NCAA Throws The Book, The Gavel, and The Kitchen Sink! (part 2)

ncaa.org

Last week, I reported on some of the severe sanctions handed down by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Well earlier this week, the NCAA released, yet another wave of sanctions which continue to shock the collegiate sports world.  Over the past summer, the NCAA investigated a party which took place in Miami, Florida.  The reason this particular party was under investigation was because of reports of player-agent contact, which is a violation of NCAA rules.  Numerous collegiate athletes were investigated; however, most of the players were from the University of North Carolina.

On Monday October 11, 2010, ESPN reported the latest sanctions announced by the NCAA.  The NCAA declared wide receiver Greg Little and star defensive end Robert Quinn “permanently ineligible.”  This basically means these players are no longer allowed to play collegiate football until further notice.  At the same time this news was released, the University of North Carolina decided to cut ties with and dismiss All-American defensive tackle Marvin Austin from the team.  Austin, who is the center of the NCAA investigation, was already suspended indefinitely.  North Carolina decided to dismiss Austin from the team after the NCAA had discovered that Austin had received anywhere between $10,000 and $13,000 of improper benefits.  The investigation also discovered that Quinn had received jewelry as well as travel accommodations to Miami totaling in over $5,000 worth of improper benefits.  Little also received jewelry and travel accommodations to place such as: the Bahamas, Washington D.C., and Miami as well.  Little’s benefits added up to almost $5,000.



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I have to agree with the punishments handed down by the NCAA on these student athletes.  However, the report by ESPN also states that the NCAA was going to look into punishing the University of North Carolina.   This is where the line needs to be drawn.  The NCAA is looking at the possibility of sanctioning the university as well as vacating some of the programs athletic wins.   The University of North Carolina did not accept these benefits for the players.  The university itself did not have contact with agents.  This was a personal action taken by the individuals involved with the agent scandal; therefore, there should only be personal punishment.  The article also states that the university is also under academic investigation.  If the university has committed academic violations then I could understand punishing the school itself.  Otherwise, there should be no punishment placed on the school.