"The NCAA Isn't Playing Fair"

Buckeyes Get A Pass

As we gear up for the first of the BCS Bowls on January 1st, I thought it would be appropriate to look at the Sugar Bowl match up in particular. The Ohio State Buckeyes(Big Ten) are set to battle the Arkansas Razorbacks(SEC).

 Last week I wrote an article called  "Go Forth My Son and Get Paid" about Terrelle Pryor and his teammates that were found to have received improper benefits and were ruled ineligible by the NCAA for the first five games of the 2011 season. As much as I sympathized with the players in this situation. I must say that I found the NCAA to be completely bogus in it's ruling that they were ineligible for the first five games of 2011 but not for the Sugar Bowl. How do you bypass the bowl game?

Now if they are in fact ineligible to play for five games the first of those suspensions should have been the Sugar Bowl. Then the first four games of next season would have made the most sense. It sounds to me like the NCAA is either giving Ohio State a pass or penalizing the powerful SEC. Why the SEC? Would it be the fact that the SEC has won the last five BCS National Titles and if those five players weren't playing in the Sugar Bowl the Bucks wouldn't have had a chance at all? Or would it be that Ohio State is currently 0-9 against the SEC? If I were Arkansas I would be fired up to beat the brakes off of the them to make a statement to the NCAA and the country that the SEC is as dominant as always. With or without Pryor and his pals I don't think that it's really going to make a difference.  I just figured that I would say it because the only other person to call them on it was ESPN's Mark May.

 In addition to missing five games next season, Pryor, Mike Adams, Daniel Herron, Devier Posey and Solomon Thomas must repay money and benefits ranging in value from $1,000 to $2,500. The repayments must be made to a charity. A sixth football player must sit out the first game in 2011 for receiving discounted services in violation of NCAA rules. All of the players be eligible for the Jan. 4 Allstate Sugar Bowl, however.

Pryor must repay $2,500 for selling his 2008 Big Ten championship ring, a 2009 Fiesta Bowl sportsmanship award and his 2008 Gold Pants, a gift from the university for players on a team that beats arch-rival Michigan. Herron must repay $1,150 for selling his football jersey, pants and shoes for $1,000 and receiving discounted services worth $150. Posey must repay $1,250 for selling his 2008 Big Ten championship ring for $1,200 and receiving discounted services worth $50.Adams must repay $1,000 for selling his 2008 Big Ten championship ring. Thomas must repay $1,505 for selling his 2008 Big Ten championship ring for $1,000, his 2008 Gold Pants for $350 and receiving discounted services worth $155. What's your opinion?

Jay Graves
 Information from The Associated Press is included in this report.