Akron September opponent's coach in hot water?

[g-mann17]

Same question. Is this ok? Fluff jobs come along in the real world. There are many folks collecting money for nothing, why not college athletes?

Anywhere a opportunity for a sleaze exists, it will be exploited.

This could take place but it I doubt it would be too widespread. I don't think there are that many people out there who would be able to give away that type of money. Would this scenario be any different than the kid taking the money under the table? Money under the table is worse because it becomes criminal activity.

The guy with $20,000 to give away would probably be a smart businessman. My guess is he would want something for his 20K. Right now all he gets is a chance to sniff jock. Let's say he was a car dealer. The conversation might be, "I'll pay you 20K, but you are going to be at my dealership for three Saturdays in June, July and August signing autographs for four hours." Professional athletes can do this, actors can do this, any of us could do this if we could get the dealer to pay us. Why not the player? If you treat them like adults, they might just act like adults. Right now, they get treated like children and they act out like children.

You are clueless. Take someone like T. Boone Pickens. He could lose $100,000,000 a year and not even notice (figuratively, he would obviously notice he's a businessman, but you get my point its not going to hurt him) that goes a long way to cushy jobs for Oklahoma State players.

And you fail to recognize this goes on now. Dealers and restaurants and the like do it already. Some of these rich alums are just waiting for the opportunity. And more importantly they will find a way to spend the money and make money in the process.

[RACER]

it's already happening.you act like it does not exist now.there are hundreds of former athletes who have taken money for boosters ect.dez bryant,m. irvin,deon sanders,chris carter,reggie bush are just a few.you act like college sports is fine.it's not and it will continue to happen.

[GP1]

Take someone like T. Boone Pickens. He could lose $100,000,000 a year and not even notice (figuratively, he would obviously notice he's a businessman, but you get my point its not going to hurt him) that goes a long way to cushy jobs for Oklahoma State players.

Pickens has been trying to buy a championship for years at OSU. It hasn't worked yet. There is no evidence he can pull it off.

Anytime Pickens has done anything, he has received something in return. In the case of building stadiums, he gets tax deductions. He might throw a little money around for jobs, etc., but I would bet not as much as you might think. He was all for saving the world with wind power, until he realized he couldn't make any money at it. He would be all for guys getting paid until he realized there was nothing in it for him.

[g-mann17]

it's already happening.you act like it does not exist now.there are hundreds of former athletes who have taken money for boosters ect.dez bryant,m. irvin,deon sanders,chris carter,reggie bush are just a few.you act like college sports is fine.it's not and it will continue to happen.

100's over the course of a 100 years and 100's of thousands of athletes. If you change the game it is even more corruptable than it is now. That is what most of us who argue against GP1 or your suggestions are pointing out.

People naturally gravitate to the easiest path, and people who are less risk averse are more willing to walk closer to the line or step over it. If you move the line or relax the rules there will be more corruption then there is now, there will be an even wider window of disparity then what there is now and you will have turned the sports into the NFL and NBA minor leagues.

College sports works and is supported by far more people than pro-sports. Why? Because the majority (and yes it is the majority) of these athletes play for the love of the sport with no concern of making anymore than their scholarship. Should the scholarship be closer to some academic scholarships? Absolutely give then a spending stipend similar to that. Should they be free to make money off themselves? Hell no. Should they be able to make what ever people are willing to pay them in "legit jobs"? Hell no. There has to be regulation on this kind of things to keep the corruption at a minimal and keep people interested.

Are college sports fine? Depends on who you ask. The biggest problem is that no one has been willing to really punish any of these schools. I look at UNC and that is a school that should receive the death penalty. Ohio State? I think they should receive as harsh punishment as USC did. Too many people think that if you P off the big fish they will bolt. However they will not have the money to hold tournaments for non revenue sports and they are locked into having those sports because of Title IX. Rules only work if the consequences for breaking them are actually enforced. Perhaps a major fining system along with the typical sanctions should be implementd.

Say OSU has this violation and then they lose the scholarships and have to forfeit 50% of their TV revenue to the NCAA who resdistributes that revenue to schools who don't have violations. That would right the ship real quick.

I've also noticed nobody has picked up on my previous point of looking at who is throwing all of this "not fair to players" and "schools making more money than ever" nonsense is coming from. The networks are making more than the schools off these players but aren't doing a damn thing to remedy it. They just keep pumping up the packages to the Universities and using the fall out to boost ratings and readership even further. ESPN is the one that caused this mess and then they act innocent and blame the schools for "being money hungry and not sharing". You created the revenue stream you idiots and you knew the rules when you did. But it really doesn't bother them because while them and CBS pay out hundreds of millions each year, they make billions on these sports. That is why the Big 10 developed their own network. Why should they have to go through a middle man?

[GP1]

If you change the game it is even more corruptable than it is now.

