2011 College Football

[Paelos]

Title 9. That's why you can't pay them.

Let that soak in.

[ghost]

They could mostly fix this problem by getting rid of athletic scholarships and going to strictly developmental leagues.  It won't happen because of the NCAA's hunger for money, but that would fix it. 

[01101010]

Sometimes the news finds some sweet laffs...



Thought about the funny pics thread, but it might be too narrow a topic for there.

[Paelos]

The state of Ohio needs to just give it up. Even when they were cheating horribly they couldn't win.

[HaemishM]

I love Drew Rosenhaus sitting in a press conference with Pryor talking all this shit about Terrelle being absolutely a #1 first round pick in the supplemental draft and thinking, "Who the fuck is going to believe that? I don't think even HE believes it."

[01101010]

11 weeks and change left...

[Hawkbit]

As an OSU fan, I got nothing.  This whole debacle has put me off NCAA sports for the time being.  I have a personal blackout going on. 

I always loved college sports over pro because there was this idea that it was about the game and school camaraderie.  It's not, though.  It's so thick with money I may as well be watching pro.

Hell, at least the pro teams are up front that it's all about the money. 

[Paelos]

Well, at least you understand that and are making your peace with it.

There are many Ohio fans that just refuse to let go and admit that firing Tressel had to happen.

[SnakeCharmer]

Starting at about 60 days from kickoff, we need to have a proper NCAA FB thread (or get Ghost to add it to the OP in this thread   ).  Would like to have a brief rundown of the top 5 or top 10 with some dark horse candidates that WE think might make a run.  If anybody wants to contribute, let me know.  

[ghost]

What exactly would you like it to say? 

[SnakeCharmer]

Not sure.  Still working it over in my head. 

Something like...

5. BAMA
<picture>
Returning starters of note, etc.  Schedule breakdown

4.  Texas
<picture>
Returning starters of note, etc.  Schedule breakdown

Something like that...

[Paelos]

Oregon's fucked.

[WayAbvPar]

Couldn't happen to a smarmier, smugger bunch of cunts.

[01101010]

I hate you all... GIVE THE GOD DAMN LINK! 

[Paelos]

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/news;_ylt=AmVBU4MLPWQv47mIw5s5vLA5nYcB?slug=ys-robinson_scout_details_deal_oregon_kelly_070111

[01101010]

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/news;_ylt=AmVBU4MLPWQv47mIw5s5vLA5nYcB?slug=ys-robinson_scout_details_deal_oregon_kelly_070111

 

Jeezus christ... that is just... 

[SnakeCharmer]

 

[Ingmar]

Out of curiosity which of the things in that case are the ones that stand out to you guys as things that should or shouldn't be allowed?

[Paelos]

Out of curiosity which of the things in that case are the ones that stand out to you guys as things that should or shouldn't be allowed?

Mainly paying people in order to secure recruits. If we're doing that, we might as well allow agents. Then it's just an arms race with the Yankees and Red Sox in college football.

Oh and just like I pointed out in the Tressel thing: WHEN YOU'RE CAUGHT YOU CAN'T FUCKING COVER IT UP!

Expect Kelly to resign in 2 weeks or less now.

[ghost]

Yeah, Oregon is fucked. 

[SnakeCharmer]

Putting that stuff in writing on thank you notes is just all kinds of pants on head stupid. 

[01101010]

So tOSU is now starting to be disassebled... 

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=6749330

[Paelos]

Yeah, that'll satisfy the NCAA. 

Bend over Ohio State. The NCAA is gonna dot the I.

[Montague]

Yeah, that'll satisfy the NCAA. 

Bend over Ohio State. The NCAA is gonna dot the I.

Betcha they don't.

Furthermore, I predict that the NCAA's final findings against Ohio State will be delayed - depending on if a certain FBI investigation in Columbus is still ongoing.

