Mike Dowty: Daddy's advice for dealing with snoopy NCAA
Posted: Saturday, December 4, 2010 9:49 am
Piece of Mind |
"Ask me no secrets and I'll tell you no lies." Do you remember when parents used to say that to their kids? Back in the day that saying was second only to the classic "children should be seen and not heard."
Such attitudes have no place in the modern world. Except at Auburn University. For it is there that the record-shattering quarterback Cam Newton has been seen but not heard most of this football season and was told this week by the NCAA he'll be allowed to continue being seen. That's because he adhered to that revered first principle regarding his father's activities during the son's recruitment.
Preacherman Cecil Newton, Cam's father, violated NCAA rules by shopping around his heavily recruited son with a so-called "agent." The sticker price: at least $180,000, probably more, we are told. According to the rules, that makes Cam Newton ineligible. But Cam didn't know. Because he didn't ask. Or at least - in the NCAA's words - the organization "does not have sufficient evidence" that the best player in the country on the number one team in the country was in on the violation. Nor is there evidence - yet - that Auburn knew anything or that any payment was ultimately made.
To clear the air, Auburn - no stranger to NCAA sanctions in football - declared Cam ineligible itself last week, then appealed to the NCAA to reinstate him. Through that little legal dance, Auburn assures itself the governing body of college athletics cannot come back later on and find the university at fault. That is, unless some new information with actionable evidence surfaces.
It is possible, maybe even likely, that a smoking gun will be found leading one fine day in the future to the NCAA coming back on Auburn, as it did this year against USC. You may remember the Trojans were stripped of their 2004 championship because of improper benefits received by Reggie Bush and "lack of institutional control" by USC.
What is institutional control anyway? What does it mean? Is not the NCAA an institution? If so, does it have no responsibility to make a timely and lasting decision over whether its members are adhering to the rules properly? USC fans ponied up millions of dollars for their program, believing they were on a road to the championship. Now they are told it never really happened. Did anyone get his money back?
Reggie Bush is a millionaire NFL player. His coach, Pete Carroll, is a millionaire pro coach in Seattle, though it is certain he would ever have been considered for such a post without that run he made with the Trojans. So those most culpable skate - and even benefit, leaving the current players, who had nothing to do with the cheating, and the fans and boosters who pay for everything to deal with the consequences. Auburn could someday be in the same boat. If I'm a betting man, I'd say the odds are 50-50 or better.
But here's where the hypocrisy of it all really shows up. Cam Newton and players like him are the mother's milk of these $70 million operations known as major college athletic programs. Without them, revenues and possibly endowments to their universities would dry up. We are supposed to pay no attention to that man behind the curtain, or in this case the hundreds of suits in the suites of all these new athletic buildings that have risen across the campuses of all the BCS programs like Auburn or LSU. As long as the players remain "amateurs," the fig leaf of purity is retained and virtue triumphs. Let's all sing the alma mater now.
Meanwhile, prospective five-star recruits take note: Get yourself a go-to guy, preferably your dad, your high school coach or somebody you already have a relationship with that no one can question. This person then takes all the risks, makes all the solicitations in your behalf and if he gets caught ... well, you knew nothing. The real slick ones will even understand why they don't approach their future college coaches directly. Here's how it's done: Dad hires agent. Coach has dinner with a rich booster. Says coach to booster, "Gee, I wish a stud quarterback would drop in our lap. For sure we'll beat 'Bama and win a title." Before you can say "Billy Bob," rich booster and agent are talking. Then rich booster slips agent a check at dinner. Agent takes his cut and wires the rest to dad's numbered account in the Caymans. Dad says, "Son, congratulations, you're going to Auburn University." Son becomes a War Eagle, wins the SEC and national championship and everybody outside of Tuscaloosa lives happily ever after.
But then maybe something about this deal gets posted on Tidileaks. Now what?
NCAA investigator to athlete: "Son, did you know your dad was dealing with an agent?"
Athlete: "No sir, Mr. NCAA investigator, sir."
NCAA investigator: "OK. You understand that I had to ask. That's how we keep the game honest."
Athlete: "Yes sir, I hear 'ya. I just do what my dad wants."
NCAA investigator: "What is that, son?"
Athlete: "He says don't ask him no questions and he won't tell me no lies."
NCAA investigator: "Your daddy is a wise man."
Mike Dowty is managing editor of the Livingston Parish News.
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