COMMENTARY
Investigator’s work is never done
Careerexplorer.com offers a list of 10 in-demand jobs in 2009. Most of them involve the health care industry, a few computer technology. What’s missing? NCAA investigator.
By now the rules enforcement branch of the NCAA must have “In” boxes piled high as Everest. Allegations that UConn basketball had illegal text message contact while trying to recruit Nate Miles remain on the table. Likewise with allegations that someone other than NBA Rookie of the Year Derrick Rose took the SAT that qualified the star guard for his one-year stop-in at Memphis. And now Tim Floyd has resigned/been fired/accepted a buyout as head coach at USC amid reports that he made a payment to an intermediary to assure that star guard O. J. Mayo would play his college basketball with the Trojans.
Oh, there’s more. The basketball program at Southeast Missouri State is under the microscope for alleged major recruiting violations. The issue of payments allegedly made to former USC running back Reggie Bush remains unresolved. The NCAA put Alabama football and 15 other Crimson Tide teams on three years probation Thursday for misuse of free textbooks. Alabama also will give up 21 football wins from 2005-07.
It’s not merely the revenue-producing sports that are attracting NCAA attention. Coastal Carolina’s women’s golf program was dealt two years probation in December for illegal aid payments made to two players, which resulted in the dismissal of the head coach.
Sometimes investigators verify the violations in quick fashion. The rampant phone calls made to recruits by former Indiana coach Kelvin Sampson put Indiana basketball on probation in a jiffy. Other times, the process is more painstaking. Alabama State football recently was placed on five years probation for a wide array of violations committed in 2000 and 2001. That’s not an investigation. That’s a life’s work. The not so funny thing is that the coach at the helm when Alabama State football was running amok recently landed another head coaching job. At a very small-time school, yes, but a head job nonetheless.
And therein lies the rub. Even if the punishment fits the crime it rarely affects the people who committed the violations to begin with. It’s current Indiana coach Tom Crean and his current players, not Sampson, who are shouldering the burden for Sampson’s misdeeds. It’ll be the next USC coach and future players, not Floyd, who suffer if the Mayo allegations result in disciplinary action. St. Bonaventure basketball is just beginning to emerge from the grave after the admissions scandal involving Jamil Terrell. And that was 2003. School President Dr. Robert Wickenheiser and head coach Jan van Breda Kolff are long gone, but the damage inflicted during their tenures lingers.
Worsening matters, schools and athletic programs often turn a blind eye to past transgressions. George O’Leary lied about his academic and athletic background on the resume that landed him the Notre Dame job, was summarily fired, and now oversees Central Florida. That Isiah Thomas was found guilty of sexual harassment during his time with the New York Knicks proved no impediment to him landing a head coach job at Florida International. Draw your own conclusions.
With alleged transgressions involving USC and UConn and Memphis having come to light, it makes you wonder how many more violations, whether minor or major, remain unearthed on the vast collegiate landscape. How can the NCAA possibly keep up with enforcement when seemingly more programs than not have something to hide?
Yes, NCAA investigator could be one of the high-demand jobs now and for years ahead. But I’m guessing there’s a major downside. Like no days off.
Log into MyBuffalo to post a comment
MyBuffalo is the new social network from Buffalo.com. Your MyBuffalo account lets you comment on and rate stories at buffalonews.com. You can also head over to mybuffalo.com to share your blog posts, stories, photos, and videos with the community. Join now or learn more.
Reader comments
Learn more about our moderation system.