NCAA Violation (Thread Split From Recruiting Class)

[WeberCompliance]

Hey guys I'm excited to play ball up there this year. I report June 13th to start playing ha so hope to see all you guys at the games.

Welcome to the team, James. You'll definitely be seeing me at the games. I'm excited to watch you play for the next several years. You're a big time recruit and along with Connor Myers and the other D lineman recruits coming in this year, that area of the defense should be solid for years to come. :thumb:

Guys, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but this interaction just resulted in a violation of NCAA rules. Under NCAA rules, written, telephonic or in-person communication is NOT permitted between a recruit and a booster of an NCAA institution regardless of the medium

Please take the time to read this article to learn what the rules are concerning contact with prospective student-athletes http://www.ukathletics.com/genrel/072806aao.html. The University of Kentucky had to report a similar violation because of improper interaction between boosters and prospective student-athletes.

Also, I hope you will take the time to review the booster guide that we have created. You can find it here: http://admin.xosn.com/fls/8600/Compliance/Booster_Guide_%28web%29.pdf?DB_OEM_ID=8600" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Thanks for your help in ensuring that no other violations take place. If you have any questions regarding what is and isn't permissible under NCAA rules, please feel free to contact me at [email protected] or at 801-626-8552.

 

[ajwildcat]

Hey guys I'm excited to play ball up there this year. I report June 13th to start playing ha so hope to see all you guys at the games.

Welcome to the team, James. You'll definitely be seeing me at the games. I'm excited to watch you play for the next several years. You're a big time recruit and along with Connor Myers and the other D lineman recruits coming in this year, that area of the defense should be solid for years to come. :thumb:

Guys, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but this interaction just resulted in a violation of NCAA rules. Under NCAA rules, written, telephonic or in-person communication is NOT permitted between a recruit and a booster of an NCAA institution regardless of the medium

Please take the time to read this article to learn what the rules are concerning contact with prospective student-athletes http://www.ukathletics.com/genrel/072806aao.html. The University of Kentucky had to report a similar violation because of improper interaction between boosters and prospective student-athletes.

Also, I hope you will take the time to review the booster guide that we have created. You can find it here: http://admin.xosn.com/fls/8600/Compliance/Booster_Guide_%28web%29.pdf?DB_OEM_ID=8600" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Thanks for your help in ensuring that no other violations take place. If you have any questions regarding what is and isn't permissible under NCAA rules, please feel free to contact me at [email protected] or at 801-626-8552.

Dear Compliance guy, I know you are only doing your job, but how about you post this useful information BEFOREthis takes place. Just saying.

 

[wsu1964yall]

Hey guys I'm excited to play ball up there this year. I report June 13th to start playing ha so hope to see all you guys at the games.

Welcome to the team, James. You'll definitely be seeing me at the games. I'm excited to watch you play for the next several years. You're a big time recruit and along with Connor Myers and the other D lineman recruits coming in this year, that area of the defense should be solid for years to come. :thumb:

Guys, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but this interaction just resulted in a violation of NCAA rules. Under NCAA rules, written, telephonic or in-person communication is NOT permitted between a recruit and a booster of an NCAA institution regardless of the medium

Please take the time to read this article to learn what the rules are concerning contact with prospective student-athletes http://www.ukathletics.com/genrel/072806aao.html. The University of Kentucky had to report a similar violation because of improper interaction between boosters and prospective student-athletes.

Also, I hope you will take the time to review the booster guide that we have created. You can find it here: http://admin.xosn.com/fls/8600/Compliance/Booster_Guide_%28web%29.pdf?DB_OEM_ID=8600" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Thanks for your help in ensuring that no other violations take place. If you have any questions regarding what is and isn't permissible under NCAA rules, please feel free to contact me at [email protected] or at 801-626-8552.

wouldnt this player not be a recruit if he has already signed? :mrgreen: :rofl:

either way wasnt it the "recruit" that was engaging the interaction? hno: also a fan boarded cant be takin serious or consider forum members boosters in any way. a fan board would not hold up in a court room if there was charges against wsu football team for ncaa violations. that is a joke.

