School Fan Board causes NCAA Violation

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Weber State reported a secondary NCAA Violation caused by contact between alumni on a message board, who are looked upon as boosters by the NCAA, with a football recruit.

wildcats.bigskyfans.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=2240

Weber State just had to turn themselves in for an NCAA Rules Violation. The problem? An athlete that was going to play for Weber State, and had already signed an NLI but was not yet enrolled AND attending classes, posted on their message board that he was excited to be coming to Weber State in the fall. As soon as anyone on the message board replied to him, it was an illegal booster contact because message board posters are considered boosters for their schools by the NCAA. Weber State's compliance director did self-report the violation as required to the NCAA.

Props to Superman7515 from MEACFansZone.proboards.com for posting it over there.

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So I went to www.ncataggies.com to see what they have regarding proper conduct of boosters and found this:

AGGIE FANS
BEFORE YOU ACT, ASK YOURSELF:

If a student-athlete wants a discount on an item or a service that is a part of my business, may provide it?
If you provide a discount to all A&T students, then student-athletes may also receive the discount. A discount that is designed for student-athletes or a student athlete specifically is considered an extra-benefit and against NCAA rules.

Are student-athletes allowed to sell their complimentary admission tickets?
An action such as earning compensation for complimentary admission jeopardizes a student-athlete's eligibility.

May I contact high school coaches or guidance counselors directly regarding a prospect?
Please don't. Contact by you would equate to recruiting on your part and thus it jeopardizes the eligibility of a prospective student-athlete.

May I approach a prospect an A&T coach has at an event?
You can't make any contact with the prospect or the prospect's family. Approach the coach only after the prospect and the prospect's parents or guardians depart.

If I'm aware of a rules violation, who do I contact?
Report it to Darryl Hills, the director of compliance at North Carolina A&T. You may remain anonymous if you wish.

www.ncataggies.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=24500&ATCLID=204934309

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NCAA Violation (Thread Split From Recruiting Class)

Post by WeberCompliance » Mon Mar 21, 2011 5:39 pm

SWeberCat02 wrote:

JWash22 wrote:
Hey guys I'm excited to play ball up there this year. I report June 13th to start playing ha so hope to see all you guys at the games.

Welcome to the team, James. You'll definitely be seeing me at the games. I'm excited to watch you play for the next several years. You're a big time recruit and along with Connor Myers and the other D lineman recruits coming in this year, that area of the defense should be solid for years to come. :thumb:

Guys, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but this interaction just resulted in a violation of NCAA rules. Under NCAA rules, written, telephonic or in-person communication is NOT permitted between a recruit and a booster of an NCAA institution regardless of the medium

Please take the time to read this article to learn what the rules are concerning contact with prospective student-athletes www.ukathletics.com/genrel/072806aao.html. The University of Kentucky had to report a similar violation because of improper interaction between boosters and prospective student-athletes.

Also, I hope you will take the time to review the booster guide that we have created. You can find it here: admin.xosn.com/fls/8600/Complian ... EM_ID=8600

Thanks for your help in ensuring that no other violations take place. If you have any questions regarding what is and isn't permissible under NCAA rules, please feel free to contact me at [e-mail] or at 801-626-8552.

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This is from the U of Cincinnati Athletics page.

Message Boards: Boosters participating on a message board are not permitted to write, call, instant message, text, chat with, or e-mail a prospect. Sometimes we will read on a message board that someone thinks it is okay to contact a prospect once they sign a National Letter of Intent with Cincinnati. However, that signing does not change the fact he or she is still a prospect and all prohibitions against booster contact continue to apply. We often also hear comments that because a person is not a graduate of Cincinnati or a season ticket holder, they believe they are not a booster and it is okay for them to contact a prospect. However, part of the NCAA's definition of a booster includes anyone who contacts a recruit on behalf of the institution. Therefore, as soon as someone on a message board e-mails or sends a message out to a recruit, they automatically become a booster and are subject to the NCAA rules prohibiting such contact.

[Aggie One]

So keep your mouth shut and hands off the keyboard.