Corrupt or Correct?

[NDMontana]

A friend of mine and I were discussing Cam Newton yesterday. He believes that if ND (he's an ND fan too), Alabama, Florida, LSU, USC or another traditional power were third in the BCS polls that Newton would have been placed under discipline, no questions asked. He's taken to referring to the NCAA (when it comes to football) as the National Corrupt A-Hole Association.

When I think about how harsh the NCAA has been in so many other cases I find it hard to believe that Cam Newton isn't even getting a slap on the wrist.

Do you guys agree that the NCAA is colluding to keep TCU out or do you think this is a fair ruling?

 

[KPENN]

Honestly I've thought the same thing. They don't wanna TCU in the championship game.

 

[cincy gold]

as much as i think cam knew what his father was doing, i dont think the ncaa can suspend him without 100% knowing he is guilty. i dont believe this, but maybe his father kept him in the dark. what i dont understand is why it takes the ncaa so long to make a ruling on an eligibility of a kid coming into college or on a 5th or 6th year due to injury or transfer. so to answer your question i dont think the ncaa is trying to keep tcu out of the championship game

 

[GoIrish41]

I think the investigation is ongoing, so while nothing is happening right now, it is likely that it will eventually. to me, this is a far worse scenario. when the obvious is proven with Cam a year or so from now, this decision would have cost another team (probably TCU) a shot at a national title that they will never get back. It may mean that the NCAA will have to vacate yet another national title and for the second time in the past few years the Heisman trophy will have to be vacated - all because the NCAA is afraid to take a stand now. I honestly don't know why there is such an organization if they can't make this decision. It is an absolulte no brainer. the excuse that it was Cam's dad and not Cam who asked for money is a stupid double standard, especially given the Bush parents are the ones who benefited in the USC case. Does the NCAA think that TCU playing for the national championship would be worse than the bag of **** that will be opened up if Alburn goes on to win the NC and Cam the Heisman? I just don't get it.

 

[NDMontana]

I think the investigation is ongoing, so while nothing is happening right now, it is likely that it will eventually. to me, this is a far worse scenario. when the obvious is proven with Cam a year or so from now, this decision would have cost another team (probably TCU) a shot at a national title that they will never get back. It may mean that the NCAA will have to vacate yet another national title and for the second time in the past few years the Heisman trophy will have to be vacated - all because the NCAA is afraid to take a stand now. I honestly don't know why there is such an organization if they can't make this decision. It is an absolulte no brainer. the excuse that it was Cam's dad and not Cam who asked for money is a stupid double standard, especially given the Bush parents are the ones who benefited in the USC case. Does the NCAA think that TCU playing for the national championship would be worse than the bag of **** that will be opened up if Alburn goes on to win the NC and Cam the Heisman? I just don't get it.

I totally agree. I've been reading today that the NCAA would lose millions if TCU were in the NC Game. Why? I would be 10x more interested in that game with TCU as opposed to Oregon, Auburn, Stanford or Wisconsin. And, I have to get this in, people are saying Auburn shouldn't fall far if they lose to SC; in fact, many are saying they should still be in the NC with a loss. So Boise loses to the 17th ranked team and falls nine spots while Auburn, hypothetically, loses to the 21st ranked team and doesn't fall at all? That's such garbage.

The SEC is a fine conference but these rankings are so damn subjective it's unbelievable. The SEC's inbred success is unbelievable. If you look at how they do against teams in the Top 25 from other conferences it's not that impressive.

Here's the SEC vs. teams that finished in the Top 25 the last five years (this year not included):

Florida – 14-9 (.609)
LSU – 13-11 (.542)
Alabama – 10-12 (.455)
Auburn – 8-12 (.400)
Georgia – 8-12 (.400)
Tennessee – 5-17 (.227)
Ole Miss – 4-14 (.222)
South Carolina – 5-19 (.208)
Arkansas – 3-20 (.130)
Kentucky – 2-17 (.105)
Vanderbilt – 2-17 (.105)
Mississippi State 2-20 (.091)

Hmm....interesting. If Auburn or Oregon loses and TCU doesn't get in there better be a congressional investigation--a waste of tax payers money but what the hell, they've injected themselves into every other sports league/association in the country.

