I have seen little and heard less about Florida State being sanctioned for violations involving academic fraud. Here is what happened:
The NCAA determined that a former learning specialist, academic adviser and tutor gave "improper assistance" to Florida State athletes who were taking online courses. According to the NCAA, the former learning specialist typed portions of papers for at least three athletes and also provided answers to an online psychology course quiz by instructing another athlete to complete the quiz on behalf of the athlete enrolled in the course. (By Heather Dinich, ESPN.com)
Probation, loss of scholarships, and forfeiture of games are included in the sanctions. Now, Bobby Bowden is suddenly way behind Penn State's Joe Paterno for most wins.
Does any of this come as much of a surprise? When I attended Harvard, I mean Texas A&M, I tutored football players. Let us just say that they needed plenty of tutoring. But I can say unequivocally that I was never asked to do anything improper...take a test, give answers, write papers, etc. Nonetheless, I wondered at the time how some of these fellows remained eligible. Oh, I almost forgot. It is BOOLEY, after all.
I just wanted to say for the record that I hate Fla. State.
ReplyDeleteamen brother
ReplyDeletesbaskind--for the record, other than UT, whom don't you hate? I believe you hate OU, A&M, Notre Dame, USC, Miami, Ohio State...the list goes on.
ReplyDeleteI've never had much respect for Bowden, as I've long suspected him to be a cheat and now believe him to be pretty much senile on the sidelines. At the very least, he looks ridiculous with his Panama Jack hat and one-eared headset that he holds up to his ear from time to time, trying to look like he knows what the hell is going on.
ReplyDeleteI do owe Paterno a bit of an apology, though. While I'm under no illusion that he is the mastermind behind the X's and O's, he has presided over the resurgence of Penn State, and seemingly done so honorably. I did not believe this to be remotely possible 3 to 4 years ago. I was certain that the Paterno era would end badly after a number of 4-6 seasons. I stand corrected and am thrilled that Bowden's playing in the gray area will almost ensure that Paterno retires with the most wins. If anything, Paterno's widened lead in the win column might now allow him to retire before he gets killed on the sidelines. That's a dangerous place for man in his 80s!
Jack---don't forget the chewing gum. Bowden is always chewing gum on the sidelines and it drives me nuts (come to think of it, maybe it is his defensive coordinator who chews gum...all I know is that someone is doing something on the sidelines that drives me nuts!) As for Paterno, I don't think he had much to do with revamping the offense these last few years but he is a presence and, I believe, an inspiration to his team. Bowden, on the other hand, just seems to be a bloviating gasbag.
ReplyDeletePaterno also has one of the best graduation rates in college ball. Plus when pennst used to come to the cotton bowl to play the southwest conference champion he always out coached our guy, always.
ReplyDeleteI can absolutely relate to being outcoached by Paterno. I went to the 1998(?) Fiesta Bowl when we played PSU. Texas (lead by the Great John Mackovic) played PSU almost dead even in the first half. They came out in the second half and absolutely steamrolled us. Their halftime adjustments were as effective as I'd ever seen. It was the beginning of the end for Mackovic.
ReplyDelete