cheaters

Selena Roberts, formerly of Sports Illustrated, has released a new investegative piece for her own blog in regards to Auburn University paying football players and altering grades under the watchful eye of Gene Chizik.  Roberts has credibility - she was the first journalist to do an investagative piece on A-Rod's use of steroids - so this can probably be taken fairly seriously....   

Rumors have been rampant forever, but now we have some specifics:

Three players say that before the BCS Championship game the team was told that as many as nine of their teammates would not be able to play in the title game because they were academically ineligible. “We thought we would be without Mike Dyer because he said he was one of them, but Auburn found a way to make those dudes eligible,” says Mike Blanc, a teammate and roommate of Mike McNeil’s. 

Receiver Darvin Adams, a star player with NFL dreams and a family to support, wrestled with whether to turn pro after the championship season. He discussed his plans with teammates and told them how much pressure he was under by Auburn coaches to stay. McNeil and Blanc say Auburn coaches offered Adams several thousand dollars to stay for his senior year. 

Link:  http://www.roopstigo.com/reader/auburns_vainted_title_victims_violations_and_vendettas_for_glory/ 

Also, a USA today piece which provides some background and links to Roberts' piece:

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2013/04/03/ncaa-football-auburn-violations-gene-chizik/2051041/ 

Well, um, I'm not sure what to say other than to quote and link this article.  Terrelle Pryor details the story of selling his Gold Pants for $3,000, money he says he used to pay his Mom's rent and heat bills.  

Whenever I write my book the proof will be in there, the receipt that the money I gave my mother was to pay the electric and heat bill. The truth is going to come out one day when the time is right. I don't think I deserved (being punished) in that way, because of the reason I was doing it. I felt like I was doing God's work in a way, and I was getting driven into the ground.

Strangely, he mentions nothing about tattoos, loaner cars, etc.  Some people are just crazy enough to believe their own nonsense.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/jim_trotter/05/09/terrelle.pryor/

Here's what he had to say about Ohio's extra coaches: 

 “It allows more coaching resources to work on the two primary responsibilities of any staff—coaching and recruiting. I am struggling to understand how this relates to the `level playing field’ the NCAA claims it is always working to create.”

Say what you will about Brandon (and I'm sure someone will complain about him in the comments), you have to love that he's calling the NCAA out. Having an extra set of coaches is a distinct advantage that makes a mockery of the NCAA's claims of fair and equal treatment. I'm surprised that it hasn't really gotten more attention from the national media. 

Link: http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/news?slug=ap-ohiostate-coacheswaiver-brandon

Cliff Harris has been dismissed from the Oregon Ducks by Chip Kelly. He was suspended for their first game of the season against LSU for driving 118 mph in the whole "There's weed in the car, but not really because you're Cliff Harris so you can go" deal. He hasn't played the last 5 games after being suspended indefinitely on October 25th for driving on a suspended license, without insurance, and without wearing a seatbelt. Then on November 25th he was cited for marijuana possession. Now he's been dismissed from the team after clearly demonstrating a lack of any self-control. 

It'll be interesting to see how this affects their game against Wisconsin. Oregon's defense didn't really change much in the 5 games Harris was suspended for. They even held Luck in check. And Wisconsin is a run first team anyways so...

Also, anyone heard any news about the NCAA investigation into Chip Kelly lately? For his involvement with Lyles and buying recruits? Back when it broke, people were saying that he'd have to go.

Link:http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/news?slug=ap-t25-oregon-harris

I find this absolutely unbelievable.  So the NCAA will go after a few hundred extra dollars in unearned pay, but paying the legal fees involved is somehow ok.  Even if you work for a Company that is paying you a salary, legal fees generally don't get covered if you were doing something corrupt.

http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/7090283/ohio-state-buckeyes-pay-players-lawyer-142000

So, Pete Carroll is going to Seattle for a ton of money. Obviously, he's done well coaching (alleged) amateurs in the NCAA for the past decade. My question is do you all perceive that the last decade has made him a substantially better NFL coach or has Paul Allen just spend a bunch of money on a "name hire" that will work at SC with (alleged) amateurs but not at the next level.

I am not a Seahawks fan but I can't help but wonder if they wouldn't have done better with a Leslie Frazier or Ron Rivera (experienced current NFL coordinators) as opposed to Carroll whose last experience in the league was eons ago. Perhaps Allen needed the name to maintain box renewals and seat sales.

Best wishes all.