Does the NCAA need a stricter code of conduct?

[IrishCanadian25]

I was reading this article on ESPN.com, and it made me absolutely furious.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=5366458

The reason this upset me so much is the fact that the main suspect, Darren Myles Jr., is a repeat offender. He had a resisting arrest case from a while back as well.

The NCAA will likely heavilly examine the "perks" given to the players - the fact that they were allowed entry into the bar as VIPs without paying a cover. But what about the fact that unless UTenn dismisses Myles Jr., he would be a two-time offender with an assault charge on a cop!?

I personally think the NCAA needs to recognize that with the cost and the lucrative benefits of college sports, too many of these highly talented kids are wasting their talents - and taking spots away from walk ons who are cut or who go D-2 or D-3.

I am slowly moving in favor of a one-strike policy for offenses. No matter the offense - if a college athlete has anything on their criminal record (misdemeanor or felony), that is their only freebie. If they are arrested again, they are banned from the NCAA.

Thoughts?

 

[klunderbunker]

I like it to a degree, but as long as there's meat to the allegations. For instance if someone is assaulted in a fight and fights back and gets assault charges put on them, I can see that being chalked up to self-defense and shouldn't be put on them. However for the most part I like this. I fail to see why someone should be allowed to play college sports which is a privilege and be treated the same as the majority of the players that never get in legal trouble. These guys are talented, but they're not above the law.

And alas, this will never happen because the NCAA is afraid to make one move and when they do they fuck it up (USC this year)

 

[Big Sexy]

They do need a stricter code of conduct but I'm not sure about a one-strike policy especially if the offense is something minor. Repeat offenders with major crimes should, however, be banned from the NCAA for good. Too many guys are given second and third chances without too much punishment being given out and that can't happen. The NCAA has to maintain an image and situations like these do not put them in a positive light.

 

[People's Champ]

I agree that the NCAA needs to be stricter. I agree with KB too that there has to be something to the allegations. It can't be for something petty, nor should it happen for something that may not be their fault. However, your one strike idea for more weighter offenses is a good idea. These players can't continue to think that they can get away with a slap on the wrist when they find themselves in trouble with the law.

 

[Davi323]

I agree in concept of a single strike policy, but I do have some caveats I would enact first.

If you go for a 1 strike policy, it has to be based on a conviction, not an accusation. As we saw with the Duke Lacrosse team, even allegations, despite being completely meritless, can completely ruin an athlete's career. If you are going to automatically remove athletic eligibility for a single offense, make damn sure the offense happened.

I would also probably base the single strike policy on type of misconduct. A simple misdemeanor, that college age men do all the time, like drinking underage, should not have the same punishment as a serious Maurice Clarett driving with loaded weapons in the passenger seat kind of thing. For misdemeanor bullshit, I think that the typical "suspended for X amount of games" is probably more appropriate than kicking an athlete completely to the curb. Commit a felony or other serious charge, kick him out flat on his ass.

Here is an idea...change the rules for athletic scholarships. Scholarships that are revoked because of criminal activity must be repaid. The player would have to reimburse the school for the tuition, room and board for the semesters lost.