Tank's Take March 14, 2003

The Good, The Bad, and The UGA

To say this is a basketball season the NCAA would like to forget is an understatement. Not only has their group of talented future NBA stars been overshadowed by a high school star from Ohio, but their season has been tainted by numerous scandals past and present that have dominated the headlines this season.

The Lebron James issue is one that the NCAA will not need to worry about, he has no intention of playing College ball, and with all the gifts he received he will not be eligible. Unlike high schools there are rules set in stone with no room for interruption. However, the fact that players are leaving college after their freshman season or not attending college all together is an issue that must be addressed by the NBA, and NCAA. The NFL has set an age limit of 20 to play in the league and the NBA should do the same. It's too late to stop Lebron, but setting the age limit now would prevent future situations where a high school player gets bigger then his team, and the NCAA. It will also help the NCAA skill level and will improve play through out college basketball.

However, players leaving early is only one of a host of problems with the image and the integrity of college basketball. The recent scandals of Georgia and St. Bonaventure have grabbed all the headlines, but the 2 schools are just part of a list of teams banned from post-season play this year by either the NCAA or self imposed restrictions.

Joining Georgia and St. Bonaventure and list of shame are Michigan and Fresno State. Fresno State is sitting out a year after rumors of improbity surround former coach Jerry Tarkainian. Which when it comes to Tark is like saying there are rumors the sky is blue. While at UNLV Tarkanian and his players were photographed in the hot tub of known gamblers and underworld figures.

While, Michigan is sitting out as investigations surround the Fab Five team from the early 90's in which a booster made payments to star players like Chris Webber and Juwan Howard. IN fact the university has pulled down all the banners from the era that celebrated their back-to-back trips to the Finals. Chances are that the investigation will not go much further after the key witnessed died in December. What it does demonstrate however is that scandals are as old as college basketball itself.

In fact the worst scandal to hit the NCAA came 50 years ago when the City Colleg of New York and New York University were caught up in a huge point shaving scandal that almost destroyed the NCAA itself. CCNY the 1950 NCAA and NIT Champion, and NYU who were once basketball powerhouses had their programs shut down. Neither school is currently in Division 1, while not even being on the map of scholastic athletics.

In fact years after UCLA's powerhouse teams had graduated it was learned that a used car salesman who was a big booster for the team had been playing the star players of the team that was unbeatable winning 11 championship in 13 years from 1963-1975.

However, the scandals of today are more prevalent with non-stop 24-hour news coverage, cable television, sports radio and the Internet. Where the danger does lie is in the courtroom. Players from Georgia have tried to sue to be allowed to play. A judge did deny their request but another hearing on Monday could be problematic for the NCAA. If the court finds in favor of Georgia it can force the NCAA to put them in the NCAA Tournament, which will be, seeded Sunday Night throwing a monkey wrench into tournament scheduling and bracketing.

Which would be ridiculous since it was the University itself that banned the team. Which is the right thing for Georgia to do, if an investigation finds more wrong doing the Georgia program could face stiffer penalty, such as the loss of scholarships which could cripple its recruiting for years. Maybe a better option would have just to suspend the players involved in the scandals. Villanova men's team was forced to complete its season with just 7 players, as several players were suspended form improper use of phones on campus. It could have been an honest mistake, but the players must still face the consequences. Nova played gamely in their final games, but lost. However, in the end it should be up to the University to police itself, and when it refuses to do so they must face the full wrath f the NCAA.

Which brings us to St. Bonaventure, not only had they had players they knew were ineligible playing for them they threw a temper tantrum when they were caught. The Atlantic 10 did the proper thing forcing them to forfeit their 6 conference wins, and banning them from the conference tourney. However, when they supported their players' boycott of the final 2 regular season games they threaten the entire integrity of colligate sports. Its one thing for the players to have been upset over the NCAA's decision, but the university and the coaches needed to be the adults and forced them to play by revoking their scholarships. St. Bonaventure should have put a team on the floor even if it was the intramural team from across the hall. .

St. Bonaventure should consider itself lucky if they don't get kicked out of the Atlantic 10 conference all together. However, the Bonnies' recent move to fire the University President, while suspending the Athletic Director and Coach is a step in the right direction. If I were in charger I would give them a 1-year suspension from the conference, and send a warning that all future such protest would be met with a loss of scholarships.

However, there is still a good side of College sports and amidst all the news of scandals Texas Tech Coach Bobby Knight reminded of all that is right in the NCAA, as he gave back his $250,000 salary to the university after his team suffer through a disappointing season. Knight, who has been the target of criticism for the way he yells at his players, should be the shining example for all of College Sports. The only reason Knight yells at his players is that he expects more of them, and at the same he expects the same from himself, and when he does a lousy job he is the first to admit it. That is the true definition of integrity. Not that every coach has to give back his salary. Knight has made allot of money in his career and can afford it. However, his gift to the university will help it improve the campus and possibly recruit better players, which would only stand to improve the team in the future.

However, where Bobby Knight who is just one of 4 coaches to eclipse 800 wins, and may one day become the winningest coach in College Basketball history makes his best example is the fact their have never been any scandals involving recruiting violations or ineligible players on his team. In fact Knight has stricter standard for his players passing grades then the rest of the NCAA. Though his temper may get the best of him at times he is everything College Sports should be. He recognizes that his players are students before they are athletes, and those who play for him end up being better people weather they end up with a career in the NBA or in the business world.

Among the scandals and loss of stars top the NBA is the talk of paying athletes. All players of note have scholarships in the NCAA. Division 2 and 3 can't offer athletic scholarships and neither does the Ivy League. However, those universities are never going to land the star players, and those go there are going for the education and not the springboard to the NBA. Fact is in the end very few make in the NBA, and if a player is able to get a college education for fee while playing basketball. Then he should consider himself paid in full.

To pay the athletes would further make a mockery of the term student-athlete. After the term is student-athlete. Which means they are a student first. Coaches like Bobby Knight understand this. Which is what makes all these scandals so disturbing the fact that Tony Cole learned nothing while at Georgia but basketball means he was cheated, and when St. Bonaventure supports their teams' protest it means they endorse it.

The universities must step up and teach their players right from wrong, they must make sure they get their education, and the NBA must make sure that the NCAA is not undermined by putting in an age limit. If all these steps are taken, the NCAA could get past this season. However, if it continues to ignore the problem it will only get worse. Standards must be met by everyone, and if a player is academically ineligible and dose not want to play go to college then they can chose to go to Europe. This would help both the NCAA whose talent level has decreased, and the NBA, which is overrun by immature hot heads.

Integrity is the key its word that nobody seems to use any more. Its not political correct to have integrity or expect others to have. Which is why Bobby Knight is criticized when yells at his player, which is why he has trouble landing good player, which is why college basketball is swimming in scandals. Oh If they could not all be like Bobby Knight the good, we would have less of the bad like St. Bonaventure or the University of Georgia known as UGA.