In case anyone is concerned, it is NEVER too early to talk about College Football!!

Who said it was?

NCAA places Alabama football program on probation

<snip>

"The NCAA placed Alabama's football program and 15 other of the school's athletic teams on three years' probation for major violations due to misue of free textbooks.

The NCAA said 201 athletes in 16 sports obtained "impermissible benefits" by using their scholarships to obtain free textbooks for other students. Alabama identified 22 athletes, including seven football players, as "intentional wrongdoers" who knew they were receiving improper benefits.

As a result, the NCAA ruled the football team must vacate any wins in which any of those seven players took part during 2005-07. Alabama did not immediately say how many victories would be affected.

Neither the football team nor any other sport lost postseason eligibility or scholarships.

"The penalty itself is not one that's directed at the coach," said Paul Dee, who chairs the committee on infractions and is a former University of Miami athletic director. "It's one that involves the team. It's one that involves the players and we believe it's the appropriate penalty under these circumstance."

The other 15 "wrongdoers" were members of the men's tennis, and men's and women's track and field programs. The NCAA said those individuals must vacate any records they hold and team point totals will be reconfigured accordingly from regular season and postseason events.

They acquired textbooks and materials of value greater than $100 for friends and other student-athletes. The four biggest offenders in dollar value were among the seven football players, who received from $2,714 to $3,947 in improper benefits.

The other sports hit with probation were softball, baseball, gymnastics, women's basketball, soccer, volleyball and both the men's and women's teams in basketball, golf, swimming, tennis and track and field. Only five of the school's 21 athletic programs were not involved.

The university was ordered to pay a $43,900 fine."

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To help the SEC with Academics, the states that comprise the SEC used a percentage of their allowed stimulus money to fund books and tutors for the athletes. The US Goverment sent them "The Berenstien Bears" coloring books. About says it all, no?

I'm sure Tebow-Christ tried to convert them...

I think President oBAMA and his great sense of humor has something to do with this.

When you use crayons to color, you are teaching. Arne Duncan's idea, I'm told. From Chicago. Big Ten Country.

Well, the SEC has a token "intelligent" school!

Vanderbilt.

is not one that's directed at the coach," said Paul Dee, (snip) "It's one that involves the team. It's one that involves the players and we believe it's the appropriate penalty under these circumstance."



Since when is the coach not part of the team? The losses will impact the coach as well on his W-L statistics. It seems pretty harsh punishment when you consider that the players were getting BOOKS.

...but they used the money to buy books and tutors, ferchrissakes! And for this they're making them forfeit, what is it, 20 games? They should've just given the money straight to the players. Then they'd've only lost a few scholarships...lol.

EDIT: Oh wait. Was it really coloring books? Oh my...

Sanford wouldn't allow ANY stimulus $$. And, Spurrier thought the "Bears" would be much too difficult for his Gamecocks.

I have never heard anyone tell me it was, but you are completely right!

are up in arms! How dare they impose sanctions on Florida State like they would for any other place! This is Saint Bobby!

JoePa is still sharp as a tack. He'll be like The Bear. Retire and die a month later.

headset? Come on Condem, he is a figurehead and a cheerleader.

He's been around so long the other coaches and players can read his mind. Unfortuneately for PSU, so can our Coach Ferentz. That's why we've beat them 7 out of the last 8 tries. Seriously, I appreciate the way he spoke out on Big Ten expansion a month or so back. As well he should. He is the dean. He had some obviously valid points. I value the fact that he's concerned with the direction of the conference as he approaches that inevitable retirement.

Senses that the Big Ten is falling behind the other power conferences by not playing into December. Wants to add Pitt or WVU. His suggestions were taken by a "thanks, Joe, but no thanks". Next year, Capt. the Big Ten plays the Saturday after Thanksgiving. That's a start.

...and he's making a fortune not doing so.

As long as PSU is successful, and they are, JoePa can call it quits when HE wants. Unlike certain coaching brethren, he's got his wins the honest way.