Repercussions, or Lack Thereof
Jacory Harris, the University of Miami’s excellent QB, was declared ineligible by the University after its investigation of Charles Robinson’s investigation of illegal activity, mostly centering around a booster named Nevin Shapiro.
Bummer for him, but not really – turns out he’s ready to play Maryland on opening day, and expects to play on day one. From ESPN:
Seeming upbeat as usual, Miami quarterback Jacory Harris did not hesitate when asked about the fast-approaching start of the Hurricanes’ season.
“I expect to play,” Harris said. “Yes, sir.”
That’s what’s backwards about this whole process, to me. You make a mistake, and you’re punished for it, but only at one particular place. In the end, Nevin Shapiro will get punished, and the school likely will too, but nothing happens to the players. There’s some procedure and annoyance, but ultimately all of these guys believe they’ll play, and probably will play.
There has to be a better solution to this. In a situation like this one, three people need to be punished: Booster for doing illegal things, school for allowing it to happen (whether it knew it or not), and player for doing illegal things.
We explain away the players’ involvement by saying they’re teenagers, and who wouldn’t take money or women that are given to them for free? But the players know the rules, and should be held to them as such. Jacory Harris and the dozen other players implicated in this scandal aren’t being held to much of anything, and until that changes, we either need to rewrite the rules or ignore them.
