Capital One Bowl, so these coaches have to make sure their star players are actually able to play. If that means paying a student to write papers for the running backs or giving a beat cop a pair of sideline passes on the sly to keep that free safety’s DUI stop on the QT—or even if it means lying to the NCAA about whether you know your quarterback traded an autographed game jersey for a tattoo, then so be it. And this isn’t even the worst violation this year. Me: I don’t want to know. You: Oh, please. You already know about that business with Cam Newton. That happens all the time, too. You think the majority of these stud football players choose where to go to college based on visits and academic potential? Give me a break. They are following the money and almost all of them will get away with it. Why? Because the NCAA doesn’t care, really, about maintaining the sanctity of amateur athletics. It’s all about dollars. It’s only in cases like Cam Newton’s or Reggie Bush’s where they have to stop bathing in hundred-dollar bills like Scrooge McDuck and make a statement “for the good of the game.” And, honestly, the only reason those two got caught is because someone close to them either couldn’t keep their trap shut or couldn’t be cool with the money once they got it: An agent close to Bush sued him for not repaying $290,000 in gifts while Cecil Newton’s (Cam’s father) church, on the verge of being condemned, suddenly has $50,000 to repair its building. Me: I feel sick. You: Get over it, will you? Besides, it’s easier to watch major college football once you’ve surrendered the notion that most of those guys are “student-athletes” and are rather, for lack of a better term, semi-professional football players. In fact, you kind of get a new appreciation of college football at the lower levels of Division I. I’m not saying that any of this nastiness doesn’t happen in the FCS or Division II (Division III football is non-scholarship, so you’re not likely to see too many shenanigans down there) from time to time, but, for the most part, these are just guys who want to play football. Me: It’s just so difficult to wrap my head around. I mean, when the NCAA says that these guys at Ohio
Volume 3 • Issue 3
State or Alabama or Florida are student-athletes, then who am I to say they’re wrong? I mean, every game they show the Scholar Athlete of the Week. Some of those guys have 4.0 grade point averages. In kinesiology. That sounds like a tough major. What is kinesiology, anyway? You: Most of the time it’s code for “majoring in football.” Me: Oh (sniffle). You: Good grief. Get a hold of yourself, man. Me: I’m trying. It’s just tough
when all of your illusions about major college athletics are shattered all at once like this. But, thank you for the tough love. I’m sure I’ll get over it all before next football season. And you’re probably right. I think it will be easier to watch the big boys play football this season without all that “student-athlete” stuff distracting me. You: (eye roll) You’re welcome. Me: (sniffle). You: Don’t you know there’s no crying in sports writing?
Brandon Shoumaker is a graduate of McNeese State University and has covered sports for more than seven years for various publications. Coaches Brandon Shoumaker or parents with story tips may contact Brandon at bshoumaker@yahoo.com or send him a message on Twitter (@bshoumaker).
TJN
MAY 5, 2011
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