Goodbye Columbus (for Tressel)

As I said on Facebook, I generally don't condone breaking the ules, and I don't condone covering it up when it does happen. And I don't this time.

But in this case, I think some people should step back and take a look at just what happened here. And what that was entailed some college kids who sold objects that had belonged to them.

Yes, I realize that it's a bit more complicated than that. But that is, in fact, what happened-- some college kids sold some objects that had belonged to them.

OK, I know the NCAA is concerned about schemes that amount to what might be considered a situation where its players are being paid for their play. But for one thing, it seems to me that if you give a player objects of value, then in fact you have paid that player, whether or not the player turns around and sells the objects right away, or in a month, a year, or hangs onto it forever.

All right, putting that issue aside, you let a player receive objects of value, and then tell him that he can't sell them? Really? So to what extent does the player really own that object?

Think about the position the players are in. NCAA football is big business, and they all know it. They see all the money it brings in-- to the schools, to the coaches, the sponsors and everyone else. They know that the money is ultimately coming in because people want to see them play. Yet they're not allowed to get any of the money.

It doesn't excuse what they did, but it has to be difficult for some of them, especially the ones who come from poor families. Again, I'm not saying that the players aren't culpable-- I'm just saying: Is it really that difficult to understand why they did what they did? And keeping that in mind, is what Ray Small said so unbelievable? Not that he didn't exercise poor judgment by saying what he said publicly when he said it, but that the actual content of what he said is not surprising. Players are selling memorabilia that has been given to them? Excuse me while I stand here paralyzed in shock---not!!!

Still, it's the rule, and you're supposed to follow the rules. And Tressel, who is older and was in a position where he was responsible for keeping the program in line, should definitely know that. If he was at all confused about what to do, then he should have consulted an attorney. Or maybe he did, in which case the problem was that he sould have consulted a *good* attorney.

Therefore, I do think that punishment was merited. I just don't think it was deserved anywhere near to the point that it was served. But by the time all the Barney Fifes of the NCAA jump all over it (or in this case, merely the *threat* of them jumping all over it, because it still hasn't gotten that far), you would think that someone broke into the National Archives and tore up the Constitution.

And the result is that, among other things, a good man's reputation has been tarnished forever. Also, great coach. I have been following Ohio State football since 1968, and to me, Jim Tressel is by far the best football coach the Buckeyes have had during my fandom. (Yes, I said 1968, and yes, I said "the best." And no, I didn't forget anyone.)

Shame on the NCAA. I know it's too much to hope it will change its rules any time soon, but for Pete's sake, can't it just take a few minutes to step back and take a good look at what's really happening? With all the truly serious transgressions that are going on, such as drug usage and recruiting violations, the NCAA sorely needs to reevaluate the importance of the issues that exist in today's world of college football.