Potential UM recruits/NCAA compliance
I received this letter today:
Dear Booster Club Member:
You are our most loyal fans, spectators, and supporters. As you are aware, the NCAA mandates that the control and conduct of the Michigan athletics program is the responsibility of the University of Michigan. This responsibility extends to members of Michigan booster organizations and alumni clubs. Please be aware that NCAA rules prohibit you from making in-person recruiting contacts (on- or off-campus), or written and telephone communications with a recruit, the recruit’s relatives or legal guardians. If you know of a talented recruit, please inform the appropriate head coach. Any violations of this rule may impact Michigan’s ability to recruit this prospect.
Likewise, the NCAA places restrictions on extra benefits and special arrangements that student-athletes or their family members may receive. NCAA rules prohibit you from providing transportation, entertainment, meals or anything else of material value to enrolled student-athletes or their family members unless the same benefit is available to all Michigan students or the general public. Any extra benefit given to a student-athlete, no matter how big or small is a violation of NCAA rules and may adversely impact their eligibility for competition and result in the University’s athletics programs being penalized by the NCAA.
University of Michigan’s athletics programs value your continued support. If you have questions, please do not hesitate in contacting the Compliance Services Office at 734-615-7341.
GO BLUE!!!
Judy Van Horn, Associate Athletic Director/SWA
The Top 10 Things Fans & Friends of Michigan Athletics Should Know:
1. The NCAA holds the University of Michigan accountable for the actions of its fans and friends.
2. You may not be involved in recruiting prospective student-athletes on behalf of Michigan. A prospective student-athlete is a student who has started classes for the ninth grade or above.
3. You may send newspaper clippings and other information about talented prospects to the Michigan coaching staff.
4. You may not become involved in arranging for a prospect, a Michigan student-athlete or their family to receive money or financial assistance of any kind.
5. You may not provide transportation to a prospect, student-athlete or their friends and family.
6. You may not spend funds to entertain prospects, student-athletes or their friends and family.
7. You may not use a photo or name of a student-athlete for commercial purposes or sell student-athlete memorabilia.
8. You may continue established relationships with friends and neighbors whose children are prospects or current student-athletes, provided the relationship pre-dates high school and is not based on their status an athlete.
9. Breaking NCAA rules can render prospects and student-athletes ineligible for competition at the University of Michigan.
10. Always ask before you act!
Thank You for your Support!
The University of Michigan Compliance Services Office (CSO)
1000 S. State St.
Ann Arbor, MI 48109
734-615-7341
[email protected]
Copyright © 2010 The Regents of the University of Michigan. The logos, graphics and photographs on this site are registered trademarks and may not be reproduced without written permission.
Absolutely no in- person contact whatsoever? Interesting. I guess I need to cancel my reservations at Webers for Saturday night.............
if you read closely
in-person recruiting contactsthis means that you can't go to his house, or his doorstep (I'm looking at you Girl Scout Troop 2321) and explain to him in 8000 words why he should Go Blue. here's an interesting tidbit
or written and telephone communications with a recruit,take note MGoBloggers. you may Farmville but you are NOT, i repeat NOT, allowed to Send a Message outside of Farmville semantics. unless if your Farmville Farm is #2. then fuck it. tell 'em you're #2 because you went to UM and #1 is probably from FarmU in Lansing and WHAT A LOSER HE MUST BE TO BE #1 IN FARMVILLE I MEANAMIRIGHT?
Excuse my ignorance, but what did Tom VH do to be able to talk to all these recruits?
he doesn't recruit. he asks questions. he doesn't explain to the youths the +s and -s of teams. he simply finds out info about the kids. same as Scout/Rivals/E Lansing Parole Board
Even if he was recruiting, isn't the important part regarding being a booster to the program? If Tom's not a booster, then he can talk up the school as much as he wants, right?
there was a thread on here recently that showed there's about 10 different ways that someone can technically be a booster. it's possible, even, that with the season ticket packages the way they are (requiring donation), this could lead to those individuals being considered boosters.
in the NCAA rulebook. If people wanted to make a stink, they could probably tie some of TomVH's posts on threads where he expresses his Michigan fandom and use that as a booster qualifier. You don't have to be financially involved to be a booster. Where a guy like TomVH gets a pass is that he's also arguably recognized as a reporter.
Bottom line-- stop stalking HS'ers.
Even those that don't seem like they have.
Tom's media cred is that he's following up on a recruit, when interest is shown, and not promoting Michigan over the others (at least I'm strongly guessing and hoping).
If the tail were to wag the dog, and he started calling guys who had NO interest in Michigan saying, hey, our helmet, it has Wings!...well, then, that would be crossing the line. And a gigantic waste of Tom's time.
