NCAA: Play fair with atheletes

The results are in and they aren't pretty. According to sportingnews.com, former Ohio State quarterback and current Oakland Raider Terrelle Pryor scored a 7 on the Wonderlic IQ Test, the NFL's version of the SAT.

The test, which is made up of 50 questions, one point for each correct answer, indicates other aspects (i.e. intellectual capacity) that athletes will need to perform in the pros. Most teams will look for at least a 20 from their man under center, so as athletic as he may be; Pryor is getting a rough start to the pro life.

But let's think about this. Is it really his fault or is it the backwards system that is the NCAA? Pryor, much like many other high level college quarterbacks, was in school for one reason; athletics.

While the term student-athlete may apply to a large majority of those who participate in intercollegiate sports, it is evident that there are a select few that see the system as a stepping stone to the pros.

To be honest, there is nothing wrong with this mentality at all. The problem lies with the higher-ups who make some of the most stringent absurd rules, ensuring that the "sanctity" of amateur athletics is preserved.

For example: In a recent Sports Illustrated sign of the apocalypse, it was noted that a recent rule change now allowed college teams to provide cream cheese, jelly, and other spreads for players to put on their bagels, which had already been previously allowed.

Really? The NCAA needs rules governing if the goalie on the women's field hockey team can get that cream cheese for her

cinnamon raisin bagel or not?

If anyone was watching the opening weekend of college football, you most certainly noticed the wonderful new University of Maryland uniforms.

What is the school doing now? Auctioning off the uniforms to benefit the athletic department. What would happen if a player who wore that uniform tried to sell his own uniform, which he made valuable by wearing it? Violation!

Perhaps the most interesting offense comes from University of South Carolina head coach Steve Spurrier's wife.

She thought it might be nice to send out Christmas Cards to the families of the athletes that had already signed to play for the team in the following year.

Turns out the NCAA hates Christmas and believes this is a terrible offense.

What administrators at large schools need to do is come to terms with the fact that these athletes are essentially professionals.

They institute rule upon rule to make sure that athletes don't see any extra benefit, even when they are bringing in millions of dollars to the university through ticket sales, jersey sales, and television contracts.

Peter Rowell is a member of UAlbany's Division I Track and Field team.