Blue-chip visits SMU

[Recruiting Guru]

I hadn't heard that Devereaux had visited SMU, but if Coach Bennett and his staff can reel this guy in, what a great job they will have done. Every coach in the region, and many across the nation, have tried to get his attention. He's an athlete of the caliber of the WRs and DBs who seem to end up in Austin and Tallahassee every year - he's that good.

He's not only fast, but he has incredible acceleration and changes directions extremely well. And he's very fluid, able to shift directions without slowing down in the slightest. He's a guy who makes plays, regardless of what position he plays. If he ends up in Dallas, SMU's recruiting class immediately climbs up a notch or two.

[Damon'sDaMan]

I've seen him play. He's awesome.

[Guest]

Just looked at his profile on Rivals...

<A HREF="http://rivals100.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?pr_key=9209" TARGET=_blank>http://rivals100.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?pr_key=9209</A>

The picture of him was taken in front of Ford Stadium

[SMUstang]

If he has offers from Oklahoma and Kansas State you can forget him. Who wouldn't choose to play for a National Championship rather than a loosing non BCS program?

[Corso]

Not so fast, my friend!

There are a lot of players who value the chance to play close to home, especially if it's close enough to go home often. True, those other two schools are bigger and have stronger teams. But what if he chooses to go to OU or K-State and sits for three years while waiting his turn? Or he could come here and compete right away, or maybe after just a redshirt year?

From everything I've read, Devereaux is extremely close to his family. That doesn't mean we'll get him, but it means maybe we have a chance.

Having said that, I've looked at several sources, and he doesn't have us on his list of favorites. But coming to the game - and using one of his five official visits on SMU - is an encouraging sign.

[PX]

Not so fast yourself Corso. If the young man has already come for a visit, it was an unofficial one, not one of his five officials. Texas high school football players cant take an official visit anywhere until their senior year of competition is over. UIL rule. Unless thats changed sometime recently.

[Corso]

Perhaps that was my mistake. My impression was that if the kid is there as a guest of the team, with the nametag, down on the field before the game, etc., that it counted as an official visit. My mistake, if that's not the case.

[PX]

The main difference between an Official and Unofficial visit is how much money the school is allowed to spend to entertain the recruit, pay his travel expenses, etc. The team cant provide free food or anything like that during an unofficial visit, the recruit cannot stay on campus overnight, and he must provide his own transportation. The nametag doesnt mean anything.
Regardless, as I said before, the UIL rule has been that football players cannot take official visits until after their senior season season of competition is complete. The guys who have already committed to us havent taken official visits here, yet.

[Mickey]

PX, I think you might be wrong on some of this. The recruits and their friends and family are provided with a buffet before each game. At SMU, they do this at Heritage Hall. I would like to see them provide the meal on the 3rd floor of the stadium at the north end which is overlooking the field. Nevertheless, they are provided food just before they visit the facilities.

[Charleston Pony]

PX: I assume the rules only apply to visiting Texas schools? I see where Steven Coleman has already taken a couple of official visits to out of state schools.

[PX]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR><font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Mickey:
<B>PX, I think you might be wrong on some of this. The recruits and their friends and family are provided with a buffet before each game. At SMU, they do this at Heritage Hall. I would like to see them provide the meal on the 3rd floor of the stadium at the north end which is overlooking the field. Nevertheless, they are provided food just before they visit the facilities.</B></font><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>


We provide a free meal for the prospects, and their "friends?" I hope you are incorrect, since doing that for someone unrelated to the recruit would not be legal, even on an official visit.
As I said before, the UIL rule may have changed and I may have missed it, but the NCAA rules remain the same. Let me share with you a couple of quotes:

"On an unofficial visit your institution may not provide or arrange for free lodging. In Division 1 your institution also may not give meals to prospects (or people accompanying them)."

"In Division 1, prospects who are making an unofficial visit may pay the actual cost of meals (or the regular cost of training-table meals) and eat with other prospects who are on official visits or with enrolled student athletes. (Bylaw 13.8.2.1.1.1)"

Since you apparently dont believe me, please refer to the NCAA's website if you wish to argue. The page linked below will explain the difference between official and unofficial visits.

<A HREF="http://216.239.51.100/search?q=cache:1tDlIzw662AC:www.ncaa.org/library/membership/guide_to_recruiting/6.pdf+unofficial+visit&hl=en&ie=UTF-8" TARGET=_blank>http://216.239.51.100/search?q=cache:1tDlIzw662AC:www.ncaa.org/library/membership/guide_to_recruiting/6.pdf+unofficial+visit&hl=en&ie=UTF-8</A>


The UIL rule about visitation has been the same for over 20 years, Perhaps it has changed recently, and I didnt hear about it. If Proud Pony Pa or any of the other parents on the board read this, perhaps they could be of some help. Were your sons able to take official visits anywhere before the season was over?

[Mickey]

PX, I admit that I don't know what the NCAA or UIL rules are on official and unofficial visits. I also believe you know what you are talking about hen you refer to the rules. All I know is that since Ford Stadium opened, SMU has entertained recruits before the game with a luncheon at Heritage Hall. I walk by the function before every game. Even tried to get in once to see what it was all about, but couldn't. However, I was told by both the hosts and the caterer that the luncheon was for recruits and 2 guests (family and friends). If you are right about the NCAA and UIL rules, then the recruits must be paying for the meal. I flat don't know, but the buffet with SMU as the host has been going on ever since Ford was opened. I think they also did something similar at the Cotton Bowl for recruits because I know several HS players that went to the buffets at the Cotton Bowl. I also recall that they did not pay one red cent to partake in the luncheon.

The above is a fact, but I don't pretend to know about any rules. I will leave that up to you. But I will bet anything that we are not violating any rules.

[PX]

I dont want to argue with you, but there are a couple things in that statement that are contradictory. The recruits may be paying for the meal, but you know they didnt pay one red cent? You dont know the rules but you're certain we arent breaking them?

I dont want to argue, and I havent attended a football recruiting function in about 18 years, so I'm not going to pretend I know what the buffet is about, or who is paying for what. I do, however, stand by every word of my original statement. That is:
1) The recruits who come to our games right now are on Unofficial visits, not official. 2) There are limits to what a team can spend or provide for a recruit during an Unofficial visit, and those limits include transportation, food, entertainment and lodging.
The rules are on the NCAA website, anyone can read them.

[Guest]

I'm not sure if the school is providing meals...it might be a 3rd party.