 

[IrishLax]

The whole issue is the subjectiveness to something that is worth millions upon millions of dollars. I don't know if I would say the NCAA is corrupt, but it is definitely biased at times. Isn't it clear to everyone that just having a +1 would be the best? It would give Wisconsin, TCU, Oregon and Auburn all a shot at it after great seasons. Wisconsin, especially, is playing much better down the stretch.

Some sort of playoff is the ONLY answer. And it can be done within the bowl system. Take two games, let's say Rose and Fiesta, make them the +1 games where the winners play a NC game the next week. Problem solved.

 

[IrishinSyria]

I totally agree. I've been reading today that the NCAA would lose millions if TCU wer
Here's the SEC vs. teams that finished in the Top 25 the last five years (this year not included):

Florida – 14-9 (.609)
LSU – 13-11 (.542)
Alabama – 10-12 (.455)
Auburn – 8-12 (.400)
Georgia – 8-12 (.400)
Tennessee – 5-17 (.227)
Ole Miss – 4-14 (.222)
South Carolina – 5-19 (.208)
Arkansas – 3-20 (.130)
Kentucky – 2-17 (.105)
Vanderbilt – 2-17 (.105)
Mississippi State 2-20 (.091)

If I had more money, I would buy billboards and poster these records across the country, especially in the south. SEC teams are disgustingly overrated, even in strength of schedule ratings because, well, because SEC teams are overrated.

a waste of tax payers money but what the hell, they've injected themselves into every other sports league/association in the country.

Apparently, the Feds are interested in Auburn for reasons that go well beyond college football. The list of charges are long, but money laundering and racketeering are starting points. Cam Newton is just the crack in the door, they will work their way up the chain slowly and methodically. It won't help TCU, but it will be very satisfying when a lot of big names associated with Auburn start ending up in prison.

 

[phork]

All the dominoes need to fall and 4 super conferences need to be created. If anyone cares about doing this the right way a playoff needs to be instituted. And don't give me this BS about the season is a playoff. 1 loss teams don't advance in playoffs.

 

[Riddickulous]

The NCAA is corrupt. This isn't opinion so much as it is fact.

 

[PADOMERNUT]

as much as i think cam knew what his father was doing, i dont think the ncaa can suspend him without 100% knowing he is guilty. i dont believe this, but maybe his father kept him in the dark. what i dont understand is why it takes the ncaa so long to make a ruling on an eligibility of a kid coming into college or on a 5th or 6th year due to injury or transfer. so to answer your question i dont think the ncaa is trying to keep tcu out of the championship game

Whether cam knew or not is irrelevant. The ncaa rule is if a player or anyone on behalf of the player requests money, it is a violation. While we have no proof, this reeks of the ncaa screwing tcu. This was a violation whether cam knew or not, bottom line, by the ncaa rulebook.

 

[Ultimate Penn St. Hater]

From now on, its going to be a father, an uncle, or someone else making deals "without the player's knowledge." A new can of worms has now been opened.

 

[IrishLax]

The last thing I will say on this is that looking at all other collegiate sports.... football is the only one that is this assbackwards. In lacrosse there was a year we went 15-0 with multiple victories over ranked opponents but overall did not have a very high strength of schedule. We received a #7 seed in the NCAA tournament.

In my opinion, this is what should happen with teams like TCU and Boise. There needs to be RPI, SOS and other computer metrics that are weighed far more heavily than human subjective polls to determine who plays for a championship.

The biggest problem is that the major conferences largely play in bubbles (especially the SEC) making statistical comparisons between conferences largely impossible. There is no sure fire way to guarantee that the two best teams will play for a national championship, and until there is some sort of playoff structure at least involving the top couple teams.... there never will be. I personally think the NCAA does this on purpose because controversy = interest = $$$.

 

[NDMontana]

I think college football should break down into four conferences. My thought is there should be an South East, North East/Midwest, Central and West.

