In the modern world of high-level sports and high-level sports scholarships, it can be easy to forget the simple fact that at the core, a sport is really just a game.
This came to light recently with the excessive allegations of cheating and other National Collegiate Athletic Association rules violations in football at multiple major schools, including Ohio State and The University of Southern California who lost their 2004 National Title after Reggie Bush was deemed ineligible for that season due to his breaking of NCAA rules.
Ohio State football coach, Jim Tressel, was forced to resign earlier this week after months of pressure from multiple reports of rules violations dating back to 2002 when Ohio State won its last National Championship.
Widely regarded as one of the greatest coaches in Ohio State history, on par with Woody Hayes, Jim Tressel will be missed by many fans and alums.
He will be missed due to the ignorance of his players. When allegations of players selling their memorabilia first hit the news, it almost went unnoticed. The bigger news was of the after effect, namely their suspension for the first five games of the 2011 season.
More recently, Sports Illustrated did an expose on the Buckeyes, claiming that these rules violations had become a tradition for many Ohio State players. The most common among the allegations involved them getting a car at a steep discount or their selling of championship rings and other paraphernalia for tattoos. The owner of the tattoo parlor was newly indicted on charges of drug trafficking.
In addition, quarterback Terrelle Pryor was seen driving to a team meeting in a sports car, which he received from the dealer at an unfair discount, while having a suspended license.
Players need to realize that even though they are celebrities, they are students first. Students need to play by the rules and refuse to follow a tradition or break curfew or sell their soul for a tattoo. Students force on education. It is their first job, sports is second.