Is playing Balogun really a risk for OU?
Posted August 25, 2009 by Jenni Carlson
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Last week, I contended that Florida State had done Oklahoma a favor by bringing up concerns about Mike Balogun’s eligibility. After all, if the Sooner reserve linebacker was found to be ineligible after the fact, it might cost the Sooners dearly.
But you know what? I’m not so sure that it would.
Last week, the NCAA ruled that the Memphis men’s basketball team had committed some pretty serious rules violations. Former Tiger star Derrick Rose cheated on his ACT to get into school. His older brother then received almost two thousand dollars in impermissible benefits.
Big-time no-nos.
So, how did the NCAA punish Memphis? How did it lower the boom? By placing it on three years probation and stripping it of 38 victories from the 2007-2008 season.
Wow. How will Memphis ever recover?
Seriously, this was a slap on the wrist for some serious violations. Memphis isn’t going to lose any scholarships, and it doesn’t face a postseason ban. So, basically, the NCAA said, “Hey, we know you committed some of the most egregious sins that can be committed in college athletics. These were crimes that would equate to blackmail and fraud and worse in the real world. But you know what? We’re just going to erase those wins from that Final Four season and call it good?”
Really? That’s all the punishment that those violations deserved?
Just because a school is forced to vacate wins doesn’t mean the players and the coaches suddenly walk around feeling like they lost those games.
COLUMNIST
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Jenni Carlson, a sports columnist at The Oklahoman since 1999, came by her love of sports honestly. She grew up in a sports-loving family in...
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