College football and crime

For the past six months, CBS News and Sports Illustrated have investigated the criminal background of college football players.

/ CBS/AP/Sports Illustrated

A six-month Sports Illustrated/CBS News investigation found an alarming number of college football players have a criminal background.

Seven percent of the 2,837 student-athletes in Sports Illustrated's preseason top 25 college football teams have a police record.

Nearly 40% of the alleged offenses were serious incidents.

CBS News chief investigative correspondent Armen Keteyian will have a full report on "The CBS Evening News with Katie Couric" tonight.

4 Comments +


by clavertu March 2, 2011 7:14 PM EST: I just finished watching this report on television and I am outraged! I am trying to better myself with an education, I feel this is just a slap in the face for those of us who have to work and attend school full time while these criminals receieve a full ride. While I understand that charges and citations do not equal a conviction, there are players who HAVE received a conviction. That conviction is overlooked and the player is given a full scholarship to attend college just to play sports for that school.

You have to understand that there are many like myself, who are law abiding citizens attending college. We struggle daily to pay for our education because we do not qualify for grants because making $15,000.00 with no dependents is to much money to receive them.

Should we tell our sons or daughters whom excell in sports that is ok to commit a crime because the school you attend will overlook it an you will still get a scholarship??; Reply to this comment


by steveward3928 March 2, 2011 7:12 PM EST: First the record that these players might have is NOT CBS's business. that should be an issue between the school and the player. When we apply for a job here in Ohio we have to sign a waiver allowing the business to do a criminal background check. If the same is true for these players then lawsuits need to be filed against CBS.
I guess people are not allowed to make mistakes, learn from them and move on in life. And Kate's "holier than thou attitude" completely makes me sick. That is why she was/is considered one of the worse newscaster on the evening news out of the 3 news networks.; Reply to this comment


by Luquee March 2, 2011 7:09 PM EST: Here's a comparison to the "wider public": If you've been convicted of a drug-related felony, you are not eligible for federally-funded financial aid. The same standard should be applied to all scholarships. If you've been CONVICTED of a felony, you need to go through the same process of rehabilitation and expungement the rest of us do in order to have the PRIVLEDGE of going to college.; Reply to this comment