Florida State -- hey, remember when they were good? -- is challenging the punishment handed down by the NCAA on Friday in relation to an incident of academic fraud perpetrated by athletes across many of its sports programs. No, not the entire punishment, but simply the NCAA order that Florida State "vacate" all victories achieved with ineligible athletes stemming from that incident. You can call it the tip of the NCAA's spear.Its safe to say this is being done in the name of Bobby. Simply put, legendary football coach Bobby Bowden's dimming hopes of outlasting Penn State's Joe Paterno for the all-time Division I NCAA victory mark are kaput if the ruling is followed through. The Seminoles are playing the unknowing victim card, but will it work?
Here's what Florida State President T. K. Wetherell had to say in a statement:
"We just don't understand the sanction to vacate all wins in athletics contests in which ineligible student-athletes competed because we did not allow anyone who we knew was ineligible to compete. Our position throughout the inquiry was that as soon as we knew of a problem, they didn't play."
Contrast that with this from NCAA spokesperson Stacey Osburn:
"When the academic fraud occurred that would be the trigger (in declaring a player ineligible)"
Its the NCAA's call here, but we will say that Oklahoma was able to get the NCAA to budge and restore a season full of victories after it was discovered several football players had received improper benefits through work done at an auto dealership affiliated with the athletic department.
Florida State's 2007 outdoor men's track and field national championship is also at stake depending on whether ineligible athletes competed and scored at significant events. We have no idea how this will go, as the NCAA is an unpredictable and fickle beast when it comes to its punishment regime.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
3-09-2009 @ 12:27PM
bobby said...
FSU and Ain't-a-Saint Bobby have whined and cried their way out of disciplinary actions for wrongs committed before...chances are they will weasel out again. A quote of BB's used by him on more than one occasion, "They's always pickin' on our boys." Wah, he says.
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3-11-2009 @ 1:22PM
Fred said...
Living in Tallahassee I get to hear all the crying and witness the wringing of hands and I must say it cheers my heart at the distress displayed by the FSU fans, coaches and players. This is a school that has ALWAYS played loose with the rules and when caught cries and cries. I say step on their throat and crush their windpipe so they can't cry anymore. Take their victories and send bobby bowden away in shame! Screw the track team too. FSU cheated and now it is time to pay.
GO UGA!
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