On Self-Reporting: Just STFU!

Jim Tressel was right.

Yeah, I said it. The Vest received an email that his star QB and star WR were receiving free tattoos in exchange for memorabilia. He didn't report it and it cost him his job. But he was 100% correct.
He deserved to be fired for it. But he was right.

I mean, let's face it: the rules are stupid. They are. Half of these issues read like a headline from the Onion:
"Ohio State athletes suspended for trading stuff for stuff"

"Ohio State players receive money in exchange for attending charity event"

How could these issues be considered a "scandal" in any alternative universe other than the one in which the NCAA is allowed to exist? Someone explain to me how in the hell a couple of free tattoos helped Ohio State beat Arkansas in the Sugar Bowl? Were these magic tattoos with free stanozolol in them?

These aren't colleges or universities when it comes to football. They're sports franchises. Most of their fans didn't even go to the school. They could care less about the damn chemistry department or the school newspaper. It's just background. So why do we keep treating these athletes like they're teenagers? And why do we keep pretending like people care about the "university" part of The Ohio State University?

The powers that be at the Ohio State University should have done the exact same thing that Tressel did, which is STFU! Think about it. If they had just grabbed some techie from the computer engineering department, they could have had those emails deleted and the hard drive scrubbed and cleaned. Poof! No email. No problem. Case closed. Jim Tressel is coaching this weekend with Terrelle Pryor under center and all of his weapons at his disposal.

But noooooo! Ohio State had to turn Jim Tressel in to the NCAA. And look where its gotten them: No coach. No QB. NCAA investigators and journalists camped out all across the state searching under every rock for more and more violations. Ohio State, the institution, is searching for more violations and TURNING THEMSELVES IN EVEN MORE!

And let me tell you something. I went to Ohio State for four years. Every athlete on that campus is a walking NCAA violation. If you're looking hard enough, you'll find violations. And they... are... finding... them.

What exactly does Ohio State think all of this self reporting is going to get them? A cookie? An award for massive institutional control freak?

It's going to get you a lengthy bowl ban and mass scholarship reductions. It's going to cost you coaching candidates in your upcoming search. It has already cost you dearly in the court of public opinion. It hasn't gotten you diddly squat.
All for some archaic rules that have nothing to do with why people watch college football.

So what's the point of self reporting?

Seriously, I'd like to know.