Latest college scandals are inexcusable

[Rob-TheStormChaser]

We are all used to college coaches giving players a little pocket change or an extra hamburger, cleverly hidden inside a brand-new sport-utility vehicle. And we have seen plenty of university presidents who wish they were athletic directors, hiring and firing coaches because they lose to Rival U.

But even for veteran observers of college sports scandals, this is a landmark week.

It's only Tuesday, but we already have seen a university president, St. Bonaventure's Robert Wickenheiser, resign because he overruled his school's admissions office to shoehorn a basketball player into school. And we have seen a coach, Jim Harrick, about to be fired after getting both Georgia and Rhode Island into trouble with the NCAA. (Sadly, only Georgia has decided to fire him; Rhode Island is stuck knowing he left two years ago.)

Let's start with Wickenheiser. Some college presidents are oblivious to the cesspool in which they swim. Not Wickenheiser. He went right over to the deep end.

Wickenheiser lost his job because he personally ensured that center Jamil Terrell would be admitted to St. Bonaventure. Terrell arrived from Coastal Georgia Community College, where, it was recently revealed, he did not earn the required associate's degree. He received a certificate in welding. (Clearly he is an old-school player. Really, how many guys weld anymore?)

St. Bonaventure was told to forfeit six games. The Bonnies, standing up for welders around the world, decided to boycott their last two games. This was a bit baffling to their opponents, and to the Atlantic 10 conference, which didn't appreciate the bitter Bonnies sabotaging their season.

Now, I have no problem with welding. Many people make a fine living from welding, and I'm quite sure they weld far better than I ever could. But a welding certificate is not the same as an associate's degree, and it is rather amazing to think that Wickenheiser risked his reputation and a lifetime in higher education for 6.9 points and 4.8 rebounds a game.

That is what Terrell averaged this season. (He did, however, lead the team in welding.)

Are you appalled by this academic fraud? Disgusted? Or do you just think, "Goshdarnit, why didn't I think of that?" Because if that's what you thought, well, nice to see ya, Coach Harrick!

A few years ago, Harrick was fired from UCLA for falsifying expense reports. That might not sound like such an egregious offense, except that he did it to cover up an NCAA violation he knowingly and willfully committed.

Now Harrick is accused of changing players' grades (at Rhode Island), paying a player (at Georgia), sexual harassment (at Rhode Island) and giving players bogus grades (at Rhode Island and Georgia).

Harrick and Wickenheiser have something in common: They have a son who is an assistant coach. Harrick's son, Jim Jr., is accused of teaching a class that some players never attended - but aced anyway. And Wickenheiser apparently was helping his son Kort when he slid Jamil Terrell into St. Bonaventure.

Hours after Wickenheiser resigned, a crowd of about 800 students and faculty gathered at the school's gym to applaud his departure. The interim president, Fr. Dominic Monti, then received a standing ovation.

Legendary football coach Paul (Bear) Bryant famously commented that colleges need athletics because "it's kind of hard to rally around a math class." True, so true. It is also kind of hard to be embarrassed by a math class.