Hugh Freeze and the 10 biggest college football scandals since 2000
In the wake of the Hugh Freeze resignation, here’s a list of the 10 biggest college football scandals since 2000.
Scandals have been rocking the college football landscape for decades. Possibly the most infamous pre-2000 scandal was the SMU death penalty, but unfortunately there have been many more notable ones to pass that up since the turn of the century.
No one likes to think of their school as one that cheats, but in reality, college football is filled with dirty moves, pay-for-play antics, sexual assault scandals and more. Heck, it’s a byproduct of our society today, and it’s unfortunate that these things happen. Scandals are just part of the landscape nowadays, and Hugh Freeze was just the latest example of what it can do to a program, or career in his case.
Freeze isn’t the only one who has gotten grief over the past two decades, scandal-wise. Take a look at the 10 biggest scandals to rock college football since 2000.
10. Hugh Freeze’s resignation amid NCAA violations
The last calendar year for Ole Miss football has been a nightmare. It seemingly started with the Laremy Tunsil draft night disaster in which a video was released of him smoking marijuana out of a gas mask bong. He went from potential No. 1 pick to middle of the first round because of it.
Last May, Ole Miss responded to allegations of misconduct by self-imposing a scholarship cut of 11 over four years. Then, in December, recruiting assistant Barney Farrar is let go after it’s rumored he provided money to players.
After even more complaints and allegations, the Rebels self-impose a bowl ban for 2017 back in February, hoping that it’s the most harm that will be done to the program. If they take action, then NCAA will avoid further punishment, right?
There have been allegations that boosters paid recruits upwards of $15,000 to sway them to pick Ole Miss only to watch them choose other schools. Assistants were accused of fixing ACT scores, cheating all around and more money distributed to recruits and family members.
All around an ugly situation that led to Hugh Freeze’s sudden resignation on July 20. The NCAA could lay the hammer down on the program if more dirt is dug up.