ACROSS THE FIELD!

Man does that have a whole NEW meaning now….

That is the title of THE Ohio State Buckeyes Fight Song! And talking about taking the HITS across the field!

With the announcement of the head coach of Ohio State Jim Tressel resignation from that position, because of the situation at the school, that involved some players that sold their uniforms, rings from their bowl game wins, receiving favors from a Tattoo Parlor in Columbus, as well as other violations.

The players involved took a five game suspension, the coach took two games but the school decided to put an additional three games on top of that to equal that of the players penalties.

Now the arguments are being made on both sides if Student Athletes should be paid in some capacity—yes they are given scholarships and that takes care of their education, but I almost have to agree with some of the masses—only because I think that if the College and Universities are going to go out of their way to promote certain players with their jerseys being sold at the concession stands and sports shops not just in the town of the College or University is in, but across the states or country for that matter.

Lets take into consideration that players such as Vince Young, Colt McCoy, and Chase Daniels, Cam Newton, and in the past Ricky Williams and the such, these products being sold because they are the reason why people come to the games. REALLY? YA THINK?

My theory is simple, if you are going to sell it, and the public is buying it, why then is the athlete not getting anything from it. AND WHY PROMOTE ONLY ONE PLAYER!?

This is not the NFL.. this is not the NBA, this is not the NHL, or MLB, this is COLLEGE FOOTBALL- and there has to be a reason why athletes then go out and sell their uniforms and rings so they can get something in return! They know that their presence will bring something to table, and they could get something from it.

So now.. here is how you stop it.. STOP SELLING THE PRODUCT! And stop promoting one player—promote the school the team, but stop selling their Jersey Number!

It has to stop somewhere—I know that this is a business and I know that there are fans and alumni that want to own their favorites numbered jersey and show their support of that player and for their team, but the player gets nothing from it.

At least with the pros they get something out of it, usually its with in their contracts, and with their bonus, that’s how they are compensated.

Long and short of it all is simple, what happened at THE Ohio State University, is most likely going on at other colleges and universities across the country.

What happened in Dallas/Ft Worth with a school on the Hill Top known as SMU, will NEVER happen to another school program again, there will never be a death penalty given to another school, but would this had warranted that sort of penalty? I am not sure, I can’t answer that, only because we will never know… but the facts are, that student athletes are always being courted by someone to go to that school, and play for that coach because of what they can get down the road, whether its “money” or exposure, or perks!

College sports as a whole, has to clean up its act, and I for one would love to see them stop with the promotion of individual players, and promote the school or the team as a whole! I would much rather see a jersey that is blank without a number on it but just the school name, and leave it at that! NUFF SAID!

Just a thought!