It gets the hose again? NCAA says nay.

The NCAA gets the blame because they're the ones who've created this atmosphere where any little thing, even giving an athlete a $1 can of soda, can be seen as a violation. And, with the exception of Emmert's attempt to allow the difference in cost-of-attendance, they've shown little inclination for changing this atmosphere.

 

BS. The NCAA is the university presidents. Blame them for whatever perceived ills exist. It's like blaming the cops for enforcing unpopular laws.

 

The fact that schools have to have a full-time compliance officer -- or staff --- is exhibit A that the rule book is too damn complicated.

 

The NCAA is everyone, except the "student-athletes". School presidents, ADs, coaches, TV people, etc. If 400 football and men's basketball coaches suddenly lobbied to pay the players, or ESPN threatened to stop televising games during the school week, the NCAA would change its tune pretty quickly.

 

No it's not.

 

But remember that the NCAA was the organization that had a rule that said a school could provide bagels to recruits for breakfast but not cream cheese. [That rule has been changed to allow for cream cheese.] So, it is not all that far-fetched for someone to wonder if using the school water supply, a hose and - perish the thought - a university owned bucket to wash one's car might not also violate some rule somewhere.

 

"Boss, we have a report that a school has paid $200K to the parent of a Juco transfer?"

"Shut up and focus your attention on the kid using the hose without permission!!!!"

 

I played intramurals but didn't have the access to the same women the real football players did.

Is that a violation?

 

I'm convinced that the only way a big school gets major violations these days is when everything is giftwrapped for the NCAA (USC).

There have been a few others where you read about all the violations going on and you assume sanctions are coming and then you hear nothing, or nothing happens.

The organization is beyond worthless.

 

Oh, jeez. Log off, Jay Bilas, and meet boxing.

 

They're complicated, yes. Too complicated. So the NCAA tried to simplified football recruiting rules this spring and, naturally, coaches complained that the absence rules would be abused. Which they would.

The problem isn't the NCAA. It's shitty ethics. Human nature. That's not going away if you pay kids. In fact, it'll get worse.

 

So many small schools are in violation of the NCAA rules almost on a regular basis. Most of it is really, really minor shit and it's often because they either don't understand the rules or there is no one there to police it. They get caught either by accident or when someone calls them out on it.

There was one small school where the "compliance director" was also the SID for several smaller sports. I asked him about it once and he said that the title was essentially for show and so they could pay him a little more to keep him from leaving.

This was a pretty small school (DII) and this was a long time ago, but it wouldn't stun me if more schools were in similar situations.

You're not going to get this at a school like Alabama or Texas or Florida, but it seems a lot more likely at smaller schools.