Why I'm Not Talking Smack to Ohio State Fans

Over the weekend I happened to notice in a couple media sources that Ohio State's football coach had reigned. By now we all know why and saw this moment coming over the past few weeks. He joins a (unfortunately) growing line of "cheaters" or people aware of serious infractions of NCAA rules. However as much as I don't root for Ohio State, I'm not very happy about this.

One report I saw showed the 5 or 6 coaches who have made the most BCS appearances. I don't remember the exact list and I'm too lazy to Google it but the names I remember were Jim Tressel, Bobby Bowden, Bob Stoops, Pete Carroll and Frank Beamer. Each of these coaches has been wildly successful and if my memory serves me well, has all been accused of some level of NCAA violations and rule bending. Here's what I'm getting at, the old adage "If you ain't cheating, you ain't trying" no longer covers the problems. Winning is now everything and winning at all costs drives men to poor decisions too often. Do I think the coaches on that list are crooks. Uh, do I have to answer that? Actually though, no I don't. There are a couple I wouldn't let my son play for but there are some that I think are great leaders and for the most part run great programs. And for some of them the issues aren't things they initiated. Sometimes great leaders still have poor decision makers around them.

Here's why all this bothers me though, because my 8 year old son is learning more about sports than I'd like from all this. Our beloved Oregon Ducks played for the National Title last year (against a team that has had at least one question raised about them) and I don't believe for a second we didn't find some way to "interpret the system" to make it that far. Sure our uniforms are amazing. Sure Oregon is the finest State in America. But kids don't show up in Eugene because Autzen Stadium is the best ever and they care more about the offensive system than the campuses proximity to the beach. Heck, we already got busted for overpaying a "recruiter" in Texas in the off season.

So one reason I'm throwing no rocks at OSU fans right now is because they'd be lobbing them back at me once we find out it's not just Chip Kelly's amazing offense that landed us in the title game.

What I wrestle with though is what to teach Carter. Don't get me wrong, I know what to teach him. What I mean is how do I handle it once we fall from grace? What deeper lessons is he learning about cheating and competition? I don't think the response is block all 45 ESPN channels we have. I don't think it's to deny it or mock those that fall. But am I the only one that is bothered that the old adage "cheaters never prosper" isn't entirely true anymore. Sure, coaches give up National Titles or lose their jobs but you can't tell me their bank accounts are hurting. Sure, they lose face for a time period but its funny how eventually most of them end up coaching again or become a talking head the next season for ESPN.

So I have no solution for this. Yet. But I know that even though he's 8 I'd be a fool to not start a simple conversation with him about all this. Why? Because he has already put together that since that Bautista character in Toronto is hitting so many home runs "He must be on steroids like Sosa and McGwire." That by the way was his direct quote. Maybe my kid is just a bit crazy about sports (I blame his mom) but he's already drawing some conclusions I'm not comfortable with.

And by the way, I was joking about his mom. Just want to make sure we are clear on that.