(04-04-2013 08:55 AM)mikeinsec127 Wrote: It's the $EC my man. The networks will use their talking heads to praise the quality of play on the field, marvel at the plays' hot girlfriends, and look the other way on EVERYTHING else.
They will indeed, just like they did for Ohio State, Penn State, Southern Cal, and every other major television brand. My point is that this is a television ratings issue, not an SEC issue. It's just that the SEC has a significant number television top draws.
I was in a position to know of violations 20 years ago. In the 5 state area I traveled every school but one was guilty of major violations. That included Big 8 schools, SWC schools, and Big 10 schools that recruited the same area as the ACC and SEC. When I identified violations I turned them into the president of the school that was guilty. Most of the presidents dealt with the matter internally. Many posters believe that schools are out to turn each other in. They are not. The primary objective of the knowledge of another school's misdeeds is to get them to drop the recruitment of that particular athlete. Intelligence about tactics is a strong reason behind last minute flips. Perhaps a stronger reason than a counter illegal inducement.
I know of Auburn's sins some of which are revealed in this article, but I also know that they pale in comparison to those of their rival. Saban perfected his hiding of misdeeds under the direction of Mark Emmert at LSU. In the State of Alabama they have a cover that surpasses the ability of the NCAA to investigate.
I read these threads on here about academics and reputations for academics and I want to vomit. Schools from every major conference trounce on the notion of academics. Grade fixing, arranged cheating, paid off professors, and ringers to take tests are as old as college football profitability. It's drugs and prostitution like allegedly at Ohio State (ESPN's initial report on the Buckeye's problems), Miami (Nevin Shapiro's strip club visits and Yacht trips), and recent allegations made by the former track coach at Texas that are really reprehensible. And, I would add that the SEC and PAC are not innocent of these kinds of things either. It's time that naive fans woke up to the crimes and misdeeds that their schools turn a blind eye to while in pursuit of a buck. Like Miko, I lost much of my lifetime interest awhile ago. Is a star recruit worth the abusing of a young woman's life? Are we so sick as a society that we can justify anything for a little acclaim?
And none of this touches the gambling aspect where point shaving is handled not by the players but by the officials. There is a ton of money wagered on those games and the closing line wins most of the time. You all know the betting line since it is published and bantered about frequently, but the closing line reveals one thing and that is which teams have the most bet on them. The house wins that line about 75% of the time. I call that terrific luck.
The question always comes back to what if that were my son they were using and giving a free pass on every desire of his uninformed heart just so they could make a few million of off him? What if it were my daughter being asked to be his escort to get him to sign? What if it were my son's eligibility that was being jeopardized by a few hundred dollars slipped to him across a table or tucked into his shirt pocket? As long as it is some poor person's child we don't seem to give a damn as long as it enhances our prestige, or increases our bankroll. After all we say, this is his 15 minutes and he is only seeking to better himself. What we don't stop to think about is the lesson he learns. "Everyone is corrupt. There are really no rules that money can't override. Everybody has an angle. And rules are for succors." Why are we so surprised then when they seem to think that their stardom should permit them to override the law? After all, their college experience has taught them otherwise and their corporate exposure has solidified it.
But hey, how is this any different from preferential treatment given to white collar criminals with country club jail time and the million dollar bonuses paid to the corporate execs whose businesses are "too big to fail" after their poor decisions have led to imminent collapse scenarios? The laws must apply to everyone are they are not laws. The laws must also apply to the law makers. The same is true for college athletics. What the upper tier really represents culturally is the cut off point beyond which law no longer applies. The schools that make the big money and make the upper tier will get away with murder. The others won't. That will make competition and upward mobility moot. It is exactly like what corporations have done to private business. Football is but one of many social indicators of a very new attitude toward the common man and the law.