ACC Basketball Review: Referees, UNC, N.C. State, and Duke

This is a report and review on the recent events going on in the ACC. The basketball season is really heating up so check out my new ACC video blog entry. Click the link below


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvtu7uQjV1A&context=C33339b3ADOEgsToPDskK7JiWmErnTdhMdwDpXCNn8

Check me out on Twitter @NCSportsGenius1

The Referees Cheat N.C. State! Coach K Admits Duke Gets the Calls!!!

The referees cheat N.C. State by making calls for Duke(Thursday Feb. 16). This isn't really news to most, but I am tired of it and something needs to be done. The ACC referees have made some pretty bad calls this week, and most of them during the two N.C. State games. I may do another video entry about the two former State basketball players ejected from the FSU game. I have to gather more information. I called the N.C. State vs. Duke game, early on. I knew the fix was in. Check out my comments about the State game at Twitter @NCSportsGenius1

Click on the link for the whole story.

Tressel Out At Ohio State, Justice Still Not Served





As you probably have seen, Jim Tressel resigned yesterday at Ohio State, bringing his stellar on-field career to a close.  However, as the NCAA and Ohio State officials continue to uncover the truths surrounding Tressel's deception, I hardly see this as closure for the Buckeyes program.  As a matter of fact, more allegations are being brought to light even as Tressel exits Columbus.  I believe this is just the beginning of a very long, embarrasing process for THE Cheating University.

What I do know is this:  Tressel did not resign on his own, this was forced by Ohio State administration.  They have stubbornly stood behind their guy through this entire process, but in the end, I think they realized there was no way that Tressel could withstand the fallout from this scandal.  Once they saw it would be impossible to keep Tressel, they asked for his resignation.  This was not a decision of morality, but of CYA for the Suckeyes. 

Understand the strategy being played here by Ohio State:  In getting rid of Tressel, the university will try its best to distance themselves from Tressel and throw him under the bus for the corruption in Columbus.  In tossing the Sweater Vest aside, Ohio State will now claim that they had no knowledge of what was happening under Tressel's watch, in an attempt to take a smaller hit from the NCAA. 

I think that the violations are so plentiful at Ohio State, that there is no way they can dodge the train coming their way.  If even half of the alegations are true, then they should be hammered way worse than USC.  The NCAA will never give a program of this stature the death penalty, but these allegations are similar to those of SMU back in the day.  I do think a huge reduction in scholarships and postseason ban will be on the way.

What is next for Ohio State?  The Buckeyes will make Luke Fickell the head coach for the 2011 season.  I think it's interesting that they would keep Tressel's staff moving forward.  Do you really think no one else on the staff was complicit in the cover-up?  Did they not know about these violations from the past years?  I have a hard time believing that.  I am pretty sure of this, however:  Urban Meyer will be leading the Buckeyes out of the tunnel in Spetember 2012.  This just makes too much sense, as this and Notre Dame are his two dream jobs.

What is next for Jim Tressel?  Tressel has ruined his career as a coach and a motivational speaker.  He may be able to coach somewhere small in a few years, but his star has dimmed greatly.  Any school who hires him will have to show cause for hire, and big name schools will not go through that process to hire him.

Even though Tressel is out in Columbus, true justice will not be served until THE Cheating University meets with NCAA officials in August and penalties are later levied.  Unlike the Auburn scandal that revolved around one player, there are too many involved here.  There is no way the Buckeyes will be able to escape the falling hammer on their once way-too-proud program.

The Hole Keeps Getting Deeper At Ohio State

He sold stuff too?  Who didn't is the easier question.

Former Ohio State wide receiver Ray Small has come forward today saying he sold bowl rings and other memorabilia and got special discounts on cars as well while on scholarship at THE Cheating University.  You can read the ESPN article HERE.

Once again, here's another example of the blind eye that Jim Tressel turned to his players violations.  The most important quote in the entire article is when Small says that "everyone was doing it" while he was on campus from 2006-2009.  Just think, last week president Gordon Golly Gee Willikers still stood behind Tressel as Ohio State's football coach. 

How long can the NCAA sit idly by and let Ohio State be run by these buffoons?  How can anyone honestly back a coach that has this much smoke surrounding his program?  If THE Cheating University or Jim Tressel somehow skates their way through this, then this will supplant Auburn and the Camburglar as the biggest heist in NCAA history. 

Who knows, maybe the NCAA is sitting back and letting the Suckeyes dig their own grave?  I just have a hard time believing that this can drag on long enough that Jim Tressel is able to coach the team this year.  At some point, though, the NCAA has to step in and stop the circus.

What is your opinion of Ohio State's program?  Will Tressel coach this upcoming season?  If not, who will it be?

Former Auburn Players Admit to Getting Paid: Who Knew?

This guy says he got money to play at Auburn.

For months I've been lectured by Auburn fans about the "facts" of the Cam Newton case, even though I believe very few people know the truth about what happened.  Auburn fans were quick to spin the details of the cover-up as "facts".  It appears as though we may finally have some real "facts" as to the integrity of the Auburn football program. 

According to a HBO Real Sports interview, four former players have admitted to receiving money before and during their time at Auburn.  These ranged from "money handshakes" to rewards for performance to money for cars.  You can read the transcript of the show here:  http://bit.ly/eLLG2K  if you missed the show. 

It will be interesting to see if the NCAA will investigate this matter, since they have yet to make a comment related to the report.  This reminds me of when Tony Cole blew the whistle on the Harricks while at Georgia, after he was wired money by Jim Harrick Jr. to help pay bills.  There was an investigation and penalties were handed down in that case by the NCAA. 

I don't know why these four players would come forward now, but my guess is that the truth, or for Auburn fans the "facts", will set you free.  The rest of the college football world has a glimmer of hope today that justice might actually be served for Auburn's repeated disregard for NCAA policy.  (Insert Auburn fan's argument here about other programs' secondary infractions being the same as their lack of institutional control and failure to promote an atmoshpere of compliance, two of the major NCAA infractions.)

The sad thing is in the end, it's these same Auburn fans who will pay the ultimate price if justice is served.  They are just defending their program as any fan would, but once all the real "facts" are done rearing their ugly head, will they even have a team worth rooting for?

How do you feel about these allegations?  Are you happy, relieved, disgusted?  Let us know!