Dave Zirin: The NCAA Should Shut Down Notre Dame's Football Program

[marmar]

from The Nation:



The NCAA Should Shut Down Notre Dame's Football Program
Dave Zirin

November 29, 2010


It’s past time that the storied Notre Dame football squad had its program suspended. In a season of heartbreak and horror under new coach Brian Kelly, the Fighting Irish have more than earned what's known as the NCAA's dreaded "death penalty." Historically, teams have received the "death penalty" for illegal recruiting or paying players under the table. The cynics—or perhaps the realists—will point out that most of the programs on the college football map are dirtier than a Vegas city council meeting. Why single out Notre Dame? Simply put, those running the football program in South Bend are guilty of something worse than the payoffs and kickbacks that pepper many of the top so-called amateur teams.

First there was the death of 20-year-old team videographer Declan Sullivan in October. Amidst a hurricane, Sullivan was ordered onto a fifty-foot high "scissor lift" to videotape practice. Coach Kelly was apparently still angry that the previous day’s practice had to be conducted inside, and practice, even in inclement weather, demands to be recorded. After the tower blew over, killing Sullivan, practice continued another twenty-five minutes. Sullivan’s death wasn’t just an accident. It was utter negligence.

As school president, the Reverend John Jenkins correctly said in an e-mail to students, “Declan Sullivan was entrusted to our care and we failed to keep him safe."

But Reverend Jenkins also defended the man in charge, saying, "Coach Kelly was hired not only because of his football expertise, but because we believed his character and values accord with the highest standards of Notre Dame. All we have seen since he came to Notre Dame, and everything we have learned in our investigation to date, have confirmed that belief."

The Sullivan story was awful enough. Now there is the emerging truth behind the September 10 suicide of first-year student Elizabeth Seeberg. Seeberg overdosed on antidepressants ten days after telling friends and campus police that a University of Notre Dame football player had sexually assaulted her. ............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.thenation.com/blog/156708/ncaa-should-shut-down-notre-dames-football-program

[SpiralHawk]

1. Jeeez - sounds like ND has a wicked case of Republicon Family Values

Ptoooey.

[Billy Burnett]

2. Football IS republican (with a smattering of exceptions)

I live in Miami and there's a football player related rape, rape victim suicide, or murder "scandal" every year at the UofMiami.

As they say, you can't spell "scum" without UM.

I Had A Girl, Donna Was Her Name
http://deadspin.com/208349/i-had-a-girl-donna-was-her-name

It seems as if University of Miami president Donna Shalala is forever defending the behavior of her students — she reminds us a lot of Mrs. Garrett from Facts of Life that way — and Tuesday was no exception. Appearing at a coaches' press conference, the feisty administrator said that it was time to stop hatin' on the 'Canes.

We have the text below. But we thought it would be more interesting — and informative — to have Mr. Subliminal actually read Shalala's statement.

"I believe that the young men we have recruited to our football team are young men of great character (sealed records), but they did a very bad thing (sixteen felonies). And it's time for me to say to the community (midnight curfew) and those who have been sending me e-mails (Trekkies), that this university will be firm, and punish people who do bad things (Axis of Evil).

"But we will not throw any student under the bus for instant restoration of our image or our reputation (no chance in hell anyway). I will not hang them in the public square (dunking chair), I will not eliminate their participation at the university (food court), I will not take away their scholarships. It's time for the feeding frenzy to stop (Tony Siragusa). These young men made a stupid, horrible, terrible mistake (Kelly Clarkson), and they are being punished. We are an educational institution, and we will act like an educational institution (Sports Spectating 101). Not like a PR machine that tries to spin and restore its image

[AndrewP]

4. Pretty much

[LiberalFighter]

3. Notre Dame is correct in their assessment of Kelly's character and values.

But Notre Dame's character and values are not of the highest standard.