Yes, it was shocking news. An Oklahoma football player was getting money under the table to play football. Simply shocking.

Starting quarterback Rhett Bomar and right guard J.D. Quinn broke NCAA rules by taking an excessive amount of money for their employment at a local car dealership.

Bomar was actually clocking in to work and then going to practice. And getting paid thousands of dollars.

It was a good gig. So good that Bomar’s roommate Quinn got in on the action. Hey, Bomar was probably going to make a ton of money in the NFL and get endorsement money. Quinn was just an offensive lineman, so why not get a piece of the pie while he could?

Upon finding out the information, Sooners head coach Bob Stoops acted quickly and cut the two players from the team.

Good-bye national championship hopes.

The two players apologized for their stupid and selfish actions, but, no matter how sincere, it doesn’t change the effect their departures will have on the team.

Sure, the Sooners might recover and possibly not even miss a beat. What do you think?

Lost in all this was the Oklahoma compliance officer who did not discover what was going on the past year until the car dealership changed hands and the new owners made the university aware the players were on the payroll.

What? They had jobs? Bomar told me he saved his meal ticket money so he could buy that Porsche.

When things like this happen, I get so distraught that I turn to music to calm my nerves. If you’re a fan of The Beatles music like I am, you might remember the song “Drive My Car.”

With a change in some of the lyrics, Bomar has a theme song that could hit the top of the charts. Hey, maybe if he can sing he could do the song and get money the right way: earn it.

Sell My Cars

Coach asked me what I wanted to be

I said Bobby, can’t you see?

I wanna be famous, a star on the team;

But I can sell cars in between.

CHORUS

Bomar you can sell my cars.

Yes, you’re style really rocks.

Bomar you can sell my cars;

And not punch a time clock.

Beep beep’m beep beep yeah.

Told our right guard that my prospects were good;

Quinn said “I’d like a job, if you could.”

Working for peanuts is all very fine.

But I get paid thousands in a third of the time. (Chorus)

Bobby Clyse, take notice.

Jim Walker is sports editor of The Ironton Tribune.