Vannini: Michigan-Big Ten battle shows the problem with those NCAA breakaway dreams

Year after year, there are debates about whether the top colleges in football should break free from the complex regulations and structure of the NCAA. Some suggest the formation of a Super League, a way to create an independent path.

It all sounds quite simple.

But have you ever wondered what this type of separation would actually entail? Take, for instance, the ongoing conflict between Michigan and the Big Ten. Michigan alleges that their head coach, Jim Harbaugh, was suspended due to external pressure from other schools and accuses these schools of engaging in cheating practices. This scenario could be a glimpse of what’s to come in a new, independent league.

Can we truly trust a conference to completely govern itself? Should we have confidence in the SEC and Big Ten schools working together to develop rules, especially when their leagues couldn’t even agree to play football in 2020?

Leaving the NCAA or a conference to create something new would mean having to establish similar norms for regulations, accountability, and enforcement. Somebody must take on this responsibility – it’s what keeps the entire system intact.

So, as contradictory as it may sound, this is a piece championing the importance of the NCAA and its rules. It’s about preserving the fundamental principles of structure and showing respect for larger institutions. Because someone has to do it, especially amidst the growing trend of dismantling authority and disregarding rules, which could lead to more serious issues in the world of sports.

The NCAA, as an objective and collective body, is designed to make impartial decisions devoid of conflicts of interest or external influence. It’s also responsible for enduring criticism and legal challenges. One may disagree with its determinations, but its existence is crucial for maintaining order, a principle that extends to conferences as well.

While it’s natural to feel aggrieved by certain rulings, the language employed by schools and organizations to criticize governing bodies like the NCAA and the Big Ten has taken a notably unprecedented turn.

For instance, North Carolina’s head coach, Mack Brown, expressed extreme dissatisfaction in a press release following a waiver denial and cast doubt on the NCAA’s commitment to supporting young athletes. This was followed by aggressive threats toward committee members making decisions, eventually leading to a revision by the NCAA due to new information from UNC.

Similarly, Michigan’s athletic director, Warde Manuel, issued a statement questioning the Big Ten’s judgment process, prompting some Michigan fans to consider leaving the conference altogether.

In modern times, schools, administrators, and coaches seem to prioritize riling up their base over accepting accountability, a phenomenon echoed in other areas of public life.

The involvement of government officials and courts in NCAA or conference rulings has become more frequent. This trend raises important questions about the future of sports governance. Would we prefer a world where rules are acknowledged, accepted, and upheld, as demonstrated by JMU’s response to waiver denials, or one where institutions are constantly targeted and undermined?

The same community that criticized the NCAA’s handling of recruiting violations by Harbaugh is now invoking the sacred NCAA investigation process to shield against potential penalties from the Big Ten. Such actions highlight the need for a thorough understanding of rules and a desire to change them if necessary. Most decisions are made by committees comprising school administrators, after all.

To be clear, larger institutions must also play a role in fostering legitimacy. The NCAA’s reluctance to adapt and change, coupled with some questionable rulings, has contributed to its vulnerability and ongoing legal battles. Nevertheless, institutions and authorities are indispensable in maintaining the fundamental structure of sports. It’s essential to prevent the government from having undue control over sporting events.

Recently, Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou offered a noteworthy perspective on the erosion of referee authority in soccer. His stance emphasizes the significance of accepting and respecting decisions, a mindset that can also be applied to other areas of sports.

The constant uproar over referees’ decisions and the refusal to accept the consequences of cheating are tiresome. If some wish to depart from the NCAA or Big Ten, they should proceed, but they must recognize that building something new demands much more than mere complaints.

(Photo: Scott Taetsch / Getty Images)