VERY IMPORTANT — PLEASE READ

[PonyPride]

As a reminder, Mustang fans are NOT permitted to communicate with prospective student-athletes. This includes any contact via Facebook, Twitter, e-mail or any similar site or method. NCAA bylaws state that all in-person, on- and off-campus recruiting contacts, as well as correspondence and telephone calls, with a prospective student-athlete shall be made only by authorized institutional staff members. SMU is alerting you to the applicable NCAA legislation. Any current or future recruiting contact, as well as correspondence and/or telephone calls must cease immediately.

[Billy Joe]

Just to be clear - I should not take a bunch of prospective football recruits to the Men's Club tonight and pay for drinks and dances? I want to be sure and follow the rules. Thanks in advance.

[No Quarter]

I have never done anything like the NCAA rules violations mentioned and ten times over am not one of those fans with deep pockets who got SMU in trouble in the eightys. More than that I live eight hundred miles away, well outside the area most SMU recruiting targets reside. But I have to say that at some point this seems very close to a free speech issue.

[mustangxc]

It's pretty simple, don't contact recruits in person or by any other means including facebook, email, fax, snail mail, etc!!!

[BUS]

A-men
When they become Mustangs you can talk all the football you want but for now... Do not even text Hello.

[Dutch]

A-men
When they become Mustangs you can talk all the football you want but for now... Do not even text Hello.

even when they're on the team, it's a pretty gray area regarding alumni contact with student athletes. best to stay out of contact. nothing to gain from it.

[2ndandlong]

as a matter of fact, the grey area can actually extend beyond their active days as a student. even if they are an alumnus, if they are still within their eligibility period, check with your contact in the athletic department to make sure what you are doing is on the level.

[papawppc1]

So one of my hunting buddy's grandson can't talk to another buddy that is a SMU alumni when we go hunting or have a get together?

[2ndandlong]

don't think we should play through every one-off scenario on here, but if you're alumni friend donates a lot of money to the program, and the kid is a senior in high school, star quarterback, you should probably talk to the school before you take the kid on a vacation where the alumnus pays for all his food, buys his shotgun shells, etc. regardless of the other circumstances.

if you're not sure, ask or don't do it.

[papawppc1]

We've been together as a group for at least 20yrs. The alumni did not pick us out 20yrs ago knowing we would have a football playing Grandson. Everybody pays their own part. The young man's Grandpaw has plenty of funds to take care of his Grandson. The kid will play college football somewhere and I have not a clue where.

[ojaipony]

Interesting, as I see this being violated daily on Twitter ("come here!" etc).

I guess, since we're SMU, we have to be HYPER vigilant. I have no problem with that. But once the kid signs and plays, I'm going to congratulate him on a great game (a comment is not a gold TransAm). Is the comment allowed to a kid that signs and plays? We're certainly yelling that from the stands/as they walk out/if we get down onto the field after a huge win ala TCU. Seems like a free speech issue as long as it doesn't happen during recruiting process and no gifts are provided. Just a simple comment?

[mrydel]

Recruits. After that just do not be giving them stuff.

[redpony]

So one of my hunting buddy's grandson can't talk to another buddy that is a SMU alumni when we go hunting or have a get together?

Interesting that is mentioned. IIRC there were a lot of complaints/stories about whorens alums taking players on hunting/fishing trips with expenses paid. However, the austin branch of the ncaa (aka whorens AD) investigated and said all was within 'their' set of rules.