 

[smjcpa1]

Guys, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but this interaction just resulted in a violation of NCAA rules. Under NCAA rules, written, telephonic or in-person communication is NOT permitted between a recruit and a booster of an NCAA institution regardless of the medium

Please take the time to read this article to learn what the rules are concerning contact with prospective student-athletes http://www.ukathletics.com/genrel/072806aao.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;. The University of Kentucky had to report a similar violation because of improper interaction between boosters and prospective student-athletes.

Also, I hope you will take the time to review the booster guide that we have created. You can find it here: http://admin.xosn.com/fls/8600/Complian" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... EM_ID=8600

Thanks for your help in ensuring that no other violations take place. If you have any questions regarding what is and isn't permissible under NCAA rules, please feel free to contact me at [email protected] or at 801-626-8552.

So, I guess this means that my 15 yr old kid who buys a ticket and attends the game is a BOOSTER. Also, I guess it is "improper" to post on a board that I am going to attend games where a SIGNED student athlete also posts. hmmmmmmmmmmm what is wrong with this picture??? No one was trying to sway a potential student on where to attend school. Just maybe there are WAY too many rules about people saying they are excited about watching student athletes participate in competition. hno:

 

[ajwildcat]

Attention: Anybody who has responded to any of my posts on here is now in violation of the NCAA's. See I have the build (6' 1" & 240) and desire to be a D-lineman myself for WSU. Yes I am just over 30yrs old, but given 2 good knee braces I could still lace it up and hit someone. I will be calling WSU to report this violation tomorrow.
:rofl: :rofl: :lol:

 

[talhadfoursteals]

William, from what I understand -your pamphlet really doesn't explain anything about how talking on a forum with a sanctioned student athlete would be a violation of NCAA standards- once an recruit signs an LOI, he is no longer a recruit, but a student athlete. If coaches can talk publicly about an athlete then it has been officially sanctioned by the NCAA that said athlete is now an actual member of the school, for that year. Also, how can you prove that we are talking to a student-athlete in the first place? Second, how is it that we, the BOOSTERS, are influencing decisions? A congratulations and a quick welcome is not a violation of NCAA compliance. From all of the publications I have read, issued from Weber State's athletic department condoned by the AD, it states that an athlete with similar initals has signed an LOI, and is no longer a recruit but a student-athlete, but can you verify 100% that it is said student athlete posting on this board?

YOU WENT TO LAW SCHOOL??

Wow...I'm sure you made a guy, a possible student athlete, we don't know if the name is or isn't associated with an athlete, who is excited to be a Wildcat feel really good with your actions. Do you even know who the hell has signed with Weber and who hasn't?? Good heavens man!! Way to make the athletic department look competent. HUGE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CONTACTING A RECRUIT ON MYSPACE AND A FORUM Where anonymous individuals talk about university/community events, activities, and associations.

 

[SWeberCat02]

Hey guys I'm excited to play ball up there this year. I report June 13th to start playing ha so hope to see all you guys at the games.

Welcome to the team, James. You'll definitely be seeing me at the games. I'm excited to watch you play for the next several years. You're a big time recruit and along with Connor Myers and the other D lineman recruits coming in this year, that area of the defense should be solid for years to come. :thumb:

Guys, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but this interaction just resulted in a violation of NCAA rules. Under NCAA rules, written, telephonic or in-person communication is NOT permitted between a recruit and a booster of an NCAA institution regardless of the medium

Please take the time to read this article to learn what the rules are concerning contact with prospective student-athletes http://www.ukathletics.com/genrel/072806aao.html. The University of Kentucky had to report a similar violation because of improper interaction between boosters and prospective student-athletes.

Also, I hope you will take the time to review the booster guide that we have created. You can find it here: http://admin.xosn.com/fls/8600/Compliance/Booster_Guide_%28web%29.pdf?DB_OEM_ID=8600" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Thanks for your help in ensuring that no other violations take place. If you have any questions regarding what is and isn't permissible under NCAA rules, please feel free to contact me at [email protected] or at 801-626-8552.

Dear Compliance guy, I know you are only doing your job, but how about you post this useful information BEFOREthis takes place. Just saying.

