Should the NCAA Step In to Investigate when Players Are Arrested?

When it comes to crime and punishment, the NCAA has a done a lousy job.

Schools are self-reporting things like having an extra plate of food or doing lunch with a famous athlete; all rules that should be banished by the NCAA.

The real problem being treated as virtually commonplace is players being arrested and kicked off teams for drugs, violence and stealing. It's like everyone's become numb to the news, shrugging shoulders and moving on.

And it's not limited to just one school or one conference, it's all across the country. Clemson  is just the latest school that suspended four players for "violating team rules." But they aren't alone. 

Florida State had to deal with the Jameis Winston rape case, Texas A&M, Ole Miss, Alabama, Auburn, and Nebraska all had players arrested in the past few months, as well. 

Unlike the NFL, where there's a veting process, college football doesn't have that after the recruiting state. It may not matter, anyway.

If a player is good -- like a Jadeveon Clowney, or a Johnny Manziel -- it seems he's allowed to get away with almost anything.

But should the NCAA step in? Should there be something like an automatic suspension if a player is arrested for any reason? Then, if he's found guilty, should he be dismissed from the team?

Many schools do this in-house, of course. New Washington Huskies coach Chris Petersen isn't showing any leniency whatsoever toward his only experienced returning quarterback, for example. Georgia's Mark Richt held firm last season by sidelining his long snapper, a position that doesn't usually have much depth.

But should actions like these be made mandatory by the NCAA?

Another deterrent may be for the NCAA to restrict the number of kids who have been suspended being allowed to transfer to lower-division schools in order to continue playing. These instances are not uncommon. 

I know it's asking a lot of the NCAA to do, since they're busy monitoring spagetti dinners these days, but for once, it would be refreshing to see it get something right.