Morals story: Little consensus on handling bad behavior

In its effort to legislate morality, the NCAA can tell you not to gamble, chew tobacco or accept gifts from boosters.

It cannot keep you off the field for punching a woman, having sex with a minor or manslaughter.

Michael Vick, Virginia Tech's best player in history, has disgraced himself and his school. (Getty Images)

Such is the way of a national amateur non-profit agency that knows the boundaries of its power. That's not so much a criticism as reality, focusing on the sharp line drawn between professional and amateur governing bodies.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell's new get-tough policy has been lauded. Meanwhile, the college football season begins in a month with discipline still a school-by-school, sometimes minute-by-minute decision.

"I think it's very difficult what he's doing because none of the other leagues seem to be doing that, so there was no precedent," Georgia Tech coach Chan Gailey said. "He has stepped out and set precedent. To me he's going out on a very strong foot."

But because the NCAA has no stomach for being a centralized authority -- legally it probably couldn't -- off-field discipline is a mash-up.

The NCAA has tried to legislate morality but stops short on certain issues. It cannot hinder Southern Mississippi from becoming a halfway house of sorts. Running back Marcus Raines has served time after pleading guilty to involuntary manslaughter. Recruit Antwain Easterling was admitted despite a felony charge of lewd and lascivious battery on a minor. Easterling entered a diversion program in January that would allow him to avoid prosecution.

"We hit a home run when we landed Antwain," recruiting coordinator Reggie Sanders told USA Today.

As football camps open maybe it's time to ask who's in charge? More to the point, who should be in charge?

"(It should be) coaches of individual schools," Gailey said. "In my opinion, we're closer to them. ... I feel like I have the best pulse of our team as a whole. What may on the surface look bad in reality might not be as bad."

That's one man's opinion. A coach has a built-in bias. The president is responsible for the image of his school. The athletic director runs the department.

Here is what others say, gathered from conversations during conference media days earlier this month. Note the wide range of opinions on what to do and how to do it:

"For me as a football coach, I take part of the responsibility if a guy blows it that bad," Gailey said.