Surging College Football Programs = Cheating

[lexsooner]

OK, it is a given that every program cheats to some extent. The SEC is not only the best in the college football but also the best at cheating. Is it fair to assume that programs which quickly rise to the next level of success are cheating? Oregon became a national contender quickly and it appears they cheated like crazy. Auburn too. In basketball, Kentucky fast became a national power again after Coach Calipari arrived with his big name recruits, but I have not doubt he cheated and those banners will come down like they did at U Mass and Memphis. Also, think back to how the Texas Aggie Cult became the kings of the SWC in the 80s and 90s, and also how SMU became a national power in the early 80s. It's all documented: cheating.

Which brings me to our own inbred neighbors in Stoolwater, run by their daddy-uncle oilman benefactor: T. Boone Pickens U. Yes, their coach is a man and has done a fine job, but has he done such a fine job on his own with honest oil money in order to fuel the rise of the aggies to Top Ten status, or perhaps they are just like all of the examples above of surging programs: cheaters. What would prompt the All-American receiver Blackmon who was due to be a first round draft pick to decide to come back for his last year at OSU? It makes no sense. Maybe Weeden was not quite ready for the NFL, but on the other hand, he will be around 30 if or when he takes the field next year in the pros. The fact that they both came back to aggieville for another year leads to only one conclusion: cheating and money under the table. I just cannot believe that a school which is practically run by a billionarie oilman and former corporate raider is not cheating like a madman. Oil and corporate America are not exactly known for scruples and if daddy-uncle Pickens wants a winner, do you really think some petty NCAA rules are going to get into the way? Not at all.

[meoveryouxinfinity]

CHEATIN GOONERS

[badger]

I don't think Blackmon or Weeden are getting paid off.

I think Blackmon returned because I think he was seen as third-best behind AJ Green and Julio Jones in the draft, which probably was viewed at deadline time as a ticket to the second round or later.

I think we all saw after the fact that wide receivers were coveted in the draft early-on, but that was not projected when the draft deadline came about.

Weeden was going to be mid to late draft pick, so it was a very good decision to return, as we're seeing rookies get axed as rosters get trimmed to 53 more than any other class. Getting drafted was not an assurance of staying on the roster, unfortunately for many. The lockout really seemed to hurt prospects.

Are they cheating in other ways? Maybe, but till they win against us in November again, not too concerned.

[SoonerMom2]

Think it is disgusting how Pickens speaks for OSU and where they are going to be headed in a conference realignment. Also think it is disgusting that his donations go to a fund run by him and the Athletic Director Holder and money is borrowed by OSU. Does that mean he only backs loans not really donates the money? The fact the AD is involved at all makes it smell -- no wonder he wanted Holder.

[badger]

One major reason I don't think Blackmon or Weeden are getting paid off is because it seems that the paid players are often the ones that jump to the pros the fastest. Once you teach players that the game is about getting paid and not about school pride, or college memories that last a lifetime, or the opportunity to receive a higher education, they learn that they should go where the most money is: the NFL.

[KantoSooner]

I hope OU beats OSU for the next forever.

Now that my bona fides are established, a couple of quick comments. If Pickens wants to spend his money on building facilities and supporting a football program, there are an almost unlimited number of things he can do, quite legitimately to do just that. And those things will cause the program to become better. All without cheating.

Some players opt to stay in college when they could have gone pro for personal reasons. It may not make cynical sense, but it happens.

OSU has put a lot of emphasis on it's football program and are seeing results. In the long run, that probably benefits OU as well. Having pathetic opposition is not a good thing.

While I agree that the SEC is pretty obviously a snake pit of rule breaking and Oregon has been skating on extremely thin ice for many years, now, I don't get the same smell out of OSU.

And I'm happy that I don't. As annoying as OSU fans can be, there's really only one game a year I want them to lose. And they've been quite cooperative of late, so I'll leave them with a presumption of innocence intact.

[JiminyChristmas]

TBP desperately wants to see a football championship of some sort in his lifetime. He is 83 yrs old, so who knows how much time he has left. I think it is safe to say that his best chance in the very near future is with Weeden and Blackmon returning. It does make you wonder how far he would go to get to see it in his lifetime.

