NFL
By: Brock Vierra
Arizona State announced that in response to recruiting violations committed under Herm Edwards, the university would self-impose a one-year postseason ban for their football program. Hoping to lessen the eventual blow the NCAA will hand down, AD Ray Anderson just screwed over every senior on the football team. Too late to enter the portal, first-year HC Kenny Dillingham now has to carry the weight of both a tough start to his tenure and the hurt of the kids who trusted their futures to liars.
Herm Edwards isn’t there, Antonio Pierce isn’t there, Zak Hill isn’t there. The ones who violated the rules, they’re gone. Punish them. Ban them from employment in the NCAA. Don’t hurt the kids that trusted liars but hurting kids is just what the NCAA does. They hurt those who did no wrong while others escaped justice. In the spirit of Brian Bosworth, the NCAA stands for the National Crooks Against Athletes.
But for AD Ray Anderson, he just showed what he thinks of his student-athletes. There are typically two types of punishments that a program can give itself: a postseason ban and a reduction of scholarships. Anderson chose the first in order to keep ASU competitive upon their move to the Big 12. It makes sense and I don’t blame him. However, ASU has been under investigation for several years and it was basically known that they did something. Anderson waited until the last second because he believed he could wiggle his slimy, little self out from punishment. Anderson hired Edwards, Anderson knew what he did and Anderson is now escaping justice.
The part that irritates me is the timing. ASU was on a downward trend in 2022 but they didn’t do it then. They could’ve self-imposed a punishment at any time but chose to do it less than a week before their first game. The reason why Anderson waited is so none of the seniors entered the transfer portal and likewise ASU would have an easier time bringing in talent. They waited to entrap these kids and Anderson still gets to sleep in his million-dollar house while the backs of 20-year-olds have to carry the weight of the sins committed by grown-ups once again.
What really ticks me off is that if this was pro sports, I would be upset but that is the life of a professional. We have grown men lying to kids. These grown men are representing institutions of higher education, institutions that generally serve kids. What type of message are we sending these kids and their families? Not only are we condoning lying, we’re condoning manipulation, entrapment, and a moral code that isn’t even close to matching the one’s in these universities’ mission statements.
For these players, they already knew that a Pac-12 title is out of the cards but they were inspired to work towards a bowl bid. Now that dream is gone. As a first-year head coach, Kenny Dillingham now has to figure out how to lift the spirits of a downtrodden team. Herm Edwards is making a paycheck at ESPN, Antonio Pierce is coaching with the Raiders, and Zak Hill is coaching in high school. They’re all making money.
To all High School athletes out there, you are tasked with the impossible decision of choosing your future at 18. How you feel at that age will change and oftentimes, you are stuck in a situation that isn’t good for you. Find someone you trust, someone who has no financial stake in your future. Ask them for advice, and be mindful of whom they find weary. Do not trust the words of adults just because they’re adults. You are a number, a figure to them who’s sole purpose is to make them money. They see you as an employee, they pay you in tuition money. They want their investment back and with interest. Ray Anderson just proved even the shadiest of men still find adoration from their employers and the reason is that he was able to exact every possible dollar out of you. One day we all will answer for what we have done and the pursuit of money might not be enough to justify screwing over these kids.
For more college football content, watch the latest episode of The College Football Forecast.
