Give SEC commish credit for wanting to fix troubles in college sports

AS A GENERAL philosophy, if I'm looking for leadership in the fight against the corruption in collegiate athletics, I'm not turning to the Southeastern Conference.

I'd guess that three-quarters of the rules in the NCAA handbook probably were written to deal with violations committed by SEC programs.

But in a room full of skunks, it doesn't take all that much to smell better than everybody else.

So kudos to SEC commissioner Mike Slive on Wednesday for not just acknowledging that there are some serious issues in collegiate athletics, but also for putting out some actual suggestions to help cure them.

"We don't have the luxury of acting as if it's business as usual," Slive said at the first session of the SEC media days. "And that's been clear by the headlines emanating from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and from the Gulf to the Great Lakes."

The setting of Slive's statements cannot be overlooked. SEC media days are some of the highest profile events leading into the college football season.

As Slive noted, it normally would be a time when a commissioner would tout recent successes from the member programs.

Generally at a big media event like this you'd expect the old standby argument: "This is not the time to talk about those kind of issues and take attention away from the majority of schools who do things the right way, blah, blah, blah."

But by using this platform to address the seedier sides of college sports and their implications, Slive not only put a spotlight on himself but on all of the SEC coaches in attendance to publicize the upcoming season.

I can just imagine the 12 SEC football coaches swallowing hard as they are asked about Slive's statements rather than this year's starting quarterback.

LSU was just placed on 1-year probation for recruiting violations, while Tennessee and Auburn are waiting to hear the decisions from NCAA investigations.

"Let's take care of our business in college," Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino said in one of those what-did-you-expect-him-to-say responses. "I agree a lot with the commissioner."

Slive's proposals included:

* Raising academic entrance requirements for incoming freshmen from a minimum 2.0 GPA to 2.5 for the 16 core courses in high school.

* Making scholarships 4-year contracts, instead of 1-year deals. Students would still have to perform academically and stay out of trouble to keep them. Schools, however, could no longer just refuse to renew scholarships.

* In addition to tuition, room and board and books, scholarships would pay for such things as health insurance, clothing, travel and other education-related costs.

* NCAA recruiting rules would be modernized, allowing coaches to text players and contact them through social media.

Now, with everyone in college sports looking to cover their own rear ends, Slive's ideas would have a hard, if not impossible, time being seamlessly enacted.

South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier scoffed at the 4-year scholarship, saying, "That's a terrible idea, commissioner.

"If you go bad, don't show up to work, your butt will be out on the street. Everybody has to earn your way in life."

Frankly, Spurrier's attitude is probably why many college athletes have no problem thinking only about themselves when they do things that could saddle their school with an NCAA violation.

If you know you are not truly viewed as a student-athlete but rather as a disposal business part that can be replaced when it doesn't meet standards, why shouldn't you think about getting yours when everyone else around you is making serious coin off your labor?

I'm not here right now to argue the merits of Slive's proposals. Some, I agree with. Others, I have to think hard about how positive the revisions might actually be. Some of this stuff seems like Proposition 48 on steroids.

The point is that Slive not only recognizes that something is wrong, but also stepped up to the plate to say it for the record in the most public of places.

Plus, he has ideas, instead of only lip service.

Next month, the NCAA is sponsoring a retreat. The presidents of Mississippi State, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida will represent the SEC.

Slive said he hopes ideas are discussed that will set college athletics on a "national agenda for change."

Hmmm, "And the Conference of Outlaws shall lead the way."

Who would have thought that? *

Send email to

smallwj@phillynews.com.

For recent columns, go to

www.philly.com/Smallwood.