The South East has so many schools that they get their own conference. The derth of schools in the North East causes them to be lumped in with Midwest. The derth of schools in the West would lead to it being the largest conference, geographically, in the country.

The conferences would be broke down by state:

1. South East: Tennessee, Georgia, South Carolina, Florida, Alabama, North Carolina, Kentucky, Maryland, West Virginia, Mississippi and Virginia.
2. North East/Midwest: Vermont, Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Connecticut, Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin.
3. Central: Texas, Oklahoma, Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico, Louisiana, Arkansas, Kansas, Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Missouri.
4. West: Washington, Oregon, California, Utah, Montana, Idaho, Utah, Arizona, Nevada, Colorado, Wyoming, Hawai'i and Alaska.

I think the NCAA could also consider trimming the fat and going to a three tier system, ala state high school associations, and forcing some teams out of FCS to trim the fat. There should be IA with the big schools that have proven they can compete and we all know who they are. IAA with smaller schools (like University of Montana, Vermont, Idaho, Louisiana Monroe, etc.) and IAAA with schools that are currently DII.

Go to a 13 game schedule. Two out of conference games so teams like LSU wouldn't be crying about not playing Florida, Alabama, et. al. anymore. Eleven in-conference games. The top four teams from each conference advance to the playoffs.

Eight first round games, regionally, played at the site of or at: Cotton Bowl, Gator Bowl, Holiday Bowl, Soldier Field/Lucas Oil (rotating years), Giants Stadium, Mile High Stadium/LA Coliseum (rotating years), Nashville (Titans Stadium) and St. Louis (Rams Staium). The number one and two seed from each region would play at the stadium closest to their home in the first round vs. 3/4 seeds from other conferences.

Hypothetical Example:

1. Cotton Bowl: Oklahoma (#1 seed from Central) vs. Alabama (#4 seed South East)

2.St. Louis: Nebraska (#2 seed Central) vs. Arizona (#4 seed West)

3. Soldier Field/Lucas Oil: Notre Dame (#1 seed Norht East/Midwest) vs. Oklahoma State (#3 seed Central)

4. Giants Stadium: Wisconsin (#2 seed North East/Midwest) vs. LSU (#3 seed South East)

You get the point.

The Quarter Finals would be played at the four BCS Bowl Sites. The Semifinals would rotate betwen four BCS sites each year and the NC would be played at the stadium of the highest ranked team (AP/Coaches) remaining after the first two rounds....that way there's a reward for rankings and the writers/coaches don't feel like the polls are unimportant.

Perfect system? No, but not a bad start in my opinion.

 

[NDMontana]

Cam Newton absolutely knew. If he didn't why would he have selected Auburn?

 

[NDMontana]

In my opinion, this is what should happen with teams like TCU and Boise. There needs to be RPI, SOS and other computer metrics that are weighed far more heavily than human subjective polls to determine who plays for a championship.

Okay...but what determines SOS? Doesn't have a lot to do with rankings? If you beat a team in the Top 25 and a team you beat beats a team in the Top 25 and they beat a team in the Top 25 then that helps you. But the rankings are still subjective. Even the computers have to receive input. Without rankings a 3-0 South Carolina would be on equal footing with a 3-0 Colorado State....there's human input there.

I'm all about the eye test. Did TCU and Boise State play killer schedules? No, obviously. But BSU played Oregon State, Nevada, Fresno and Va. Tech. Is that really that different from Auburn's schedule:

Date Game Location Time / Result

09/04/10 vs. Arkansas State (sucks) Auburn, Ala. W, 52-26
09/09/10 at Mississippi State (middle of road/border line sucks) *Starkville, Miss. W, 17-14
09/18/10 vs. Clemson (middle of road) Auburn, Ala. W, 27-24 (OT)
09/25/10 vs. South Carolina (decent)* Auburn, Ala. W, 35-27
10/02/10 vs. Louisiana-Monroe (sucks) Auburn, Ala. W, 52-3
10/09/10 at Kentucky (sucks)* Lexington, Ky. W, 37-34
10/16/10 vs. Arkansas (decent/good)* Auburn, Ala. W, 65-43
10/23/10 vs. LSU (good)* Auburn, Ala. W, 24-17
10/30/10 at Mississippi (middle of road)* Oxford, Miss. W, 51-31
11/06/10 vs. Chattanooga (HC) (do I even need to comment?) Auburn, Ala. W, 62-24
11/13/10 vs. Georgia (middle of road/border line sucks) * Auburn, Ala. W, 49-31
11/26/10 at Alabama (very good)* Tuscaloosa, Ala. W, 28-27

