Show Me the Money (Quam)

"Money is the root of all evil, and yet it is such a useful root that we cannot get on without it any more than we can without potatoes."

Today when i was reading about South Carolina losing six scholarships for receiving improper discounts from a hotel ion the amount of $55,000. It got me to thinking what was the worst scandal in college football:

1. SMU : The Mustangs fell from greatness after the Eric Dickerson and Craig James "Pony Express" era to being the only major college football team to recieve the "Death Penalty" in NCAA history. The football team didn't play in either the 1987 or 1988 seasons after it received tens of thousands of dollars from boosters to pay the players (Craig James go stand in the woodshed)

2. Oklahoma's Barry Switzer era: He had a amazing record on the field, and he may have survived the numerous allegations against his team. But then again when your starting QB in 1989 gets arrested for selling that "Tony Montana" stuff its kinda hard to come back from that

3. The Jackie Sherrill era at Texas A&M: The coach wasn't found guilty (really doesn't mean your not guilty), but still resigned in 1988 after the program was found guilty of improper employment, extra benefits, unethical conduct and lack of institutional control. (Now I see how he won at Mississippi State)

 4.The U 1995 Pell Grant scandal: Why settle for weekly handouts from boosters when you can get thousands of dollars from the government by using fake grant applications? (they should have hired the tutors from USC to fill them out)

5. USC and Reggie Bush : Reggie Bush is the only player to give back a Heisman Trophy. USC's players have long been thought of as the best paid players in college sports, but this was one of the only times that it has been proven that a players accepted money. Also, in 2001 team tutors were caught writing term papers for players. (they was the best team money could buy until Cam went to Auburn)


This is just my top five. There are many more out there, but these five really jumped out at me. Its something about money that makes people go a little crazy. From a players standpoint, they see all the money the schools are making off of them and knowing they may never see that type of money being offered to them in there career (most don't make the NFL). I can see were that would be tempting. But for a coach are school to blatantly go out of their way to help players cheat the system that is where there needs to be a change. Don't just take wins away from the school, but also take away the money that came wth that win. Here is a idea that has been around for ever....Give the players and little bit and then you wouldn't have near the problem you have with agents and boosters. If the NCAA really wants to fix the problem they will let the money trickle down to the players that break bones and tear ligaments for the schools, it wouldn't have to be much just enough to say thank you. Because after all isn't that what we all want... for some one to Show Us the Money.