[Paelos]

You can't possibly believe that the NCAA is going to let Ohio State get off with "vacating" wins and firing their coach do you? This was one of the worst cases of a coach lying to investigators the whole way down that I've ever witnessed.

[01101010]

Yeah, that'll satisfy the NCAA. 

Bend over Ohio State. The NCAA is gonna dot the I.

Betcha they don't.

Furthermore, I predict that the NCAA's final findings against Ohio State will be delayed - depending on if a certain FBI investigation in Columbus is still ongoing.

Well tehnically they have tOSU already with the coach lying about shit. The rest is semantics.

[ghost]

You can't possibly believe that the NCAA is going to let Ohio State get off with "vacating" wins and firing their coach do you? This was one of the worst cases of a coach lying to investigators the whole way down that I've ever witnessed.

You never know.  The NCAA is wildly inconsistent on these things.  They could get anything from the doom hammer that USC got to a slap on the wrist.  Nothing would surprise me. 

[Paelos]

Why would they bitchslap USC and not Ohio State? In terms of national cred, they are basically identical.

[ghost]

Why would they bitchslap USC and not Ohio State? In terms of national cred, they are basically identical.

You got me.  The NCAA has a track record of being inconsistent though.  I'm certainly not making a prediction.  It just wouldn't surprise me to see OSU get off without a lot of penalties. 

[Rasix]

Didn't they hit USC with "lack in institutional control"?  That usually incurs a heavier penalty and from what I've read/heard they haven't charged OSU with it (since they've been laying everything at the feet of Tressel).

[Montague]

You can't possibly believe that the NCAA is going to let Ohio State get off with "vacating" wins and firing their coach do you? This was one of the worst cases of a coach lying to investigators the whole way down that I've ever witnessed.

Fired? No, OSU is letting him retire: http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/ex_osu_football_coach_jim_tressel_wont_be_fined_250k_will_be_allowed_to_ret/

Instead of fining him 250k they're paying him his 52k salary and letting him retire.

Now, this doesn't strike me as something a team that is about to be hammered by the NCAA for the actions of that very same coach would do. In fact, if you guys take your anti-Tressel blinders off for a second, the whole thing doesn't make a lot of sense. ESPN, SI, and God knows how many other news organizations scoured Columbus for more dirt to pile on Tressel. Nothing stuck other than the original tattoo guys, Terrelle's cars were legit, some of the guys mentioned in SI's hit piece as being involved with tattoos may sue the magazine (one of the guys doesn't even have one tatto, IIRC) - at most there might have been a couple of minor violations found.

Still, Tressel got caught committing a major violation and everyone has tagged him a dirty coach. But, if you've decided to say "fuck the rules" wouldn't you go whole hog? I mean, if you're gonna cheat might as well pull out the hookers and blow right? Well that's the thing - ask any major college coach and they'll tell you: Tressel is as clean as a whistle recruiting-wise. The man doesn't even negative recruit against other coaches. Ask Saban, Meyer, Paterno and they'll all say the same thing.

Now seriously why would a guy who has a squeaky-clean image, stellar graduation rates, and the respect of all of college football throw it all away? The dude won like 7 straight Big-10 titles, he was as close as untouchable as you could get so there was no real external pressure. If JT suspended half the offense for the year the players would have gotten hell, not JT. Not to mention that in Tressel's history he's suspended much better players than Terrelle Pryor - Mo Clarett and Troy Smith to name a couple. It just doesn't make a whole lot of sense.

So here's what I'm hearing:

Soon after Tressel received the e-mails from Cicero about the tats, he went and visited the dad of Matt Trombitas, a walk on QB for OSU who played from 2002-2004. He happens to be an FBI agent.

Trombitas denies that anything of substance was discussed, but uhh.... yeah right. The story is that the FBI through Trombitas advised Tressel to remain silent about the situation so as not to jeopardize an ongoing investigation. This includes not saying anything to compliance, or to his boss Gene Smith. So what do you do: Face NCAA sanctions or face an obstruction of justice charge?

