Gruen's Big Ten Glance: Coaches Are Compromised In Making Disciplinary Decisions

By Seth Gruen--

(CBS) In the days since Ohio State starting quarterback J.T. Barrett was suspended for only one game and docked some summer scholarship money after being arrested and cited for operating a vehicle while intoxicated (that's the jargon used for DUI in Ohio), there has been outrage.

Some have said the lax suspension sets a bad example. Others cite the selfish nature of drinking then getting behind the wheel. There are those who have been critical of Ohio State coach Urban Meyer, whose players at Florida had a rap sheet so long that the football program probably had to keep a lawyer on retainer.

All of these notions come with merit. They're logical and founded in principle, but they fail to dig deep enough into the problem that truly plagues college football and its discipline of players.

What do you really expect from Meyer or any other college coach? He's paid to win games. Period. There has never been a losing coach retained because of his moral compass. No coach has been retained because of his outstanding graduation rate.

It's worth mentioning again: A major college coach's lone mandate it to win. It isn't in the interest of Meyer to sit Barrett for extended time. If Ohio State raises another national championship trophy, no one in Columbus will care how he handled this situation.

Therefore, all coaches are compromised when it comes to disciplinary action.

It seems like the NCAA gets everything wrong, from its extortion of players' rights to its management of their long-term health. But it whiffs just as much in the area of player discipline.

The idea of ceding discipline to the country's coaches bears on lunacy. Why should a coach — again, who wants to win games — be allowed disciplinary control over a player? The NCAA or, at least, its individual conferences should have sole responsibility for the discipline of a player.

Every professional sports league has that power, understanding the teams have no interest in watching star players sit out for reasons that have nothing to do with injury. Do you think college coaches working under multi-million dollar deals are any different? Do they somehow prioritize winning any less?

If the NCAA or the conferences took a more proactive role in player discipline, it might serve as deterrence. Their agenda is the brand as a whole. Set a standard for when a player gets cited for a DUI or OVI. Set others for the litany of other off-the-field issues that recur every college football season.

The NCAA has done so with on-field infractions. They've legislated "targeting" hits out of the game and mandated suspensions and ejections. If a player argues with an official, the conferences have the power to suspend that play.

Why can't they do it with off-the-field issues?

Big Ten power rankings

1. Ohio State (8-0, 4-0) -- Remember that Cardale Jones guy? He's a pretty good quarterback, too.

2. Michigan State (8-0, 4-0) -- If you haven't already, consider Spartans coach Mark Dantonio as one of the five best in college football.

3. Iowa (8-0, 4-0) -- We likely won't find out what the Hawkeyes are about until the Big Ten championship.

4. Michigan (6-2, 3-1) -- It was an impressive goal-line stand at Minnesota.

5. Wisconsin (7-2, 4-1) -- The Badgers are quietly reviving their season.

6. Northwestern (6-2, 2-2) -- The defense will be tested against a Penn State team that has looked good offensively the last two weeks.

7. Penn State (7-2, 4-1) -- A win at Northwestern gives the Nittany Lions a chance to climb the rankings.

8. Illinois (4-4, 1-3) -- It's a must-win at Purdue.

9. Minnesota (4-4, 1-3) -- Given the emotion surrounding the game last week against Michigan, I liked the fourth-down call to go for it.

10. Indiana (4-4, 0-4) -- It will get worse: Iowa and Michigan are up next.

11. Rutgers (3-5, 1-4) -- Expect it to get out of hand at Michigan.

12. Nebraska (3-6, 1-4) -- Seriously, coach Mike Riley should be gone after this season.

13. Maryland (2-6, 0-4) -- The season finale against Rutgers is something to get excited about.

14. Purdue (2-6, 1-3) -- (sigh)

Seth Gruen is columnist for CBSChicago.com, focusing on college sports. You can follow him on Twitter @SethGruen.