You know I love reading your analysis and you are obviously a lot closer to the SEC then I am. Hell I am one of the college fans that doesn't delve into the depths or inter workings of a program yet I'll debate the topic to the best of my knowledge.
I have no reason to think Saban is cheating. I have always liked him and there has never been even a sniff of trouble in the programs he has led. But we all know Boosters are the issue and like the SWC experienced in the 70s and early 80s, you don't think it's possible that these kids are flocking to the SEC with dirty money in their pockets?
When Auburn and Oregon rose so quickly the assumption was/is that they are recruiting kids and lining their pockets. The same assumption can be made about a conference that dominates year after year. Granted they are only assumptions but don't forget the NCAA is relying on these schools to self report and that's a joke. With the SEC's recent billion dollar TV deal local economies of SEC universities are benefactors so you have a large amount of funds, both legal and questionable around these campuses.
Again I am not as close to a program as you are but to the casual fan the perception is that Miami is only the tip of the iceberg in what's going on in college football in the southeast.
Auburn and Oregon ARE lining kid's pockets and using rogue recruiting services like the one Willie Lyles had to steer recruits. Hell, what do you think the point of all these posts were I just made? So was LSU, Cal, etc...
Nick Saban and Alabama are NOT. These other programs have to do it to compete with him. That's not homer talk, that's a fact.
Auburn has been trying to buy a championship for 50 years, Ted. They finally pulled it off last year with Cam Newton. I know you don't know the inner workings of the SEC or college football, I'm trying to show you. It doesn't matter what your opinion is when you don't even understand exactly what you have an opinion of.
I know damn well what I'm talking about, and I have no idea what gave you the idea that I needed confirmation from you or anybody else to tell me whether or not I know what I'm talking about.
Furthermore, you seem to think this is something that doesn't take place anywhere except the SEC or in the south.... which even you know enough to know that isn't the case.
Programs having to self report violations has nothing to do with it. A program's compliance department provides whatever evidence they have after they've completed their own investigation. The NCAA looks at the evidence and decides if it's thorough enough, or if they need to get involved and do their own investigation. Where the system is flawed is that the program is held responsible for violations whether they were guilty of it or not. There's nothing and nobody to punish boosters, and rogue agents who pursue these kids out just to hand them money.
If a coach gets wind that a violation taking place is even a POSSIBILITY, it's his responsibility to report it and let the compliance department take care of it. You think Nick Saban wanted Marcel Dareus down in south Florida at some agent's party? Hell no... and as soon as he got wind of it, he reported it.... even if it was going to mean Dareus had to sit out games, which he did.
Nebraska just self reported textbook violations a few months ago. The EXACT same textbook violations that Saban reported when he first got to Alabama. It didn't even happen under his watch, it happened under Mike Shula. Alabama had to vacate wins because of it, Nebraska hasn't had to vacate any wins... and it was the exact same violation.
The NCAA's lack of consistency is the other issue.
Oregon, LSU, Auburn, Nebraska, Ohio St., USC, North Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia Tech, Miami, Boise St., Arizona St., Florida St., UCONN, Michigan, West Virginia, etc... have ALL either been under investigation for the football or basketball programs, are currently under investigation, or have already been investigated and have been handed down punishment already from anything ranging from secondary (minor) infractions.... to major scandals.
It's not an SEC issue.... the SEC just plays a superior brand of football.