There is an old saying, "Sunlight is the best antiseptic." Bringing the money into the sunlight will kill a lot of the corruption. College football can then focus on....I don't know....this thing called "college football" and not who is taking money from drug dealing tat parlor owners. Remember, it isn't the money that causes the corruption, it's the secrets the money creates that causes the problems.

I guess if the ability to pay players in legal jobs is make or break with my scenario, the Ivy League should become the #1 conference in the country. They have the most wealthy and influential alumni in the US.....unless it isn't all about the money.

[g-mann17]

If you change the game it is even more corruptable than it is now.

There is an old saying, "Sunlight is the best antiseptic." Bringing the money into the sunlight will kill a lot of the corruption. College football can then focus on....I don't know....this thing called "college football" and not who is taking money from drug dealing tat parlor owners. Remember, it isn't the money that causes the corruption, it's the secrets the money creates that causes the problems.

I guess if the ability to pay players in legal jobs is make or break with my scenario, the Ivy League should become the #1 conference in the country. They have the most wealthy and influential alumni in the US.....unless it isn't all about the money.

First. Answer me a question. Is the NCAA as corrupt (right now) as say Wall Street, or government contracts? Because those are both out in the open.

Second, if the Ivy League wanted to reduce their educational standards, they would be the absolute top athletic schools in the country right now. They decided a long time ago to spend on academics. Why? Because it makes WAY MORE MONEY.

OSU didn't get huge money because of Woody, they got huge money because of their patents. Go to a Yale - Harvard football game, it far beats OSU - Michigan as a rivalry.

[GP1]

First. Answer me a question. Is the NCAA as corrupt (right now) as say Wall Street, or government contracts? Because those are both out in the open.

I would say it isn't as corrupt. In almost every way, it is worse. At least on Wall Street and in government contracts, the end producers get paid for their services and they are free to go elsewhere to work if they wish. Nobody is forced to work on Wall Street and nobody is forced into a government contract. If a high school player wants to play college sports, that person is forced into a contract by a monopoly called the NCAA. That person is forced into signing away their rights to make money off of what the NCAA is making off of them for the rest of their lives. Many of the athletes, and their families, signing the contracts have no understanding of contract law or the language used in the documents they are signing. Even if they had enough money to hired a lawyer to represent them, they would be unable to change the terms of the contract between the school and the player. Many of those people signing the NCAA contract are under the age of 18 so the NCAA is basically taking advantage of a child. If that isn't a form of corruption worse than what goes on in Wall Street and government contracts, I don't know what is.

Given all of that, I don't think it is too much to ask to allow a young adult to have the ability to make a legal income while playing sports in college.

[g-mann17]

Given all of that, I don't think it is too much to ask to allow a young adult to have the ability to make a legal income while playing sports in college.

Yeah you kind of missed my point here. It wasn't about taking advantage of individuals. It was about how easilly money is exchanged and how corruptable "legal" things are.

[johnnyzip84]

As an aside, it looks like Urban Meyer will make his broadcast debut at this game. That will be kind of interesting. After some deliberation, I think I'm skipping this OOC road trip and plan to head to Cincy instead. So is it too early to start talking about a watch party? If there was ever a time when we'll need to coordinate such an event, it will be for this game (or we'll be completely drowned out by the opposition). The Barley House would seem like a hopeless cause for this one. Maybe BW3's across from the Info? It's small enough that if we get there early and in numbers we might just pull it off. Ripper's place? Any other suggestions?

[K92]

As an aside, it looks like Urban Meyer will make his broadcast debut at this game. That will be kind of interesting. After some deliberation, I think I'm skipping this OOC road trip and plan to head to Cincy instead. So is it too early to start talking about a watch party? If there was ever a time when we'll need to coordinate such an event, it will be for this game (or we'll be completely drowned out by the opposition). The Barley House would seem like a hopeless cause for this one. Maybe BW3's across from the Info? It's small enough that if we get there early and in numbers we might just pull it off. Ripper's place? Any other suggestions?

Never too early to start talking about a watch party. I haven't been to Manny's yet. Does it have enough room for the myriad of Zip fans? I really like Pints, but it is pretty small. Set it up Johnny Z!

[Dr Z]

I haven't been to Manny's yet. Does it have enough room for the myriad of Zip fans?

Yes. If somebody talked to Manny, I'm sure he would be more than happy to accommodate.

[dreal1scout]

He'll apparently never own up to his actions.

sorry Johnny but I can't side with you on this one. he did request to have his suspensions extended to match the players.

Maybe he was hoping the extended suspension would cover up his lies.

20 year old kids have some level of excuse...they're poor, young and capable of stupid stuff.

Tressel was a grown man. He knew better. And, only under pressure, did he have his suspension increased to match (not exceed) the kid's suspension. Too little too late.

All he needed to do was forward the emails to his compliance officer and he'd have be fine. He didn't, and his motives were pretty transparent to all.

Looking forward to seeing Coach Fickell this upcoming Labor Day weekend!

