Cheaters

Getting caught up after a virus slowed our progress over the weekend. ...

We appear to have a winner in the Joe Paterno-Bobby Bowden sweepstakes for most victories by a Division I-A coach. The NCAA says Florida State must vacate up to 14 victories that occurred during a massive academic-fraud scandal that involved everyone this side of Myron Rolle. For those keeping score at home, Bowden trails Paterno, 383-382. Bowden is 79 and Paterno 82, and taking 14 victories from Bowden would seemingly clinch it for Paterno.

Penn State fans says Bowden shouldn't be in the same neighborhood to begin with because 31 of his victories came when he coached something called Samford. On the other side are those who say the NCAA's punishment unfairly tarnishes Bowden's legacy.

What is clear is this: Florida State got off easy. Here's another one: It's time for Bowden to call it quits.

Florida State is not alone. Alabama is answering for "potentially major" rules violations related to student-athlete textbooks. Players were getting textbooks for classes they weren't enrolled in and giving them to other students. Granted, the price of a textbook is through the roof and you have to admire students for being resourceful, but the NCAA is likely to take a dim view of this, especially considering the repeat violator window is open.

The Birmingham News, in an editorial published Sunday, accused Alabama officials of not fully cooperating public records requests, saying state law could have been violated.