Here is more proof that the NCAA is making it up all up as it goes along to benefit the institutions that it has a vested financial interest with. Here is an excellent blog post from Mr.SEC that breaks it all down.
The NCAA has taken to its own website to defend its recent rulings in the cases of Auburn’s Cam Newton and Ohio State’s Buckeye Five.
A bit of the governing body’s statement:
“Several media and others recently concluded that very different situations involving student-athlete eligibility should be considered independent of their unique circumstances or interpreted with a ‘one size fits all’ approach.
In particular, they are comparing recent decisions involving The Ohio State University and Auburn University (and others). Some have even suggested the NCAA plays favorites in these types of situations based in part or in whole on financial considerations.
Nothing could be farther from the truth.
In relation to the decision last week involving rules violations with football student-athletes at Ohio State, several current student-athletes were interviewed as part of our fact-gathering process. They indicated they were not aware there was a violation and learned of the issue based on later rules education, which was confirmed by OSU through interviews and supporting documentation.
Inadequate rules education is often cited in student-athlete reinstatement and other waiver cases (such as inaccurate or misguided academic advising), but it is just one of many factors considered in these types of situations.
As for the broader issue of a student escaping penalties based on their lack of knowledge, there also have been reports in the media that the recent ruling related to Cam Newton’s eligibility will encourage parents or third-parties to solicit benefits or money during the recruiting process while keeping the student in the dark as to their activities.
Again, this strays from the truth.
While efforts are being championed by NCAA president Mark Emmert to further clarify and strengthen recruiting and amateurism rules when benefits or money are solicited (but not received), current NCAA rules would be violated and students declared ineligible should a parent or third party receive benefits or money, regardless of the student’s knowledge.
Put simply, had Cam Newton’s father or a third party actually received money or benefits for his recruitment, Cam Newton would have been declared ineligible regardless of his lack of knowledge.”
Observations:
* You might remember that this site — immediately after the Newton verdict — said that the “but he didn’t know” defense was simply a spin job by the NCAA. We wrote on numerous occasions that had Newton’s father actually received money the player would have been ruled ineligible regardless of whether or not he knew a thing about his parent’s scheme. And now the NCAA has stated that fact in black and white on its very own website.
To those of you who sent us a lot of ugly emails for our stance… go get your shinebox.
The NCAA in today’s statement is saying that if money changes hands, a player’s knowledge doesn’t matter. If money doesn’t change hands, then a player’s knowledge does matter. That’s called “making it up as you go along.” And the NCAA has admitted as much by pushing for new, stronger legislation to close the now gaping Newton loophole.
* At MrSEC.com, we do not believe the NCAA “plays favorites in these situations based in part or in whole on financial considerations.” We do believe, however, that the NCAA wants to avoid a black eye as much as the next person, corporation or sports association.
Clearing Newton to play prevented a disaster. Had the NCAA ruled Newton ineligible — and docked Auburn a win or 12 — prior to the SEC Championship Game, the SEC would have been left scrambling for a fill-in for its title clash. The BCS race would have been thrown wide open. And more importantly, even more sportswriters and talking heads would have had room to complain.
By okaying Newton, the NCAA gave everyone one story — Newton plays — and basically pushed that story to the backpages. You either agreed with their ruling or disagreed, end of story, move on to your next column.
Had Newton been ruled ineligible, the debates over what he knew, should he have been punished despite his lack of knowledge, how should he have been punished, should Auburn have been punished, etc, would still be raging.
* Today’s statement comes out in response to the bombshell headline that Sugar Bowl CEO Paul Hoolahan lobbied Ohio State officials to let OSU’s players play in his game. The idea of business entities lobbying schools on player eligibility issues — and the NCAA is made up of member schools like Ohio State, by the way — is more than a little unseemly.
But if the NCAA still wants to present itself as Lady Justice, fine. Perhaps college sports’ governing body really is objective, unprejudiced and above listening to outside influences. But when one of those outside influences actually pipes up and brags about being an honest-to-God outside influence, it leads this site to believe that the NCAA’s blindfold might actually be made of lace.
* There’s a lesson in all of this for the good folks at LSU, by the way. The school is currently appealing the academic ineligibility of tailback Stevan Ridley and a January 4th conference call has been scheduled with the NCAA.
Les Miles says Ridley will have representatives on the call as will the school. But if Joe Alleva and LSU officials are worth their salt, they’ll also have a representative from the Cotton Bowl sitting in on that pow-wow.
After all, if the Sugar Bowl can campaign for players to play in their bowl, why can’t the Cotton?
If that tack doesn’t work, Ridley should just say that he didn’t know he actually had to pass the tests he was given in college. LSU officials can then say that they never fully explained the testing process to him.
As we’ve seen, sometimes a player’s lack of knowledge works in his favor. Sometimes not. But in dealing with the NCAA, it’s best to roll the dice and see what happens. Because for all the NCAA’s talk of fairness, there’s no telling how the body will rule in two similar cases. They make things up as they go along.
When it comes to the NCAA — whether they admit it or not — it’s always a night at the Improv.
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