Scoggins: In Manziel vs. NCAA, go ahead and blame 'em both

  • Article by: CHIP SCOGGINS , Star Tribune
  • Updated: August 12, 2013 - 11:26 PM

The trouble-seeking QB could handle himself better, and the NCAA could end its archaic charade.

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minneg56Aug. 13, 13 6:09 AM

Even the hypocritical International Olympic Committee (IOC) recognized years ago that 'amateurism' and sports can't work. As for Manziel? He's a 20 year old kid. Kids go to parties and drink (as early as 11-12 years old these days from what I hear). Manziel didn't make and tag himself 'Johnny Football'-but it WAS somebody who recognized they could make considerable money from him, his image and likeness AND wouldn't have to share it with him! Time for NCAA to turn college football into what it is - the de facto 'professional minor league football system' for NFL. Time for NFL to start paying for it's minor league system too. Same for NCAA basketball and NBA.

JPetersen3Aug. 13, 13 9:21 AM

For those folks who just want to eliminate the NCAA entirely, I would like to offer some cautions: Remember, college athletics is about more than just football and basketball. What will happen to those other sports where real student/athletes participate if we leave college sports to the ethical standards of the states where big time football overpowers every other sports institution?

njfan08Aug. 13, 1312:08 PM

First off I don’t see how signing an autograph changes an athlete from an amateur to a pro. A player in this case football, didn’t play with the Vikings for a season, which would make him a professional football player, he sold his autograph. He’s still an amateur player. If a player works at any other job say at McDonalds does that make that him or her a ‘pro’? He or she did something and got paid for it…what difference does it make, if it was for signing something or flipping burgers. As long as a player is not paid to play a sport then it should be OK. A governing body for NCAA sports is necessary, but I agree this rule along with others should change.

ericgus55Aug. 13, 1312:14 PM

If players can sell their autographs, what's to stop a wealthy booster from paying a player $10,000 ($20k, $50k, etc.) for one, for instance? Once autographs can be sold, the floodgates would be opened.

ericgus55Aug. 13, 1312:27 PM

njfan08 - Players CAN sign autographs (for fans, kids, etc.). They just cannot SELL them. NCAA rules also allow student-athletes to have jobs and make money, but there are guidelines about using one's standing as an athlete (image, etc.) to make money while remaining eligible.

minneg56Aug. 14, 13 7:16 AM

A 1953 Movie starring a 'strapping' John Wayne and a pulchriturinous young Donna Reed outlines the problems in college football. The 1953 movie hints with a 'wink and sneer' on how colleges would turn a blind eye toward the goings on of what football did for colleges financially- and how it got done. College football for many decades has had problems. A kid signing an autograph and getting some money is 'peanuts'. I'd be more concerned with potential of point shaving in football and basketball than I would be with a kid making $5-$10k for doing something that doesn't hurt anyone - autographs, jersey/memorabillia sale etc. The fact the kids don't get any money for their work essentially pushes them to sell these things. Please don't cite that they get scholarships ... many don't get full scholarships and some don't get any at all. If you've ever seen a college athlete - well they don't reallly have a life - they are way over scheduled with sport. As for the purity of college athletics? There are 2 things which matter -winning and the money that comes with it to the school. Its ALWAYS been that way. Again - time to make NCAA football and basketball professional minor leagues - that's what they are!

ericgus55Aug. 14, 13 8:11 AM

Playing college sports is a choice, and by making that choice one must adhere to NCAA rules. Yes, the NCAA has its hypocrisies and things it needs to balance out, but NOBODY is forced to participate. If the system is unfair and takes advantage of athletes so badly, why does anyone choose to enter into that system? There ARE 'minor league' options - such as the CFL and US semi-pro leagues for football, European and semi-pro leagues for basketball - where an athlete can get paid while getting themselves ready for the NFL or NBA. If one would rather sell autographs than play college sports, that is also their choice - but they cannot do both.

gadflyAug. 15, 1312:27 PM

The cost of attending Texas A&M (tuition, room & board, books, and other fees), is ~18k/year for residents and ~35k for nonresidents. The NCAA allows 85 athletic scholarships per team, so if half of the players are from Texas, then the collective annual compensation for Texas A&M football players is more than $2 million dollars annually. If they want more than that, then let them pay their own way.

gadflyAug. 15, 1312:44 PM

And in Manziel’s case, it’s not like he needs the money. He’s descended from a family of Texas oil barons. The family fortune (in his father’s own words) is “not Garth Brooks money, but it’s a lot of money,” and his father indulges him. So he’s not a poor kid whose family is struggling to make ends meet; he’s a spoiled little rich brat with a sense of entitlement who bristles whenever he’s expected to follow the rules that apply to everyone else.

dewarfAug. 20, 1311:59 AM

The biggest issue with the NCAA has been equal enforcement of the rules. The football and basketball 'factories' have (especially under Myles Brand) gotten free passes so that the revenue streams (mainly TV contracts, March Madness and Bowl games) would not be impacted. The new NCAA seems much more willing to go after the 'big schools' who are building their own brand (see Oregon) to ensure getting the best recruits and perpetuating their winning ways and revenue income. USC, Oregon, Miami, Penn State, Ohio State and others are now seeing the same scrutiny as Cleveland State and UNLV. About time. And if these 'factory' kids and coaches don't play by the rules, then these sanctions are justified. Playing the 'poor Johnny Manziel card' doesn't cut it any more than Chris Webber's $260,000 payday to attend Michigan and lead the Fab Five in 'under-the-table-take-home pay' (and thankfully, no titles). I'm not opposed to players getting a monthly stipend for spending money, but if you want to play the college game to possibly position yourself for a future professional payday, then you must play by the rules. Simple as that. The sooner people learn there are consequences for actions the better off they'll be. Does anyone REALLY think Jim Tressel (OSU) and Chip Kelly (Oregon) didn't know what they were doing when breaking the rules and then lying to the NCAA? Let's quit making excuses for bad behavior, Chip.

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