The NCAA is set to rule on the OSU case today at 3:00 pm. Brace for impact as the entire college football world explodes when the smallest penalty possible is levied against Ohio State setting a precedent for the authorization of future misconduct around the league. That is what I fully expect as a result of this investigation. Of course, this is only speculation but all will be known in a few short hours.
Here’s what I do know. Ohio State is allowed, by the NCAA, two head coaching staffs because their misconduct resulted in the firing of their head coach. According to the NCAA, any collateral damage taken by the firing of Jim Tressel and Luke Fickell should be mitigated despite being the fault of nobody but themselves. When Michigan hired Rich Rodriguez, did he recruit while Lloyd Carr prepared his team to take on Florida in the Capital One Bowl? Did Brady Hoke recruit while Rich Rodriguez prepped his team for the Gator Bowl against Mississippi State? No. There is a right way of doing things and a wrong way. The Buckeyes opted to ask the NCAA for a waiver to allow them more coaches than otherwise permitted. And the NCAA said yes! Ohio State cheated… and as punishment are being granted additional resources that every other football team in the country is forbidden to have. Ohio State is on an unequal playing field and has been for years because of their recruiting impropriety. Since all of that has come to light, the NCAA has granted them even more of a recruiting advantage. People, that is the current system we are operating under.
So I should feel confident in the NCAA’s ability to bring OSU to justice after committing multiple NCAA violations? How could anybody?
I’ll be posting my reaction to the ruling once it has been released. Until then, I’ll be bracing for impact.
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