Ncaa Bylaw Violations

INTEROFFICE MEMORANDUM

TO: ATHLETIC DIRECTOR-GULF STATE UNIVERSITY

FROM: INTERNAL AUDIT DEPARTMENT-LUCAS/KLINE

SUBJECT: NCAA BYLAW VIOLATIONS

DATE: 1/23/2012

CC:

Six issues have come to the attention to the internal audit department that may violate NCAA bylaws. Those issues, nature of violation, and penalties are as follows:

1. GSU discovered some events in Men's basketball recruiting that suggested a violation of NCAA rules may have occurred. Through documentation submitted by the complaint, the Committee's research of GSU's records and interviews of its staff, you found that the Assistant Coaches at GSU hosted a banquet for the prospective Men's Basketball recruits. The banquet took place off-campus during the quiet period. The banquet was held so that any athletes who were unsure about their decision to attend GSU could come together and ask questions about the sports program.

This complaint alleges that Assistant Coaches for the men's basketball team were hosting banquets for recruits at a time during recruiting in which off-campus recruiting is not permitted.

a) The rule broken in the above case is number 13.02.5.3. This article defines a "Quiet Period," as "a period of time when it is permissible to make in-person recruiting contacts only on the institution's campus. No in-person off-campus recruiting contacts or evaluations may be made during the quiet period."

b) The above violation is a Recruiting violation

c) The penalty is a secondary penalty which may or may not involve disciplinary penalties or fines based upon the decision of the Vice President of Enforcement Services. Penalties, if the Vice President chooses to impose, can involve suspension of involved employees, termination of recruitment of those prospects that attended the banquet, or fines ranging from $500-$5000.

2. A) There was a lot of buzz regarding a potential star football player. He was on the radar of every coach in the area. Coaches at GSU offered to pay his travel expenses for an unofficial visit to the University. During his visit, he was able to join the team and go onto the field during pregame introductions.

B) Assume the same facts as in #2 above except that this situation has occurred many times and that it is not an isolated or inadvertent incident. GSU's Men's football coaches have never disclosed these visits to the NCAA committee.

This complaint alleges that GSU coaches are paying for travel for a prospective player's unofficial visit. Furthermore, they are allowing the student to participate in activities that are not permitted during unofficial visits. Had this been an official visit, no bylaws would have been violated.

A)

a) More than one rule was violated in the above case. One violation being of article #13.7.3 which states "may not permit a prospective student athlete to engage in any game-day simulations, (e.g. running onto the field with the team during pregame introductions) during an unofficial visit." Another violation would be of article #13.7 which defines an unofficial visit as, "Unpaid."

b) The above violation is a recruiting violation.

c) The penalty could be to require the prospective student-athlete to repay any meal/entertainment/tickets over $100 or face ineligibility until repaid. The penalty to coaches would be a secondary penalty in which may or may not involve disciplinary penalties or fines based upon the decision of the Vice President of Enforcement Services. Penalties, if the Vice President chooses to impose, can involve suspension of involved employees, termination the prospective student athlete, or fines for coaches ranging from $500-$5000.

B)

The coaches failing to disclose these visits to the NCAA committee is a violation of article #13.6.1 which defines paid visits as Official visits. If this was an official visit than article #13.6.3 was violated which requires that prospective student athletes meet certain requirements and that the NCAA be notified that these were completed. If this situation has occurred many times the violation could be considered a major violation which could carry any of the presumptive or disciplinary penalties listed under article 19.5.2 as well as "repeat violator penalties" depending on the time frame of these visits as listed under article 19.5.2.3.2.

3. A prospective student athlete from Arkansas was visiting the Texas area to scout potential schools for which he might be interested in attending and playing football. At a non-University related social function, the prospective student athlete struck up conversations with other attendees to learn that a few of them were enrolled student athletes on Gulf State University's football team. He asked them questions about the coaching staff, practice schedules and other information that he thought would be helpful to make his decision. They exchanged contact information and continued to have written correspondence regarding the football program. The institution had no knowledge of this friendship.

This complaint alleges that a prospective student made friends off-campus with current student athletes at GSU. A review of the bylaws does not constitute a violation.

I don't believe any rules were broken in the prospective student athlete making friends with GSU players at a non-University related social function. The only rules in the bylaws on friendships are those which existed prior to the student becoming a prospective or student athlete. Most of those rules pertain to money,

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