2011 College Football

[HaemishM]

As an outside observer who sees more information about college football when there's a scandal than when there's a game, if Miami doesn't get the death penalty for the stuff in that article, it's a fucking travesty. In 20 years, I can't ever remember regarding the UM program as anything other than corrupt. If even a fraction of the shit this guy says is true, with pictures of university officials happily taking money from him, how could the NCAA do anything but blast this program in its face? It's pretty much every rule in the book violated blatantly by huge numbers of players, and that's just the ones he admitted to tapping up.

Either kill the program with fire as an example to the others, or just give up trying to enforce any sort of rules whatsoever.

[ghost]

just give up trying to enforce any sort of rules whatsoever.

This is probably their best bet.  The NCAA is a bunch of corrupt, inept idiots.  They'll never be able to clean it up to match the ivory tower they claim is their goal.

[01101010]

While I do not want to get into any conspiracy stuff here since my tinfoil hat is out for repairs, my spidey-senses started tingling when Bryan's name showed up on the list of beneficiaries. Probably unrelated and I might be reaching, but it's a bit peculiar.

[Paelos]

If they can prove that the administration in place knew they were paying players through the booster, they will get the death penalty. That's exactly what finally did in SMU after their violations over the earlier 10 years.

[01101010]

If they can prove that the administration in place knew they were paying players through the booster, they will get the death penalty. That's exactly what finally did in SMU after their violations over the earlier 10 years.

Well the paper trail seems damning enough. And with some of those coaches still under NCAA employ, they are obligated to questioning which will be pretty interesting when the league comes over with receipts and pictures and shit. I can't wait... though part of me is crying a little.

[Nevermore]

I have to say, even though I'm originally from Miami I never did like UM very much (though I don't hate them like I hate the Gators).  'Canes always seemed like a bunch of showboating assholes, so fuck 'em.

Now let's say the NCAA gives UM football the axe for 2 or 3 years.  Would the ACC give them the boot or keep them around hoping they could somehow rebound from it afterwards?

[Paelos]

This whole thing is just stupid. I honestly have no problem with boosters giving kids money, cars, or whatever as long as it's properly and legally recorded on their taxes and not as some sort of donation. In fact, it would raise some interesting issues in the courts over wages vs. gifts.

And the kicker is, there's nothing illegal about it. It seems to be an ideal solution to the problem. Players that are great get money and stuff. Players that play second string get a diploma. NCAA makes money. Nobody breaks any laws. Agents aren't part of the picture. Win!

If the NCAA would get it's head out of it's ass, they would see that they are a stone's throw away from letting this all sort itself out.

[01101010]

Why Miami could come out without the death penalty

While I think it's a load of shit if they get a couple bowl bans and slash of scholarships, he does raise a few points.

[Paelos]

The point about ACC TV revenue is stupid. Nobody gives a shit about their football revenue. That's a non-issue. Nor has Miami made a dent in that title game in years. This wouldn't have an impact on the ACC beyond just a black eye and a stealthy withdrawal.

His point about SMU is the same one I voiced earlier. He just seems to take it for granted that Miami didn't know about the booster and wasn't actively encouraging him to go out and do his thing. I'm not so sure I believe that.

[ghost]

If they can prove that the administration in place knew they were paying players through the booster, they will get the death penalty. That's exactly what finally did in SMU after their violations over the earlier 10 years.

The president of the university hanging out with the dude in a photo is pretty damning. 

[Paelos]

Taking a donation and knowing that he was a funneling point for the students isn't exactly the same thing.

[Ingmar]

Yeah the photo is not so much incriminating as it is just funny. That was an official booster event etc.

[Paelos]

Just to clarify for people that don't know why SMU got the death penalty, it's pretty egregious.

1 - SMU was on probation 5 times in a 10 year period.
2 - SMU was busted for paying players
3 - After getting busted, SMU said they stopped and swore to the NCAA they weren't paying players
4 - The BOARD of SMU secretly got together and agreed to continue to pay players anything through a booster slush fund.
5 - They got caught again with the slush fund.

So, basically it would be like Miami getting caught with this whole thing, getting their ass spanked by the NCAA for the stupid booster who is now in prison, and then next year the AD getting together with Al Golden and finding a way to slush money again to the players after they promised to stop with this last case.

Then, yeah, you get the death penalty. You get it for completely and categorically ignoring the NCAA exists at all.

[01101010]

Just to clarify for people that don't know why SMU got the death penalty, it's pretty egregious.

1 - SMU was on probation 5 times in a 10 year period.
2 - SMU was busted for paying players
3 - After getting busted, SMU said they stopped and swore to the NCAA they weren't paying players
4 - The BOARD of SMU secretly got together and agreed to continue to pay players anything through a booster slush fund.
5 - They got caught again with the slush fund.

So, basically it would be like Miami getting caught with this whole thing, getting their ass spanked by the NCAA for the stupid booster who is now in prison, and then next year the AD getting together with Al Golden and finding a way to slush money again to the players after they promised to stop with this last case.

