Some fans may not realize it, but the pendulum has swung so far in the other direction so quickly it would give anyone whiplash.In just a few short years, we went from Jim Harbaugh being read the riot act for lying about buying recruits some cheeseburgers while at Michigan to players being granted seven years of eligibility or gambling nearly six-figure sums on various sporting events.To illustrate how different the "amateur" sports landscape looks compared to past eras, I'm looking at four of the most absurd reasons college football players were deemed ineligible to play in the past.COLLEGE ATHLETICS INTEGRITY 'LEFT THE BUILDING' AFTER JUDGE LETS SORSBY PLAY DESPITE GAMBLING ADMISSIONIf Sorsby was caught betting on his own team back in these days, the NCAA probably would have exiled him to Mongolia, but times have changed.Let's take a walk down memory lane, shall we?A Colorado Buffs helmet sits on the sidelines during the University of Colorado Buffs versus Arizona State Sun Devils football game at Mountain America Stadium in Tempe, Ariz., on Oct.7, 2023.
(Bruce Yeung/Getty Images)Colorado wide receiver Jeremy Bloom was a unique two-sport athlete.COLLEGE FOOTBALL COUNTRY SEEKS KEY TAX EXEMPTION FOR ATHLETES TO ENHANCE RECRUITMENT, BOOST TEAM CONTINUITYWhile most kids are trying to decide if they want to continue playing lacrosse or soccer for some Division II program, Bloom was a wide receiver for a power conference program while simultaneously living out his dream of being an Olympic skier.One of the perks of being an Olympic athlete is, of course, the sponsorship deals that come with it (hello, Wheaties box), but the NCAA thought that was a bridge too far, and deemed Bloom ineligible as long as he was accepting endorsements.Bloom argued he needed the money to be able to afford to train with the U.S.Olympic team in Chile ahead of the 2006 Winter Games, but his appeal was shot down and he had to give up his dream of playing both football and skiing.ATHLETES ON CO...