Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Reaction to Oregon's Penalties - or lack thereof

By Terry Johnson
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It's hard not to be disappointed with the NCAA in this case. Rather than punish Oregon for breaking the rules, the NCAA basically accepted the penalties that UO recommended since the school was "fully cooperat(ive) throughout the entirety of the investigative stage."

Whiskey. Tango. Foxtrot.

Let's be honest, Oregon committed some very serious recruiting violations in this case. As the Committee on Infractions noted in its findings, "the $25,000 paid to recruiting service 1 was more than double the amount the institution paid to the second most costly of the other recruiting services it employed."

Not a bad salary for someone who the committee concluded "lacked national-level experience."

Still not convinced this is a big deal? Consider the following snippet from the today's report:

Committee Member: Okay. Then in February, you have (prospect A) sign a Letter of Intent with the university, and then you have shortly thereafter a $25,000 invoice to the university that is paid (to the recruiting service provider) as part of the contractual relationship for services that ultimately were never provided. Is that a fair assessment? I am just trying to get to the essence of this.

Former head coach: Yes, I understand. The services weren't totally provided in terms of what we should have got.

Translation: the service provider received money for steering recruits to Eugene, not for his contractually agreed upon services.

So what does Oregon get for such an egregious violation of the rules? Three years of probation and the loss of one scholarship in each of the next two seasons.

In other words, it received little more than a slap on the wrist. That's hardly the type of punishment that will make other schools think twice before committing a similar offense in the future.

And make no mistake about it: something like this is bound to happen again. Whether we like it or not (and I don't), the recruiting process is much more competitive than it's ever been before. What's to stop a coach from bending (or breaking) the rules if he knows that the school will get off lightly as long as it cooperates with the NCAA investigation?

Absolutely nothing.

Houston, we have a problem.

Thursday, June 13, 2013

Rant Sports College Football Top 100 Rankings: No. 80 Bowling Green

Thankfully, the college football season is just 80 days away. That means it’s time to preview team No. 80 in the Rant Sports 100 in 100 Series: the Bowling Green Falcons.

BG finished the 2012-13 campaign as one of the hottest teams in the country. After a slow start to the season, the Falcons won seven of their last nine contests, with the only losses coming against the Kent State Golden Flashes (11-3) and San Jose State Spartans (11-2).

With nine starters returning on both sides of the ball, Bowling Green is one of the most experienced teams in the country. Will this extra seasoning be enough to propel the Falcons to their first MAC Championship since 1992?

Read the Full Story Rant Sports

SEC Football: Steve Spurrier Scheduling Compromise Is Not The Answer

South Carolina Gamecocks‘ head coach Steve Spurrier finally broke his silence and decided to go public with his solution to the SEC’s scheduling conundrum. While his approach would be an excellent compromise, the league would be wise to keep the existing format.

Read the full story @ Rant Sports

Saturday, June 8, 2013

Kentucky Wildcats: Jalen Whitlow Should Move to Receiver

With four players transferring out of Kentucky Wildcats‘ program, the team will need to make some personnel changes on both sides of the ball. But, the most important decision that Mark Stoops needs to make would be the most unpopular of his short tenure in Lexington.

Despite emerging as the favorite in the three-man quarterback derby at the conclusion of spring practice, Jalen Whitlow needs to move to receiver this season.

Read the Full Story at Rant Sports

Tennessee Volunteers Football: Lane's Potential Return Will Help Backfield

It looks like the Tennessee Volunteers will get deeper at running back thanks to the potential return of one of its top players.

While the school has yet to confirm anything publicly, Knoxville Jimmy Hyams tweeted on Wednesday that Marlin Lane is now back on the team after being suspended this spring.

Read the Full Article at Rant Sports

Rant Sports College Football Top 100 Rankings: No. 85 Arkansas State

Thankfully, the college football season is just 85 days away. With that in mind, it’s time to preview team No. 85 in the Rant Sports 100 in 100 Series: the Arkansas State Red Wolves.

ASU has been one of the most consistent programs in the country over the past two years. Not only have the Red Wolves captured the last two Sun Belt titles, but they have also posted back-to-back 10-win seasons for the first time in school history.

Can Arkansas State make it three in a row, or will the loss of stalwarts Don Jones, Ryan Aplin, Nathan Herrold and Zack McKnight doom the team to a mediocre season?

Read the Full Story at Rant Sports

Sunday, June 2, 2013

SEC Football: Non-conference Schedule Reform Needed

Even though the coaches voted 13-1 against the nine-game schedule, it looks like the SEC will add another league game sometime soon. However, if the conference wants to put itself in position to send multiple teams to the College Football Playoff, it will stick with the existing eight-game format and make some adjustments to its non-conference schedule.

Read the Full Story at Rant Sports

Tennessee Volunteers: Will Improved Defense Lead to Bowl Game in 2013?

While most of the talk at spring practice focused on the quarterback position, it’s the Tennessee Volunteer defense that will determine whether the Vols return to the postseason in 2013. Even though it won’t lead the pack in a league loaded with elite defenses, UT’s much-improved D will have it in position to qualify for a bowl game this year.

Read the Full Story at Rant Sports

Alabama Crimson Tide: Historic Season Ahead

Although history might suggest otherwise, the Alabama Crimson Tide will win the national championship for an unprecedented third straight season.

At the risk of overstating the obvious, Nick Saban’s squad is on the verge of a truly historic feat. As my distinguished colleague Tim Letcher points out, the NCAA official website lists the Minnesota Golden Gophers as the last team to win three consecutive national championships, accomplishing this feat between 1934 and 1936 seasons. However, college football was a completely different game back then, as players played both ways before the initial implementation of the free substitution rule in 1941.

In other words, no one has ever pulled off a “three-peat” in the modern era.

Read the Full Story at Rant Sports

Georgia Bulldogs: Defense Will Rise to the Challenge Against Clemson

Despite losing top defender Josh Harvey-Clemons to suspension, the Georgia Bulldogs will be just fine defensively against the Clemson Tigers.

Read the Full Story @ Rant Sports