The state of big-time college football is precarious these days, with a number of high profile programs keeping the NCAA investigative arm busy. Just take a look at the schools who reached the BCS Title Game in recent years. Both Oregon and Auburn are facing investigations, there is video evidence of illegal contact between players from the previous year's winner, Alabama, and a booster, Ohio State, loser in January of 2006 and 2007, will soon find out the severity of their punishment for numerous violations, LSU, winner in January of 2004 and 2008, was just placed on probation for recruiting violations and, of course, USC, winner in January of 2005 and loser in 2006, had their championship from the 2004 season stripped among other levels of punishment.
Is it impossible to compete for national titles without cheating? Recent champions Texas, Florida and Oklahoma beg to differ, although Oklahoma was nailed in a phony-jobs-for-players scheme in 2005 and was tainted last year by allegations against former head coach John Blake that he may have paid for players for both recent employer North Carolina and former employer...Oklahoma.
Another disturbing aspect of this situation is that once there is an impression that a major program is cheating and possibly getting away with it, others are encouraged to do the same. That appears to be the case with Auburn as their possible pay-for-Cam scheme may have been the result of a perception that rival Alabama and coach Nick Saban get away with violations. I would love to be able to ask a behind-the-scenes power at Oregon whether the NCAA's inability to immediately punish USC encouraged the Ducks to get into bed with unsavory types like Will Lyles.
The good news is that punishments are being handed out. Allowing Auburn to compete for a national championship last year was ridiculous, but opefully they will pay for it. Just clean up this mess, please.
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