start. Additionally, if Emmert is so concerned about smaller schools not having enough money to pay, why can't x% come off the top of playoff (err I mean bowl) revenue, that seems logical and keeps schools on an even ground.
I don't have an answer for the problem, but the NCAA needs to start asking the right questions or things will not get better.
Thoughts on everything sports
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Tresselgate: How does it affect the B1G?
In what seemed an inevitable conclusion to a situation that spun more out of control than Pearlgate down in Knoxville, Ohio State coach, Jim Tressel resigned on Memorial Day. He resigned over five months too late and likely as many lies. The back story, as I am sure everyone knows, is that many players, over the course of his entire career at Ohio State had been trading memorabilia for cheap or free tattoos.While sources have said that this has been going on for years, it came to light this past December when, among others, star QB and former #1 recruit, Terrelle Pryor was found to have been driving numerous cars and having traded signed memorabilia to Fine Line Ink when a federal probed the parlor on drug charges.
What gets me the most was some of the revelations in this SI article, Tressel claims to know nothing about any of this, well at least until last spring when he received an email about Pryor, yet anyone on campus could have told you what was going on?
I don't care if you are Buckeye faithful, college enthusiastic or a Buckeye hater - There is an issue here. Is some of it outside of the coaches control? Maybe partially, but that doesn't mean they can't try to fix the issue. Can Tressel stop every booster from thinking or trying to give out money and cars? Maybe not, but if he had the integrity that he preached than the issue should never have gotten to where it is today.
How hard will the Buckeyes be hit by the NCAA? I think it will be hit worse than the Trojans were. The reason being that USC had issues, over a very short time involving two players, mostly Reggie Bush and some what O.J. Mayo. The NCAA had barely any evidence, specifically evidence that would be permitted in court, and they hit USC with a multiple season postseason ban as well as a loss of scholarships.
And the Buckeyes? They have multiple years of issues and actual 'evidence'. If any of the Pryor car deals is true, that only spells the doom for the Buckeyes program for the next 3-5 years. And I don't care what anyone around the Ohio State University says; they will be searching for a new President and Athletic Director in the near future.
So how does this affect the rest of the B1G?
For starters it helps Wisconsin. The Badgers move ahead as the favorite to win their half of the B1G and PSU also gets a small boost as well as Ohio State could be hurting big time the next few years. Illinois could be a sleeper team if they ever get rid of Zook and try to compete. A new AD might make this a make or break year for Zook, which could help lead the Illini football program in the right direction.
And for the other half? Nebraska might become the leading candidate to win the conference this year and be their BCS representative in their first year in the league. If I had to bet today, Pryor won't see the field next year for the Buckeyes, either because of an extended suspension or because, more likely, he enters the NFL's supplemental draft.
On a side note I really did enjoy Steve Spurrier's thoughts on paying athletes. Yes it is a very slippery slope but the fact is it already happens. Those that play the game right are at a disadvantage to those that don't. And for all the whine and fuss about how BCS schools would have a clear advantage over non-AQ conferences, I offer you this. When the NCAA finally does the right thing and institutes a playoff (see my prior thoughts on this here) that given advantage would become much less then everyone assumes.
While I agree that the $300 number that Spurrier through out is arbitrary, it is a starting point. There is a way to make this work Mark Emmert. The NCAA makes too much off these kids to not try to find a way to make it work.
What gets me the most was some of the revelations in this SI article, Tressel claims to know nothing about any of this, well at least until last spring when he received an email about Pryor, yet anyone on campus could have told you what was going on?
I don't care if you are Buckeye faithful, college enthusiastic or a Buckeye hater - There is an issue here. Is some of it outside of the coaches control? Maybe partially, but that doesn't mean they can't try to fix the issue. Can Tressel stop every booster from thinking or trying to give out money and cars? Maybe not, but if he had the integrity that he preached than the issue should never have gotten to where it is today.
How hard will the Buckeyes be hit by the NCAA? I think it will be hit worse than the Trojans were. The reason being that USC had issues, over a very short time involving two players, mostly Reggie Bush and some what O.J. Mayo. The NCAA had barely any evidence, specifically evidence that would be permitted in court, and they hit USC with a multiple season postseason ban as well as a loss of scholarships.
And the Buckeyes? They have multiple years of issues and actual 'evidence'. If any of the Pryor car deals is true, that only spells the doom for the Buckeyes program for the next 3-5 years. And I don't care what anyone around the Ohio State University says; they will be searching for a new President and Athletic Director in the near future.
So how does this affect the rest of the B1G?
For starters it helps Wisconsin. The Badgers move ahead as the favorite to win their half of the B1G and PSU also gets a small boost as well as Ohio State could be hurting big time the next few years. Illinois could be a sleeper team if they ever get rid of Zook and try to compete. A new AD might make this a make or break year for Zook, which could help lead the Illini football program in the right direction.
And for the other half? Nebraska might become the leading candidate to win the conference this year and be their BCS representative in their first year in the league. If I had to bet today, Pryor won't see the field next year for the Buckeyes, either because of an extended suspension or because, more likely, he enters the NFL's supplemental draft.
On a side note I really did enjoy Steve Spurrier's thoughts on paying athletes. Yes it is a very slippery slope but the fact is it already happens. Those that play the game right are at a disadvantage to those that don't. And for all the whine and fuss about how BCS schools would have a clear advantage over non-AQ conferences, I offer you this. When the NCAA finally does the right thing and institutes a playoff (see my prior thoughts on this here) that given advantage would become much less then everyone assumes.
While I agree that the $300 number that Spurrier through out is arbitrary, it is a starting point. There is a way to make this work Mark Emmert. The NCAA makes too much off these kids to not try to find a way to make it work.
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