Is what Auburn's done really that impressive, put in this perspective? I'm biased but I honestly think Boise or TCU could get through that schedule with two or less losses. And if you notice, Auburn was very, very lucky to get through without two or three losses (Alabama, Miss. State, Clemson, LSU).

There are a whole lot of fans and members of the media (not you necessarily) who just regurgitate what they're told. They're told the SEC is king and they just spit it back out.

My dream scenario for this year (barring TCU in the NC game) would be TCU vs. Wisconsin and Boise State playing Michigan State. I really think George Gee would be shut up. I think TCU is going to beat Wisconsin, soundly. I think BSU could beat MSU too.

I also notice the media and the fans that clamor for the big boys are conspicuously quite about the ACC and Big East being AQ's. And major thumbs down to TCU for taking the easy (but smart) way out by joinging the Big Least. If Utah, TCU and BYU had stayed in the MWC with BSU, Fresno and Nevada joining, it would have been an AQ Conference within one-two years.

 

[GoIrish41]

From now on, its going to be a father, an uncle, or someone else making deals "without the player's knowledge." A new can of worms has now been opened.

exactly. this is why the ncaa is so freaking stupid. they are creating way worse problems for themselves down the road. all, in my opinion, to fix the championship game. it is just disgusting.

 

[ACamp1900]

NCAA has issues but that aren't alone... look at the NFL and MLB over the past twenty years with performace enhancers and such... as long as the ticket gates are pumping in money...

 

[GreatGolson]

If the NCAA is corrupt why dont the Big East, Big 10, Big 12, ACC, PAC 10, SEC, and Notre Dame just make an NFL type system of 2 conferences with many smaller divisions of equal talent distribution. There would be more than 4 per conference but you could just have the top 1 or 2 in each division entered into the conference playoffs, with the winner of each playing for the national championship?

 

[NDMontana]

If the NCAA is corrupt why dont the Big East, Big 10, Big 12, ACC, PAC 10, SEC, and Notre Dame just make an NFL type system of 2 conferences with many smaller divisions of equal talent distribution. There would be more than 4 per conference but you could just have the top 1 or 2 in each division entered into the conference playoffs, with the winner of each playing for the national championship?

Because the NCAA already favors those conferences, why would they leave that? Especially the Big Least and ACC. I had heard that the MWC tried to set-up non-conference games with ACC (kind of like the ACC/Big Ten Challenge in NCAABB). But the Big East declined, probably to save face.

And...as far as ND...call me a hypocrite because I like the way the system works for ND but they are the most undeserving of their 9 win BCS Qualification. Especially now that the schedule has gotten more watered down.

The BCS system was set-up for the good ol' boys, is run by the presidents/athletic directors from the good ol' boys institutions. They'll all argue it's working very well. They can freeze out the Non-AQ's and reap the big money from their bowl games.

Because the BCS isn't going away (to my shagrin) the least they could do is remove bowl affiliation from the all bowl games. No more of Big Ten Champion to the Rose Bowl or SEC Champ to the Sugar Bowl. Let the NC be decided by number one and two in the polls and let the Rose, Sugar, Orange and Fiesta Bowls negotiate with the teams ranked 3-10 for their games.

 

[IrishLax]

Because the NCAA already favors those conferences, why would they leave that? Especially the Big Least and ACC. I had heard that the MWC tried to set-up non-conference games with ACC (kind of like the ACC/Big Ten Challenge in NCAABB). But the Big East declined, probably to save face.

And...as far as ND...call me a hypocrite because I like the way the system works for ND but they are the most undeserving of their 9 win BCS Qualification. Especially now that the schedule has gotten more watered down.

