So you heard that Boise State got in trouble from the NCAA, and you want to know more. Like, what does this mean for the football team? And, why does the NCAA hate hide-a-beds so much? And, where can I sign up for women's tennis?
Well, thankfully there is a truckload of reporting on the topic, and just as thankfully, OBNUG has made a handy Cliffs Notes version for your Internet perusal. Join me after the jump for an overview of the Boise State Infractionpalooza, what it all means, and just how crazy the NCAA really is.
Story: "Boise State imposes penalties on athletics" by Brian Murphy, Idaho Statesman
Recap
The Bronco football team took the initiative to impose its own penalties prior to a formal NCAA hearing on June 10. Those penalties include forefeiture of three scholarships and six preseason practices over the course of the next two years. Also, Coach Pete and staff received a letter from the school about the rules violations. Rumored title: "Transgressors: Dark Side of the Couch."
It is possible that the NCAA will hand down stiffer sanctions if they indeed find Boise State guilty of lack of institutional control.
Also of note: The NCAA wrote a 39-page paper to Boise State in December, outlining the violations. Boise State responded with a 1,500-page paper ... single-spaced in Comic Sans, one would hope.
Story: "Boise State plans to show it has control of athletics" by Brian Murphy, Idaho Statesman
Recap
The Statesman got hold of Boise State's 1,500-page response to the NCAA thanks to the Freedom of Information Act and the world's largest thumb drive. That response acknowledges that rules were violated (stupid rules, but still ...), but the school vehemently denies a "lack of institutional control," even when it comes to the school's egregiously lax women's tennis team. Let BSU prez Bob Kustra tell you how it is:
"I don't think the institutional control charge is fair when it comes to the tennis violation," Kustra said. "We had no way of knowing a coach would do those things. When we found out, immediately we fired him. That's what I call institutional control."
Warning: Do not try rational arguments with the NCAA, Dr. Kustra.
Story: "Boise State's most serious violation," by the Idaho Statesman staff
Recap
Based on the specific details of the women's tennis violations, it sounds like former Boise State women's tennis coach Mark Tichenor had his heart in the right place. The recruit who received improper benefits was struggling to learn the English language, and many of the expenses went toward English classes and tests that were required for enrollment. Of course, Tichenor and staff also lied about every single aspect of this player's recruitment and actually played her in a tournament when she wasn't part of the team. So yes, I could see how the NCAA would frown upon that.
Story: "Boise State dealing with NCAA infractions," by Dave Southorn, Idaho Press-Tribune
Recap
Noteworthy: A final decision from the NCAA could take months. It could be the Duke Nukem of sanction reporting.
Story: "Boise State self-imposes sanctions," by Andrea Adelson, ESPN
Recap
According to Andrea Adelson, Boise State's self-imposed preseason practice ban may have the biggest impact because "that Virginia Tech game wasn't exactly a work of art." Also, Boise State lost to Georgia in 2005.
Story: "Petersen responds to NCAA allegations," by Mark Johnson and Ryan Larrondo, KTVB
Recap
A former Portland State athletic director thinks Boise State screwed the pooch on this one.
Story: "What are the 22 allegations that the NCAA is making against Boise State?" by Brian Murphy, Idaho Statesman
Recap
The NCAA found 20 major violations against Boise State, including the aforementioned Sleepover Scandal by the football team. The NCAA considers these to be major violations because "they are not secondary violations." Conclusion: The NCAA needs a thesarus.
Story: "Boise State football tried to fix summer housing issue, created more NCAA violations," by Brian Murphy, Idaho Statesman
Recap
You'll really like this one.
Boise State worked directly with the NCAA in order to comply with the summer housing rules only to find out days before its 2009 season opener against Oregon that - oh by the way - the way they were doing it was still wrong and they either had to come clean on 23 more violations or risk future penalties that could involve vacated wins. What a crazy, Two and a Half Men premise this turned out to be!
Bronco coaches were led to believe that everything was above board so long as incoming players did not receive housing or meals or transportation for free. Turns out, Bronco coaches cannot even arrange any type of housing/meals/transportation. To avoid playing the Oregon game with ineligible players, the Broncos reported the additional violations and received reinstatements for the offending players.
This will make a great Idaho Shakespeare Festival play some day. Seth Rogen is Brian Murphy in The Taming of the Air Mattress!
Your turn
What do you make of all these allegations? Has the NCAA lost its mind? Will you ever sleep on a couch again without feeling a tinge of remorse? Share your thoughts in the comments.