Although college coaches are expected to maintain an atmosphere of collegiality, they should be unafraid to speak out for what they know is right, just as they would expect their players to do.

No less an authority than philosopher Henry Thoreau wrote, “Cast your whole vote, not a strip of paper merely, but your whole influence.” College coaches, university presidents, and other persons in positions of authority must advocate fully for their principles to set the example and the tone for an institution.

Consider the statements from respected individuals in athletics following the downfall of Ohio State Football Coach Jim Tressel, who admitted to lying about having knowledge of ineligible student-athletes, along with several other allegations currently under investigation by the NCAA.

Charles Woodson

In apress releasesaid, “I have great respect for Jim Tressel and what he has accomplished during his coaching career.”

A quote from Alabama Coach Nick Saban in USA Today reads: “I still think this is one of the finest coaches in our profession.” MSU Coach Mark Dantonio has generally declined to comment on the Tressel situation, admitting that he is a good friend, and Tressel’s nephew is an MSU assistant coach.

Which of these men used their prominent public position to denounce Jim Tressel’s systemic mistakes?

OSU President Gordon Gee joked when asked back in March if he had considered firing Tressel saying, “No, are you kidding? Let me just be very clear: I’m just hopeful the coach doesn’t dismiss me.” In an AnnArbor.com interview this past week, U-M President Mary Sue Coleman was asked what she thought of how the OSU president was handling the situation, and her response was, “I just -- I can’t speak about that.”

Why not? How are we ever going to get off this merry-go-round, if we don’t step up and set the example, even if it’s at the risk of alienating colleagues or exposing our own vulnerabilities?

Former Michigan football standout and 1997 Heisman trophy winner Charles Woodson wonders if any efforts to do so would really matter. My colleague Dean Erskine and I spoke with Woodson last month on 1290 WLBY before Tressel’s resignation.

Woodson: You know what? It’s always going to be around. You look at the amount of money that’s involved in college athletics, professional level, whatever it is, it’s money, you know, and everybody wants it. So, if you’re a kid and you’re in a position where somebody thinks you’re good enough to give you some money chances are you’re going to take it. You don’t have a lot of money, your parents don’t have a lot of money and so you’re in a situation where you get a scholarship to a school to play a sport and somebody says, “Here, take this.” Yeah, you’ll probably take it. It’s a problem that’s been around a long time, and it’s not going to change because everybody wants money.

Dean: Well, they say maybe if you pay the players when they come in or just give them something

Woodson: They’ll just want more money. It may work, I don’t know. But if you give me five dollars, I’ll want ten.

Lucy Ann: You’re already getting a scholarship in many cases, too.

Woodson: You’re getting a scholarship, but it doesn’t matter what walk of life you’re in, whether you’re a businessman or a professional athlete or whatever it is, if you make some money, you’re going to want some more money.

Lucy Ann: Charles, one thing that has disappointed me is that nobody wants to speak out against a fellow coach. It’s a very hard thing to do. You never know where you’re going to end up in coaching and who’s going to be hiring you. If we’re going to have this stop at some point, someone’s got to stand up.

Woodson: Coach Tressel’s a winner first and foremost, and so you say great things about people that win.

Lucy Ann: What does that say about us, though?

Woodson: If he wasn’t winning, you wouldn’t even care. They’d weed him out in a heartbeat. But if you’re the president of that school and you take a guy who has beaten Michigan the last six out of -- whatever it is -- I hate to even say the number, you don’t want to say anything bad about that guy. You know, he’s won a national championship.

Lucy Ann: Then we can’t blame the student-athletes.

Woodson: No, no -- they’re kids!

Lucy Ann: And look at the example that’s being set.

Woodson: They’re kids! I mean just look at what’s going on in society. You look at the things that are happening economically on Wall Street; these are grown men who are cheating people. So you think about a kid who’s coming out of high school and you offer him, let’s just say, a thousand dollars, are you kidding me? You think he’s not going to take a thousand dollars? Forget about it.

Dean: Well, I think it comes down to boosters are going to do what boosters are going to do.

Woodson: They want their program to win.

Dean: Right and it means a lot of money for the universities if they do win, but what’s the answer? Sometimes all you need to do if you’re a coach or an administrator is you look in the parking lot and you see what that kid’s driving. If that kid is driving any kind of vehicle that he can’t afford, something’s wrong -- or am I being too simplistic?

Woodson: But it is simple, because coaches know what’s going on. Take the case of Tressel. He doesn’t want to say anything. One, he doesn’t want to get the kid in trouble. Then he doesn’t want to get the university in trouble. He hates that it even came across his desk because whatever’s going on, yeah he may know what’s going on, but he doesn’t want concrete evidence where he has to hold up for it.

Dean: And here is the worst thing, I think, that happened, and the NCAA did it. After they found out that the five kids at Ohio State traded their -- got money, tattoos, whatever -- they said they could play in the bowl game.

Woodson: That was wrong.

Dean: Because when they did that, they set a precedent that said that any kid who did anything after they played their last game, they can do anything they want. So, if you’re a kid who is going to go pro after your junior year or if you’re a senior, why wouldn’t you take something?

Woodson: Well, it’s all about the money. It’s all about that bowl game, so they’re allowed to play in that bowl game because if you have Terrelle Pryor, the marquee guy for a team, not playing in that game, then that game loses interest. The NCAA allows those kids to play because it makes money.

Dean: I’m going to put Charles Woodson as head of the NCAA. What do you do?

Woodson: What do I do as far as ?

Dean: You could wave a magic wand and make changes.

Woodson: Oh my goodness (pauses)

Lucy Ann: I think you’re telling us there’s nothing you can do.

Woodson: Honestly, there’s nothing you’re going to be able to do. It’s going to happen.

Lucy Ann: It’s been said that money is the root of all evil, but look at the money that you have given to Mott Children’s Hospital and the big heart you have. We thank you. You have done just a tremendous job remembering those kids here and the University of Michigan, as you make your way in the NFL.

Woodson: Oh, thank you. I’m happy to do it.

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Charles Woodson may believe there isn’t anything one can do about the state of college sports today, but as one man, he does set the right example. His charitable gifts, volunteerism, and hard work ethics are legendary. It starts with each of us as individuals remembering how powerful our own sphere of influence can be.

Lucy Ann Lance and Dean Erskine own Lance & Erskine Communications, which produces “The Lucy Ann Lance Business Insider” (M-F, 8 a.m.-11 a.m.) and “The Lucy Ann Lance Show” (Saturdays, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.) on 1290 WLBY. The programs are live streamed at www.1290WLBY.com, and podcast on www.lucyannlance.com. The above interview is a condensed version of a longer conversation that is edited for clarity. The complete audio interview is posted online at www.lucyannlance.com.