The investigation is still ongoing because Rife (the tattoo owner) is now cooperating with the Feds. Apparently they're moving higher up the food chain, and Tressel is still being asked to keep quiet.

From the NCAA's point of view, there are extenuating circumstances but despite that, ineligible players were still played. Thus the vacating of the wins. No scholarship reductions, no post-season ban. Two years probation, no lack of institutional control.

I admit I'm not an insider by any means but I keep hearing this from those who claim they are. Take it FWIW and all that.

[01101010]

Well I would not go that far on Tressel. Granted, this site is full out Michigan fanboi and over the top, but the post is filled with a lot of wtfs...

http://umgoblue.com/talk/The-whole-tressel-mess-layed-out-from-YSU-to-osu-m169242.aspx

[Montague]

Well I would not go that far on Tressel. Granted, this site is full out Michigan fanboi and over the top, but the post is filled with a lot of wtfs...

http://umgoblue.com/talk/The-whole-tressel-mess-layed-out-from-YSU-to-osu-m169242.aspx

I've read it. Many of those are old news and have been thoroughly investigated and some are just outright inaccurate. Most of that crap was dug up during the Clarett fiasco by one Mike Freeman. The same Mike Freeman who lost his job at the NY Times for lying on his resume. Caveat emptor.

[Paelos]

Trombitas denies that anything of substance was discussed, but uhh.... yeah right. The story is that the FBI through Trombitas advised Tressel to remain silent about the situation so as not to jeopardize an ongoing investigation. This includes not saying anything to compliance, or to his boss Gene Smith. So what do you do: Face NCAA sanctions or face an obstruction of justice charge?

The investigation is still ongoing because Rife (the tattoo owner) is now cooperating with the Feds. Apparently they're moving higher up the food chain, and Tressel is still being asked to keep quiet.

From the NCAA's point of view, there are extenuating circumstances but despite that, ineligible players were still played. Thus the vacating of the wins. No scholarship reductions, no post-season ban. Two years probation, no lack of institutional control.

I admit I'm not an insider by any means but I keep hearing this from those who claim they are. Take it FWIW and all that.

What would the feds be investigating? RICO? If that's the case, it has nothing to do with him. All he would have had to say is "Federal Case and I'm not allowed to discuss it," to NCAA officials, and NONE of this would have happened. Are you actually suggesting he fell on his sword to take one for the school? This has been going on much deeper and much longer at Ohio State than I think you are willing to credit.

[Montague]

Trombitas denies that anything of substance was discussed, but uhh.... yeah right. The story is that the FBI through Trombitas advised Tressel to remain silent about the situation so as not to jeopardize an ongoing investigation. This includes not saying anything to compliance, or to his boss Gene Smith. So what do you do: Face NCAA sanctions or face an obstruction of justice charge?

The investigation is still ongoing because Rife (the tattoo owner) is now cooperating with the Feds. Apparently they're moving higher up the food chain, and Tressel is still being asked to keep quiet.

From the NCAA's point of view, there are extenuating circumstances but despite that, ineligible players were still played. Thus the vacating of the wins. No scholarship reductions, no post-season ban. Two years probation, no lack of institutional control.

I admit I'm not an insider by any means but I keep hearing this from those who claim they are. Take it FWIW and all that.

What would the feds be investigating? RICO? If that's the case, it has nothing to do with him. All he would have had to say is "Federal Case and I'm not allowed to discuss it," to NCAA officials, and NONE of this would have happened. Are you actually suggesting he fell on his sword to take one for the school? This has been going on much deeper and much longer at Ohio State than I think you are willing to credit.

I don't know, IANAL so I have no clue if the FBI can put a gag order in that way on you. As for how long this has been going on, ESPN, SI and every other news network has been combing Columbus for weeks looking for dirt. Nothing substantial other than the original allegations have come of it. We all know how major college football works - you take any campus and you turn it upside down with enough people you will find violations. Especially since the media guys hated JT's guts with a passion.