The Sports Brewery

Jim Calhoun and UCONN in Hot Water Over Violations

Posted on 29. May, 2010 at 6:00 am by 3D in BIG East Basketball

This is a list of the alleged violations found by the NCAA during its 15-month investigation of the University of Connecticut men’s basketball program:

— Members of the men’s basketball staff exchanged at least 160 impermissible telephone calls and at least 191 impermissible text messages with recruits.

— Former student manager turned sports agent Josh Nockimson provided impermissible benefits to a recruit.

Rest of the Story

Yeah, a little too much legal jargon for my liking but you get the picture: Jim Calhoun and Co. have been caught cheating.  Period. 

Whether it’s prominent throughout college or not, whether all or part turns out true or not, the NCAA should come down pretty hard on these guys.  They might take away some wins, maybe a final 4 and/or title, but that won’t mean diddly poo.  If the recruiting and the providing benefits business that governs college basketball is to come to a stop, or at least be tamed, UCONN needs to get a handful of years suspension from post season play.  

To completely stop all the rule bending and cheating that goes on in college recruiting would take, well, the end of the world.  But the most fear that can be put into a program is suspension from post season play.  That immediately eliminates most, if not all, top recruits from signing.  It also renders your season virtually pointless, especially in the eyes of the the world outside the team’s city. 

I’m not for the death penalty – not for any school, in any situation.  As much as the NCAA promotes its sports for being for the ‘student athletes’, it should realize the players are recycled much too quickly to warrant the death penalty.  I’d rather see them force a coach or AD out of his position before banning a team forever.

But if they want to take a stand and make a point, then this is a platform to do so.  A major player in the most popular conference with a legendary coach.  Or they could take the easy way out like they do with most recruiting violations.  Who knows WTF they’re doing…

Tags: uconn huskies