Is playing Balogun really a risk for OU?

Posted by
on August 25, 2009M at 11:30 am
Last week, I contended that Florida State had done Oklahoma a favor by bringing up concerns about Mike Balogun’s eligibility. After all, if the Sooner reserve linebacker was found to be ineligible after the fact, it might cost the Sooners dearly.
 
But you know what? I’m not so sure that it would.
 
Last week, the NCAA ruled that the Memphis men’s basketball team had committed some pretty serious rules violations. Former Tiger star Derrick Rose cheated on his ACT to get into school. His older brother then received almost two thousand dollars in impermissible benefits.
 
Big-time no-nos.
 
So, how did the NCAA punish Memphis? How did it lower the boom? By placing it on three years probation and stripping it of 38 victories from the 2007-2008 season.
 
Wow. How will Memphis ever recover?
 
Seriously, this was a slap on the wrist for some serious violations. Memphis isn’t going to lose any scholarships, and it doesn’t face a postseason ban. So, basically, the NCAA said, “Hey, we know you committed some of the most egregious sins that can be committed in college athletics. These were crimes that would equate to blackmail and fraud and worse in the real world. But you know what? We’re just going to erase those wins from that Final Four season and call it good?”
 
Really? That’s all the punishment that those violations deserved?
 
Just because a school is forced to vacate wins doesn’t mean the players and the coaches suddenly walk around feeling like they lost those games. It doesn’t erase the good memories of the fans. It doesn’t change the highlights or the memories that everyone has from that season.
 
Here’s the truth of the matter –  the NCAA refuses to drop the hammer on its flagship programs in football and men’s basketball. It will punish them, but it’s all for show. There’s no teeth in the punishment. There’s no bite.
 
That’s why I’ve changed my mind about Balogun. I still suspect that he’ll be hard pressed to get on the field this season, but really, what do the Sooners have to lose? A few wins in the record books?
 
The NCAA is much more interested in protecting powerhouses like OU football than it is in truly punishing them.

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Comments
Comment by Tbone on August 25, 2009 @ 5:30 pm

Jenni: Really a nice column and by all the punishment that has been handed out by the NCAA for big time programs, you are right on the money. i.e. SMU received the death penalty while USC and certain SEC schools were mainly hit across the wrist. OU is just one school that breaks the rules but they shouldn’t be punished anymore than the others.

Comment by Tim on August 26, 2009 @ 8:22 am

Jenny, the only hole in this theory is that OU is already on probation. If they mess around now they could get some more serious violations.

I don’t believe Balogun is worth this risk, when you have other guys who can play close to his level.

Comment by Ray on August 26, 2009 @ 12:01 pm

What if a Big 12 Championship and national title or bowl win are negated? Is Baolgun really worth losing those things? Most Sooner fans would emphatically say no. And fans could care less about good memories if those titles (or a win over Texas) are erased or have an asterisk by them at the end of the year. The school’s reputation suffers, too, especially since it’s already on probation. This argument is hollow, and the blog post way off base.

Comment by jennicarlson on August 26, 2009 @ 1:07 pm

Friends, I get what you’re saying, but what I’m saying is that the NCAA’s punishment of vacating wins is hollow. The NCAA no longer does anything that truly harms a program. If it really wanted to punish Memphis, for example, it would’ve taken away the revenue that the school received during its NCAA Tournament run. Now, THAT would be punishment. As it is now, the NCAA is remiss to put the screws to programs that screw up. Jenni

Comment by jim on August 28, 2009 @ 2:07 pm

Wins may be taken away, a bowl victory may be taken away, however, a BCS championship can not be taken away. It is not an NCAA championship like basketball, baseball, etc..

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