Florida State 36, Kentucky 0..........

No..........this is not the predicted final score of the Music City Bowl being played in Nashville, Tennessee on December 31, between FSU and Kentucky.

The number 36 represents the number of FSU football players who have been suspended by the University for being involved in an academic-cheating cheating scandal. Friday, FSU president, T. K. Wetherell addressed the issue with this statement: "No coaches were involved, and the student-athletes, who come from a number of sports, did not enroll in the course with the intent to do anything wrong," Wetherell said in a written statement. "However, a university-employed tutor provided inappropriate help on exams, without the request of the student-athletes in many cases."

Regardless, the student-athletes are "suffering the consequences" for accepting the answers, Wetherell said. The tutor, a graduate assistant, has since resigned, but FSU Provost Larry Abele wouldn't say if he's still a student, citing federal privacy laws.

The investigation into cheating began in March when administrators learned of a separate incident in which administrators found that a learning specialist gave answers to at least one student and typed papers for five student-athletes.

That investigation led to the admission by some student-athletes that, in an online music history course, a tutor had been looking over their shoulder while taking the exam and providing answers to test questions, or at least narrowing down the possible answers, Abele said.

Upon interviewing an additional 200 students, staff and faculty members, investigators also learned that the tutor provided completed exams to some student-athletes, Abele said.

Of the 36 players suspended, 11 have starting experience including top defensive player, Dekoda Watson , and Quarterback, Xavier Lee. Not only will these players miss the bowl game, they will also miss up to 2 games at the start of the 2008 season.

While the media folks are hammering FSU coach Bobby Bowden , I think the student athletes are the ones to blame. When you are given the answers to exams.......you have to know......something is amiss. Grow up........already!