Have Mercy! 5 Scandals That Rocked College Sports

If you thought the Kardashians brought the drama, enter in Operation Varsity Blues. The scandal has rocked Hollywood along with the sports and academic world but it’s not the only (or even the biggest) college athletics scam out there.

They always get caught.

The Last Night’s Game Team

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1. Yesterday, the Justice Department released the news about Operation Varsity Blues, a cross-country admissions scandal. Over 50 people were charged in the scheme, with 33 of them being parents, including CEOs and actresses Felicity Huffman (Desperate Housewives) and Lori Loughlin (Full House).  In some instances, parents bribed college coaches to recruit their students as elite athletes, even though they had no athletic background. Some even went as far as creating a fake athletic profile for their children by photoshopping them into sports photos and including them in the admissions packets. (This scandal goes way beyond the sports aspect, so click to read more). IT WASN’T ME

2. From photoshopped to something more permanent, five football players at Ohio State were suspended for selling memorabilia and receiving discounted services at a local tattoo parlor. “Tattoo-Gate” was just the tip of the iceberg of Ohio State football scandals that eventually led to the resignation of their head football coach. HOPE THE TATTOO WAS AT LEAST SPELLED RIGHT

3. In late 2017, the FBI uncovered a college basketball bribery scandal so big, people are still being sentenced for it. This scandal had more moving parts than a lobster. It included coaches pocketing cash for referring players to agents and financial advisors to Adidas paying athletes when they committed to play for Adidas sponsored schools. And of course, there were adventures to topless bars with lots of booze. WHERE ARE THEY NOW

4. The mob and college is not something you’d typically put together until discussing the Boston College points shaving scandal. Richard “The Fixer” Perry bribed Boston College basketball players to do everything they could to throw the games. But it didn’t really work out for the mob as despite the threat of physical violence and brutal intimidation tactics, they couldn’t control a bunch of college kids. The mob didn’t make a ton of money on the scandal and Perry was later charged and thrown in the slammer. FIX THIS

5. SMU (Southern Methodist University) received the sharpest penalty on this list. They ignored the NCAA’s (college sports governing body) warnings about cheating and illegal benefits for their players (think cars, cash, etc). The NCAA shut down their football program for an entire season. SMU still has the distinction of being the one and only major college football program to be shut down by the NCAA. A BADGE OF HONOR?

Changing the subject

Let’s talk about the top three topics in the world of sports today including James Corden’s brilliant punk of David Beckham, why you’ll need hand sanitizer in Coachella this week and the ‘most dramatic “Bachelor” ending ever.’ READ

Friday For The Win!

While you may not be a sports fan, you’re probably a fan of a great conversation. Here’s what everyone will be talking about this weekend. 

It’s Fri-YAY!

The Last Night’s Game Team

PS - Today's tailgate treat will warm your bellies with fall around the corner. Mac and cheese bites baby!

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NFL (National Football League)

United front. Look for the anthem protests to continue to be a hot topic this weekend in the NFL. In the past week, we’ve seen anthem singers quit, owners speak out and last night in Green Bay, we saw Packers fans join in at the encouragement of the team.

College Basketball

Heads will roll. The fallout from the FBI investigation into the college basketball bribery scandal is just beginning with University of Louisville’s head coach and athletic director as the first victims to lose their jobs. (Here’s a quick summary on the scandal).

MLB (Major League Baseball)

You’ve made it. It’s the last weekend of the regular season for baseball. While many of the spots in the playoffs have been clinched, there are still a few open. The big teams to watch this weekend are the Milwaukee Brewers and the Colorado Rockies as they vie for a spot in the post season that starts next week.

Overtime

The third annual Invictus Games also wrap up this weekend. The stories and success of 550 injured service men and women turned athletes overshadowed the debut of the Games' founder Prince Harry and his girlfriend Meghan Markle. If you need some morning inspiration, read this story about a newly minted indoor rowing silver medalist who is a triple amputee.

Sideline stat

The PGA (Professional Golfers Association) season may be over but there’s one more chance to prove who’s the best. The top golfers in the world have assembled into two teams – Team U.S. and International (featuring players from everywhere but Europe) – in the Presidents Cup. Former presidents Clinton, Bush and Obama were all part of the opening ceremonies yesterday.  

Coaches’ corner

No one is going to overstay their welcome at Purdue anytime soon. University of Michigan head coach took to the media this week to complain that not only are their visitor facilities outdated but his players sat in the team bus during halftime because the locker room didn’t have air conditioning. That’s one way to tackle home-field advantage.  

5 Things To Know About The Scandal That Rocked College Basketball

As if sports didn’t have enough excitement already this week with the anthem protests, yesterday news broke of an FBI (yes that FBI) investigation into a bribery scandal amongst big-time college basketball programs.  Like a good episode of Law and Order, here’s how it all went down.

These are their stories,

The Last Night’s Game Team

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Five things to know about the scandal that rocked college basketball

1. The investigation, which started in 2015, resulted in charges for assistant basketball coaches from four schools who pocked cash in exchange for pointing players toward certain financial advisors and sports agents.

2. The other party in trouble is Adidas. They’re in hot water for paying athletes when they committed to play for Adidas sponsored schools. Coincidence that last week they were named the second most popular shoe in America, passing Jordans? That’s some shady stuff.

3. Four assistant basketball coaches have been charged with violating federal statutes on bribery and wire fraud. They’re from the University of Arizona, Auburn, Oklahoma State University and USC (University of Southern California). University of Louisville may also be amongst the accused.

4. This is where it’s going hurt even more. The penalties are just beginning. Not only do those involved have to worry about the FBI charges but the NCAA smackdown on the schools could be painful. Louisville could face the NCAA death penalty as this isn’t their first violation. (See the coaches’ corner for more on this).

5. Why is the FBI involved you ask? Well because the institutions are receiving federal funds and this violates the federal statues on bribery and wire fraud (amongst other charges). Besides they have investigation resources the NCAA doesn’t have like wiretapping, subpoenas and threats of prison time. Yowza.

 

Keep the converstion going. 

There's more to sports than scandals. Here's what else is happening in the world of sports including who's having a baby, who danced with MC Hammer and what is the death penalty? Read on.