Back to the Top News Newsfeed

Don't blame NCAA for Charleston Southern suspensions — blame the rules

The simplest thing to do here will be the most common: Blame the NCAA.

If we want to talk about the absurdity of Charleston Southern suspending more than a dozen players because they spent the portion of their athletic scholarships designated for book purchases in the school bookstore, then there is no more obvious target.

MORE: 10 biggest Week 1 overreactions

We can cite NCAA president Mark Emmert’s exorbitant $1.8 million salary. It’s a convenient weapon, right within reach. We can loop in swimmer Joseph Schooling, the Singapore native with the Longhorn tattoo on his back who is eligible to compete for Texas this winter despite the acceptance of a $750,000 bonus from his country for winning a gold medal.