AJ, by saying that this compliance goon is only doing his job, you are giving him way too much credit. If he was doing his job, and if this is indeed a violation of NCAA rules, then this never would have happened because he would have already taught this recruit what he could and couldn't do to follow all of the NCAAs ridiculous little rules. So goon, before you come on here again and tell me that I just helped violate some NCAA rule by responding to some innocent post on a fan forum that has no affiliation with the University, know that I don't give a sh*t. Don't make your problem mine. And don't ask me to help you do your job by "ensuring that no other violations take place." Because while its obvious you need help doing your job, I'm not interested.

 

[bigskychamps07]

William, from what I understand -your pamphlet really doesn't explain anything about how talking on a forum with a sanctioned student athlete would be a violation of NCAA standards- once an recruit signs an LOI, he is no longer a recruit, but a student athlete. If coaches can talk publicly about an athlete then it has been officially sanctioned by the NCAA that said athlete is now an actual member of the school, for that year. Also, how can you prove that we are talking to a student-athlete in the first place? Second, how is it that we, the BOOSTERS, are influencing decisions? A congratulations and a quick welcome is not a violation of NCAA compliance. From all of the publications I have read, issued from Weber State's athletic department condoned by the AD, it states that an athlete with similar initals has signed an LOI, and is no longer a recruit but a student-athlete, but can you verify 100% that it is said student athlete posting on this board?

YOU WENT TO LAW SCHOOL??

Wow...I'm sure you made a guy, a possible student athlete, we don't know if the name is or isn't associated with an athlete, who is excited to be a Wildcat feel really good with your actions. Do you even know who the hell has signed with Weber and who hasn't?? Good heavens man!! Way to make the athletic department look competent. HUGE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CONTACTING A RECRUIT ON MYSPACE AND A FORUM Where anonymous individuals talk about university/community events, activities, and associations.

I'm curious to know how many people are actual boosters on this site. Most of the peeps I know are members of the purple pak and current students. That is clearly not a violation of the rules.

 

[weberwildcat]

compliance,

thanks for this update with this info. we should make those links u sent us a global thread as an fyi to the forum members at least so we all are aware in case some of us do not know the ncaa rules regarding recruits.

i do have some honest what if type questions:

1. what if this wasn't even a real player or recruit?
how can it be verified?
could we end up with a violation that wasn't even real?
i could imagine this being a great idea for a rival school framing us for a violation.

2. what if the player was actually just a wsu fan and then just replying back as a different member?

for example, what if someone made their username Tim Toone and said "i got paid every year i played at wsu and the wsu compliance guy kept in on the downlow for me when he found out."


we can check to see what IP's the posts came from but even with that that does nothing to solve the issue of knowing who is who and who said what.

 

[weberwildcat]

another can of worms is facebook. how many people do we see becoming "friends" with recruits on facebook and how many are emailing them or posting things on their "walls"?

i imagine that would be a nightmare to deal with and i would think it happens a lot since i dont even have a facebook account and i have seen it first hand and not just with wsu.

 

[WeberCompliance]

William, from what I understand -your pamphlet really doesn't explain anything about how talking on a forum with a sanctioned student athlete would be a violation of NCAA standards- once an recruit signs an LOI, he is no longer a recruit, but a student athlete. If coaches can talk publicly about an athlete then it has been officially sanctioned by the NCAA that said athlete is now an actual member of the school, for that year. Also, how can you prove that we are talking to a student-athlete in the first place? Second, how is it that we, the BOOSTERS, are influencing decisions? A congratulations and a quick welcome is not a violation of NCAA compliance. From all of the publications I have read, issued from Weber State's athletic department condoned by the AD, it states that an athlete with similar initals has signed an LOI, and is no longer a recruit but a student-athlete, but can you verify 100% that it is said student athlete posting on this board?

YOU WENT TO LAW SCHOOL??

Wow...I'm sure you made a guy, a possible student athlete, we don't know if the name is or isn't associated with an athlete, who is excited to be a Wildcat feel really good with your actions. Do you even know who the hell has signed with Weber and who hasn't?? Good heavens man!! Way to make the athletic department look competent. HUGE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CONTACTING A RECRUIT ON MYSPACE AND A FORUM Where anonymous individuals talk about university/community events, activities, and associations.

