Fansided

A look back at four infamous scandals in college sports

By Dani Bostick

Oct 4, 2014; Atlanta, GA, USA; Miami Hurricanes helmet on the field before a game against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Bobby Dodd Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 4, 2014; Atlanta, GA, USA; Miami Hurricanes helmet on the field before a game against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Bobby Dodd Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 16, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Southern Methodist Mustangs head coach Larry Brown watches the game during the second half against the Temple Owls at the Liacouras Center. Temple defeated SMU 71-64. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 16, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Southern Methodist Mustangs head coach Larry Brown watches the game during the second half against the Temple Owls at the Liacouras Center. Temple defeated SMU 71-64. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports /

Scandals in college sports are nothing new.

Some NCAA violations are absurd because they are petty. Utah’s basketball coach Rick Majerus landed in hot water for buying players pizza and restaurant meals. Other NCAA violations are absurd because they are egregious. These go beyond simple violations and are more aptly described as a scandal.

The most recent NCAA scandal involves the SMU Mustangs basketball team. The case involves Keith Frazier, a talented forward who, when coming out of high school, would have been academically ineligible at SMU.

His recruiter Ulric Maligi, along with a former administrative assistant, hatched a clever plan to help Frazier. The administrative assistant took an online class for Frazier after obtaining access to his username and password.

To make matters worse, the basketball program under coach Larry Brown, who has been involved in NCAA scandals and rules violations before, was less than cooperative with the NCAA’s investigation and also did not report the incident when he found out about it.

The NCAA has banned SMU from postseason play in 2016, suspended Brown for 30% of the season, and taken away nine of the programs scholarships. Brown will also have to attend a rules seminar over the next two years. Since the seminar is an in-person event, SMU cannot outsource that requirement to an administrative assistant with Browns credentials.

This will not be the last NCAA scandal, and it certainly isn’t the first. Here is a look back at a few of the most astounding scandals in college sports.

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