The BCS system was set-up for the good ol' boys, is run by the presidents/athletic directors from the good ol' boys institutions. They'll all argue it's working very well. They can freeze out the Non-AQ's and reap the big money from their bowl games.

Because the BCS isn't going away (to my shagrin) the least they could do is remove bowl affiliation from the all bowl games. No more of Big Ten Champion to the Rose Bowl or SEC Champ to the Sugar Bowl. Let the NC be decided by number one and two in the polls and let the Rose, Sugar, Orange and Fiesta Bowls negotiate with the teams ranked 3-10 for their games.

Are you high? We have the #2 SOS in the nation and only played one team that isn't bowl eligible. If that's watered down I'd love to hear what a "tough" schedule is.

 

[Irish Insanity]

Whether cam knew or not is irrelevant. The ncaa rule is if a player or anyone on behalf of the player requests money, it is a violation. While we have no proof, this reeks of the ncaa screwing tcu. This was a violation whether cam knew or not, bottom line, by the ncaa rulebook.

Wether Cam knew or not is irrelevant. But the fact that they couldn't PROVE he knew is absolutely relavant. It may have been his father requesting on his behalf, but the fact that they couldn't prove Cam had anything to do with it lead to the NCAAs determination that it wasn't on behalf of Cam but rather his father. So there was technically no money requested on behalf of the player. Also if the investigation was based around the school he eventually attended i this would have been a completely different case. I strongly believe the NCAA doesn't want TCU in the national championship game and that Cam had alot more to do with the situation. But I believe they made the right conclussion based on what they can actually prove.

 

[NDMontana]

Are you high? We have the #2 SOS in the nation and only played one team that isn't bowl eligible. If that's watered down I'd love to hear what a "tough" schedule is.

Pitt, Tulsa, Purdue, Army, Navy, a down BC, Western Michigan? Those are seven pretty so-so teams. I left out Michigan even though, per the usual, they were exposed as a fraud as the season went on.

Hey, I'm really happy with the way ND played this season and the progress made. But this isn't exactly vintage ND when Pitt was actually good, USC, Penn State, Miami....look at the 1988 team that played #1, #2, #3 and #9 in one season.

As far as playing so many bowl eligible teams....well, there's what, 20+ bowls now? 6-5 teams from the MAC get into bowl games!

As far as the #2 SOS..ND is going to finish the season having played against two ranked teams (ranked in the final poll) and going 1-1 against those teams.

I really don't want to make arguments against ND...obviously they're my team but be realisitic.

 

[IrishLax]

Pitt, Tulsa, Purdue, Army, Navy, a down BC, Western Michigan? Those are seven pretty so-so teams. I left out Michigan even though, per the usual, they were exposed as a fraud as the season went on.

Hey, I'm really happy with the way ND played this season and the progress made. But this isn't exactly vintage ND when Pitt was actually good, USC, Penn State, Miami....look at the 1988 team that played #1, #2, #3 and #9 in one season.

As far as playing so many bowl eligible teams....well, there's what, 20+ bowls now? 6-5 teams from the MAC get into bowl games!

As far as the #2 SOS..ND is going to finish the season having played against two ranked teams (ranked in the final poll) and going 1-1 against those teams.

I really don't want to make arguments against ND...obviously they're my team but be realisitic.

That's just untrue. They've played 11-1 MSU, 11-1 Stanford and 10-2 Utah, so that is at least three ranked teams.

I do understand the perspective you're coming from. This is definitely a weaker schedule than in some years past. But the fact is it is still the second toughest schedule in the country, we don't play FCS schools and we've played (unless something has changed recently) 3 more bowl eligible teams than any other school... and that is pretty significant.

 

[NDMontana]

That's just untrue. They've played 11-1 MSU, 11-1 Stanford and 10-2 Utah, so that is at least three ranked teams.

I do understand the perspective you're coming from. This is definitely a weaker schedule than in some years past. But the fact is it is still the second toughest schedule in the country, we don't play FCS schools and we've played (unless something has changed recently) 3 more bowl eligible teams than any other school... and that is pretty significant.

