The NCAA isn’t playing games with the continuous scandals that have emerged around Mens basketball in recent months. NCAA President Mark Emmert and the Commission, which is made up of Fmr. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice, who is also a member of the College Football Playoff selection committee, NBA Legends Grant Hill and David Robinson to name a few, will release their recommendations on how to change the corruption ridden game of basketball sometime tomorrow. The Commission is expecting all coaches to adhere to the changes (though they haven’t yet been announced). The numerous scandals surrounding NCAA, its players and the accepting of lavish “gifts” ranging from money, cars, clothes, etc have always been a topic of discussion, which is usually followed by the argument on whether or not college athletes should be paid. How exactly will this change the game? Well, let’s take a quick look back to what started this, as told by Henry Bushnell of Yahoo Sports:
“A years-long FBI investigation, replete with wiretaps, recordings and financial records, uncovered evidence of widespread corruption involving universities and their men’s basketball programs, shoe companies, agents and players. In September, authorities arrested 10 men, including active assistant coaches at Arizona, Auburn, Oklahoma State and USC.
No further arrests have been made, but the investigation is ongoing, and threatens to ensnare dozens of top programs, Hall of Fame coaches and former and future NBA lottery picks. In February, Yahoo Sports published federal documents detailing payments allegedly made to current and former college stars or their families.
In light of the Yahoo Sports report, many high-profile schools launched internal investigations to look into the allegations. Several schools held players out of competition due to eligibility concerns, but most of the players implicated have been allowed to keep playing.
Among current head coaches, Arizona’s Sean Miller has taken the most heat, but Miller vehemently denied an ESPN report that the FBI had intercepted a phone call in which Miller discussed making an illicit payment.”
So, the million dollar question is: How exactly are the committee coming up with solutions to fix the many issues plaguing NCAA basketball? The answer will stay a mystery until Rice and the rest of the committee reveal their mysterious plan at tomorrow’s Press Conference but what I can tell you is per Emmert, the committee has been made responsible for addressing suspicious issues surrounding endorsement companies both commercial and private in an attempt to stifle inappropriate activity between recruits or their family members. The contact between recruits and Agents/Advisors will fall under close watch in order to ensure students and their families receive proper advice without being taken advantage of or failing to meet NCAA standards. The committee has also been tasked with forging more appropriate relationships between college coaches and students and although no one knows what the exact details will be moving forward, all coaches are expected to adhere to the new plans.
All of that being said, if you’re like me, I have tons of questions, like: How will this now affect the relationships between coaches and players? How will it affect the game moving forward? Do they really think that this only happens in basketball? Do they think this only happens in Mens? Will this affect recruits coming into the NCAA? Let me start by saying this, let’s keep it real and say that the issues within the NCAA can’t even be fixed by Olivia Pope herself. Sex scandals. Illiterate students. Drugs. You name it! This feels like a recipe for disaster with the complexity of these looming issues centering around student athletes. The vague details being delivered to the coaches and the strong arm tactic is already a bad sign, not to mention the fact that the main issue is still being swept under the rug. NCAA, you want student athletes to risk their bodies, sweep their educations under the rug to ensure they’re able to play games and make billions off of their names (Media rights, games, merchandise/jersey sales, tournaments, etc) while they don’t receive a penny and aren’t allowed to work while in school. Meanwhile, the NCAA runs and operates as a 501c3, meaning they are tax exempt non-profit organization. This sounds like a bigger con then when Kentucky Fried Chicken changed to KFC!
However, I’m interested in seeing what Condi has up her sleeve and exactly how this will play out. Tune in for tomorrow’s Shanda Sounds Off to hear the 411 on the new NCAA regulations and more!