The fly in the ointment to that line of thinking though is Holgorsen. If TBP was desperate enough to pay players to stay, wouldn't he have ponied up the jack to get Holgorsen to stay another year also?

Seems to me the most likely answer is that the players stayed to improve their draft stock, but, what if TBP gave them some sort of guarantee, is that a vioation?

Let's say he hypothetically told them, "look, you come back here next year and if your contract is less than what projections say it would be this year, I will make up the difference."

In that scenario, there would be no extra benefits while they were under the NCAA umbrella, right?

[LosAngelesSooner]

As much as I want/expect to beat oSu every year, I don't think they are cheating. They're a good team and, as opposed to when they were under say, Les Miles, they seem to have a group of good kids, too.

And I like T. Boone Pickens. I've met the guy several times and he's a charmer and a smart guy. He also doesn't hate OU, but enjoys a bit of friendly trash talking and banter.

Just my opinion.

[EatLeadCommie]

The reason OSU is "good" is because the Big XII sucks. It's all relative. OSU is better, sometimes even good, but they are not in Oregon's class or SMU's in the early 80s. Not yet. And I doubt they ever will be, even this year.

[Flagstaffsooner]

One major reason I don't think Blackmon or Weeden are getting paid off is because it seems that the paid players are often the ones that jump to the pros the fastest. Once you teach players that the game is about getting paid and not about school pride, or college memories that last a lifetime, or the opportunity to receive a higher education, they learn that they should go where the most money is: the NFL.
That's just silly. Blackmon and Weeden are being paid much more than they will ever get in the nfl. Lets face it. T Booger is still paying the bar and pharmacy bills for the Suttons.

[KantoSooner]

Weeden and Blackmon are getting more than they will in the NFL? Are you high? Human nature being what it is, the chances of getting a young male to carry on as though he had no more than the average college kid is next to nil. Getting two of them to carry on a seamless cover-up? Impossible.

And Pickens is way too smart to be the cause of OSU going on semi-permanent probation.

Just my opinion, but I don't see it.

[KantoSooner]

Okay, the 'are you high?' comment was too much. Sorry. Still, I don't believe those two are getting much, if anything in the way of bennies.

[oumartin]

I don't think they are cheating. However if they win the NC this year then I reserve the right to change my mind

[lexsooner]

Granted, I don't have any hard evidence to support the assertion that OSU is cheating, but I just can't get over the fact that an oil man and former corporate raider billionaire is pulling the strings of their entire athletic program and has way more influence over an entire public university than any other school. I just cannot believe someone from his occupational background, where pretty much everyone is an unscrupulous crook to some degree, would care much about NCAA rules. Guys like him are used to getting what they want and are willing to do anything, and daddy-uncle Pickens wants OSU to be a top program. That's not to say he would not be careful, but yes, I think OSU is cheating. This entire Daddy whorebucks setup is ripe for it.

[soonerfromgeorgia]

So is Stanford paying Luck to stay in college? He would have went pretty high himself.

[soonerfromgeorgia]

and what was Bradford making when he decied to come back for his senior season?

[badger]

JUNIOR. Bradford was a junior. He skipped his senior year... or were you implying that his first Ram year was his senior year? In that case, he made $50 million guaranteed :D

Let me put your mind at ease a little, lex. You know what happens to boosters once they're caught? They get SHUNNED, they don't just get left out of the loop, they are physically removed and barred from ever coming close to the loop ever again.

The thing Boone desires more than winning? Power and control (I guess that's two things). He doesn't have either if he gets caught being a non-rule following booster.

The best thing boosters can do to stay in control is pay the money directly to the program... or funnel it through your hedge fund disguised as a donation direct to the program :rolleyes:

[Peach Fuzz]

I don't think they're cheating and I think they have done a good job over the last decade building to where they are. I can't say the same about their administration however.

[soonerfromgeorgia]

I was just making a point to not throw rocks, they just might throw rocks back. I for the most part think most programs run right on the edge of cheating/not cheating, it's a very fine line.

[lexsooner]

JUNIOR. Bradford was a junior. He skipped his senior year... or were you implying that his first Ram year was his senior year? In that case, he made $50 million guaranteed :D

Let me put your mind at ease a little, lex. You know what happens to boosters once they're caught? They get SHUNNED, they don't just get left out of the loop, they are physically removed and barred from ever coming close to the loop ever again.

