Patronizing Preseason Football: Browns Bubble Players Fall to Bears, 24-14
September 2, 2011Browns Sign TE Evan Moore to 3-Year Contract
September 2, 2011“Running back Jordan Hall, cornerback Travis Howard and backup safety Corey Brown have been suspended, each for receiving impermissible benefits of $300 or less at a charity event this year. Ohio State said the three will not play in the season opener on Saturday against Akron. When they might return has not been determined.” Tim May, Columbus Dispatch
Are you kidding me? How on earth does this happen THIS YEAR?
Forget the argument about paying kids to play, and the hypocrisy of the NCAA. I don’t decide policy for the NCAA, and likely you don’t either. I’m also quite tired of the conversation, since we’ve been having it all off-season long. This incident supposedly took place AFTER the now infamous tattoo 5 were suspended. AFTER Terrelle Pryor relieved us of his company. AFTER Jim Tressel resigned because of the scandal. And AFTER Gene Smith, Gordon Gee and Luke Fickell stood on the podium and said that there was not an epidemic problem at Ohio State.
To start with, these three players should have known better. Considering the amount of national attention brought upon the football team the past 6 or so months, how could you reach your hand out and accept a gift without thinking “is this something that could get me or my team in trouble?” Perhaps the prudent thing would have been to make a little joke about it and just walk away. Again, I don’t care if you like the rule or not. You agreed to the rule when you accepted that scholarship.
Moving on from the players, what in the world is going on with the compliance department over there? You have to know when your athletes are going to be appearing at an event. You have to make phone calls and ask questions about the players’ roles at the event and what kinds of benefits they might be getting, even if everyone at the event gets a goodie bag. And just maybe, send a staffer with them. What a novel idea. At the very least, the last thing you should tell the event organizer is under no circumstances can these players receive any gifts or money for participating.
Here’s another thought. If you are going to invite Buckeye football players to some type of event, the odds are that you are a big Buckeye fan. Here’s a novel idea- why not do the football team a favor and DON’T OFFER BENEFITS THE PLAYERS CAN’T HAVE! Wow. What a concept. Instead of trying to buy friendship or prestige like a certain Miami booster, how about you encourage them to take advantage of that free education? How about you wish them well on the field, or a healthy season.
So what will this mean for Ohio State? As part of the tattoo scandal they placed themselves on a two year probation. This would seem to be a violation of that probation. The NCAA is still finishing up it’s investigation, including the hearing that took place in August with the school and Tressel. It was expected they would make a decision mid-season on final penalties for the incidents. This latest incident would have to have an impact on that decision.
It seems to this OSU fan that a bowl game ban should be expected. And quite frankly, it has been earned.
22 Comments
I read that they were given gift bags, along with all the other attendees. I am not sure how this is considered an improper benefit, but at this point no OSU player should accept free chips and salsa at a restaurant for fear of NCAA sanctions
I heard the same thing… The fact that we’re self-imposing 1 game suspensions for effing charity gift bags should send a message to the NCAA that there needs to be a fundamental rules change.
Ugh. I am so tired of all of this. It is honestly starting to ruin college football for me.
A goodie bag from a charity event? This is the kind of stuff that the NCAA is policing? Yes, the players should have known better after all the BS over the past year…but come on.
I never thought I would see the day when I thought the NFL was less corrupt and annoying than college football.
Let’s step away from the ledge for a minute. I think all of this is actually very easily explained.
While at first blush it certainly looks like “idiot players doing something stupid,” I think the reality of the situation and the accurate conclusion is really two-fold:
First, the intensity of the microscope on OSU football right now revealed something that I think everyone should know. Specifically, big-time (and small-time, believe me) college football players are CONSTANTLY being placed in nearly impossible situations that implicate “improper” benefits – even if the players’ intent is relatively pure. If not for the scandal of the last 12-months, this would never have been found, known, or reported – because this stuff happens all of the time EVERYWHERE. I would venture a guess that OSU is, right now, much more stringent on this type of thing than 99% of all other programs. The self-reported nature of the undeniably minor violation proves it. It’s going to be really “un-fun” to be an OSU football player for quite a while, at least in comparison with the experiences of their peers at other schools.
