USC, Ohio State, and The University of Miami are three recent targets of "Big Brother's" NCAA sanctions leveled against sports programs for infractions. The infractions in and of themselves were not illegal according to the laws of the land, but simply violated some internal law of the NCAA. The sanctions are as follows:
USC:
• A postseason ban in football following the 2010 and 2011 seasons.
• A loss of 30 total football scholarships over the 2011, 2012 and 2013 seasons.
• A vacation of all football victories starting in December 2004 and running through the 2005 season. This includes the national championship win over Oklahoma on Jan. 4, 2005.
• All statistics vacated for Bush, Mayo and women’s tennis athlete Gabriela Niculescu in the games which the NCAA deemed them ineligible due to rules violations.
• Reggie Bush (NFL) and O.J. Mayo (NBA) must be disassociated from USC athletics.
• An acceptance of USC’s self-imposed penalties on its basketball program, which included a forfeiture of all wins in 2007-2008 and a one-year postseason ban.
• All titles won during ineligible games must be vacated and trophies and banners must be removed.
• A vacation of wins in the women’s tennis program from May 2006 to May 2009, for long-distance telephone violations committed by a student-athlete.
• A reduction of recruiting days for the men’s basketball program in 2010-2011.
• Four years of probation.
Ohio State:
• Vacated 2010 Big Ten championship
- its 12-1 season
- victories over rival Michigan and in the Allstate Sugar Bowl
• Coach Jim Tressel released
• Star quarterback Terrelle Pryor leaves
• Several players suspended for games in new season
University of Miami:
• Travis Benjamin, Marcus Forston, Jacory Harris, Adewale Ojomo, Sean Spence — Suspended 1 game
• Ray-Ray Armstrong, Dyron Dye — Suspended 4 games
• Olivier Vernon — Suspended 6 games
As clearly indicated, in each of these sanctions players were issued punishment for either their doing, or the doing of someone else associated with the program. Would you believe if I told you that the infraction involved college players receiving money or gifts? Yes these students were given stiff punishments for receiving gifts. Never mind the fact that they make billions for the NCAA and their respective institutions. That's an argument for another time.
What I want to point out is how quiet the NCAA has been in light of this Penn State Scandal. I held my opinion until I read the Grand Jury Indictment. I must tell you, if you have an ounce of human decency, there is no way you can read it without cringing and become furious. The accusations in that document, if true, show a very sick side of humanity. Yet, the NCAA has said.................................... NOTHING. They are quick to punish students for taking gifts, but have made no statement about a program that allowed the molestation of young boys go on for at least 15 years.
This is the hypocrisy known as the NCAA. They can publicize, pursue, and punish athletes, but remain silent in the shadows as one of the programs with the "faux" appearance of being squeaky clean, covers up one of the most disgusting acts of serial child abuse I've ever seen. In addition to this, rather than speak out against it they allow Coach Paterno to retire at the end of the season.
Does anyone remember the Duke Lacrosse players that were accused of a crime? Were they able to finish the season out? Yes I know Paterno didn't commit a crime, but did his actions go far enough to prevent the criminal acts of Jerry Sandusky to cease? Did he follow-up with the AD or his other superiors? Did he put Sandusky on administrative leave while the issue was being investigated? Yet, in all of this the NCAA remains shamefully silent.
It is blatant hypocrisy. You tell students that they will be punished for accepting gifts, but coaches can retire into the sunset when they allow an accused child pedophile to continue to work under their guard. I'm not here to argue what Paterno should have been done. My simple is point is what the NCAA hasn't done. Will the NCAA only stand up when a student athlete steps out of the boundaries of their "sacred" by-laws? Will the NCAA only speak up when the infraction is by someone without a huge reputation like Paterno? The light is on you Dear NCAA, either speak up now or forever hold your peace.
Just me
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