A half a game suspension???

Heisman trophy winner Johnny Menziel has been suspended half a game by the NCAA. He allegedly accepted money to do autographs and college players supposedly aren't "allowed" to accept money or benefits (so they do other shady, but "legal" deals to get these benefits) for pretty much anything. There's a number of things wrong with this suspension

So here's what I don't get, they can't prove that he did it, so why do they suspend him at all? I'm sure glad Canada's justice system doesn't work that way. "You might have been speeding, we can't prove it but we'll give you the ticket anyway." They either need to prove he did it, or leave the guy alone. He's been in and out of trouble so much the media is blowing up every little thing he does trying to make a story out of it.

Here's the other thing wrong with this. If they think he did it and want to punish him for it, why on earth would you give him half a game??? What's that going to teach other guys? Probably absolutely nothing. More severe suspension haven't stopped teams from giving players illegal benefits so what makes the NCAA think this will? We usually here of what 2-3 suspensions per year for teams giving a player illegal benefits? So how many more are going on that we don't know about and how many is the NCAA turning a blind eye to? Especially potentially in the SEC.

The NCAA either needs to take a hardline approach on this and do its best to completely shut down illegal benefits or make certain benefits legal to open it up a little bit. If they don't we'll keep hearing about suspension from giving these benefits and little petty suspensions like this. I hope they take the hardline approach because otherwise certain schools won't be able to survive.

I sure hope they do something sooon

Darren