Bryant Sued for Past Due Loans
Cowboy's WR Dez Bryant is alleged to have accepted over $800,000 in loans from financial advisors/agents during his last year-and-a-half at Oklahoma State. Bryant was suspended for nearly all of the 2009 football season for lying to the NCAA about an encounter he had with Dion Sanders. Bryant spend much of that fall training for the NFL draft, and supposedly, spending lots of money too. Wearing lots of fancy jewelry or driving around campus in a newly tricked out car can be one of the things that tips off compliance officers (and the media/public) that a student-athlete may be coming into some money from somewhere. It is interesting that in the recent documentary on the Michigan Fab 5, at the end of the show, Mitch Albom states that if Chris Webber really did receive hundreds of thousands of dollars from booster Ed Martin, he and his family certainly weren't spending it or showing it off. Now that Dez has moved on to the NFL, it becomes a case of did they know/ should they have known at OSU and could be another case where the student-athlete gets out of town before the storm and the school is left to deal with the aftermath.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Interesting Article on Pell Grants
Pell Grants Face Cuts, Possible Overhaul
This is an interesting article on the Federal Pell Grant program and its outlook for the future. Just like many other government programs, it is facing a lot of uncertainty moving forward and will undoubtedly face change of some kind in the future. The Pell program is a valuable program for both students and student-athlete's alike and, in its history, has helped many students to be able to afford to go to college. We have a number of student-athlete's who benefit from the program, so I thought it would be an interesting read for our coaches.
This is an interesting article on the Federal Pell Grant program and its outlook for the future. Just like many other government programs, it is facing a lot of uncertainty moving forward and will undoubtedly face change of some kind in the future. The Pell program is a valuable program for both students and student-athlete's alike and, in its history, has helped many students to be able to afford to go to college. We have a number of student-athlete's who benefit from the program, so I thought it would be an interesting read for our coaches.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Graduation Success Rates of NCAA Tournament Teams
Analysis of Men's Tournament Field
Men's Field v. Women's Field
The Institute for Diversity & Ethics in Sport (TIDES) from the University of Central Florida has released its annual analysis of the academic success of the teams in this years NCAA tournament fields. They found that 60 of the 64 teams in the women's tournament field graduated 60% or more of their players, while on the men's side 42 of the 68 teams graduated at least 60% of their players. All of the teams in the women's field graduated more than 50% of their players, while 51 men's teams (76%) graduated more than 50% of their players. The articles go into more detailed analysis of both graduation rates and APR scores, and much of the analysis indicates change for the positive; the one exception appears to be on the men's side, where white student-athlete's appear to be graduating at higher rates than African American student-athlete's.
Men's Field v. Women's Field
The Institute for Diversity & Ethics in Sport (TIDES) from the University of Central Florida has released its annual analysis of the academic success of the teams in this years NCAA tournament fields. They found that 60 of the 64 teams in the women's tournament field graduated 60% or more of their players, while on the men's side 42 of the 68 teams graduated at least 60% of their players. All of the teams in the women's field graduated more than 50% of their players, while 51 men's teams (76%) graduated more than 50% of their players. The articles go into more detailed analysis of both graduation rates and APR scores, and much of the analysis indicates change for the positive; the one exception appears to be on the men's side, where white student-athlete's appear to be graduating at higher rates than African American student-athlete's.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Don't Bet On It!!!!
NAU Athletics coaches and staff, just a reminder that you are not allowed to bet on the upcoming NCAA basketball tournaments, NIT, CBI or CIT- or my personal favorite, the upcoming NCAA hockey tournament. As athletics staff members we are not allowed to wager anything of monetary value on a sport sponsored by the NCAA . That goes for any level of that sport, whether it is pee-wee hockey, high school, college or the pro's.
Feel free to watch the games and root on your alma maters, just don't put any money (or anything else of monetary value) down on your teams to win.
Feel free to watch the games and root on your alma maters, just don't put any money (or anything else of monetary value) down on your teams to win.
Monday, March 14, 2011
Text Messages Land SMU on Probation
SMU Men's Basketball on Probation
There have been several recent cases where you have heard that a coach has lied to investigators, withheld information or been dishonest in one way or another. Doing that certainly does not gain you favor with anyone when it is time for the punishment to come down. In this case involving SMU, we get a chance to see the opposite effect. Matt Doherty, the head coach at SMU, sought the compliance offices advice before sending texts to the parents of several prospective student-athletes, which he was told was alright. Doherty later heard from other sources that the texts were not permissible, which the school then self-reported; it was determined to be a major violation due to over 100 impermissible texts being sent. There was still a punishment involved for the school and the program since a violation had occurred, but in the decision, the COI noted that the coach had received the wrong information about texting parents, but followed through and self-reported once he knew there was a violation.
