People who say sports are boring obviously don't watch sports. The games alone have tons of excitement, with upsets, fights, and crazy plays, who could not love them? However, every once and a while, sports scandals stir up the sports world. Here are 7 college sports scandals that nobody could have predicted:
1. The Stanford Band Play
During the 1982 Stanford-Cal football game, the Stanford Band prematurely took the field, thinking the game was over, allowing Cal's Kevin Moen to return a kickoff for a touchdown, resulting in a historic play known as “The Play.” Cal won the game 25-20.
2. Appalachian State Upsets Michigan
In 2007, Appalachian State, a Football Championship Subdivision team, stunned the college football world by defeating the highly ranked Michigan Wolverines in a season-opening game 34-32. This game came down to the last minute of the game, but Appalachian State was able to hold off the Wolverines.
3. Riot at Ohio State
Following a win against archrival Michigan in 2002, Ohio State fans stormed the field and tore down goalposts, leading to a chaotic scene and extensive property damage. 10 students were arrested and suspended from the university. Cars and couches were set on fire and tons of damage was done to the 3-block area.
4. SMU Football Program Receives the “Death Penalty”
In 1987, the Southern Methodist University (SMU) football program received the “death penalty” from the NCAA, resulting in the cancellation of the entire 1987 season and severe sanctions due to rampant violations, including paying players. SMU was a small school at the time, with around 6,000 students. However, somehow this little school was excelling in the football world with schools like Texas A&M. Turns out, head coach Ron Meyer was bribing players to come to his school. This incident resulted in the “death” of SMU's 1987 and 1988 season.
5. The Caltech Basketball Drought
The California Institute of Technology's men's basketball team holds the record for the longest losing streak in NCAA Division III history, spanning from 1996 to 2007. Their struggles on the court became widely known and garnered lots of media attention. In 2006, director Rick Greenwald even made a documentary about the team called “Quantum Hoops.”
6. Miami Football Nevin Shapiro Scandal
In 2011, a scandal erupted at the University of Miami involving booster Nevin Shapiro, who provided benefits to student-athletes, resulting in sanctions and significant media scrutiny. Shapiro broke multiple recruiting rules, using money and partying to entice players to come to Miami. He also used professional agents, offered bounties for big plays and hurting players, and he brought recruits to parties that had prostitution.
7. Harvard-Yale Protest
In 2019, the annual Harvard–Yale football game was interrupted by a climate change protest, as hundreds of students and alumni from both schools stormed the field, demanding divestment from fossil fuel companies and other environmental actions. Protesters had signs which said things like “Nobody wins. Yale and Harvard are complicit in climate injustice.” This protest delayed the game by over an hour.
* Originally published on July 24, 2023, by 2aDays Staff
