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October 29, 2009
For my picks on each Big 12 game in week 9, check out the latest edition of ConferenceChatterTV below:
The NCAA put down its iron fist this week and ruled Oklahoma State wide receiver Dez Bryant ineligible for the remainder of the season.
It's a ridiculous ruling that doesn't make much sense.
Bryant lied to the NCAA when questioned about his interaction with Deion Sanders. Bryant panicked when officials questioned him, thinking his meeting with Sanders was potentially an NCAA violation. It wasn't. He simply visited Sanders' home in Dallas, had dinner with Prime Time and talked to him about the NFL.
It didn't take Bryant long to fess up and admit he lied to the NCAA. For his honesty, it's bogus he was suspended for the remainder of the season.
Bryant is a 20-year-old kid who admitted his mistake. There's been college athletes who have done a lot worse.
• About four years ago, Yahoo! Sports reported Reggie Bush committed several major infractions while playing college football and winning the Heisman Trophy at USC. The report stated Bush and his family accepted financial benefits worth more than $100,000. Nothing's happened to Bush or USC.
• O.J. Mayo accepted thousands of dollars in cash and gifts in his one and only season (2007-08) at USC. Roughly a year later in June 2009, former USC coach Tim Floyd resigned following allegations that he gave $1,000 in cash to a man who made sure Mayo would play basketball at USC. Still nothing from the NCAA on Mayo or USC.
• Oregon running back LeGarrette Blount was suspended for punching a Boise State player in the face following the 2009 season opener for both teams. Oregon coach Chip Kelly initially suspended Blount for the entire season, but recently reduced the punishment, saying Blount could return from suspension on Nov. 7 if he met certain guidelines. The final approval will be in the hands of the Pac-10.
So there's a possibility that Blount, a guy who inexplicably lost his temper and punched someone in the face, returns, while Bryant is barred from the field for the remainder of the season? Something's off here.
I'll tell you this much: Bryant's done with college football. He'll likely enter the 2010 NFL Draft, where he'll be a first-round pick. ESPN draft analysts Mel Kiper and Todd McShay have Bryant as their No. 1 wide receiver on the board.
There's little chance Bryant passes on his payday in the NFL, particularly since the league could enforce a rookie wage scale in 2011. Bryant is likely to bolt for the pros and the money.
At this point, though, after this frustrating ruling from the NCAA, I can't say I blame him.
That should be all for now, friends. As always, discuss.
Comments
bg_duck1 (anonymous) says...
the NCAA's ruling doesn't make any sense because nothing they do makes sense unless it deals with dollar$ and cent$
October 29, 2009 at 4:54 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
waywardJay (anonymous) says...
Oregon, and Usc makes CENT$ for them on the west cost, so Certainly... a small time school like OKlahoma State in a conference where they are overshadowed.... certainly makes sense to punish that school... and let the big fish money players... like USC and Oregon who is controlled by NIke.... have their way
October 29, 2009 at 5:02 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
waywardJay (anonymous) says...
One could make the same argument is going on int Kentucky right now, where John Wall is guilty Of receiving illegal benefits ( Kentucky's own vetting board admits he received money they are looking into how much over two years ) and should be ineligible for this year's wildcats Team..... However, Kentucky successful brings in ALOT of revenue for the NCAA, especially with Calipari on board.... So they let Wall get away with recruitment violations ( Ricardo Sidney of MIssissippi State is guilty too but to a lesser degree, because MIssissippi State cannot get punished without all fingers pointing towards Kentucky ) and all is "fare" until two years from now when Kentucky will be stripped of thsi when the NCAA decides it was inapprorpiate to allow Wall to play.
They did it with Randolph Morris. It will Happen with Wall.
October 29, 2009 at 5:08 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
dagger108 (anonymous) says...
Bryant lied to the NCAA. My recollection of the events was that he fessed up when he was cornered, and not willingly going forward and saying, "Ooops, I made a mistake." I also seemed to recall there were details of his interaction with PT that were questionable, and that comments about the nature of the interaction were different from different people at different times. It's not nearly as innocence as this article makes it out to be.
And as much as we all "know" that Bush, Mayo, Sidney all took money, it is questionable how much hard evidence there is. It always takes more evidence to convict a person than seems necessary for the skeptics. But the NCAA's ability to impose a penalty on USC or anyone else doesn't change Bryant's mistake. If you lie to the authorities, you should expect stiff consequences.
ps
The BSU player got what he deserved for taunting and pushing Blount, even if he was weak about it. It doesn't mean that Blount's actions were appropriate. He just didn't respond well to the bad behaviour initiated by others. And the BSU player who instigated the whole mess wasn't suspended at all. That's lame also.
October 30, 2009 at 2:01 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
nwkshawk (anonymous) says...
As far as Blount and the BSU player's thing goes: rule #1 in life is: don't talk smack then turn your back. The BSU player might have had that coming. However, where Blount really stepped out of line was going after fans. Punching that dude from BSU was out of line, and probably worth a few game suspension, but I think jumping into the stands was WAY out of line. That little jewel of a performance should have him banned for the rest of the year, no questions asked.
October 31, 2009 at 11:31 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
dagger108 (anonymous) says...
Well said nwkshawk.
October 31, 2009 at 12:23 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jwliddell (anonymous) says...
How is Bryant ineligible and Wall is declared eligible if he pays back the money used for the unofficial visits? Complete BS!!
October 31, 2009 at 12:31 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
waywardJay (anonymous) says...
i knew it was going to happen JW...... The NCAA is going to do everything in their power to get Wall n the Court because he means the difference in Kentucky being a borderline Tourney team to being a potential top 3 seed
October 31, 2009 at 1:07 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )