Recruiting compliance question

[mrydel]

This involves an SEC team so do not read it jkflamebo.

Arkansas just got a committment from a hot shot RB in Orlando, FL. Of course it is verbal and kind of weak since he intends to keep visiting and Mom is an FSU grad and Dad is a Florida grad. But here is my question. He is on the phone in an interview with a sports talk show in Little Rock that is with no doubt UA oriented. That is what makes it a sports talk show in Arkansas. The hosts and quests of the show are begging the kid to cancel all other visits, saying tounge in cheek bad things about other schools, talking up the beneifts of UA and its campus, etc. They are getting all of his stats and remarking on his career to date. Does this not comprise a "visit". I know that if I just bump into a prospect and do anything more than say hello I have used a "legal visit" and if I said anything improper may have committed a violation. And heaven help me if I buy the kid a hamburger while talking to him. To me this just sounded like a pure recruiting contact and considering the softness of the commit and the fact that the kid has not yet visited Arkansas and has not even met Houston Nutt, they may be limited on future contact. Just wondering if anyone has any thoughts or remarks on this. Just something to pass the time on a snowy evening.

[MrMustang1965]

Report the b*astards!

[abezontar]

This involves an SEC team so do not read it jkflamebo.

Arkansas just got a committment from a hot shot RB in Orlando, FL. Of course it is verbal and kind of weak since he intends to keep visiting and Mom is an FSU grad and Dad is a Florida grad. But here is my question. He is on the phone in an interview with a sports talk show in Little Rock that is with no doubt UA oriented. That is what makes it a sports talk show in Arkansas. The hosts and quests of the show are begging the kid to cancel all other visits, saying tounge in cheek bad things about other schools, talking up the beneifts of UA and its campus, etc. They are getting all of his stats and remarking on his career to date. Does this not comprise a "visit". I know that if I just bump into a prospect and do anything more than say hello I have used a "legal visit" and if I said anything improper may have committed a violation. And heaven help me if I buy the kid a hamburger while talking to him. To me this just sounded like a pure recruiting contact and considering the softness of the commit and the fact that the kid has not yet visited Arkansas and has not even met Houston Nutt, they may be limited on future contact. Just wondering if anyone has any thoughts or remarks on this. Just something to pass the time on a snowy evening.

What kind of quests do they go on?

[mrydel]

What kind of quests do they go on?

To reach the unreachable bar?

I would edit but I love to made the fool. Hello to Kiki.

[abezontar]

What kind of quests do they go on?

To reach the unreachable bar?

That makes me sad to think about. Why build a bar if you are going to make it impossible for those of us who enjoy a good beverage from ever reaching it?

[Stallion]

No violations because the media isn't a representative of the university.

[Stallion]

No violations because the media isn't a representative of the university even in Arkansas. I guess some TV/Radio announcers actually hold positions with the university. I want to say Dave South is employed by A&M and even SMU has Sport Department employess announce BB games on occassion. That would be a closer question. I would think announcers are usually employed as independent contractors rather than employees but the average Arkansas radio talk show host wouldn't be a representative of the university. Plus it is his job to cover Arkansas sports just as it would be the job of an attorney to represent a Student athlete if he got in legal trouble.

[RGV Pony]

No violations because the media isn't a representative of the university even in Arkansas. I guess some TV/Radio announcers actually hold positions with the university. I want to say Dave South is employed by A&M and even SMU has Sport Department employess announce BB games on occassion. That would be a closer question. I would think announcers are usually employed as independent contractors rather than employees but the average Arkansas radio talk show host wouldn't be a representative of the university. Plus it is his job to cover Arkansas sports just as it would be the job of an attorney to represent a Student athlete if he got in legal trouble.

It seems like the literature the Mustang Club sends out every year contradicts Stallion's statement. Someone must still have all the compliance info that most throw away, but I want to say one of the scenarios spelled out was if you run into a recruit casually, can you or can you not push SMU's case, and the answer was no. There was a specific term for contact made by someone on SMU's behalf but not an actual employee.

[jtstang]

Lets all pose as TCU boosters and make improper contacts and then turn TCU in for investigation.

[mrydel]

No violations because the media isn't a representative of the university.

Where I have trouble is that I am not a representative of the Universtiy either other than by attendance. At least 2 of the people "guesting" were alumni of Arkansas and one was a former player if I am not mistaken. It just seemed strange to me. I do not recall ever hearing an interview with a recrujit where he was actively recruited by the interviewers. This was not just a sports interview like you see clips of an athlete on the evening local news. This was an interview on his committment, how firm it was, where else is he going (here's what is wrong wth them, and heres why you need to come here). Just seemed out of the norm. The kid will never stay committed to Arkansas anyway from the way he sounds. Maybe Dallas would appeal to him. I think we could use a RB/FB that bench presses 475 and squats 675 and runs a 4.5, and likes to run over people.

[mrydel]

Lets all pose as TCU boosters and make improper contacts and then turn TCU in for investigation.

Be sure and wear a little horned frog mask when you sit in my seat. The NCAA will be checking to make sure.

[HFvictory]

This involves an SEC team so do not read it jkflamebo.

They are getting all of his stats and remarking on his career to date. Does this not comprise a "visit". I know that if I just bump into a prospect and do anything more than say hello I have used a "legal visit" and if I said anything improper may have committed a violation.

There are no limits on the number of "visits" a recruit can make, however "official visits" are limited and must be reported to the NCAA. Official visits involve the school paying for travel expenses, meals, etc. and bumping into a recruit and saying Go SMU would not constitute an "official".

As far as saying anything improper, you would have to be proven to be a rep of the school and a complaint would have to be filed. Highly unlikely any violation could be proven.

[mrydel]

This involves an SEC team so do not read it jkflamebo.

They are getting all of his stats and remarking on his career to date. Does this not comprise a "visit". I know that if I just bump into a prospect and do anything more than say hello I have used a "legal visit" and if I said anything improper may have committed a violation.

There are no limits on the number of "visits" a recruit can make, however "official visits" are limited and must be reported to the NCAA. Official visits involve the school paying for travel expenses, meals, etc. and bumping into a recruit and saying Go SMU would not constitute an "official".

As far as saying anything improper, you would have to be proven to be a rep of the school and a complaint would have to be filed. Highly unlikely any violation could be proven.

I should have said "contact" rather than "visit", but you point is still understood.

[mrydel]

Ok, I heard all the comments on my question, but I was listening to the same sports show last night and a CB from Houston actually committed to Arkansas while being interviewed by the hosts of the show. I just do not understand how sports talk shows can actively recruit athletes for Universities, but maybe we should find one to try it for us. I would imagine Swan could sell the program over the air.

[PK]

If we even tried that the NCAA would be on us in a New York minute.