To go philosophical for a second, I feel like Sisyphus, a king in Greek mythology, who was forced to push an immense boulder up a hill, only to watch it roll back down again right before it reached the top, for eternity. Every time I think the violations/scandals are over, right as I'm reaching the top of the hill, another one comes up and I have to start all over again.
I've fluctuated between disappointment with the players, staff, Gene Smith etc to annoyance with our seeming inability to cheat, to disenchantment in general with all of big time college sports. As a recent college graduate, I know that student athletes are students largely in name only, they get in to school with significantly lower grades, have free tutors for every class, are on full scholarship, are generally adored by the student body etc etc. Although athletics is their primary focus, it bothers me most (more than losing football games and historic offensive ineptitude) that so many athletes choose to waste their once in a life opportunity to play college football and receive a free education by not following the rules that govern them. We all know the rules are often arcane and stupid, but the players know the rules and they agreed to the contract.
A free college education and a chance to play football at a university I love so dearly is a tremendous gift and it pains me to see players waste that. Play hard, follow the rules, and try and take advantage of the education that will allow you to get a job and support yourself and your family once your football days are over (whether that's next year or in ten years). That's all I ask. Unfortunately for me, the players, the fans, the staff, and society, it seems that is often asking too much.
I will always support The Ohio State University and I am confident that brighter days are ahead. Let us all hope that those brighter days arrive sooner rather than later.