A few things:

1. This is a minor, secondary violation. The resolution from it is to provide rules education, which I have tried to do. You all might find this rule ridiculous, which I can understand. However, the rule exists nonetheless, and Weber State, as a condition of being a NCAA member, has agreed to abide by all NCAA rules. The NCAA does not expect a school to go violation free during a given year, and it actually raises red flags when no violations are reported. So, this is not a big deal in the grand scheme of things. However, we need to make sure that further violations do not occur. Only continued or more egregious violations would result in further or more serious penalties.

2. Even though the recruit involved here has signed a NLI, he is still a prospective student-athlete until he begins colleges classes as a full-time student. This is a distinction that causes confusion even among coaches (especially in the greyshirt context), but it is an important distinction to be aware of.

3. We have talked to the the prospect's recruiting coach to confirm that it was him who posted.

4. The ability to comment on or talk to a prospective student-athlete after signing a NLI relates to a university and its athletics department, not to boosters unfortunately.

5. Yes, I went to law school. If you look around the country, you will see that there are plenty of recovering lawyers working in compliance now, including one at Utah and one at Utah State.

6. Once again, the medium in which you have written contact a prospective student-athlete does not matter. We are excited to have James join our program next year and are glad that he is also excited, but that does not change things.

I hope I have addressed peoples' questions and concerns. We do not expect you to screen every poster to determine if they're a recruit or not. However, we ask that if someone does identify him/herself as a recruit or a family member of a recruit, you do not communicate with that person. This is the first time that Weber has had to deal with this issue, so we will increase our educational efforts to prospective student-athletes as well.

Again, please feel free to contact me with other questions or concerns. Go Wildcats!

 

[weberwildcat]

I can believe these rules...

 

[funkystride]

I am a former WSU athlete. Compliance is correct. First and foremost let's protect our athletes.

We can bicker about the absurdity of NCAA rules all we want. There are shades of gray that may or may not be violations, like the 15 year old kid being a booster, but at the end of the day, directly conversing with recruits online is something we should not do.

 

[weberwildcat]

:shock: this thread leaves me speechless :shock:

 

[talhadfoursteals]

William, from what I understand -your pamphlet really doesn't explain anything about how talking on a forum with a sanctioned student athlete would be a violation of NCAA standards- once an recruit signs an LOI, he is no longer a recruit, but a student athlete. If coaches can talk publicly about an athlete then it has been officially sanctioned by the NCAA that said athlete is now an actual member of the school, for that year. Also, how can you prove that we are talking to a student-athlete in the first place? Second, how is it that we, the BOOSTERS, are influencing decisions? A congratulations and a quick welcome is not a violation of NCAA compliance. From all of the publications I have read, issued from Weber State's athletic department condoned by the AD, it states that an athlete with similar initals has signed an LOI, and is no longer a recruit but a student-athlete, but can you verify 100% that it is said student athlete posting on this board?

YOU WENT TO LAW SCHOOL??

Wow...I'm sure you made a guy, a possible student athlete, we don't know if the name is or isn't associated with an athlete, who is excited to be a Wildcat feel really good with your actions. Do you even know who the hell has signed with Weber and who hasn't?? Good heavens man!! Way to make the athletic department look competent. HUGE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CONTACTING A RECRUIT ON MYSPACE AND A FORUM Where anonymous individuals talk about university/community events, activities, and associations.

A few things:

1. This is a minor, secondary violation. The resolution from it is to provide rules education, which I have tried to do. You all might find this rule ridiculous, which I can understand. However, the rule exists nonetheless, and Weber State, as a condition of being a NCAA member, has agreed to abide by all NCAA rules. The NCAA does not expect a school to go violation free during a given year, and it actually raises red flags when no violations are reported. So, this is not a big deal in the grand scheme of things. However, we need to make sure that further violations do not occur. Only continued or more egregious violations would result in further or more serious penalties.

2. Even though the recruit involved here has signed a NLI, he is still a prospective student-athlete until he begins colleges classes as a full-time student. This is a distinction that causes confusion even among coaches (especially in the greyshirt context), but it is an important distinction to be aware of.

3. We have talked to the the prospect's recruiting coach to confirm that it was him who posted.

4. The ability to comment on or talk to a prospective student-athlete after signing a NLI relates to a university and its athletics department, not to boosters unfortunately.

5. Yes, I went to law school. If you look around the country, you will see that there are plenty of recovering lawyers working in compliance now, including one at Utah and one at Utah State.

