Suspending coaches for HGH must disrupt competitive balance of NFL

by Josh Kirkendall on Sep 1, 2007 5:31 PM EDT in Potpourri

First off, I have bask in my giddy joy that Michigan fell to super-college powerhouse, Appalachian State. We wonder if Einstein's Theory of Relativity has finally been proven false causing the known universe to become, suddenly, well, unknown. Maizenbrew has yet to react. Perhaps it's time to drown in the brew of "Amazing" blue.

In more relevant Ohio (and regional) sports news, the Ohio State Buckeyes pulled out a squeaker against Youngstown State 38-6. The Big Ten Network whored the game. I missed it like every lunar/solar eclipse that supposedly happens.

On Thursday night, the Brian Kelly era began with a bang against Southeast Missouri State, 59-3. The Bearcats rushed for 312 yards on 47 carries (6.6 yards per) -- led by Butler Benton (12 rushes, 101 yards, TD) and Jacob Ramsey (16/79/2). Southeast Missouri State haven't won a game since October 28. They've only won five games between Thursday and November 12, 2005.

Louisville took it to Murray State 73-10. Brian Brohm recorded four touchdowns through 375 yards passing. The Cards rushed 41 times for 261 yards rushing (6.4 yards per).

The Miami University Redhawks beat Ball State, 14-13 with a late Brandon Murphy (19/123/2) touchdown run (six yards) with 17 seconds left in the game.

Suspending, suspending, suspending. The NFL suspended Cowboys quarterback coach Wade Wilson after he "bought and used performance-enhancing substances while an assistant with the Chicago Bears." Wilson took HGH to help treat his diabetes. Coaches using HGH must be a threat to the competitive balance of sports. I'm no medical expert by any means -- nor am I qualified to suspect any fishy smells. But if HGH helps diabetes, then why does the NFL bother? And why is it anyone else's business, if a coach, that doesn't benefit from the drug in his sport -- only, as he admits, improving his quality of life. If you're curious, this will be one games less than Tank Johnson's modified six-game suspension if he plays nice. Weapons factory is a close offense to taking HGH to improving quality of life. Who knew?

This is almost like the over-reaction by the NCAA after Herman Mitchell, a 17-year Houston-area high school linebacker was shot to death in August.

Just hours after Oklahoma football recruit Herman Mitchell was shot to death Friday in Houston, Adam Fineberg started raising money for Mitchell's family.

But after raising $4,500, enough to cover almost half the cost of Mitchell's funeral, Fineberg stopped. An OU compliance officer told him his actions would constitute an NCAA rules violation against the Sooners.

Now, Mitchell's mother likely will never receive that money.

That money is considered illegal financial assistance under NCAA rules because Mitchell's brother is a sophomore fullback at Westfield High School in Spring, Texas, and because Fineberg is an OU fan who attends Sooner football games and solicited donations through an OU fan Web site.

"I think it's wrong," said Fineberg, an Oklahoma City native who graduated from Heritage Hall in 1995 and lives in Houston. "Mitchell's mom is a single mother, and I just wanted to help the family out.

"I was just starting to get it rolling, too."

OU spokesman Kenny Mossman said the an official with the university's compliance office contacted Fineberg on Monday asking to him halt his fundraising efforts until the OU received a rules interpretation from the NCAA. That interpretation came Tuesday.

"This is not a permissible expense for OU or someone who could be construed as an OU supporter," said Mossman, an associate athletic director for communications. "We're not trying to be the bad guys, but we have to play by their rules."

It took some time and appealing, but the NCAA granted a waiver. What a bunch of swell folks.

Finally, a funny Michael Vick satire comic.