Ben's Babbles: Only independence can change college sports

If you honestly thought I was in any way shocked that Miami, a walking institutional NCAA violation for the past several decades, is in trouble you need to get your sarcasm meter checked.

The blockbuster story that Miami booster Nevin Shapiro paid what amounted to millions of dollars to players for everything from strip club parties to bounties for injuring opponents follows the forced resignations of Ohio State coach Jim Tressel and Butch Davis. That scandal followed the legal issues dogging the two teams from last year's national championship game, Auburn and Oregon.

And that all comes after USC received a bowl ban in the Reggie Bush scandal.

I've heard it suggested that Miami receive the "death penalty" for its football program - a complete cancellation of its season.

But that doesn't even begin to address the actual issue. The athletic director who was in charge during most of the alleged payments is now in charge of the NCAA committee on infractions. The issues go far beyond the football team. Many of its other sports teams were involved as well. Football is just the big money maker and thus the one that attracts the most attention.

The only solution that would bring about real change would be an institutional shut-down, closing down the school's entire athletic department.

That would give notice the NCAA is serious about changing. But it's not, so it will never happen.

The NCAA needs an independent ombudsman, or an independent discipline board, someone who isn't touched by the millions of dollars to be brought in by bowl games. It needs to be someone advocating for and against schools, and for and against student athletes while not drawing a paycheck from those schools.

Only then will real change come.