There's always been an undercurrent of suspected shenanigans in college athletics... I'm sure from the time Rutgers was alleged to have offered Jonas O'Herlihy extra mustache wax to transfer from Princeton in 1870. Phantom jobs, ticket payouts, fancy cars, stereo systems, sweet clothes... the renegades have always been one step ahead of the NCAA (Except for the 80's when SMU and the entire Southwest Conference was put on probation). Another shoe (or 100,000 shoes) has dropped -- and this time in an SEC that no longer stands for "So Everyone Cheats". Cam Newton's been accused of getting a big payday at Auburn-- with his father demanding six figures in exchange for his son.
Just when you thought the unbeaten Tigers and their do-it-all QB (19 TD passes and 15 TD runs) was the feel good story, think again. A damning story if it's true-- as once again a stage parent gives everybody a bad name. Good for the University of Florida that Cecil Newton said "now it's not for free"-- the Gators program looks squeaky clean compared to the alleged cesspool up the road. What happens now with the Reggie Bush "return all the hardware and vacate the titles and awards" precedent? Sadly, the best case everybody's hoping for is that the Tigers lose-- shattering National title hopes and lose in a manner that torpedos Newton's Heisman candidacy... as if it isn't already. Makes you yearn for the good ole days when Oklahoma could go #1 in the AP while on probation...or Andre Ware could win the Heisman with Houston on probation.
Alma Mater Update-- the Orange try to bounce back against Rutgers-- I'm concerned with the fact that for the first time in over a month SU will not be playing at noon... I don't know what ESPN8 (THE OCHO!) will do without its flagship school. And how about the dreck that is the Big East-- Pitt losing to UConn means the league leader is 5-4... while the school with the best overall record (SU) isn't even bowl eligible (2 I-AA wins). In fact, the Big East and the Sun Belt are the only two leagues without a Bowl-Eligible team. Conference USA has five! Thanks again, ACC for stealing three name programs to make your league great-- scratch that.
Maryland at Virginia-- the Terps remain in control of their Division hopes... a sweep of the Cavaliers, Florida State and North Carolina State delivers the division... while UVa needs a sweep of the Terps, Boston College and Virginia Tech to become bowl-eligible. Buffy and Kippy's Tailgate notwithstanding, Virginia's owned this series recently (14-4 with one loss at home in that span)... but the Terps have earned the mantle of the team that beats those lesser while losing to its betters-- and they're a better team than the Cavaliers. Plus, Scooter ran out of Horseradish Chedder and Cab Franc... forcing Winnie to serve pepperjack (what is this--Harrisonburg?) and Malbec. Terrapins Triumph, 25-22...and the brie stands alone.
Virginia Tech visits North Carolina-- the Tar Heels feel like trouble. Six of their nine games have been decided by less than a touchdown... wipe out their eligibility explosion in September and they're playing as good as anybody outside of VT... and the Hokies still have a nasty habit of letting teams put points on the board in the first quarter (69 of 181 total points allowed)... we're talking giving up early TD's to the likes of East Carolina and Central Michigan.
In this topsy-turvy ACC season, the script seems to call for the Hokies to stub their toe in Chapel Hill against Butch Davis' bunch... but this isn't Butch Davis leading Miami circa 2001; like the Randy Shannon-led Hurricanes, UNC is turning into the giant that not only is sleeping-but snoring loudly and drooling all over the pillow. Hokies win a thriller after allowing a touchdown, field goal and a safety in the first quarter... 16-15.
Navy routs Eastern Michigan, Howard falls to Bethune-Cookman, Georgetown loses to Lehigh, James Madison slips to William & Mary.
Last Week: 4-2.
Overall: 37-22.
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