How Can the NCAA Truly Fix College Football?

[Townhallsavoy]

Make no mistake.  Miami isn't the only one breaking rules this badly.  Ok, so maybe not everybody is paying for prostitutes to have abortions.  But I don't doubt for a second that sex parties, jewelry, cars, clothes, suits, kitchens, and condos are being provided to recruits and players at big time college football programs.

You really think Reggie Bush was the only person involved with Pete Carroll's program to receive extra benefits?

Do you honestly believe that five people on Ohio State's team were trading gear for tattoos?  You really think every other player on Ohio State's team said, "No thank you.  We want to play by the rules"?

Do you believe Alabama when they say the fishing trip, the laptop, the agent party, and the Tom Al-Betar story are all no big deal?  Nothing to see there?

North Carolina just had a few kids go to a few parties with an agent.  Butch Davis didn't keep tabs on that and it slipped up.  Everyone else was clean.  Those kids never accepted anything else they could get their hands on.  Just a flaw in their character at that particular moment when the agent offerred the party. 

Do you really think that Florida's 30+ players to be arrested while playing for Urban Meyer had the moral compass to refuse any extra benefits from any rogue booster that offerred?  Do you really believe Florida boosters - part of one of the most arrogant fanbases in the country - decided to stay away from players and never offer anything improper? 

How about Notre Dame?  Do kids really still desire to play at Notre Dame?  Do you honestly believe that a football program adored by the Catholic church which has been in hot water for the last ten years has not had dealings with corrupt boosters wanting to sway top notch recruits to their blessed team? 

Let's hit home.  Do you really think everyone associated with Auburn is playing it clean?  No one out there willing to pay $200k for a Heisman trophy quarterback? 

The list could go on:

West Virginia
Michigan
LSU
Miami
Miss State (What if Kenny Rogers got his way?  How many times has he gotten his way?)

So you tell me.  Would giving Miami the death penalty really stop this behavior?  Would giving fifteen teams the death penalty stop this behavior? 

I really don't know. 

[AUChizad]

I'll tell you this.

The answer is NOT to pay the players so the NCAA is funding stripper abortions.

[Townhallsavoy]

I agree the NCAA shouldn't pay players.  I don't think they could regulate it any better than they regulate the amateur status of players. 

Honestly, I think the NCAA should give 15 schools the death penalty.  I think that would work.  If the NCAA truly wants college football to be like other collegiate sports - amateur - then it has to curb the appeal for big TV contracts and big coaching salaries. 

Make the message clear.  You cheat.  You die.

[JR4AU]

The thing is, nobody will want to see the product on the field when it's truely fixed.

[AUTiger1]

The thing is, nobody will want to see the product on the field when it's truely fixed.

 
Why is that?

Solid avatar by the way.

[Snaggletiger]

One of two things.  First, the NCAA stops being a paper tiger and actually enforces the rules on the books.  Death penalty for Miami and anyone else involved in rampant cheating on that level.

Or....you change the penalties in a manner that stops affecting everyone except the wrong doers.  Make a scholarship a contract that includes the requirement that you pay back every penny paid out on your behalf if you break the rules and get your school in trouble. 

Also, make the penalties for cheating (at a certain level) a fine.  Not just a substantial fine.....one that kicks the school in the ass.  You're paying players?  How about you pay the NCAA $15 million, with that money being distributed around the other Universities to provide academic scholarships for deserving individuals.

[Townhallsavoy]

I think everyone will not only want to see the product, they'll enjoy it more. 

Mel Kiper of all people made a great point the other day - Off the field issues are horrible to talk about because every time you bring it up, it tarnishes what happens on the field. 

If you knew...honestly knew...that Bama wasn't cheating, you wouldn't hate their success so much.  It's a big rivalry, yes.  But what really boils my blood is when I see a Tom Al-Betar character involved with the players and then watch those players win championships. 

The recruits will still exist.  Most traditional programs will still be around.  Parity will still be increasing. 

But we'll know that no bullshit is going on especially when it gets exposed. 

But as I said in the OP, I don't know if 15 programs getting obliterated will stop people from cheating.  Rogue boosters are always going to be rogue.

[Townhallsavoy]

One of two things.  First, the NCAA stops being a paper tiger and actually enforces the rules on the books.  Death penalty for Miami and anyone else involved in rampant cheating on that level.

Or....you change the penalties in a manner that stops affecting everyone except the wrong doers.  Make a scholarship a contract that includes the requirement that you pay back every penny paid out on your behalf if you break the rules and get your school in trouble. 

Also, make the penalties for cheating (at a certain level) a fine.  Not just a substantial fine.....one that kicks the school in the ass.  You're paying players?  How about you pay the NCAA $15 million, with that money being distributed around the other Universities to provide academic scholarships for deserving individuals.

Lawyers will have to answer this question -

How much can you legally fine an institution? 

Because last I heard, LSU's booster club's bank account is worth $250 million+.  Risking a $15 million fine is chump change.  Could they fine a program/school into bankruptcy? 

I still think the best course of action is to ruin careers.  You're an assistant coach that wants to cheat?  Automatically banned from ever coaching in college football again.  That might curtail these assistants that are getting involved with rogue boosters and corrupt recruits.

[Snaggletiger]

The cheating has always been there and probably will never stop, as long as this sport continues to grow as the golden goose.  TV contracts get bigger every year, ticket prices go up, apparel sales and on and on and on.  It'll always be a race to the top and cheating will always be a part of that race.

[Saniflush]

The thing is, nobody will want to see the product on the field when it's truely fixed.

Well the real question is can we see the strippers?