by Ken Howlett (www.aseaofblue.com)
At SEC Football Media Days on Wednesday, Alabama head football coach Nick Saban enthusiastically threw down the gauntlet to sports agents and all those who wish to corrupt elite college football stars. Saban’s rant comes on the heels, and because of, several SEC schools being investigated by the NCAA for potential extra benefit violations. Over-ambitious sports agents, who have allegedly showered players with cash, and sponsored what must have been one heckuva South Beach blowout, take the brunt of Saban’s wrath. And while Saban does mention player-accountability as being important, I feel he spent too little energy declaring that the players, not the agents, must be the instrument which initiates a change.
Saban had this money quote regarding agents who entice players to break the rules by accepting money or other extra benefits:
"“I don’t think it’s anything but greed that’s creating it right now onbehalf of the agents. The agents that do this — and I hate to say this,but how are they any better than a pimp?”“It’s ridiculous and it’s entrapment of young people in a very difficulttime of their life. It’s very difficult for institutions and the NCAAto control it and it’s very unfair to college football. I have no respectfor people who do that to young people. None. How would you feel ifthey did it to your child?”"
Saban continues on, now espousing that the agents caught fracturing NCAA bylaws should be placed on suspension for a significant period of time:
"“That’s the only way we’re going to stop this happening … theagents should have consequences and right now they have none.”And while I agree in part with Saban — the agents who strike deals and dangle cash should be stripped of their credentials — I believe an additional finger needs to be pointed. For this unholy marriage is a two-way street.And the “street” no one wants to talk about is the players — Now, I’ve intentionally NOT used the names of the players or schools involved in the current NCAA inquiry, because I’m far from convinced anything untoward happened, but, when money does change hands, and extra benefits are received, the player is every bit as responsible for the misdeed as the agent.And don’t give me the, “They’re only kids” routine, because they aren’t “kids,” they’re young adults capable of knowing right from wrong. But of course, in today’s world being a young adult talented enough to garner attention from professional agents translates into being plastered all over the sports pages of the paper, and being an ESPN regular; ones reality is bent into a cartoonish figment of ones wildest imaginations.But, regardless of the surreal quality life must take on when a mere athlete becomes “uber-athlete,” the rules of the game don’t change.And that’s where the disconnect occurs. The perception among some athletes elevated to star status is that the rules don’t apply to them, and heck, who’s going to find out anyway? Which reminds me of this …Reggie Bush, when the ax fell on the USC Trojan football program, declared his “love” for USC. All I could do is laugh, and say to no one in particular, “Reggie, if you loved USC so much, why did you put them in a position to lose everything?” But people don’t think like that. People don’t always consider the possible consequences of their actions, especially people not yet old enough to legally drink, and who have been placed upon a pedestal, adored by the masses.And the sad fact is; there is no amount of legislation the NCAA can write which will keep away unscrupulous agents from contacting those players they covet. There are no rules which can be put in place by universities which will keep away those that would harm our sports programs, many times leaving devastation in their wake. There is no system of punishment the NFL can put into place to keep agents with bad intentions from infiltrating the college campuses. They, the rogue agents, will always find a way in.Which is why it is so important for coaches and parents to instill a sense of right and wrong into their athletes, regardless of fame. Yeah, that sounds like corny naivete, but it’s really just that simple.For Nick Saban, if he hasn’t already, should be preaching to his team, not to us. Saban, whose anger and frustration I understand, should be pounding his fist and being as emotional as he can muster, while imploring his players to run, Forrest, run at the first sight, sound, or smell of an agent.Easy to preach, difficult to execute. I know, I know. But, the coaches best give it their all, because it’s not the player who accepts gifts that ends up paying the price, it’s his younger teammates, the coaches, the fans … they are the ones charged with living through lean times. Is it fair? Of course not, but until the NCAA alters in some way its manner of punishment, the innocent will continue to be persecuted.That’s all I have to say about that.Thanks for reading, and Go ‘Cats!"
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