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If college athletes are becoming pros, they should pay for their violations.
At least three college games during the so-called rivalry weekend that we all love ended with boorish behavior and fisticuffs that had to be broken up by coaches and cops, with one brawl needing pepper spray.
The biggest one came in Columbus, Ohio, where Michigan defeated Ohio State for the fourth straight year and the Wolverines tried to plant their flag on the Big O at midfield. Of course, the angry Buckeyes tried to stop them and had no more success than they did stopping the Big Blue running game.
Florida, which has had a so-so season by the Gators’ standards, did the same after sending Florida State to its 10th loss of a terrible season for the 2023 ACC champion Seminoles.
And, of course, some Tar Heel players reacted to their fourth straight loss to N.C. State, whose players wanted to plant the Wolfpack flag at midfield in Kenan Stadium. That led to another melee that both head coaches apologized for after the thrilling game ended.
Is it a coincidence that college coaches, athletic directors and commissioners are calling this worse than they have ever seen it and at the same time their schools are doling out millions of dollars in this new world of pay for play?
They are all in concert with calling this the worst in more than a half century of rivalry games getting out of hand and have led to the first fines of $100,000 each that Michigan and Ohio State have to pay their leagues. That is not enough, according to some observers who want to see these schools fined more and the athletes at fault to be censored and lose whatever eligibility they have left. And maybe fined, too, if that didn’t lead to more court cases.
UNC alum and 31-year commissioner of the Big Ten Jim Delany favors the harsh treatment, which of course could lead to more litigation. But Delany, who was very firm in his decades of leadership, believes this is a threat to all of amateur team sports – and jeopardizing game integrity that has included point-shaving and fixing in the past; athletic honor, respecting the game and the opponent; and threatening the educational integrity between students and their universities.
Of course, this kind of stuff has happened ever since Teddy Roosevelt almost shut down college athletics and demanded that the NCAA be formed to control athletes who weren’t going to class and paid to play, and to make the game safer from injuries. Gambling in the ‘50s and ‘60s forced the end of the Dixie Classic and almost killed college basketball in New York City.
This is just as bad because the entitlement is worse among athletes, and whoever is running college athletics these days needs to call a timeout and draw up a better play.
Featured image via Associated Press/Colin Hackley
Art Chansky is a veteran journalist who has written ten books, including best-sellers “Game Changers,” “Blue Bloods,” and “The Dean’s List.” He has contributed to WCHL for decades, having made his first appearance as a student in 1971. His “Sports Notebook” commentary airs daily on the 97.9 The Hill WCHL and his “Art’s Angle” opinion column runs weekly on Chapelboro.Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees, and you can directly support our efforts in local journalism here. Want more of what you see on Chapelboro? Let us bring free local news and community information to you by signing up for our newsletter.
