With Liberty and Justice for a few

            “Mr. Green, we hereby sentence you to a four game suspension for the start of the 2010 season,” a committee member says. “But why?” asks a confused young man. “We must suspend you for profiting off of a jersey with your name on it from a previous bowl game you played in.” “Is there any way I can appeal?” “You could, but by the time it went through, the season may be almost over, and you will have ended up missing more games than has already been handed down.” A.J. Green leaves the room with anger in his eyes.

Similar scenarios follow for young men by the names of Dez Bryant and Todd Gurley. All suspended for minor infractions that at best should have warranted a finger wag. Infractions that definitely should not have cost Bryant his entire final season at Oklahoma St. But let’s say for the sake of argument the NCAA is completely just and fair with its discipline for any and all affiliated parties. It operates with the highest standards of integrity and honor. Assuming that is the case, the question becomes this. Why are Rick Pitino, John Calipari, and Bobby Petrino still employed as head coaches of notable programs? Why have they not endured at a minimum suspensions and high levels of public shame the same way Green, Bryant, and Gurley among others had to do?

Let’s backtrack to April 2012 for a moment. Bobby Petrino is enjoying some quality time with his mistress, half his age, on a motorcycle. All of the sudden, fate and karma get involved, and the happy couple are involved in a collision. While they escaped with minor injuries, Petrino, on the verge of getting caught, admitted to having a passenger by the name of Jessica Dorrell, an All-SEC volleyball player with the University of Arkansas, as his acquaintance at the time of the incident. This led to further admission of an adulterous relationship between the two, resulting in Petrino’s eventual termination as the head football coach. Fast forward to roughly 21 months later on 9 January 2014. Petrino’s reward for having such a relationship with Dorrell that included an undisclosed $20,000 cash gift as a Christmas present, her hiring onto the football staff, exposing Arkansas to a potentially vicious sexual harassment lawsuit, and being a TERRIBLE LEADER OF YOUNG MEN was………….wait for it……..a seven year $24.5 million deal with a $10 million buyout option. So even if Petrino behaves himself but isn’t so great at his job, he will walk away with $10 million. Allow that to sink in.

While we’re in Louisville, let’s not forget the most famous basketball coach in that state, Rick Pitino. By now, we are all familiar with Pitino’s scandal being detailed in Katina Powell’s new book, citing Andre McGee as the ring leader of soliciting numerous women to sexually entice recruits. While this is a black eye on the Louisville basketball program, it makes us wonder was the previous scandal properly addressed and dealt with? You remember…the one where Pitino admitted to having a sexual relationship with the wife of the Louisville equipment manager that resulted in her pregnancy?

How about allegedly paying her $3000 for an abortion? But most importantly, how about the way Louisville blatantly ignored the contract clause that allowed for his firing for “acts of moral depravity or misconduct that damages the university's reputation.” If infidelity, with someone else’s wife mind you, and getting her pregnant, then paying for an abortion don’t match that description, I don’t know what does. But, I guess we shouldn’t be remotely surprised by Pitino still retaining his job. After all, how could the Louisville Athletic Director justify his termination after hiring a guy with Bobby Petrino’s track record?  

And don’t think we forgot about you Johnny boy and your love affair for the star player scandal. Let’s not forget how UMass forfeited a 4-1 tournament record after standout Marcus Camby accepted $40,000 in cash and gifts from an agent. Then, likely just for comedy purposes, he reported his brother needed the money for groceries. Not to dismiss the importance of bodily nourishment, but I think it’s a safe bet majority of human beings don’t need a yearly salary for a few months of groceries. Some people are still searching for whoever took Derrick Rose’s SAT exam even though they really should just give up seeing as how they will likely NEVER find that person. Then, there were rumblings about Eric Bledsoe’s high school grades having been changed to make him eligible for college ball. So, that’s three schools (UMass, Memphis, Kentucky) and three scandals. Does anyone else see a pattern here?

So, there we have it. Three coaches who were all 100% guilty of everything they were accused of and three players, also guilty, but only one party received any serious punishment. Some might say it is the school’s job to deal with these issues, and it’s best if they police themselves. While that sounds good, the NCAA doesn’t seem to mind stepping in when it comes to athletes. They took matters into their own hands with A.J. Green and Dez Bryant. So, the question is this. Why are they not taking matters into their own hands and laying down just as harsh punishments on coaches as they are on players? The coaches who are role models, leaders and developers of young men. The coaches who have morality clauses in their contracts. The coaches who are the faces of programs and sit in family living rooms while promising the kids will be in good hands upon their arrival on campus.

These guys are getting away with murder, and the worst part is they know it. History tells them no matter what, they’ll never be treated as poorly as a college athlete. I guess traditions never change, and the pledge of allegiance applies to college coaches as well. Completely divisible, with liberty and justice for a few.