OT: Further proof that the NCAA really has nothing better to do...
Caltech, a technically-focused nerd-haven with ~900 undergrads occupying 2 city blocks in Pasadena (and my alma mater, hence the username) was hit with NCAA violations for a lack of institutional control (link below). Apparently, its because students, who have the first couple weeks of term to figure out their schedules, may not have been properly enrolled in the system and were thus ineligible. Of course the coaches, most of whom have other jobs cuz a coaching job at a D3 school doesn't pay a whole of scratch, had no clue about the foibles of the system, and didn't catch it. Of course we have little to no compliance staff either.
Speaking from first hand experience, the students are already wrecked from the demands of insane professors and a curriculum that has all grads (even english majors) study theoretical quantum mech and differential equations as sophomores. Sports are what kids do to get away from crushing amounts of work. I had buddies who would regularly run from preparing lab experiments to basketball or tennis practice, all after working back-to-back all nighters. I of course didn't play sports cuz we haven't had a football team since 1993. As far as trying to gain some competitive advantage, this is dumbest thing in the world, cuz our teams all suck ass.
This just might be more frivolous than practicegate (though nowhere as public). I figured that on a lazy Thursday, we could all have a good laugh at the NCAA and the things they waste money on.
I'd put the over/under on wins vacated at around 20. Across 13 sports. Over maybe 3 years.
Reason No. 1954 why the NCAA sucks ass. This is pathetic.
+1 for username/av/sig combo alone. Voila! Breakfast!
Sports that don't involve revenue or scholarships shouldn't come under the NCAA unless they have a chance to compete in NCAA sanctioned events. Would CalTech even be eligible to play in the NCAA Tournament?
Yep, for Division III.
But good luck recruiting anybody.
Ah, yes: the myth of the "student-athlete." The NCAA has a chance to cut through their own BS here and reward real "student-athletes," but chooses to act like most state high school athletic associations.
Besides the typical NCAA hypocrisy, this is typical NCAA bullying. They let schools like Bama, USC, Ohio, and Auburn do anything they want, or maybe give them a punishment that looks "tough," but doesn't derail their train for long. Meanwhile, they pile on the little guy who doesn't produce a lot of revenue and has no leverage.
They only THINK they don't have anything better to do...
I will attach a good story about the California Inst. of Tech. basketball team I remembered from a few years ago, written by Rick Reilly.
Just click on the following to find the story at ESPN.com or search in the website for "CALTECH REILLY". Here it is:
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/news/story?id=6170690
~Herm
Inspiring.
that no one notices that you let the Alabamas and Auburns run wild seems like a rather stupid plan.
The NCAA will easily crack down on the little guys to show that they deal HARSHLY WITH ALL CRIMES. But they're extremely hesitant to deal anything out to the big schools. This is part of the reason why a) I'm not surprised the NCAA did something so stupid to Caltech and b) why I'm pretty sure that Penn State will lose some scholarships and get probation. Or MEGA-PROBATION if the NCAA really feels like this was egregious. Nice work suits
It's not just the NCAA. Enforcement organizations, generally, have this type of attitude/modus operandi. Just look at the SEC (not the conference) w/r/t who they've prosecuted for the 2008 financial collapse (Ponzi schemes aside; and that's a whole other ball of wax). You made $2m on an insider trade!? Cuffs for you. You systematically fucked the entire economy? Okay, let's settle. Actually, scratch that- no charges have been brought on behalf of the SEC with respect to the 2008 collapse (Galleon Group doesn't count).
This has probably beaten to death, but in the grand scheme of things, what PSU did, mothballing the concerns re; Sandusky since the early 90s by the football head coach, president, VP, and AD has been the worst thing that has happened in college athletics since the Colorado rape scandal came to light.
PSU football really deserves to be nuked after reading the Freih (sp?) report. Doubt the NCAA does anything.
I would be hesitant of having the NCAA involved in legal matters. I hope that PSU does the right thing and self-imposes some real sanctions - I know it will not happen but that would be ideal.