ESPN is so eager to re-take control of our lives with football that they aired a High School football game Saturday afternoon. I watched. I was controlled. And I digress.
What does it mean that the Detroit Free Press broke a story about NCAA violations at the second most legendary program in college football on what is essentially the eve of the season?
Michigan is embroiled in controversy. Whether it will amount to anything is still uncertain. Anonymous former and current players have accused the program of NCAA violations. This time it's not players and family receiving money or houses or exotic pets.
It's all about working too hard.
Did Michigan coaches violate NCAA rules, forcing players to practice for more hours than NCAA laws allow?
Are players in the SEC taking it easy all summer long, hanging out with friends on Campus before going to Acting 101? No, they are out in the harsh sun working to improve their NFL draft stock. Just like the Music School's top pianist is toiling away day and night to improve at their trade.
Long ago, most of the major academic institutions in the country banded together to form the NCAA to create a set of rules that no one follows.
That continues to stick out as the great hypocrisy of college sports.
Why make a rule that players can only practice a few hours a week during the off-season when everyone is going to break that rule by a significant margin? It makes no sense. Everyone ends up looking bad.
Everyone ends up looking like dishonest cheaters.
One day, someone in the college sports world will wake up and realize they need a realistic set of rules that people might actually follow. Until then, the media will have grist for their scandal mill, and programs will have controversy.
Now, who's playing on ESPN this Thursday? I hope it's not another High School game. But I'll still watch.
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