Is The NCAA Going Soft? It Sure Looks Like It!

I don't think you'll ever be able to confuse me for a guy who has a high opinion of the NCAA and recent punishments, or lack thereof, just advance the assumption that major college athletics' governing body is a long way from being fair and impartial. 

After it was revealed that Cam Newton's father tried to sell him off like an NFL free agent (Still can't believe that he said, "My parents do a lot for me behind the scenes," during his Heisman acceptance speech) not only did he not receive any suspension at all from the NCAA but was went on to win the Heisman trophy and will have a chance to lead his team to a national championship in a couple of weeks.

This is on the heels of North Carolina's season being thrown away by the NCAA over suspensions from players receiving improper benefits. That, of course, was on the heels of the NCAA dropping the hammer on USC by giving them one of the most sever punishments in recent history and Reggie Bush forfeiting his Heisman Trophy for his family receiving benefits. If I'm USC athletic director Pat Haden I'd like to have a few words the powers that be from the NCAA behind closed doors.

Now it comes to light that Ohio State players used their status as Buckeye football players to gain special privileges and sold their Big 10 championship rings, jerseys and other things, along with their dignity, for cash and tattoos among other things. What has the NCAA decided to do? They're making a glaring example out these guys by giving each of them a five game suspension...beginning next season.

Of the five players suspended from Ohio State all are juniors and four of them - starting quarterback Terrelle Pryor, leading rusher Daniel Herron, All Conference offensive tackle Mike Adams and receiver DeVier Posey could make themselves available in this springs NFL draft. The NCAA is pushing back their suspensions so that they may all play against Arkansas in the Sugar Bowl on January 4^th. That's really putting your foot down, isn't it? Plus if they do decide to declare then could someone please explain to me what the punishment is?  

It just makes sense that if players were suspended once they've committed infractions then the NCAA wouldn't have to call for so many teams to vacate wins and strike stats from record books. Then again, when did the NCAA do anything that made any sense to anyone?

When compared to North Carolina and USC it appears that the NCAA is going soft but then again, perhaps they're just protecting their interest. Without Cam Newton Auburn doesn't have a chance to make it to the BCS championship game. However, an Auburn/Oregon BCS title game is a lot more intriguing and will draw a bigger television audience than Oregon/TCU would have. Same is true for Ohio State/Arkansas. Who wants to shell out big dollars to attend a game where one team is missing their entire offense? Better yet, who would want to shell out big advertising dollars to sponsor that game?

It appears the NCAA is after the same thing the players are, money. Perhaps the NCAA is just as corrupt as those players they're going to suspend...next year.