At the University of North Carolina, more than 100 faculty members have signed a petition expressing their concern with the continuing academic scandal in the athletics department.
Are they just coming to the realization that athletics have overwhelmed the academy?
This hardly is a recent phenomenon.
Once seen as a great public university, UNC has been embarrassed by the academic malfeasance of some of its athletes.
As more layers are peeled away, more embarrassment occurs.
But when the Tar Heels open the 2012 football season at home against Elon University on Sept. 1, chances are Kenan Memorial Stadium will be full.
Things simply do not change.
I used to think a catastrophic event in college athletics would blow up the system and common sense would rule.
Silly me.
Catastrophic events?
How about academic scandals at UNC, the University of Minnesota and Florida State University?
Catastrophic events?
How about a murder in the men's basketball program at Baylor University? How about a male lacrosse player at the University of Virginia killing a female lacrosse player?
Catastrophic events?
How about a coverup of child molestation by a former assistant football coach at Penn State, which permitted the crimes to continue unabated for at least 10 years?
The Baylor basketball program is thriving and receives glowing media coverage for its recovery.
Lacrosse at Virginia remains as popular as ever.
Penn State received unprecedented punishment from the NCAA, but the program remains alive. The Nittany Lions will struggle for a while, then rebound.
Even as it was pummeling Penn State, the NCAA contributed to the idea that athletes deserve special treatment.
Current Penn State players can transfer and play immediately. Nine players have gone elsewhere.
But would nine regular students who suddenly decided they would rather attend N.C. State, Southern California or LSU be able to transfer in August, just weeks before classes began?
Of course not.
We are outraged millions of dollars in donations and television revenue pour into major college athletic programs.
Our outrage is so great that when Virginia and Virginia Tech sought money to build indoor practice facilities for football, millions of dollars were raised.
Why is there a need for indoor football facilities at Virginia or Virginia Tech? Yes, there are November cold spells in Charlottesville and Blacksburg, but neither the Hokies nor Cavaliers are based in Minnesota, North Dakota or Green Bay, Wis., where the late fall and winter weather really is extreme.
Within reason, teams should practice in the weather in which they play. It's known as getting ready for the game, and it used to be considered an advantage.
These new buildings aren't about staying warm and toasty for a couple of weeks in a season. This is about the ever-escalating facility wars and the impact such structures have on recruiting.
Yes, we are outraged all right, so outraged that cable sports channels, ever hungry for content, televise spring football practices and games.
Yes, we are outraged, so outraged we breathlessly await the college selection decisions of top-rated high school football and basketball prospects.
We are outraged about all the problems and scandals, until the games begin. Then, all is forgotten, except the winning and losing.
That is the problem.
nfl live saints vs 49ers vanessa marcil 49 ers frank gore frank gore nfl games
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.