Cheaters will prosper if the Florida Legislature gets it way

From the Orlando Sentinel

A probe last year into shenanigans at another major football program turned up the usual dirt: Falsified documents. Improper benefits. Ineligible transfers.

But this wasn't the NCAA going after the likes of USC or Ohio State. It was the Florida High School Athletic Association nailing perennial state powerhouse Lakeland High.

Among other sanctions, the FHSAA ruled ineligible several football players who gave bogus addresses and enjoyed free housing when they transferred.

Yet, Rep. Kelli Stargel reckons boys will be boys. The Lakeland Republican introduced HB 1403, a bill that ostensibly punishes coaches and other adults for recruiting violations — but largely spares students. Yet, by eroding FHSAA's authority over player eligibility, the bill opens the door to college-like recruiting wars and nomadic athletes backed by mercenary parents less interested in education than ensuring their children suit up for the top teams.

Lawmakers should punt the measure when it's likely to be considered by the full House next week before the legislative session wraps up.

We have no beef with cracking down on unscrupulous coaches who use ineligible players, and forcing those coaches to reimburse schools for penalties imposed.

Meanwhile, though, students — and by extension their parents — would be held less accountable. The bill allows students who transfer during the school year to receive immediate eligibility instead of sitting out a year. Those who are found to be ineligible wouldn't be benched during appeals. And only transfer students who received improper inducements or who falsified documents would forfeit eligibility.

"I want to make sure that the children are able to play," Stargel said.

Yay team!

Problem is, rule-breakers might play out the season before a decision's rendered.

Worse, in the long term, FHSAA chief Roger Dearing correctly notes the measure would "benefit those with a predisposition to cheat — by tearing down barriers that exist to keep those few unscrupulous coaches from improperly recruiting impressionable young athletes."

"Student-athlete" shouldn't be an oxymoron. That belief spawned the current rules drafted and endorsed by an assembly representing the 788 state schools in the FHSAA.

A string of Lakeland ineligibilities alerted Stargel to "the problem." A problem that isn't. Statewide, Dearing said, only 74 transfer student-athletes out of 263,000 in 2010-11 were declared ineligible.

Numbers not screaming for legislative intrusion. And proving that legislating from the cheap seats isn't the best way to make public policy

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/opinion/os-ed-sport-eligibility-022912-20120228,0,3789480.story