It obviously is an understatement to note that college sports in the United States is “big business” these days.
Hundreds of thousands of people pay big bucks to follow the competition among various kinds of sports, with football and basketball leading the variety. Sports are important. So are the rules. They can be complex.
It is unfortunate, and embarrassing, that the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, which certainly is not on the list of the really “big-time” sports colleges, has been criticized for some missteps in its athletic programs.
UTC’s athletic department has been cited by the NCAA Committee on Infractions for “impermissible” text messages and telephone calls by coaches involving some sports participants.
The penalty is two years of “probation.”
College athletes and thousands of their fans love athletic competitions of many kinds, but we want all of the rules, both on the fields and courts and off, to be strictly upheld. That’s why we have oversight of athletics.
We expect UTC to do all that is necessary and desirable to take care of the official complaints, and to conduct its sports activities with care, to satisfy all the rules and not create reason for future criticism.