Hopefully getting this kind of persistent criticism from the region's largest newspaper will be the first step to reform. I can't help wondering if the complacency about cheating has been fueled by "hometown" journalism such as what those of us who've spent time in Nashville are used to from the Tennessean. For over a week now they've been running a litany of stories saying essentially "The Tee Martin thing isn't so bad" in a million and one different ways.
(I mean "hometown" bias in favor of UT, obviously, hence the quotes around hometown. The UTennessean only thinks it's the Knoxville paper. Of course they'd never say anything good about VU. Where's the fun in being a frontrunner if you can't support a successful team at all costs?)
Anyway, forgive my axe to grind, but quite seriously I do think a complacent media in places like Nashville, Birmingham, Florida, etc. probably adds to the tendency to cheat. My hope is that the AJC going after it will force the SEC to clean up it's act. But i'm dubious -- will fans stop watching games just because both they can no longer maintain the willing suspension of disbelief and pretend their school's clean? It's doubtful. And until they feel the consequences in gate receipts or TV revenue, the SEC schools have a huge incentive to try staying one step ahead of the sheriff.
So in short, be glad Bobby Dodd got you out of this mess.
