How I See ACU's Probation

The ACU football and track teams were put on 2-years probation for violations of NCAA rules. The violations range from letting a prospect use a coaches computer for an on-line course to a Sunday morning Bible class, that I am a member of, giving foreign athletes Christmas gifts.

Before you guys start saying, "I knew they were up to something", I want y'all to know that Jared Mosely is not running a renegade program over on Judge Ely Blvd. The Wildcats violations, by the NCAA's own admission, are considered minor, but there were so many of them, the NCAA had to punish the school in some manner. 

EDUCATION, EDUCATION, EDUCATION. 

The primary problem at ACU in this case is many of the coaches were not as well versed on the rules as they should have been. For example, we were asked by A COACH to bring food and Christmas gifts to the Christmas party mentioned in the NCAA's report. The members of my Bible class were not trying to gain an advantage for the school with these gifts. They were taking care of some kids who couldn't go home for Christmas. 

I believe that in most of the cases mentioned in the report, the coaches weren't trying to cheat, THEY WERE NOT AWARE that what they were doing was against the NCAA rules. This where ACU dropped the ball, and they are working to pick it back up. Coaches are being required to attend rules seminars held by the NCAA. I know, sounds like a hoot, but it's important to do, so the school doesn't have to suffer thru another day like they did on Thursday. 

Bottom line, the ACU track and football teams broke the rules, and they should be punished in some form or fashion. Even though these were minor infractions, they were infractions. We don't want the NCAA to subjective. I believe if you break a rule, you should suffer the consequences. 

Upside for ACU:

1)They were honest. Once the violations were known, the school reported itself to the NCAA.

2)The penalties are not too severe. They give up 2 scholarships for 2 years on the track side and the football team has to take 10 victories off the record from 2007. Really no big deal.

3)The school will now be monitoring the athletics program more closely, and that means that the Athletic Director will be monitoring the individual sports more closely, and in turn, the head coaches will be monitoring themselves and their assistants more closely.