E Lansing Parole Board. fucking hilarious. I just know I'll be giggling about that tomorrow. thanks for the laugh.
of the Booster Clubs and Alumni organizations. This is new to me and the first time I have been made aware of this via email or otherwise.
but my guess is bc you aren't extremely active with the Athletic Department and its functions, clubs, etc. it's been a constant reminder to boosters in the ann arbor area not only with recruits but with current players, etc. my uncle used to be largely involved with Dekers and it was a constant reminder. only allowed to have players over for dinner once a week, stuff like that.
I received it as well.
These memos are going to become more and more common as alumni/fans decide to Facebook stalk recruits and use other social media to proclaim University XYZ's undying love for them. It's a potential violation if anyone gets excited, but hopefully it will also forestall some fans from harrassing 18 year old kids.
no contact with a known student athlete who you are talking about Michigan with. I deal with this every year when I do high school recruiting at college fairs as an alumni. The key is a _known_ prospective student athlete. You start talking to some random high school student at a restaurant about college and you find out he's a 4-star LB, you just politely excuse yourself or change the subject.
OSU: "I'M OUT!"
I got it too...interesting
I just got this email, too. I think the reason why I don't get incredibly wrapped up in recruiting and such is that there are still people out there that need to be reminded about stuff like this.
I know recruiting is a big part of a lot of people's fan-dom, so to speak, and that's fine, but for me, I'm willing to let the chips fall where they may. Let the coaches do their jobs. I'll get excited about players when their names hit the roster. At the end of the day, these are 15, 16, 17 year old kids. They don't need me sitting around fretting about where they're going to sign on the dotted line. Or friending them on Facebook and writing on their wall about how great Michigan is.
...Sticky nominee.
I received it as well and the only thing I've ever done regarding UM is bought normal single game tickets. Does that make me a booster? Nice
I sent an email to compliance regarding association with student-athletes that you knew as a student when you're a recent alumni. They can't legally force you to drop your associations with your friends, so it'll be interesting to see what they say. I know that I have several friends that will still be actively playing once I am gone and am an alumni donor.
In your case, as long as you're treating him like your friend, and not buying him shit because he's your friend who plays a sport. Which again, they can't stop you from doing, correct, but you could still get the school in trouble.
It's not designed that you have to ostrasize a kid you knew when he was five because he became a killer RB as a teen. Or ignore family members because you went to Michigan. Because then you're treating them the same as if you knew them already. If you're meeting people and doing stuff for them because they're athletes...that's where the real no-no's start.
So if you take all your friends out for pizza and he's one of them, no problem. If you're buying him trips to the Chophouse, and telling the rest of your friends buy your own damn food, problem.
What if you're a booster and a teacher of a student who is a potential Michigan recruit? I never got an answer on that one last year.
Technically teachers are supposed to be academically neutral, aren't they? At least I think they are according to the MHSAA, not sure about whatever state you live/teach in. It doesn't happen, but still.
Well, we've seen cases where coaches, who are teachers quite often (though not always), steer kids one way or another. You can't remove yourself from dealing with the kid, and shouldn't have to. But if he's interested in Michigan and you're doing things you wouldn't do for your other students, I'd say that's worrisome, and the radar will go up.
This includes giving all Michigan commits A's and all State (O&M) commits E's...though on face value it seems natural, the NCAA would probably frown on it.
...it's a bad idea to tutor Michigan recruits whose grades need boosting...if you are a Michigan fan...and not a tutor for EVERYBODY at the school.
and the pole dancing competion at the Landing Strip for saturday eve.
Did you get all that, Ed?
"...unless the same benefit is available to all Michigan students or the general public."
ah, and I was afraid alcohol/doing anything past 10PM was out of the picture.
On a serious note, I bet there are loopholes with what's "available to all Michigan students" and what's not, but whatever. Gotta have some basic restriction.
These have been pretty common place the last 2-3 years.
Yeah, I've donated to the Victors Club the past two years, and received this letter soon after. It's nothing new.
April 14th, 2010 at 10:26 PM ^
This is the first one that I have received. I'm guessing that since graduation is getting near, they added all the new alumni to the lists and fired this off. I knew that people none affiliated with the AD can screw compliance up, but I did not know to what extent people could commnicate with recruits.
Has there ever been an instance where a school reported violations due to Facebook intereactions?
April 15th, 2010 at 12:02 AM ^
I guess I am now a booster of the University of Michigan.
TAKE THAT STUPID MIDDLE SCHOOL GUIDANCE COUNSELOR
I know a kid who got called by the NCAA because he was talking to Dior Mathis on facebook about why he should come to M. Kid is a Michigan student with football season tickets, and the NCAA told him to stop or there could be some issues. This whole "booster" thing is so iffy nowadays.
The NCAA wouldn't do that. It's Michigan's job to police that. The NCAA would only come calling once Michigan failed to police it, to enforce penalties.
He said a "NCAA compliance official" called him. I guess it could've been someone working for Michigan, but he made it sound like it was from the NCAA.
That's possible.