The Disgusting Dozen

UPDATED SEPTEMBER 12, 2011 – Fresno State Moves Into Top Ten

EARLIER: For years readers have asked us to rank the worst college sports programs by number of player arrests, on-field incidents, etc.  So, finally, we have decided to come up with the Disgusting Dozen: a ranking of the most corrupt–in our opinion–college athletic programs in the country. These rankings will be based on long standing reputation for a lack of adherence to rules and regulations, current NCAA investigations, arrests for off-field incidents, and just our general instincts that these programs are, well, disgusting, in some way.

We are open to additional suggestions/nominations as the fall and spring sports seasons move along. Just drop us an email at BadJocks at Yahoo.com with your comments.

#1. Miami – Could they get the “death penalty” from the NCAA for all that cash thrown around by Nevin Shapiro?
#2. Oregon – The rapid rise of the football program doesn’t pass the “smell test” as does the driving incident this summer involving an expensive rented sports car, an unlicensed driver and telling a cop “we smoked all the weed.”
#3. Alabama – Why does the guy who owns T-Town Menswear have all sorts of memorabilia signed by past and current players in his front window?
#4. Ohio State – Have we heard the last of the tattoo scandal that brought down coach Jim Tressel and sent Terrell Pryor to the NFL?
#5. Fresno State – As many as 24 football players may have received illegal Welfare benefits.
#6. Tennessee – An ongoing probe into both the football and men’s basketball program by the NCAA. And Peyton Manning went there, so, duh!
#7. Notre Dame – Would the school have so quickly reinstated Michael Floyd after that DUI arrest if he had been a third sting lineman? And that incident with the camera tower falling over during the windstorm makes you wonder what the priorities are under the tarnished Golden Dome.
#8. West Virginia – The University of Miami (Ohio) is known as the “Cradle of Coaches.” Is WVU now the Cradle of Coaching Scandals?
#9. South Carolina – The Gamecocks may be a resurgent power under Steve Spurrier, but they have a star quarterback with a “party problem” and other whispers that the program might be cutting corners to win at any cost in the SEC.
#10. Auburn – Think Cam Newton’s situation was the only on involving money being thrown around?
#11. USC – Under NCAA sanctions for actions under the Reggie Bush era. But have things really changed?
#12. North Carolina – Players allegedly receiving improper benefits from an agent and a fired coach.
Honorable Mention: Tennessee, Boise State, California