6. Once again, the medium in which you have written contact a prospective student-athlete does not matter. We are excited to have James join our program next year and are glad that he is also excited, but that does not change things.

I hope I have addressed peoples' questions and concerns. We do not expect you to screen every poster to determine if they're a recruit or not. However, we ask that if someone does identify him/herself as a recruit or a family member of a recruit, you do not communicate with that person. This is the first time that Weber has had to deal with this issue, so we will increase our educational efforts to prospective student-athletes as well.

Again, please feel free to contact me with other questions or concerns. Go Wildcats!

Thank you for addressing these concerns. Please forgive me for my ignorance. I sincerely apologize for over-reacting and being demeaning. Nobody should have to face such criticism when they were only trying to provide valuable information. I really didn't want a young student athlete to feel shunned or embarrassed by his excitment of being a part of our university and football program (by the way, I'm very excited to see him play for the Wildcats). In all actuality, I should have commended you on your integrity and your desire to protect our student athletes, coaches, and university. It is nice knowing, even in the face of belligerent fans/boosters/students, that you can approach this in a meaningful way. Thank you for turning something negative into a positive teaching opportunity from which, we the fans, are able to learn what is and isn't appropriate communication and actions.

 

[n.ogdencat]

As CatCat would say...YOU WANK n.cat!

 

[brian2]

Thanks weberwildcat for posting this thread on the UNC board. This is good information to know in case future recruits want to join the boards and discuss the schools.

:thumb:

 

[oldrunner]

This is all good information. None of us wants to jepordize an athletes standing or the schools relationship with the NCAA. With that said, there are a lot of gray areas and it isn't always easy to understand when we might be getting into potential trouble. For example, I had always thought that if a potential student athlete initiated contact with me, that it was OK for me to engage in a conversation with them, as long as I was not offering any kind of aid or service outside of what I would offer to anyone else and at the same rates as anyone else.

I have been a booster and a volunteer in the athletic department for over 30 years. I have given a lot of my time and a lot of my money to the University over those years. Due to my involvement on campus, I have bumped into a lot of athletes and potential student athletes over the years. I have always wondered about my interactions with these people. I have always thought that if I had not gone out of my way to make the contact, that it was OK for me to offer a handshake and welcoming conversation with them or their parents, as the case may be. What are the regs on this sort of situation?

 

[WeberCompliance]

This is all good information. None of us wants to jepordize an athletes standing or the schools relationship with the NCAA. With that said, there are a lot of gray areas and it isn't always easy to understand when we might be getting into potential trouble. For example, I had always thought that if a potential student athlete initiated contact with me, that it was OK for me to engage in a conversation with them, as long as I was not offering any kind of aid or service outside of what I would offer to anyone else and at the same rates as anyone else.

I have been a booster and a volunteer in the athletic department for over 30 years. I have given a lot of my time and a lot of my money to the University over those years. Due to my involvement on campus, I have bumped into a lot of athletes and potential student athletes over the years. I have always wondered about my interactions with these people. I have always thought that if I had not gone out of my way to make the contact, that it was OK for me to offer a handshake and welcoming conversation with them or their parents, as the case may be. What are the regs on this sort of situation?

Thanks for the question. There is a distinction between in-person contact and written contact. We've covered the written portion above. You might remember that Steve Spurrier's wife was found to have committed a violation of the same bylaw we've discussed a few years ago for sending thank you notes to South Carolina's football signees.

For in-person contact, there is an "unavoidable incidental contact rule" that states that you may have in-person contact with a prospective student-athlete (generally anyone who has started 9th grade) as long as the contact (1) is not prearranged, (2) does not take place on the grounds of the prospective student-athlete’s educational institution or at the sites of organized competition and practice involving the prospective student-athlete or the prospective student-athlete’s team (high school, preparatory school, two-year college or all-star team), (3) is not made for the purpose of recruitment of the prospective student-athlete, and (4) involves only normal civility.

Also, there's an exception to the in-person contact rule for established family friends/neighbors as long as the conversation doesn't involve recruiting and the conversation isn't initiated by a coaching staff member.

Finally, thanks for spreading the information above. I have a colleague who went through the same law school program that I did who told me that the information made it to Delaware's message board.

 

[wsucatfan]

bump