Controversy has reigned in college football over the past few days. Last year's Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel, of Texas A&M, has been banned for half a game by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and will therefore miss the first half of the season opener against Rice.
The Aggies quarterback, nicknamed Johnny Football, had been accused of taking payment for signing autographs by the NCAA, something for which they are notorious for coming down hard on, as accepting money for anything is against their rules.
image: bloguin
Supposedly, Manziel had accepted a five-figure sum to sign photographs and merchandise during a trip to Miami early this year. However, with the help of a renownedly strong legal team familiar with such cases, Manziel got off lightly with only a half-game suspension.
With evidence of any payment inconclusive, and Manziel's continued denial of the accusations, the NCAA and Texas A&M came to a compromise, although in the past similar cases have brought about more severe punishments.
The topic has been so hot in the US, that it is widely discussed on national television, and even by Andy Roddick.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4jPPH0WTm0
h/t @cphilpott95