And I'm looking forward to our ZIPS giving tOSU a Beat Down. As a good friend of mine once said when we (and several other friends) were confronted by an angry/hostile rival group of friends on a basketball court, and a fight seemed imminent, "They Ain't So Tough". And as for the tOSU Suckeyes, " They Ain't So Tough as The Zips".

[Roo]

I agree about making money to players legal is just opening a can of worms that the NCAA doesn't want.

First, it just makes that gap between BCS and non BCS schools that much wider. How can Akron generate the budget to pay players as equally as Ohio State? It's just not possible.

Second, these kids are entitled as is. Tossing money their way is just going to make them that much hungry for greed. I think corruption in this scenario rises, because when is enough, enough?

Tough shit the NCAA makes billions, they make it off the product, not the individual player. I slaved away at a NAIA school on a partial scholarship, worked a job, and still was happy that I got barely a little bit off of school. These kids already get a full ride, a stipend, government aid in most cases, and have no worries of debt once leaving school. Enough is enough. If they pay the players, that is probably the point I stop watching NCAA athletics and cancel my season tickets and write off sports all together as a fan. Im tired of seeing all these ungrateful athletes catered too like they are a special class citizen.

[GP1]

First, it just makes that gap between BCS and non BCS schools that much wider. How can Akron generate the budget to pay players as equally as Ohio State? It's just not possible.

The gap between BCS and nonBCS schools is going to continue to get wider for many reasons whether or not players get paid or can have a job. Which is why the BCS schools should have their own division and rules. It's what the ncaa wants.

[Zips Win!]

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http:/...099&bih=618

[Lee Adams]

First, it just makes that gap between BCS and non BCS schools that much wider. How can Akron generate the budget to pay players as equally as Ohio State? It's just not possible.

The gap between BCS and nonBCS schools is going to continue to get wider for many reasons whether or not players get paid or can have a job. Which is why the BCS schools should have their own division and rules. It's what the ncaa wants.

So true. The 'lesser' conferences can still go to bowls. And, if the powers that be come up with a more objective way of determining who gets into a 'playoff' system,screw the polls, there could always be a 'wildcard(s)' team(s) from the lesser conferences that could get in based on their performance during the season. Otherwise,the big boys can commit to a playoff system for the national champeenship. Maybe that way OSU, and most others, will have to stop playing cupcakes and schedule some legit teams early in the season.

[GP1]

So true. The 'lesser' conferences can still go to bowls. Otherwise,the big boys can commit to a playoff system for the national champeenship.

I think that if the BCS level teams have their own division, bowls will go away. A middle division between I-AA and I-A can be created and it can have a playoff system like the BCS level schools have (If there are four divisions now, there could easily be five). I would rather see Akron play a home playoff game for a chance to win a national championship than to go to a meaningless bowl game in Mobile, AL.

The key to playoff systems is to create a structure around it where teams don't make it every year like they do now in the playoff divisions.

[GP1]

I wonder how much Dick Tressel knew about his brothers bad behavior at tOSU.

[ZachTheZip]

OSU responded today by vacating all their wins from the 2010 season. They also suspended two more players for the game against the Zips. But that's it. No scholarship loss, no post-season ban. I doubt that the NCAA will accept that as being good enough of a punishment.Here's the press release.

[Dave in Green]

What OSU was willing to do to themselves is a hint of what they think the NCAA might do to them.

[ZachTheZip]

What OSU was willing to do to themselves is a hint of what they think the NCAA might do to them.

Yeah, but what they think seems to be very far from reality. They also thought they would be fine suspending Tressel for only two games.

[johnnyzip84]

I haven't been to Manny's yet. Does it have enough room for the myriad of Zip fans?

Yes. If somebody talked to Manny, I'm sure he would be more than happy to accommodate.

Had a chance to stop at Manny's today. He wasn't there,but the place is just the right size for us Zip fans to take over on Sept 3. They have a decent selection of beers on tap (had a stone ipa myself) and a nice Zip picture on the wall. I think that's where I plan to be to watch the opener.In other news I saw them working on the Info scoreboard while I was looking out from Manny's patio.

[ZachTheZip]

ESPN is now suing OSU, who allegedly illegally impeded ESPN's investigation into the scandal. They're suing specifically to obtain the things that OSU was hiding from investigators. I hope they win and it happens before the NCAA ruling.

[skip-zip]

What OSU was willing to do to themselves is a hint of what they think the NCAA might do to them.

Bingo!! Either that, or they just felt that doing the responsible thing is something that they aspire to as an athletic department Seriously, I know OSWho fans who really believe that all of these self-imposed penalties are showing that they really do care, and want to display their good character to the rest of the collegiate athletics world.

[Dave in Green]

Right, tOSU calculatingly undershot the penalty they think they're likely to get from the NCAA, hoping that the NCAA will decide to avoid the hassle of adding its own penalty on top of the self-imposed one.You never know exactly how the NCAA is going to act in these situations. But from the level of outrage posted in the media, I'm betting that the NCAA will not be satisfied with the self-imposed penalty.