Please let this case serve as a reminder that texting a prospective student-athlete, or his/her parents, before they have signed a National Letter of Intent is a violation. Further, whether you have contact with, call or email a prospective student-athlete's parents, the NCAA Manual considers that the same as having that interaction with the recruit, so you need to count that as a contact or a phone call in all of your logs.
There have been several recent cases where you have heard that a coach has lied to investigators, withheld information or been dishonest in one way or another. Doing that certainly does not gain you favor with anyone when it is time for the punishment to come down. In this case involving SMU, we get a chance to see the opposite effect. Matt Doherty, the head coach at SMU, sought the compliance offices advice before sending texts to the parents of several prospective student-athletes, which he was told was alright. Doherty later heard from other sources that the texts were not permissible, which the school then self-reported; it was determined to be a major violation due to over 100 impermissible texts being sent. There was still a punishment involved for the school and the program since a violation had occurred, but in the decision, the COI noted that the coach had received the wrong information about texting parents, but followed through and self-reported once he knew there was a violation.
Please let this case serve as a reminder that texting a prospective student-athlete, or his/her parents, before they have signed a National Letter of Intent is a violation. Further, whether you have contact with, call or email a prospective student-athlete's parents, the NCAA Manual considers that the same as having that interaction with the recruit, so you need to count that as a contact or a phone call in all of your logs.
Friday, March 11, 2011
UGA has signing day mishap
Ray Drew's announcement leads to NCAA violations
When HS linebacker Ray Drew made an announcement of the school he was planning to sign his NLI with, NCAA violations resulted from two former UGA players being present at the announcement. The former players were invited to Drew's signing event through some connections he had made with the former players in the Atlanta community. The former players did not consult with the UGA Compliance Office prior to attending the event, thinking that it would not result in a violation; however, they were photographed at the event, which lead to the Athletics Department finding out and reporting the violation. Even though neither former player had been considered a "Representative of athletics interests" at UGA, when they attended Drew's announcement they were considered to have assisted in his recruitment; the announcement taking place at Drew's high school (off-campus), lead to that encounter being an evaluation- and as you all should know only countable coaches who have passed the recruiting test can recruit off-campus.
It is an interesting case, please remember that coaching staff's cannot attend signing events for PSA's (the UGA coaches declined an invitation to Drew's event for that reason). Along those same lines, PSA's and their friends/family cannot attend the institutions announcement of its NLI signees (Bylaw 13.10.9.2).
When HS linebacker Ray Drew made an announcement of the school he was planning to sign his NLI with, NCAA violations resulted from two former UGA players being present at the announcement. The former players were invited to Drew's signing event through some connections he had made with the former players in the Atlanta community. The former players did not consult with the UGA Compliance Office prior to attending the event, thinking that it would not result in a violation; however, they were photographed at the event, which lead to the Athletics Department finding out and reporting the violation. Even though neither former player had been considered a "Representative of athletics interests" at UGA, when they attended Drew's announcement they were considered to have assisted in his recruitment; the announcement taking place at Drew's high school (off-campus), lead to that encounter being an evaluation- and as you all should know only countable coaches who have passed the recruiting test can recruit off-campus.
It is an interesting case, please remember that coaching staff's cannot attend signing events for PSA's (the UGA coaches declined an invitation to Drew's event for that reason). Along those same lines, PSA's and their friends/family cannot attend the institutions announcement of its NLI signees (Bylaw 13.10.9.2).
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Spring Break Dining Hours
NAU- Spring Break Dining Hours
The attached document contains the dining hall hours for over spring break. Please note that there will be no on campus food service on Saturday March 12th, Sunday March 13th or Saturday March 19th. Very limited options will be open Monday March 14th through Friday March 18th. If students wish to purchase an on campus meal during that time, they will need to pay with cash, credit or dining dollars; they will not receive their 19 meals per weed during Spring Break.
Many of the regular dining options will reopen on Sunday March 20th. Please check the attachment for a complete list of locations and hours.
The attached document contains the dining hall hours for over spring break. Please note that there will be no on campus food service on Saturday March 12th, Sunday March 13th or Saturday March 19th. Very limited options will be open Monday March 14th through Friday March 18th. If students wish to purchase an on campus meal during that time, they will need to pay with cash, credit or dining dollars; they will not receive their 19 meals per weed during Spring Break.
Many of the regular dining options will reopen on Sunday March 20th. Please check the attachment for a complete list of locations and hours.
Monday, March 7, 2011
BigSky Tournament Viewing Party
After the exciting victory over Montana State last Saturday night at the Rolle Activity Center the NAU men's basketball team will play Northern Colorado tomorrow night at 7:30 MST. The Athletics Department will be hosting a viewing party at Porky's Pub to watch the game. We invite you to come on out and support the Lumberjacks. Porky's is putting together a selection of specials for the game. The address at Porky's is as follows:
Porky's Pub
2285 East Butler Avenue
Flagstaff, Arizona
Porky's shares the building with the Country Host restaurant, they are on the west side of the road across from the gas stations and just north of the I-40 on ramps.
