Is the NCAA getting out of hand?  In the latest installment of NCAA overreaction, the organization has mandated that the University of Alabama go on probation and vacate wins because seven student athletes used their scholarships to get free text books for their friends. 

Were the athletes in the wrong?  Yes.  Is this the equivalent of stealing?  Yes.  Should the students be suspended or expelled? Sure.  Should they lose their scholarships?  Absolutely.  Should any faculty or staff member who knowingly aided in this be fired and possibly prosecuted?  You bet.  But what in the world does that have to do with Alabama's wins?  

There are two problems with the NCAA: 1)  They have to justify their own existence, and 2) They have become drunk with power.  The NCAA was voluntarily created by the schools because sports, specifically football, had become so dangerous to play that they were afraid the government would step in if they did not self-regulate.  Viola, the NCAA was born.  

Now however, the NCAA rules over schools with an iron fist, handing out decrees and proclamations like the gods on Olympus.  But thats what happens when you give too much power to a bunch of people who are accountable to no one but themselves.  

For the NCAA to mandate that wins be forfeited, there should be some kind of connection with the school institutionally.  Recently the NCAA has demanded that Florida State vacate wins because of athletes cheating, on a music history test of all things.  But this had nothing to do with the school.  Kids cheat, and they should be punished when caught, but to punish all of the honest athletes, coaches, faculty, staff, alumni and fans, because of something they had no control over is just wrong.  

But this recent decree against Bama is even worse than the one against Florida State.  Kids stealing so that their friends don't have to pay for overpriced text books, is certainly wrong, but has nothing to do with Alabama's wins.  Taking away wins should be reserved solely for times when the school or coaches knowingly participated in a wrong doing.  Examples are recruiting violations, or allowing student athletes to meet sports agents while still armatures.  

It is time the schools reined the NCAA in.  Because this is just getting out of hand.