20 Florida State Football Players Suspended

Shocking, I know!

I think the shocking part is that the NCAA actually did something about it.

Is this really any worse than the elements that are destroying professional sports? Just asking.

My understanding is that the NCAA is there to promote student-athletes. What I see in college sport is a proliferation of scandal and corruption. NCAA athletes are promoted as amateurs which is bogus right off the get go. I think that many of these athletes are exploited for their athletic talent without proper remuneration. I also believe that many of the pro leagues willingly support this system because it provides a virtually expense free way of developing young talent. I have applauded moves such as the NBA creating a developmental league becuase I think this is a viable avenue for a young athlete to develop his talent without all that mucking about in those archaic NCAA regualtions. Just my thoughts, eh, who knows I may be full of it too.

No, you are definitely not "full of it" and raise very valid issues of contention with the realities of NCAA.

College athletics are funded by boosters. And as long as boosters contribute big piles of dough to these programs, then there will always be these elements you raised.

I would not be surprised at all if independent, privately funded leagues begin to pop up outside of the NCAA. To my understanding, "junior leagues" for hockey have been in existence since the dawn of time in Canada. Perhaps it is only a matter of time that similar development leagues begin for basketball and football in the US.

Very intelligent point Tyrone, in that should academic entrance levels become a barrier for some athletes to gain entry I could well envision a proliferation of those types of leagues and organizations. Junior hockey has indeed been around a great while and even now there are some good quality junior leagues in the US. From my little research on those leagues some of the US Junior talent does make its way into higher level Junior Leagues.

I think that many of these athletes are exploited for their athletic talent without proper remuneration.

I disagree...$40,000 a year in free tuition, room & board as well as numerous perks such as additional cash you never hear about...

Nevermind that 40k is for a free education...

And how many "student"-athletes actually partake in that education?

how many non-student athletes partake in the education...

A university does not guarantee you an education, just an opportunity.

Anyone can skip class...

Over here, Washingtonians (mostly mothers apparently) are protesting the High-School WASL tests that leads them to graduation. But when they are in college, gooder is a word. It starts from young, and then goes all the way to college.

Honestly, if I was commish of the NFL or NBA, I'd makes sure that all college players take the full 4 years of college (unless they get a degree within 3 years), and make them study.

lots of high schools are protesting the standardized tests...

Leave no child behind

WASL in washington, PSSAs in PA or MCAS in MA are the ones i can think of...

I'm not a politics person, so explain to me, as a "child in high school", what No Child Left Behind is?

Besides, why protest the WASL if it's optional to take?

When did it become shameful not to attend college? If there were proper apprenticeships, trade and technical schools would we still be so hung up on 4 year college education.

The fact is some people are not academic and they should not be made to feel bad for not being so. Junior leagues would be a much better option in IMO. The apprentice system is falling apart in England and needs to be overhauled. The fact is that the world needs plumbers, builders, decorators, roofers etc. and it is a waste of time to try and make every kid go to college.

Maybe I'm crazy, but what would a degeree be worth if everyone had one? Not much I'm sure.