---CFN's Pete Fiutak actually makes sense for once, writing about college football's recent scandals.  His argument: they're college kids.  Damn right they are, so don't act surprised or morally indignant when these things happen.

I understand my recent opinions about these types of situations are ruffling some feathers.  But understand that college athletics is one of the only fields other than joining the clergy or social work where financial gain and reward is strictly discouraged.  At least the other two have legitimate reasons for their self-denial.  What's the NCAA's excuse?

It's just a little annoying that partisans get in the way of a good fight with the NCAA.  Eventually we as fans should be able to sort these issues out individually instead of collectively.  When that happens many of the rules start to look like garbage (which they are).  Don't we all feel a little stupid for lumping a cheater (USC's Ryan Ting who failed a steroid test) with someone who did not violate any conceivable law (Oklahoma's Rhett Bomar and his sweetheart deal with the dealership)?  And then within these, we have to parse what is troubling with a program (there's been no valid accusation that USC supplied Ting with steroids) and what's simply individual irresponsibility and rule-breaking?

I acknowledge that so long as the rules are in place, people should follow them.  Absolutely.  But to not publicly mount a challenge to the dumb rules is insane.  Right now the mood in the college football world is that the Ting situation is on par with the Bomar situation which is on par with the Miami situation and so on.  They're all scandals when in reality not every scandal's the same and not every rule broken is really much of a crime.  We aren't at that stage of moral clarity yet as a college football public and my efforts on here are simply a gentle nudge in that direction.

---The preseason USA Today coaches poll is out.  Ohio State is first, Texas second, and Notre Dame and USC are tied for third.  And whaddya know, Ohio State and Texas play in just a few weeks, and Notre Dame and USC meet in November.  Too cool.

---The steady drum-beat about NCAA rule 3-2-5-e continues.  The Wiz has the latest from Purdue's Joe Tiller, Idaho's Dennis Erickson and other WAC coaches.

Says Tiller:

"Why don't we just come out and say we want to shorten the game so we can get more TV commercials in?" Tiller asked. "Let's not say it's going to make the game faster and the fans are going like it."

By the Wiz's estimate, an average of anywhere from 20-25 plays will be lost in each game played this season.  For the die hards watching at home that means less football.  Less.  Not more.  Less.  I want more football, how about you?

---ESPN's Pat Forde takes the cynical view on the latest round of offseason scandals, creating an "All Bad-Actor Team".

Quote:

If I'm running a compliance office at a major athletic power, and the star (OK, star-ting) quarterback is working at an auto dealership that has a cozy relationship with the athletic department, supplying it with comp cars, I'm already nervous. I want enough people at my disposal to physically check out work arrangements.

I'd dispatch someone to the dealership from time to time to make sure the star (OK, star-ting) quarterback was actually, you know, working. And I'd do the same with as many other athletes as possible -- especially the stars.

People want to give those guys things (houses, reportedly, if you're the parents of Reggie Bush). You'd think the school might want to know about it.

Then again, maybe the school doesn't want to know. Maybe every major athletic power is averting its eyes and holding its breath, hoping it doesn't have to be the next school to drop the disciplinary hammer in what already has been an ugly August.

And if I were President there would be world peace, no bombs and puppies and kittens for everyone.  These schools don't want to meddle in kids' work and personal lives.  I understand that it's the job of compliance staff to keep tabs on those details, but there's this whole privacy/constitution thing they have to worry about and have so far treaded quite lightly, which is why they end up with these surprises like with Reggie Bush and Rhett Bomar.