ESPN 30 For 30 - Pony Excess

Paully D

I've just been watching this documentary about the SMU football scandal in which they were given a ''death penalty'' by the NCAA after they were caught giving players ''under-the-table'' payments to attract them to play for the university.

Do any of you remember watching all this come to light at the time?

It was a very interesting watch and it was sad to see how a lot of innocent people suffered whilst those responsible were barely punished but that's always the way when these things come to light. It was good to see them winning a Hawaii Bowl a couple of years ago and they seem to be on the up now.

Do you think much of this stuff with illegal payments to players still happen behind closed doors these days? A question I would like to pose to you is - do you think paying college players should be allowed? After all, they do help to provide the NCAA and the college's they play for with millions of dollars through gate receipts, merchandising sales, TV contract etc.

tallaghtoutlaws

Paully D wrote: »

Do you think much of this stuff with illegal payments to players still happen behind closed doors these days?

Yes. Recent scandals suggest it still happens.

A question I would like to pose to you is - do you think paying college players should be allowed?

No as it defeats the purpose of them being students. I do believe though their scholarships should offer a larger package to include more money for living though.

After all, they do help to provide the NCAA and the college's they play for with millions of dollars through gate receipts, merchandising sales, TV contract etc.

But they Receive Scholarships that would cost the average American an Average of 100k over 4 years and they get a free education.

Paully D

tallaghtoutlaws wrote: »

Yes. Recent scandals suggest it still happens.


No as it defeats the purpose of them being students. I do believe though their scholarships should offer a larger package to include more money for living though.


But they Receive Scholarships that would cost the average American an Average of 100k over 4 years and they get a free education.

What were the recent scandals mate? I'd be interested to read more.

Some good points there, especially regarding the living expenses and I will admit I had forgot about the fact that education costs so much more over there which they get for free as part of their scholarship.

Peyton Manning

Paully D wrote: »

What were the recent scandals mate? I'd be interested to read more.

Let's just say thanks to the new rookie wage scale, Cam Newton seems to have ended up taking a pay cut to play for the Carolina Panthers.

mikemac

Joe McKnight also took a paycut going from USC to the Jets

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujIx1evT7s4

tallaghtoutlaws

Ohio State are one of many under scrutiny:

http://aol.sportingnews.com/ncaa-football/story/2011-07-08/ohio-states-scandal-a-timeline

And they aren't alone so many other big colleges being watched.

Syferus

In the end it comes down to the fact a big portion of college stars come from working class backgrounds and even if though they get a full scholarship it's not hard for someone to imagine their thought process when they get offered kick-backs and knowing how it could change not only their lives but their families' lives as well.

There's a case to be made for the idea there really isn't a solution that would stop these payments beyond large grants to the players and that would essentially end up being pay-to-play.

Madworld

ESPN could be making a new documentary on the U. They're very likely to be getting the death penalty IMO.

Syferus

Madworld wrote: »

ESPN could be making a new documentary on the U. They're very likely to be getting the death penalty IMO.

You'd need to get caught giving players nuclear bombs before the NCAA dealt a death penalty, by all accounts the SMU one was a complete disaster based on what it was meant to achieve. The effects of shutting down any program for even a year takes decades to recover from.

The NCAA isn't going to completely destroy a cash cow (pardon the pun) like Miami even if every single thing is proven true.

tallaghtoutlaws

Syferus wrote: »

You'd need to get caught giving players nuclear bombs before the NCAA dealt a death penalty, by all accounts the SMU one was a complete disaster based on what it was meant to achieve. The effects of shutting down any program for even a year takes decades to recover from.

The NCAA isn't going to completely destroy a cash cow (pardon the pun) like Miami even if every single thing is proven true.

I agree. Not a chance the NCAA throws down the Ban Hammer on any program anymore. You will see a repeat of the USC ban stopping the college being involved in Bowls and the BCS but there is no way as Syferus says that the NCAA throws a team out that makes them a lot of cash. Be naive to think the NCAA are angels also. Money talks.

Paully D

Madworld wrote: »

ESPN could be making a new documentary on the U. They're very likely to be getting the death penalty IMO.

From watching Pony Excess I'd be very surprised if any program gets the death penalty again, regardless of what they've done.