I left out Stanford--my mistake.

 

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

Pitt, Tulsa, Purdue, Army, Navy, a down BC, Western Michigan? Those are seven pretty so-so teams. I left out Michigan even though, per the usual, they were exposed as a fraud as the season went on.

Hey, I'm really happy with the way ND played this season and the progress made. But this isn't exactly vintage ND when Pitt was actually good, USC, Penn State, Miami....look at the 1988 team that played #1, #2, #3 and #9 in one season.

As far as playing so many bowl eligible teams....well, there's what, 20+ bowls now? 6-5 teams from the MAC get into bowl games!

As far as the #2 SOS..ND is going to finish the season having played against two ranked teams (ranked in the final poll) and going 1-1 against those teams.

I really don't want to make arguments against ND...obviously they're my team but be realisitic.

You mean Tulsa and Navy who are #28 and #30 in the AP Poll?

 

[kmoose]

It is an absolulte no brainer. the excuse that it was Cam's dad and not Cam who asked for money is a stupid double standard, especially given the Bush parents are the ones who benefited in the USC case.

You're omitting the fact that Bush got thousands of dollars (I think I recall it being in the thousands) of hotel charges paid for. He also got a tricked out ride that they concluded was paid for by an agent. And USC's sanctions were tough, because the OJ Mayo stuff just compounded the "lack of institutional control" finding.

 

[phgreek]

A friend of mine and I were discussing Cam Newton yesterday. He believes that if ND (he's an ND fan too), Alabama, Florida, LSU, USC or another traditional power were third in the BCS polls that Newton would have been placed under discipline, no questions asked. He's taken to referring to the NCAA (when it comes to football) as the National Corrupt A-Hole Association.

When I think about how harsh the NCAA has been in so many other cases I find it hard to believe that Cam Newton isn't even getting a slap on the wrist.

Do you guys agree that the NCAA is colluding to keep TCU out or do you think this is a fair ruling?

...doesn't take Cam Newton's issue, or the likely BCS issues to tell me they are dirty. However, Cam Newton's treatment is the latest issue surrounding the NCAA and BCS that just smells bad...NCAA says their core purpose is:" ...to govern competition in a fair, safe, equitable and sportsmanlike manner, and to integrate intercollegiate athletics into higher education so that the educational experience of the student-athlete is paramount. " Anybody here think NCAA is doing things that support their core purpose as stated by them?

NCAA states their core values are:

"•The collegiate model of athletics in which students participate as an avocation, balancing their academic, social and athletics experiences.
•The highest levels of integrity and sportsmanship.
•The pursuit of excellence in both academics and athletics...."

...soo "apparently "Ballance" and "the pusuit of excellence" is illustrated by the majority of FBS schools graduating less than 80% of their football players...may as well change their insignia to "NFL minor league". ....look at it this way, when you are so corrupt, and so incompetent when evaluated against your own mission, that congress of the United States starts looking at you (knowing the moral fiber on capital hill), you probably need to disband and ask for a new organization to be constituted...

NCAA could easily be functional and true to what most lay people see as their most critical goals....by taking one very simple step...teams should get an extra scholarship for every % point over 90 they graduate, and lose a scholarship for every % point under 80...Players must be enrolled in a 3rd party audited, and accredited curriculum...Teams with 90% grad rate or better may select one academically at risk player per year, w/o burning a scholarship....Done!

Then we wait for killer deals on facilities and gear as the SEC starts shutting down programs.

 

[NDMontana]

You mean Tulsa and Navy who are #28 and #30 in the AP Poll?

