Agree totally. I wonder if my classmate from college should have his diploma taken away since he gave me books to use when I was in school. With all the BS going on in the real world, this is a problem?!? The NCAA is too full of itself.

no it is not to much. alabama is not better than any other school. if they can get free books,what else do they think they are entitle too

Surely you aren't this naive Gene. Then again, the number of other comments similar to yours suggests maybe you are serious. And I forget that not everyone has gone to college...and I suspect that is the case for those who don't see any "problem" with free textbooks.

College textbooks are EXPENSIVE, costing a few hundred to perhaps a thousand dollars a semester. A huge market exists for reselling these textbooks, both student to student and through campus bookstores. At the beginning and end of each semester, college textbooks are easier to convert to cash than a personal check is...no exaggeration.

So these athletes weren't being good samaritans to their fellow students. They were exploiting their ability to get free books to gain a cash bonus every semester. And the number of athletes caught suggests its symptomatic of the program, and not just a fluke. You know others unnamed were doing it, but only those five were completely stupid about it and got caught.

So yes, this punishment is not only appropriate...but maybe insufficient given the violation of the 5-year repeat rule. Of course, until the money side of college sports is removed from these "not-for-profit" institutions....this "morality" battle will fruitless and neverending...

DontBe is obviously an Auburn fan...

Unless the coaching staff knew this was going on and either did nothing or condoned it, this should be non of the NCAA's business. In no way did this give the team an unfair advantage or help in the University get better players. The NCAA sticks its nose into too much. Those responsible should have been made to pay for the books and maybe a fine. The team or the NCAA should not be involved. For that matter after attending collage myself and sending 3 children the real bandits are the Universities for the outrageous prices on some of these books.

Criller, I actually am a Boise State alum....so Auburn means as little to me as does Alabama, or USC for that matter. My problem is with these not-for-profit Universities exploiting their sports programs as cash cows to circumvent limitations of funding usage that accompanies more "legitimate" money sources. And in doing so, the inevitable corporate demand for bottom-line performance results in the same pressures to acquire the best players through any means possible...and corrupts the spirit of college sports that separates them from the commerciality of professional teams.

Hell, the NFL is more "communist" in the way it regulates the dispersal of talent among its teams than the NCAA is....by far. Think of the level of difference in competitiveness between the best and worst pro-teams, and the best & worst college teams. Big disparity.

And Rick, its not the Universities fault textbooks cost so much. Its a straight up example of what lobbyists do for our governmental system. Publishing companies pay lobbyists who "persuade" state legislators that its best for school systems to buy texts from specific suppliers through multi-year, exclusive contracts that are frequently "no-bid." Yeah...this makes SO much sense in the day and age of Amazon.com, doesn't it??

So blame the lobbyists & their publisher clients for the outrageous costs....not that it'll do you any good. And if you think the bean-counters just happened to miss the crazy abuse of NCAA sanctioned scholarship money for textbooks without the school's administration giving them a wink & nod....well, I've a bridge to sell you & a bailout application I'd like you to fund...

The issue isn't that they were "getting free text books." But more than it's essentially a cover for a cash benefit as the textbooks could then be provided to friends or the market for both cash and non-cash benefit. Further they could easily sell them back at the end of the semester to the university for a cash handout as well.

The university cannot pay them cash, and in this case they were paying them via university bookstore merchandise.

Make sense?

Exactly, Naf. I may have been too verbose in trying to get that across...maybe your pithier comment will have more success.

You morons need to read the NCAA's report...all (and they do say ALL) texbooks in question were returned to the A.D., or the bookstore; there is NO EVIDENCE these books were ever sold, so carry on with your "conspiracy" theories...maybe those who received the books bought 'em some beer, or an Escalade...read what the NCAA says, if you want to speak on the topic of the NCAA's punishment. Then shut up until you can make a legitimate comment.

dontberetarded...you advising others not to be like you?

See my rationale in #3.1 Wooddog.

...not rational at all, and belies what was stated in the NCAA's report...

but, yeah, you know better...prove it, moron.

Yea......but have you seen Reggie's girlfriend? What a booty on Kim K.

No doubt....they'll be envying SMU after this, won't they?

So because the USC squirmed free....no one else should ever be punished? Try that logic out on the legal system, and see how much sense it makes.

What does being an Alabama fan have to do with trying to minimize corruption in college sports?

Clearly you have no idea what the nazis did during the 1930's and 40's. A murderes regime such as the nazis deserve no mention in this forum even in sarcasm!!

Sorry Mike, the title of biggest hypocrites belongs to Christian haters & Islamic terrorists.

Dontberetarted: You'll be getting a visit from Mr. Tebow. LMAO

Unless Mr. Tebow comes talking about peace & love, with an earnest desire to read the New Testament (whichever version) to me...he'll be proving my point, won't he? ☺

Them Rednecks just don't no no better. Are you serious. If you want to sound like you have an education down there in Florida. Try to speak like this "those rednecks just do not know (notice there is a difference between no and know) any better. And I'm an Alabama grad and yes a football player.

You can take away the wins but the Rammer Jammer has been done!

Class dismissed Rammer Jammer!

What??? That comment was about as useless as the NCAA, but you're a Florida fan so all I can say to you is... "Well bless your heart, I guess you didn't know any better!!" Any true Southener knows what that means!!