Then, yeah, you get the death penalty. You get it for completely and categorically ignoring the NCAA exists at all.

Yep...but the thing is, the NCAA has become much tighter with the rules now and has a string of rulings that have become more severe for what some could consider relatively benign if it had happened in the 80s and 90s. It is a much different rules landscape than they had before.

[ghost]

Miami has a long and sordid history with cheating as well.  It may not be quite as egregious as SMU, but then again the NCAA is looking to provide an example again. 

[01101010]

Seems my season is over before it has started... I mean seriously, what team fucks up this bad with 2 weeks to go before the season starts?

http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/6895557/bar-employees-say-victim-threw-first-punch-lsu-brawl-involving-jordan-jefferson

http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/6896101/lsu-tigers-russell-shepard-suspended-season-opener-expected-miss-number-games

Sigh... well that is the second of my "home" teams to fuck up the season, guess I am now left with Pitt 

[ghost]

Les Miles really let that get out of control.  They'll still be good though.  Don't worry about that.  There's a lot of talent on that team.  

Edit:

I find something funny about this quote from the first article.

Two employees of the bar where LSU quarterback Jordan Jefferson and three teammates are accused of injuring four people in a parking lot brawl said Thursday that one of the victims "threw the first punch" shortly after he had been escorted outside by staff.

How can a "victim" throw the first punch?

[01101010]

Les Miles really let that get out of control.  They'll still be good though.  Don't worry about that.  There's a lot of talent on that team.  

Edit:

I find something funny about this quote from the first article.

Two employees of the bar where LSU quarterback Jordan Jefferson and three teammates are accused of injuring four people in a parking lot brawl said Thursday that one of the victims "threw the first punch" shortly after he had been escorted outside by staff.

How can a "victim" throw the first punch?

Whoever gets up last is deemed the victim in Louisiana.

That said, losing Shepard hurts a hell of a lot more than Jefferson. In fact I was hoping JJ would get benched halfway through the first quarter. But losing Shepard is huge to the receiving corp since he and Randle are pretty much the only vetern upperclassmen. I won't even mention the linemen under investigation. That schedule is hard enough without the fucking circus erupting on the team. They might not get out of Sept without 2 losses now.

edit: update, well... that's that then. And what I find the funniest part about this whole ball of stupid is the fact that fights break out in the bars down there nightly and no one goes to jail. It's a fucking bar fight... you press charges after getting your ass beat down, then you really need to move out of the deep south.

[Paelos]

My impression is it's good for LSU. Jefferson's not really that much of a player.

[SnakeCharmer]

Hey fellas...

You know what this week is?

GAME WEEK

Text says it all...


This man is going to run over you...


This man is going to hit you so hard you'll need a haircut by the time you wake up...

[01101010]

You all do know how to beat some trees down.  

So yeah... Fuck 'Bama.


However, with this Murder's Row of a schedule, LSU will be lucky to get out of Sept with one loss. Oh well... if ya gotta lose, lose early. Worked for VT.

edit: shit sorry... didn't realize that schedule was that big. 

oh and be happy you don't have to play or watch games @ Central Arkansas... seriously,
 

[WayAbvPar]

UCA- where every kick return induces seizures!

[Paelos]

That field looks like it was designed by Willy Wonka.

[ghost]

I like it. 

[SnakeCharmer]

That field looks like it was designed by Willy Wonka.

While tripping on LSD.

[Abagadro]

These ugly ass fields are all Boise State's fault. Damn tater zoobs.

[ghost]

Well, it's finally official.  The Aggies are leaving the Big 12.  Now all that's left to ponder is what schools the SEC will go after to complement the addition of Aggie.  I suspect that Oklahoma may be a target.  This will be really interesting to see what happens next. 

[Paelos]

You're assuming the SEC wants the Aggies.

The SEC only wants them if we get FSU.

[ghost]

The president of TAMU has been talking to Mike Slive all week.  They wouldn't have put out their intention to leave if they weren't reasonably sure (meaning 100% sure) of getting into the SEC.  It's going to happen.

[Paelos]

If it were going to happen they would announce their intentions from the SEC side. Believe me, this is contingent on other things.

[Abagadro]

No, this is a done deal. All of this is kabuki to minimize penalties and fees from leaving the conference.

[Paelos]

No, this is a done deal. All of this is kabuki to minimize penalties and fees from leaving the conference.

I'm not sold until there is an official announcement, but we'll see. I hope it's not true unless we have another team lined up. I don't want 13 teams obviously.

[ghost]

They made too much of a big deal out of making sure that the "process" was done correctly.  It's just got to get the rubber stamp.  I suspect that the requirement of the SEC for TAMU to publicly announce that they were going to do this was because they'd been burned twice before.  Now there's very little chance of turning back for Aggie.

[Paelos]

A&M is just signing up for an ass-kicking. I'm not sure their fans are going to like it.

[01101010]

WELCOME CLEMSON to the SEC EAST