Big Ten coaches approve of new NCAA penalty system

In case you missed it, the NCAA approved of a new penalty structure earlier this week. In a nutshell, the NCAA has dumped its major and secondary-violation system in favor of a new four-level grouping and, most importantly, holding a head coach accountable for violations committed by an assistant. See the original reporting from USA Today and our write-up about the bylaw changes. Andy Staples of Sports Illustrated does a good job of explaining everything in layman's terms here. 

Several Big Ten coaches gave their thoughts on the rules changes to the Chicago Tribune. 

"Throughout history," Ohio State's Urban Meyer said, "the only way to keep civilization and to keep things in order is to have very strong rules and enforce them."

"The way coaches act when they are on the road (recruiting) is a direct reflection of the head coach," Northwestern's Pat Fitzgerald said. "At the end of the day, the buck stops with the head coach.

"It's been frustrating for a lot of coaches trying to do it the right way," Wisconsin's Bret Bielema said.

The NCAA's changes were well received, but it always helps to have the endorsement of some of the biggest names in college football.