C&8217;mon, Oklahoma. We&8217;re not buying what you are selling.

The University of Oklahoma plans to appeal an NCAA ruling that the institution was guilty of &8220;failure to monitor&8221; the employment of its football players.

In the ruling, the NCAA said the Sooners must vacate eight football victories from their 2005 season &8212; when they went 8-4 and beat Oregon in the Holiday Bowl &8212; and cut two scholarships from the team for the next two seasons. Plus, the school&8217;s probation period for previous violations is extended.

University of Oklahoma President David Boren said: &8220;We do not believe that erasing the 2005 season from the record books is fair to the over 100 student athletes and coaches who played by the rules and worked their hearts out for a successful season that year.&8221;

To that, we say: What about the student athletes and coaches at the opposing schools who didn&8217;t violate the NCAA rules? The ruling seems awfully fair to them.

The point of the NCAA rules is to establish an even field among what is meant to be amateur athletics. Yes, it is a shame that too much money and greed corrupts college sports, but until that can be fixed, it is good for the NCAA to enforce its rules with stiff penalties when it can. A lot doesn&8217;t get caught.

It wasn&8217;t as though the Oklahoma players in question were barely noticeable freshmen on the third string. They were starting quarterback Rhett Bomar, starting offensive lineman J.D. Quinn, and walk-on Jermaine Hardison. The three had been paid for work they didn&8217;t perform at Big Red Sports and Imports, a car dealer.

Oklahoma got caught. If it were a true academic school, it would take the medicine NCAA handed out like a university interested in education, not sports revenue. Instead, the Sooners bring shame upon the Big 12 by appealing the ruling, thus failing to accept responsibility.

Added note:

If we had our way, the NCAA would have greater authority over Division I college football.

For example, we wish there could be an end to the greedy postseason bowls and a start to an NCAA-run playoff system. Or at least have an NCAA playoff for schools and conferences with integrity.

Is there such a thing?

Oh yeah. It&8217;s called Division II football.