Porky's Pub
2285 East Butler Avenue
Flagstaff, Arizona
Porky's shares the building with the Country Host restaurant, they are on the west side of the road across from the gas stations and just north of the I-40 on ramps.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
NCAA Interpretation: Written Offers of Financial Aid
The following interpretation was just issued regarding written offers of financial aid being given to a prospect:
March 2, 2011
Staff Interpretation
March 2, 2011
Staff Interpretation
The academic and membership affairs staff confirmed that prior to August 1 of a prospective student-athlete's senior year in high school, it is not permissible for an institution to indirectly (e.g., through relatives, friends, high school, preparatory school, two-year college coach or any other individual responsible for teaching or directing an activity in which a prospective student-athlete is involved) provide a written offer of athletically related financial aid or indicate in writing to the prospective student-athlete that an athletically related grant-in aid will be offered by the institution.
[References: NCAA Divisions I Bylaws 13.4.1 (recruiting materials); 13.9 (letter-of-intent programs, financial aid agreements); and 13.9.2.2 (written offer of aid before signing date)]
Please remember that Bylaw 13.9.2.2 became effective on August 1, 2010. What the bylaw states is that you may not provide a PSA with a written offer (or guarantee) of financial aid prior to August 1st of that students Senior year in high school. This interpretation now clarifies that you are not allowed to provide a written offer of aid to anyone associated with the PSA in order to circumvent the rules prior to that August 1st date.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Board of Directors to Revisit APR
Board Looks to APR Penalties
This is an interesting article discussing how the Division I Board of Directors will be examining the current structure of the APR program and the associated penalties. APR has been around for almost a decade now and there have been several minor changes introduced along the way, including relief from losing points for students who transfer or turn professional; if they meet certain academic criteria. Given these changes have effected what scores mean, it appears the Board wants to examine if the penalties for low APR's are still in the right places. Currently a team can be subject to contemporaneous penalties for having a few low single year APR scores or be subject or more serious historical penalties if their multi-year APR drops below the magic number of 925. These appear to be some interesting suggestions and it will be interesting to see how membership responds to any proposals that may come out in the fall or next year.
This is an interesting article discussing how the Division I Board of Directors will be examining the current structure of the APR program and the associated penalties. APR has been around for almost a decade now and there have been several minor changes introduced along the way, including relief from losing points for students who transfer or turn professional; if they meet certain academic criteria. Given these changes have effected what scores mean, it appears the Board wants to examine if the penalties for low APR's are still in the right places. Currently a team can be subject to contemporaneous penalties for having a few low single year APR scores or be subject or more serious historical penalties if their multi-year APR drops below the magic number of 925. These appear to be some interesting suggestions and it will be interesting to see how membership responds to any proposals that may come out in the fall or next year.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Compliance Tip of the Week #11
As a bonus Tuesday tip of the week this week I would like to cover Bylaw 13.1.6.2, which governs contact at practice and competitions sites. It is the time of year when a lot of tournament play is going on and I would like to focus on 13.1.6.2 (d) today, which covers contact at a tiered tournament. The exact wording of the bylaw is as follows:
When considering this legislation, please also remember that 13.1.7.14 covers evaluations of tournament events. This bylaw will tell you that evaluations of multiple events in a tournament conducted on consecutive days will count as a single evaluation. And evaluations of a single tier of a tournament also count as a single evaluations, unless the single tier of the tournament takes place over several non-consecutive days.
Please be sure to take both of these bylaws into account as you plan your spring recruiting, especially if you are planning to attend the various state tournaments.
(d) Contact shall not be made with the prospective student-athlete involved in competition that requires participation on consecutive days (e.g., a tournament) until after his or her final contest is completed and he or she is released by the appropriate institutional authority and leaves the dressing and meeting facility. Contact shall not be made with a prospective student-athlete involved in a tournament that is not conducted on consecutive days until after his or her final contest is completed on a day before a break in the days of the tournament and he or she is released by the appropriate institutional authority and leaves the dressing and meeting facility; (Revised: 1/11/94, 9/18/07)What that states is if the tournament has games on consecutive days, you cannot talk to a PSA following their game if they play again the next day. If their team loses and they are out of the tournament, then you can talk with that team following the loss. There is also a second part to this bylaw, which states that if there is an off-day following a game, then you can speak with a PSA following their release from team activities for the night.
When considering this legislation, please also remember that 13.1.7.14 covers evaluations of tournament events. This bylaw will tell you that evaluations of multiple events in a tournament conducted on consecutive days will count as a single evaluation. And evaluations of a single tier of a tournament also count as a single evaluations, unless the single tier of the tournament takes place over several non-consecutive days.
Please be sure to take both of these bylaws into account as you plan your spring recruiting, especially if you are planning to attend the various state tournaments.
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