The theme of the 1970s was “sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll.” Bob Dylan’s famous song, “The Times They Are A-Changin'” does no justice for the drastic evolution of college football. Now sex, drugs, hip-hop, felonies and money handshakes accurately describe what college football has become.
NBC should tell Donald Trump to take a hike and start a new sitcom, “College Football Exposed.” The ratings would be off the chart. It would make X-rated movie channels look like the Disney Channel, Hugh Hefner like the pope, Scott Peterson like Santa Claus … you get the point.
Corruption and scandal have infected college football. It is almost to the point of no return. We have become immune to National Football League players with rap sheets longer than Webster’s Dictionary, but not college football.
What happened to pure, clean college football that imprinted society with a lasting impression of football played by gentlemen and role models? Knute Rockne and Paul “Bear” Bryant are rolling in their graves right now. The days of discipline and respect are now days of cover-ups and denial.
My intention is not to single out any team, coach or player, but to illustrate how corruption and scandal have changed the image of college football.The money circulating in the Bowl Championship Series is astronomical. Each team in the BCS receives about $13 million dollars. It’s a mystery where all that money goes. My guess would be to improve libraries and update books and journals. Right …
Want to take a recruiting trip to the University of Colorado? No problem, the coaches will arrange everything for you. They will set you up in a five-star hotel and send you through an enlightening, educational journey through the life of a college football player. They wine and dine you, and then hand you a big, fat envelope of money. Head Coach Gary Barnett even makes sure half of the money is in one-dollar bills – strippers in the state of Colorado don’t carry change in their G-string. Room service has a different meaning today.
The University of Miami accepted a freshman, Willie Williams, after he was denied admission to other top football programs. Williams was arrested 11 times since 1998 – I’m sure this fact didn’t affect schools from turning the other way. Does being arrested 11 times really matter anyway? No, because he was touted as the nation’s best freshman linebacker. Oh, OK, that explains it.
The new and improved University of Miami admission requirements – student must have a bare minimum of six arrests, at least two assault and batteries and four offenses from the following – grand larceny, possession of an illegal substance, driving while intoxicated and, the latest of “college corruptions,” possessing a dangerous chemical compound. Just ask the Michigan State University players/chemists up in East Lansing, Mich.
In light of these allegations, education has remained a staple in college football programs. Nowadays, most college football players have a 2.5 or higher … blood alcohol level. Maurice Clarett claims that he was put in classes that he didn’t have to go to. The only time he did go to class was to take an exam. Even then, he was assigned to take the exam with a “test helper.” But that’s not cheating? That’s almost as asinine as the Democratic Party nominating Dennis Rodman to run for president in 2008.
It’s a sad sight when you turn on SportsCenter and the top news is allegation of another scandal in college football. These scandals trickle down from boosters to coaches to players. So whom do you blame? Who gets punished? In America, it’s always someone else’s fault
Universities have done their very best to cover up all these allegations, with some success. But the time will come when universities eliminate college football. Before that time, however, it wouldn’t be shocking to see coaches recruiting in detention facilities or disciplinary schools. By the time I send my kids to college, parole officers will crowd the sidelines.
Rovinsky can be reached at mrovinsky@campustimes.org.
