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News Nuggets, 08.05.04
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Compiled from staff reports and electronic dispatches

Action to reign in recruiting excesses imminent

INDIANAPOLIS — Colleges will have to file recruiting policies with their conferences, and could be sanctioned for violating them if the NCAA's Executive Committee approves an emergency proposal Thursday.

The legislation would take effect immediately and require schools to file recruiting policies before potential players make on-campus visits this year.

A final policy would have to be filed by Dec. 1. Violators would face school-imposed sanctions and could face NCAA penalties if the governing body determines the infraction is "fundamentally contrary" to the stated policy.

"This is intended to provide clarity," said David Berst, an NCAA vice president and chairman of the task force. "It may not change the culture. In order for a general shift, there will have to be more movement by the schools and coaches."

Berst's 18-member panel was formed by NCAA President Myles Brand in February, after recruiting scandals emerged at the University of Colorado and the University of Miami.

Three women filed federal civil lawsuits earlier this year that said Colorado failed to protect the women under federal Title IX law, which guarantees equal access to an education.

At Miami, incoming freshman Willie Williams pleaded no contest earlier this summer in two separate episodes that occurred during his official visit to the University of Florida. He faced a felony charge for setting off fire extinguishers at his hotel and a misdemeanor battery charge for hugging a woman without consent.

Miami officials said they learned of Williams' arrest record only after they offered him a scholarship. Williams was admitted to Miami in July.

The task force's proposal is intended to alter what some believe has become commonplace.

"We discussed the Colorado situation at length in one of my classes — we actually did a study," said Richard Lapchick, chairman of Central Florida's sports business management program. "The students from Ivy League schools said it was hardly limited to big-school football programs, that these same things — sexual favors and strippers — were taking place on Ivy League campuses."

If the package is approved, the use of private and charter jets for recruits would be eliminated. Recruits could only be transported from airports in school or standard-equipped vehicles. Berst said he expected some opposition from schools located in rural areas.

In addition, schools would have to use "standard" facilities to house and feed recruits.

"Anything between dorm food and local restaurants would be OK," Berst said. "It's intended to make clear that you can't have a lobster-fest type thing and see how many you can eat."

But the most significant impact would be the recruiting policy.

The proposal calls for some specific issues to be addressed by each school:

— A recruiting philosophy.

— An explanation of how head coaches will discuss the policy with prospects.

— A prohibition of underage drinking, sex, drug use, gambling or gaming activities and the use of strippers during campus visits.

— Statements also must be included about curfews, if any, on- and off-campus entertainment and the role student hosts will play during the visit.

"I think schools probably will put forth a sound policy on paper," Lapchick said. "The real question is, 'Will they follow the policy rather than giving it a wink and a handshake behind closed doors?"'

The task force also is making two other recommendations — reducing the number of official visits, from five to four, and that schools pay for one parent to travel with student-athletes on their recruiting trips.

Those proposals will not be voted on until next year.

"I think reducing visits is good because it eliminates the opportunity to cheat by 20 percent," Lapchick said. "I think having a parent around would help a great deal with what happens late at night — unless you have a dishonest parent."

WAC TV deal built on Friday, weeknight games

RENO, NV — The Western Athletic Conference and ESPN have a new six-year contract, which will put WAC football teams on the network a minimum of six times this year and eight times per season after that.

"That's nearly double the previous arrangement," WAC commissioner Karl Benson said last week at the league's media day.

He declined to give terms of the deal, saying only that the money is a "significant percentage increase."

"We think we've been a valuable property to ESPN. Our ratings have indicated we can compete from a ratings standpoint with other conferences," Benson said.

He predicted the WAC would get more TV games than the eight-game minimum later in the contract, which runs through the 2009-10 season.

"As we continue to establish ourselves as good TV teams, we think that will go into double digits," he said.

None of the games in the WAC's new contract is guaranteed to be played on Saturday. Many will be on Friday night and up to two per year will be played on either Tuesday or Wednesday, Benson said.

News Nuggets are compiled periodically from staff, ECU, Conference USA and its member schools, and from Associated Press and other reports. Copyright 2004 Bonesville.net and other publishers. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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