NCAA Officially Backs Off Two New Controversial Recruiting Rules

[superman7515]

http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/blog/eye-on-college-football/21906227/ncaa-officially-backs-off-of-two-new-recruiting-rules


The NCAA's new hands-off approach to recruiting regulations didn't last long.

The NCAA Board of Directors officially suspended two controversial rules changes (http://www.ncaa.org/wps/wcm/connect/public/ncaa/resources/latest+news/2013/march/board+suspends+two+recruiting+proposals) concerning recruiting Monday, overturning two elements of a deregulation package approved by the same board in January. The changes had allowed football staff members other than the program's coaches to perform recruiting tasks and eliminated restrictions on the types of printed material that can be sent to potential recruits.

The rules could still be put into effect in some form or fashion, but only after the NCAA's Rules Working Group has reintroduced them with "appropriate modifications."

A third rules change that would have "eliminated restrictions on modes and numerical limitations of recruiting contacts" -- allowing for unlimited texts, phone calls, and social media messages from coaches to recruits -- was also considered for suspension but will instead go through the normal override process.

The proposals were originally adopted in order to streamline the NCAA's vast regulatory handbook and allow compliance officials (both at the NCAA and at its members schools) to spend less time and effort on micromanaging details and put more focus on larger enforcement issues. But the changes faced heavy public opposition from the day they were announced, with the Big Ten (http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/blog/jeremy-fowler/21687736/big-ten-schools-pushing-to-override-ncaa-recruiting-rules) and Georgia athletic director Greg McGarity (http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/story/21697026/think-recruiting-is-crazy-just-wait-until-ncaa-lets-inmates-run-asylum) among the more outspoken opponents.

In the end, the board sided with those opponents, writing that they responded (http://www.ncaa.org/wps/wcm/connect/public/ncaa/resources/latest+news/2013/march/board+suspends+two+recruiting+proposals) "to extensive membership feedback that despite the benefits of the proposals, the new rules could have a negative impact on prospects and their families, college coaches and administrators."...

More at the link.

[Lehigh Football Nation]

People have been claiming that the NCAA is losing its grip, the BCS has all the power, and people need to move up to FBS now in order to stay powerful. Yet this is the second time in the past two years (last year it was full cost of attendance) the little guys have banded together to thwart rules that would tilt the playing field massively towards the schools with more resources.

[danefan]

People have been claiming that the NCAA is losing its grip, the BCS has all the power, and people need to move up to FBS now in order to stay powerful. Yet this is the second time in the past two years (last year it was full cost of attendance) the little guys have banded together to thwart rules that would tilt the playing field massively towards the schools with more resources.


Huh?



But the changes faced heavy public opposition from the day they were announced, with the Big Ten (http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/blog/jeremy-fowler/21687736/big-ten-schools-pushing-to-override-ncaa-recruiting-rules) and Georgia athletic director Greg McGarity (http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/story/21697026/think-recruiting-is-crazy-just-wait-until-ncaa-lets-inmates-run-asylum) among the more outspoken opponents.

[superman7515]

Huh?

Exactly. It had nothing to do with the little guy, the only guy that seemed to be gung ho for it was Alabama, but almost every public statement from the BCS schools other than Alabama was explicitly opposed to the changes.

[Pard4Life]

Some of the restrictions are moronic. For example, the football office and boosters tells me that I am no longer allowed my annual free media guide because distribution of such material may be a recruiting violation. You know, because the value of the document is probably less than $10 and is available for free anyway to download. Makes perfect sense.

[McNeese72]

Some of the restrictions are moronic. For example, the football office and boosters tells me that I am no longer allowed my annual free media guide because distribution of such material may be a recruiting violation. You know, because the value of the document is probably less than $10 and is available for free anyway to download. Makes perfect sense.

Are you saying that the NCAA is not allowing schools to give media guides to boosters because they are afraid that they might turn around and give the media guide to a recruit?

The NCAA gets more idiotic every year.

Doc

[Nova09]

Are you saying that the NCAA is not allowing schools to give media guides to boosters because they are afraid that they might turn around and give the media guide to a recruit?

The NCAA gets more idiotic every year.

Doc

No, the NCAA is saying media guides cannot be given to recruits. Lafayette is saying they are concerned about boosters then giving the media guides to recruits, which could get them in trouble with the NCAA, so Lafayette is not giving out media guides.

[Nova09]

The 3rd rule referenced in the article, 13-3, which would allow unlimited recruiting contacts, has gotten the necessary 75 override votes to put it up for reconsideration

[Lehigh Football Nation]

No, the NCAA is saying media guides cannot be given to recruits. Lafayette is saying they are concerned about boosters then giving the media guides to recruits, which could get them in trouble with the NCAA, so Lafayette is not giving out media guides.

The other alternative is that Lafayette (and Lehigh, and Bucknell, and...) just don't want to pay the costs of printing up something that can be downloaded and printed at home for free.

[Nova09]

The other alternative is that Lafayette (and Lehigh, and Bucknell, and...) just don't want to pay the costs of printing up something that can be downloaded and printed at home for free.

That's definitely a part of it as well (or the whole story). But if any part of it is the rules, I was just pointing out that the NCAA rules do not prohibit it, it would just be the school itself taking an extra precaution.

Incidentally, there's another component as well, whether or not this applies to Lafayette. And that's the fact that the rule was pushed heavily by Pac-10 schools with environmental agendas looking to reduce paper waste.

[Bisonoline]

People have been claiming that the NCAA is losing its grip, the BCS has all the power, and people need to move up to FBS now in order to stay powerful. Yet this is the second time in the past two years (last year it was full cost of attendance) the little guys have banded together to thwart rules that would tilt the playing field massively towards the schools with more resources.

Its more of the fact that the big boys want to keep the other big boys in check. Remember the NCAA is funded by its members. It would have also meant that they would have expended resources litteraly spamming recruits.

[ngineer]

The other alternative is that Lafayette (and Lehigh, and Bucknell, and...) just don't want to pay the costs of printing up something that can be downloaded and printed at home for free.

Yes, Lehigh stopped making hard print copies of the media guide a couple years ago. I loved it, but it is available online. Lot of money if most are not being used.

[ngineer]

It is at least nice to see the Board respond to the overwhelming objections to the texting rules, which would have been horribly abusive to students and families.