College Football Scandals Stress Need For Coaching Character

Jim Tressel Former Ohio State head football coach Jim Tressel seemed to be a role model for achieving on-field success with a high level of character. Two-time National Coach of the Year, Larry Coker and former player Randy Shannon also were thought to provide moral leadership while winning national championships during their tenure as head coaches for the University of Miami.Yet, both storied football programs now find themselves in the middle of NCAA investigations for major rule violations. Reports of players trading memorabilia for cash or discounts, receiving cash and “entertainment” from boosters, and at least one of these coaches admitting to lying about their knowledge of these events has triggered a frenzy of discussion on what’s wrong with college athletics. As head coaches often claim at their post-scandal press conferences, the buck stops with them as they have overall responsibility for the program and its players. Being in the hot seat requires a coa...