Time for the hump day look around the world of college sports, with a soundtrack from a reunited legend. We look at playoffs, SEC controversy, NCAA hypocrisy, and other items this week.

There's Your Problem

Buckeye 411

• Props- No, not the side bets before the Super Bowl, the recognition of two Buckeyes who are now World (excluding everyone outside of the USA) champions as the NY Giants defeated the Evil Tom Bradys.  Great photos abound, but check out Jake Ballard at the parade, Jim Cordle with the key to the city, and the Jake holding the trophy. Ohio State, where tight ends go to catch as many passes in their career as the NFL will have them catch in a season… we help them build slowly.
• Crutches- Speaking of Ballard, the unfortunate word is that his exit from the game was not so he could get Madonna’s number (thank God), but due to a torn ACL. Thoughts and prayers, big man.

Playoffs?

• Seeing Reason-  The news this week was about the B1G looking at options for a four team playoff at the end of the NCAA season, with the possibility of higher ranked teams hosting home games in the first round.  This would be a huge win across the board, since it means that a) We’d finally get to have a playoff, b) Northern schools might actually have a home game, c) It may also keep the Rose Bowl tie in (unless a B1G or PAC team is in the MNCG, they could play in Pasadena). While some were quick to point out that this might not be an automatic “come play in the cold!!!” win for the B1G, it should be noted that it’s better than the possibility that the conference has had over the past 14 years. Things to be worked out- if there are 5/6 power conferences, who gets the 4 spots?  It’s got to be “conference champions only”, right? Anyone really excited about a four team playoff with four teams from the ACC or another conference?
• Not So Fast- Lots of folks pointed at the Giants win over the Patriots as being an argument against playoffs, since the GMen worked hard and got hot at the right time rather than being the best all season long. Team Speed Kills shot holes in this argument, and gave us our SBP discussion question of the day:
• In the comments, give us your thoughts: Is “champion” a team who is the “best” over a season, or the team who wins a prescribed end of season event?  You probably know my thoughts on this- “champion” is an arbitrary designation, and as such should be acknowledged that delineation as such is valid no matter the circumstances or criterion.

This Week In The Four Letter Network

• Oh, Sweet Irony-  We had a good conversation on twitter this week with the guys from the B1G blog at the WWL. (If you’re not following us on twitter… why not?). Just thought you might be interested in this:

NCAA News And Notes

• This Week In Gene Smith- Believe it or not, the AD at Ohio State thinks that the NCAA might have been excessive and arbitrary in their sanctioning of the Buckeye football program. More surprisingly, Dennis Dodd seems to agree with him,

Their research shows that there have been 61 major infraction cases since 2007. Thirty-one of those cases schools have been slapped with the “failure to monitor” a program designation. Ohio State was hit with both that designation as well a being named a repeat violator because of previous major violations in 2006 in basketball, within the allowed five-year window.

Failure to monitor is considered a serious violation. In the NCAA eyes it is perhaps second only to the dreaded “lack of institutional control” designation. NCAA bylaws state penalties for major violations can include “prohibition against … postseason competition.”

Twelve of those 31 cases were in football. Three of the 12 BCS conference schools were slapped with failure to monitor and repeat violator status, same as Ohio State. They were Colorado and Oklahoma in 2007 and West Virginia in 2011. None of the three got a postseason ban.

• Every Day I’m Complying- If you don’t think that there’s a difference between the way things are done at OSU and in the SEC, consider this.  South Carolina, up to it’s eyeballs in it’s own mess, has hired one of the Buckeye compliance staff who was in Columbus when the “happenings” took place.  In other words, a school that the NCAA hit with “failure to monitor” has a better compliance staff than whatever the heck they had in Columbia.
• Meanwhile- Remember the great discounts that Bama players were getting on suits, and the booster who was disassociated from the program but managed to still get to the MNCG sidelines?  Yeah, he’s back and coordinating autograph parties for Alabama football players who have exceeded their  eligibility.  Nothing to see here, I’m sure.
• Justice? Just for us-  Huge HT to our friend ParagonSC who pointed us to the UConn case with the NCAA. A student athlete was approved to play for UConn after an investigation into possible “improper benefits”, but the NCAA overstepped their bounds by releasing a large amount of personal and confidential information regarding the case. The New York Times is taking a hard look at this, and did a pretty good job at eviscerating the NCAA’s press release regarding the matter.  Long and short of it? The NCAA is arbitrary and only accountable to their own guidelines (whatever those are).

Other News

• How To Get Thrown Out Of My House-  I loves me some Jimmy Kimmel, but this would lead to a whuppin,

• Numerology- Say what you will about Lane Kiffin, but the man can work some numbers;

Therein lies the greatest irony of the sanctions era: Even with the most heavy-handed scholarship penalties in 25 years, the relatively small classes that preceded his arrival left Kiffin with fewer scholarship players on the roster in his first two seasons, 2010 and 2011, than the penalties are calling for over the next three. Thanks to the huge influx of freshmen (and subsequent redshirting) last year, the Trojans will be essentially operating at replacement level for the life of the sanctions.

• Your Case? You’re Not Helping It- Guess who was scoping out a local elementary school during recess? Yup, Jerry Sandusky.  Sigh.
• Times They Are A Changing… Kinda’- The Big lEast continues its transmogrification into Conference USA by adding Memphis for future endeavors. “Hey, we’re getting Memphis!” is something you can easily add to this video.
• And Finally. Today marks the day that your humble correspondent turns Mike Gundy plus three, and another Buck fan celebrates as well. Oh, and speaking of soundtracks… Given that I was lucky enough to actually be in the presence of a lifetime hero on Sunday, this video is only appropriate.

Tags: Alabama, Big East, ESPN, Gene Smith, Jake Ballard, Jerry Sandusky, Jim Cordle, Lane Kiffin, Memphis, NCAA Investigations, ParagonSC, Playoffs, SBP, South Carolina, Super Bowl, Trent Richardson, UConn
Categories: College Football, Conference Expansion, Humor, NCAA Investigations