Ethics and a college education–not profits and banners–need to be at the top of the priorities list.
Last Friday afternoon the NCAA finally delivered its ruling on the academic misconduct that happened at the University of North Carolina–and the judgment was not what the college sports world was expecting. The Tar Heels got out of the scandal unscathed and scot-free.
Courtesy: WNCN.com
Why didn’t NCAA come down hard on UNC? The body claimed that all students were affected, not just athletes (Note: about half of those enrolled in the courses in question participated in Tar Heel sports.)
The NCAA’s ruling is a major wake-up call. The NCAA seems unwilling to punish big-time programs and blue-bloods, like North Carolina.
The UNC ruling comes on the heels of multiple scandals at another big-time athletic program, the University of Louisville. First, Katrina Powell published a book describing escort-related escapades with the Cardinals’ basketball recruits. Just recently, the FBI has implicated UL in a bribery and conspiracy investigation–also involving the basketball program.
Both times an outside source unveiled scandal. The NCAA has yet to rule on either matter.
People, this is an epidemic. The NCAA has become a cupcake of an organization. It seems designed to protect the financial interests of major universities, athletic-wear companies, and television networks.
It’s all related to excessive commercialism in college sports.
As a Kentucky fan, I would be saying the same thing if scandals were found on John Calipari’s watch. If the Wildcats had committed academic fraud and/or other forms of misconduct, I would want UK to be punished and brought to justice.
Courtesy: NewsBusters
Would the NCAA have delivered the same ruling (as it did to UNC) to mid-major programs, like Eastern Kentucky, Gardner-Webb, or UNC-Asheville? Probably not. I think the NCAA would be quick to punish minor programs because they don’t generate much revenue for the NCAA and television networks.
The NCAA’s laissez-faire approach to the North Carolina academic scandal should be a wake-up call. It reveals a decline in a commitment to academic integrity and values. An institution of higher education is supposed to protect the interests of STUDENT-athletes. That means a college education needs to be the priority #1.
Although it’s widely believed that the NCAA is “just a stop on the way to the pros,” statistics show that only 1.1% college basketball players and 1.5% of college football players go on to play pro ball.
I think it’s time for big-time programs to start receiving their comeuppance. Ethics and a college education need to be at the top of the priorities list — not profits and banners.
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Cameron Brown, a former Webster County High School (KY) basketball player, is an undergraduate student at Western Kentucky University where he’s double majoring in journalism and history with a minor in broadcasting. In addition to being a sports columnist and sportswriter, he is also “The Voice of South Warren Spartans football” for the Sporting Times Broadcast Network. Contact him at cameron.brown288@topper.wku.edu.
