The Jim Tressel Saga: Will the Fall at Ohio State Impact Journalism's Role in NCAA Investigations?

Jim Tressel's downfall has been well-documented by news outlets across the country, made final by this Sports Illustrated investigative piece that chronicled player misconduct under his tenure ever since Tressel's days at Youngstown State.

But the fact that Ohio State planned to stand by Tressel until the SI article was to be released (and, as the article details, they informed OSU of its contents before publication) brings up a question that may look more into the power of the NCAA than anything else:

Is it up to sports journalists to keep NCAA-sanctioned programs in line?

The impact of the news media is easy to see, with FOX Sports, ESPN, Sporting News, Sports Illustrated, and bloggers everywhere giving those who want it up-to-the-minute information when it becomes available on the latest stories.

In fact, with the blogging boom, the distribution of information has become more ubiquitous to the average fan, and provides additional avenues for any informative tidbit that may be available.

Historically, the NCAA has been aided with the media as watchdogs. In 1985, the Kentucky basketball program was investigated by two reporters from the Kentucky Herald-Ledger upon rumors that their coach at the time was illegally (by NCAA laws) selling season tickets. But information was sketchy, so the reporters began interviewing anyone associated with the program, including former players and then-current NBA stars. The stories came piling in, and eventually Jeff Marx and Michael York published an extensive article detailing how players would receive "hundred-dollar handshakes" from boosters in the locker room, and many other NCAA infractions. Their work earned them the 1986 Pulitzer Prize for Investigative Reporting.

Why is this important? Because the NCAA did a follow-up investigation, but failed to turn up any of the same evidence Marx and York did; that's because former players were willing to talk to reporters, but not to investigators for fear of hurting the UK program. The national backlash was enormous; Douglas Lederman wrote in The Chronicle of Higher Education in 1988 that one reason the NCAA couldn't do anything was a lack of legal power, such as the ability to subpoena documents and force those with information to talk.

It took media pressure to create a movement granting the NCAA necessary powers it needed.

Fast forward to 2006, when a Yahoo! Sports report revealed the entire Reggie Bush saga at the University of Southern California. Interviews, evidence, a timeline showing readers what-happened-when, all of it led to the court of public opinion getting their information at the same time as the NCAA. In fact, it was because of that article that USC was investigated, leading to many consequences in effect today, including a loss of scholarships and a stain on Bush's legacy as a Heisman Trophy winner.

It took the media to uncover the truth at USC. And it took the media to bring the hammer down on Jim Tressel's legacy at Ohio State, as Sports Illustrated was the one to discover past transgressions at Youngstown State and a heck of a lot more Buckeye players than initially reported. Sure, maybe the NCAA would've found all of this out on its own.

Maybe.

But consider this column by Mark Kriegal for Fox Sports, published in 2010. He wrote of the hypocrisy of NCAA investigations and the penalties handed out, specifically pointing to the Rich Rod-Michgan problems and the transfer of Jeremiah Masoli to Ole Miss. At the heart of the article is this quote:

Where's the lesson in this? Where's the justice? How does it happen?

Because the NCAA -- which is supposed to stand first for the sanctity of competition -- allows it."

It brings forth many questions: Can fans trust the NCAA with investigations? Should the media outlets do the dirty work, and the rules changed so the NCAA can act upon reputable, proven findings?

Only time will tell, but so far time says the media has been doing a world of good for keeping collegiate athletics honest.

Sources:

Cole, Jason, and Charles Robinson. "Cash and Carry." Yahoo! Sports. Published Sept. 15, 2006. http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/news?slug=ys-bushprobe

Etterna, James S. and Theodore Glasser. "In Search of Skills not taught in Textbooks." Custodians of Conscience: Investigative Journalism and Public Virtue. http://books.google.com/books?id=5--qYNOqBfMC&pg=PA18&lpg=PA18&dq=%22playing+above+the+rules%22+article&source=bl&ots=Dt_p56cVRV&sig=H4l-aeS_L_LSisbZJCTwxEspJ9w&hl=en&ei=6PNBTeGkK5HogQfFrq2kAg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=8&ved=0CEAQ6AEwBw#v=onepage&q=%22playing%20above%20the%20rules%22%20article&f=false

Kriegal, Mark. "NCAA Investigations border on hypocrisy." Published August 10, 2010. http://msn.foxsports.com/collegefootball/story/NCAA-investigations-border-on-hypocrisy

Lederman, Douglas. "Failure to Prove Wrongdoing at Kentucky Raises Questions about NCAA Investigations." The Chronicle of Higher Education. Mar 16, 1988. Vol. 34, Iss 27. Pg. A37

"SI Investigation reveals eight-year pattern of violations under Jim Tressel." Sports Illustrated. Published May 30, 2011. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/magazine/05/30/jim.tressel/index.html

"Investigative Reporting." Pulitzer Prizes. http://www.pulitzer.org/bycat/Investigative-Reporting