COLLEGE FOOTBALL, 2009, Wire to Wire

Every college football season, several super talented athletes and/or teams are in the "hot seat" for consequences of scandalous behavior and poor decision-making. Alienating boosters, disappointing coaches and embarrassing your college are not scholarship qualifications. Poverty and deprivation do not excuse immorality and corruption.

According to a Bleacher Report article, Alabama may vacate 21 wins for violations during '05, '06 and '07. Some Tide players used scholarship privileges to acquire textbooks for other students. Over 200 athletes in15 'Bama sport's programs were involved. The NCAA implicated fewer than ten football athletes. Same questions continue to pop up, why punish the members who did nothing wrong? Those players were staffing positions and playing hard for 21 victories.

Florida State, similar situation, football team members, other athletic programs participants , and students knowingly cheated on an exam, music history exam. Florida State may vacate wins from last season. Bobby Bowden, Seminole coach, and Joe Paterno, Penn State coach, are going head to head for most college wins. This would secure Paterno's lead. Many think this is not an acceptable method to declare the winner. Coach Bowden has said that Coach Joe Paterno would not want the competition to end like this. The two coaches are close friends.

A number of college sports venues have suggested all college athletes take character building courses before wearing a team uniform. As part of the freshmen schedule, tutor by injecting with powerful doses of "right from wrong" and consequences for both. Add a rule to punish wrong doer(s). The abusers will take character competency classes, including an exam, Those players will complete the course before leaving early and before signing NFL contracts. Along with suspensions, coaches will hit the right targets and assist with NCAA improvement and restitution.

The NCAA "Committee on Infractions" will entertain attorney rebuttals during the summer. Many expressed the "Infraction's Committee" failed to punish the guilty and continued to sit on the power stone of blurred judgment. Rumors may be circulating among college presidents and coaches to withdraw from NCAA domination and form a new super-power athletic community. Are we losing sight of amateur sports? Perhaps a modern approach would be more in line with today's fans and booster members (the folks donating the Money). Some coaches and fans are of the opinion that the NCAA is failing to move forward, and its time may be ending.

In a recent ESPN College Football poll, 44% of fans (over 13,000 participating) voted Florida State's punishment was "just right". Punishment is understood, seven or eight cheating on a music history exam - expel them from FSU. Most Florida State fans believe the NCAA is providing the best method to assure Coach Joe Paterno the most wins in college football.

Will there always be an " * " ? Or, with personalities aside, should they play it on the field?