Cheating to Win - Case Point Florida St

[bedir than average]

Several high profile teams have been hit with scandals regarding students cheating to maintain their grades.

Most notable, and current, of these is Florida State with about two dozen football players ineligible for their bowl game.

FSU blames lack of control

The Seminoles will suspend up to 25 football players for the Dec. 31 Music City Bowl, most because of the academic misconduct in an online music course. Of those named in the scandal, 12 are starters or second-team players, according to sources.

Football players who cheated will miss approximately 31/2 games, including the bowl. Up to 40 athletes in approximately nine different sports were involved in the scandal.

Florida State is expected to announce its travel roster for the bowl today.

Wetherell told The Post that the coaches, and specifically Bobby Bowden, are "the people who are getting the raw deal."

The university already has taken measures to "tighten academic controls," especially when it comes to online courses, Wetherell said in his statement.

The music course has been eliminated, all tests for online classes have been moved to a testing center that requires photo identification and a pass code for students to enter, and proctors who have no connection to the athletic department will oversee tests for online classes.

The NCAA would not comment on specifics related to the case but confirmed late Thursday it has worked with FSU on the investigation.

Historically both Minnesota and Georgia basketball have had similar but less extensive scandals. In both of those cases the coaching staff was known to be involved - a difference from the FSU case this year. The Gophers and Bulldogs lost scholarships, but did not forfeit any games.

Bowden himself doesn't expect to have any forfeits, but I'm wondering if the Asst.Coach that recently got that sweetheart guarantee of 2.5M$ if he isn't made Head Coach within three years is rethinking that?

It is probable that this could damage the Seminoles chances over the next decade and in multiple sports, but with football being the most severely hit. Considering the heavy penalties that teams have received in the past for players getting paid to play, shouldn't academic cheating get a more severe penalty? For the players that cheat make a mockery of the very educational system which is the foundation of the NCAA.

In possibly related news

Ohio state has lost one Defensive Back or two depending on the source, for violations of unspecified team rules.

[bedir than average]

FSU will now be out 36 players in their bowl game

The Canadian Press: Top defenders, linemen among 36 Seminoles who will sit out bowl game

This is the combination of players missing the game from the cheating scandal, other suspensions and injury.

Only 43 scholarship players will be available during the game. Good time to be a walk-on.