Here's Tulsa 2010 schedule/results:

Date Opponent / Event Location Time / Result

09/05/10 at East Carolina * Greenville, N.C. L, 51-49
09/11/10 vs. Bowling Green H.A. Chapman Stadium W, 33-20
09/18/10 at Oklahoma State Stillwater, Okla. L, 65-28
09/25/10 vs. Central Arkansas H.A. Chapman Stadium W, 41-14
10/02/10 at Memphis * Memphis, Tenn. W, 48-7
10/09/10 at SMU * Dallas, Texas L, 21-18
10/16/10 vs. Tulane (Homecoming) * H.A. Chapman Stadium W, 52-24
10/30/10 at Notre Dame South Bend, Ind. W, 28-27
11/06/10 vs. Rice * H.A. Chapman Stadium W, 64-27
11/13/10 at Houston * Houston, Texas W, 28-25
11/20/10 vs. UTEP * H.A. Chapman Stadium W, 31-28
11/26/10 vs. Southern Miss * H.A. Chapman Stadium W, 56-50

So they're 28th with their big wins coming against ND (unranked 7-5 ND) and....and....Houston??

Here's Navy:

Date Opponent / Event Location Time / Result

09/06/10 vs. Maryland M&T Bank Stadium L, 17-14
09/11/10 vs. Georgia Southern Annapolis, Md. W, 13-7
09/18/10 at Louisiana Tech Ruston, La. W, 37-23
10/02/10 at Air Force Colorado Springs, Colo. L, 14-6
10/09/10 at Wake Forest Winston-Salem, N.C. W, 28-27
10/15/10 JV vs. South Carolina Club team Annapolis, Md. W, 76-0
10/16/10 vs. SMU Annapolis, Md. W, 28-21
10/23/10 vs. Notre Dame East Rutherford, N.J. W, 35-17
10/30/10 vs. Duke Annapolis, Md. L, 34-31
11/06/10 at East Carolina Greenville, N.C. W, 76-35
11/13/10 vs. Central Michigan Annapolis, Md. W, 38-37
11/20/10 vs. Arkansas State Annapolis, Md. W, 35-19
12/11/10 vs. Army Philadelphia, Pa. 2:30 p.m.
12/23/10 Poinsettia Bowl San Diego, Calif. 8:00 p.m.
Big win against, again, unranked 7-5 ND and...Wake?

 

[NDMontana]

...doesn't take Cam Newton's issue, or the likely BCS issues to tell me they are dirty. However, Cam Newton's treatment is the latest issue surrounding the NCAA and BCS that just smells bad...NCAA says their core purpose is:" ...to govern competition in a fair, safe, equitable and sportsmanlike manner, and to integrate intercollegiate athletics into higher education so that the educational experience of the student-athlete is paramount. " Anybody here think NCAA is doing things that support their core purpose as stated by them?

NCAA states their core values are:

"•The collegiate model of athletics in which students participate as an avocation, balancing their academic, social and athletics experiences.
•The highest levels of integrity and sportsmanship.
•The pursuit of excellence in both academics and athletics...."

...soo "apparently "Ballance" and "the pusuit of excellence" is illustrated by the majority of FBS schools graduating less than 80% of their football players...may as well change their insignia to "NFL minor league". ....look at it this way, when you are so corrupt, and so incompetent when evaluated against your own mission, that congress of the United States starts looking at you (knowing the moral fiber on capital hill), you probably need to disband and ask for a new organization to be constituted...

NCAA could easily be functional and true to what most lay people see as their most critical goals....by taking one very simple step...teams should get an extra scholarship for every % point over 90 they graduate, and lose a scholarship for every % point under 80...Players must be enrolled in a 3rd party audited, and accredited curriculum...Teams with 90% grad rate or better may select one academically at risk player per year, w/o burning a scholarship....Done!

Then we wait for killer deals on facilities and gear as the SEC starts shutting down programs.

I agree with you 100%. If I had to guess on why the NCAA isn't more strict about graduation rates I'd say that you hit on something that isn't far off: NFL Minor League. The NFL's mission is to make money by putting the strongest, fastest and most athletic players on the field. There are probably some guys who slip the cracks because they're too stupid...even for Florida or Alabama...and they don't make the league. The NFL could start a minor league system, though it would be a huge expense for the teams to employ enough scouts to evaluate HS Football players. Still, I wouldn't rule it out.

The NCAA is in a tough spot because they're acting as a minor league of sorts for the NFL and I'm quite certain that the boosters and the NFL would be quite angry if talented but dimwitted athletes were being denied a shot at CFB. The one thing CFB can't do is be hypocritical.