The thing Boone desires more than winning? Power and control (I guess that's two things). He doesn't have either if he gets caught being a non-rule following booster.

The best thing boosters can do to stay in control is pay the money directly to the program... or funnel it through your hedge fund disguised as a donation direct to the program :rolleyes:

I sure hope you are right, Badger, but I remain very suspicious because of Pickens' vast wealth and his close involvement with OSU athletics, and the fact OSU has risen quickly to become a regular top 25 and even top 10 program. Then Weeden and Blackmon came skipping back for their final year, so that just did not seem to be just by chance.

[KantoSooner]

The whole "Pickens is an oilman, and rich, therefore he must be corrupt"-thing is silly. It also smacks of the cynicism of the junior poli-sci student initiating the freshmen into the fine art of bong-hit socialist cant. It's very possible to get rich in our society without being evil. If money is that important to you, do as Pickens did and figure out the rules of the game, play it, win, and go enjoy your cash.

Life is a full contact game. Ask any professor looking for tenure. Pickens didn't invent oil, or green-mail; he does, however, play both quite well. (He also marries exceptionally well - the man didn't start life rich). So far, at least, I am unaware of any serious complaints about his ethics.

He's a poke fan. Get over it.

[King Fuzzy]

http://i54.tinypic.com/5nq8fc.jpg



That's a pretty big rock. How much does an OU QB make per month?

[70sooner]

Think it is disgusting how Pickens speaks for OSU and where they are going to be headed in a conference realignment. Also think it is disgusting that his donations go to a fund run by him and the Athletic Director Holder and money is borrowed by OSU. Does that mean he only backs loans not really donates the money? The fact the AD is involved at all makes it smell -- no wonder he wanted Holder.

Have you seen amybody knocking on the Gaylords door asking them such nonsense?

Can you even imagine any OU donor even being asked where OU is headed?

Joe C is one of the best in the business, David Boren is one of the best college Presidents out there and Bob is, well he's Bob. I think we have the best Pres/AD/HC trio at any college in the country.

[Tulsa_Fireman]

http://i54.tinypic.com/5nq8fc.jpg



That's a pretty big rock. How much does an OU QB make per month?

Jesus bought him that.

[OutlandTrophy]

this thread is dumb

[Joe Kidd]

Have you seen amybody knocking on the Gaylords door asking them such nonsense?

Can you even imagine any OU donor even being asked where OU is headed?

Joe C is one of the best in the business, David Boren is one of the best college Presidents out there and Bob is, well he's Bob. I think we have the best Pres/AD/HC trio at any college in the country.

It is my impression that outside of being a huge booster for OSU, T. Boone is a much more visible person than the Gaylords. He is out speaking for all of his interests on a regular basis. His visibility makes him much more likely to be called and asked questions about something it is fairly obvious he has an interest in. Heck, Mark Cuban is starting to speak out on conference realignment and he doesn't have a special interest in any of the schools. Some rich guys like to talk, some don't.

[badger]

Cuban is an Indiana guy, but he doesn't support the NCAA, so I don't think he contributes to Hoosier athletics (maybe Hoosier academics?)

[Tulsa_Fireman]

I contribute to the health and welfare of orphans.

CHEATING ORPHANS OMG

[Sooner_Tuf]

Would Boone cheat? I don't know but he doesn't play by the rules of decency in business. He uses OSU to hide money and shift it back to himself. Boone and Holder own Cowboy Athletics Inc, it's a private corporation. Look it up. Boone donates money to OSU who gives it to Cowboy Athletics. OSU uses it as collateral to secure loans that are also taxpayer guranteed. That leaves Boone with the ability to still use/lose the money, deposit it in an offshore bank w/e.

I would guess Boone is doing some other shady stuff there but it's probably not what we would call conventional cheating.

Boone is not an oil man. He doesn't make money exploring or producing. He makes money by raiding, liquidating, stealing pension funds etc. He is a disease. He has put more people out of work in Oklahoma and Texas than Obama.

[saucysoonergal]

I think OsU is benefitting from the new facilities more than anything. I doubt anyone is getting paid.