Second, despite our expectations of the compliance department, this just again shows that the NCAA standards are nearly impossible to enforce – either externally or internally; however, OSU’s reporting actually demonstrates that they are trying to do their best.
I still think that the question of whether players should be paid is the wrong question. The right question is whether an NCAA football player should be able to receive benefits from their likeness, image, status, reputation, and affiliation (as every other citizen in our great society is permitted to do). I say, let these boys take gift bags (and tattoos, and payments for autographs) if they have a market to trade for them. I believe it’s their right.
Rick is the best writer at WFNY.
^^^ I’m sensing sarcasm.
I doubt its sarcasm – likely rooted in petulance and pouting since I called him out for being a troll who adds absolutely nothing to the conversation in today’s WWW.
I feel that if they are receiving a gift as long as they aren’t selling Memorabilia then what is the big deal! These players may receive scholarships but how else are they able to pay their bills when they are NOT ALLOWED to have JOBS. I was a college athlete, and with the hours required to put into practice as well as attend class and maintain the grades to be able to be an athlete is really DEMANDING. I think that the people who are suspending these players only need to watch for gambling or selling memorabilia and otherwise they need to get a life and turn their heads in the other direction. These players work hard and if someone wants to give them a gift to show their appreciation then so be it. Let it go, and find something else to direct your attention to. There are more issues in the world and on campus that they could really work on other than finding problems with OSU football players and gifts.
It wasn’t sarcasm. I attend McGuffey Church of Christ and think the world of Rick.
Hey Scott, you should layoff insulting the readers, it’s detrimental to the website. (Plus, I’d like to see it succeed and Rick’s work get read by a bigger audience.)
Have a great and safe weekend, God bless.
If I were a player at a major college program I would avoid all BOGO sales and immediately report any extra ketchup packets I receive at the mcdonalds drive-thru. You can never be too careful in this post-tatopocalyptic NCAA wasteland.
So the gift bags and swag (ipods, cameras, bookbags, clothing, etc.) that players recieve from playing in the bowl games is somehow okay?
@ V
Well, you see, those are okay because the players are doing something that makes the NCAA millions. That’s a sanctioned quid pro quo that doesn’t exist when a kid gets a gratis tattoo.
Seems like a bit of an overreaction here. I get what you’re saying in essence but this situation is different in my opinion. I don’t think many people would think twice about get a gift bag at a charity event you attended when everyone else is getting the same thing. Sure you could make the argument they should just know better but in the end it is easy to overlook something so small.
By and large the moral of the story is that the NCAA is absolutely ridiculous when things have come to this.
Honestly, the compliance department is not a babysitting service. They are there to investigate claims of impropriety, not attend functions with players.
I understand the annoyed tone of the post, but I think it’s a bit misplaced to try and blame compliance officers who are regular people like most of us, working a 9-5 job and going home.
@Amanda
I heard today that the players get $1100 per month for food and rent. Cry me a river about their poor put-upon selves.
I say we cut athletic scholarships completely and solve the problem. If you can’t make it into college on your smarts, well, sorry.
let’s all be happy that the NCAA recently passed the “bagel rule”
colleges can now give out bagels with assorted spreads to their athletic teams (yes assorted)
@ Hamfist
your source sounds legit
now that’s sarcasm
Right on G.O. I like your take on this.
@ Hamfist…
sick source bro… oh wait you didnt give one
1) They were found to have taken gift bags from a charity event. Gift bags that every other attendee was given. Gift bags that had little to nothing to do with their status as OSU football players. If this constitutes accepting improper benefits it is only the low end of that scale and OSU self reported it immediately, which, in the eyes of the NCAA, is a mitigating factor.
2) The NCAA will be making their decision on the allegations before it when the hearing took place in early August. These allegations will have no bearing on the NCAA’s decision. If the NCAA wanted to consider these charges as well, NCAA bylaws mandate an entirely new investigation on these new charges, with new hearings etc.
This should only be a (small) problem if everyone else who received a gift bag had to pay to get into the fundraiser, and the players did not.
Either way, this is pretty weak sauce.
OH well GIFT BAGS!!!
OH YOU BETTER BOWL BAN NCAA! 🙂 GIFT BAGS!???
forgive them mr perfect…
Seriously nice attempt to jump on the hype… You and Mark Mays should hang out.