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Post by UKCOMPLIANCE on Feb 19, 2004 15:30:52 GMT -5
Greetings to All! My name is Sandy Bell and I am the Associate Athletics Director for Compliance at the University of Kentucky. The post entitled "You Won't Believe This..." was brought to my attention today so I have now registered with your board so I can answer some of the excellent questions which have been brought out on this thread. The posters who have responded later in the thread are absolutely correct that it is NOT permissible for a UK supporter to speak to a recruit, his family or his high school coach when they attend a high school game. One of the posters was very resourceful in pulling this information off our compliance section of the UK Athletics website which provides rules education on these topics. It will be greatly appreciated by the University of Kentucky Athletics Department if those of you who are now aware that it is a violation of NCAA rules to talk to a recruit as the original poster of the thread did, would please spread that word tonight so we will not put our new recruit at risk. If anyone has any questions, just post them on the board. You do not have to be a season ticket holder or a contributor to be considered a booster. The definition of a booster includes anyone who has ever promoted UK athletics in any way. Which would include just about everyone who has ever said "Go Big Blue!" Also, any supporter of our program who makes any contact with a recruit during the recruiting process automatically becomes a booster. We greatly appreciate all of you who support this wonderful athletics program and need your help in protecting the young people who represent us. Thanks! Sandy Bell
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Post by Administrator on Feb 19, 2004 15:58:54 GMT -5
Consider the 'word' spread Sandy. Thanks for taking the time to stop by and address this issue. No one here wants to jeopardize the University of Kentucky in any way so we'll make this a 'sticky' topic for ALL members and guests to see.
Thanks again.
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BBlueFan
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Post by BBlueFan on Feb 19, 2004 16:16:24 GMT -5
Sandy i have a question, I am going to watch the Oak Hill game fridany and probally saturday mainly just to see Rondo. I would never in any way want to hurt UK or its players so is it best for me to just stay away from Rondo or is it alright for me to congrat him on the game and his verbal to UK. So i guess my Question is what are my does and don't for the games i am going to attend?
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Post by Administrator on Feb 19, 2004 16:32:28 GMT -5
Something to think about. We're ALL boosters.
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BBlueFan
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Post by BBlueFan on Feb 19, 2004 16:32:32 GMT -5
Yeah i just responded.
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Post by 4TheLuvOfBilly44 on Feb 19, 2004 16:34:06 GMT -5
>:(I know I'm young and that the rules will not change, but I need to get this off of my head. It is SO, SO stupid that UK fans cannot talk to a player after a high school game! I mean, if you can get in trouble for that, then all 9,000 or so people who attended the Big Blue Madness this years. Because we were chearing, "We want Randolph." etc. Like I said, I know that rules are rules and I will abide by them, but I just needed to let off some steam with this issue. Please don't take my post the wrong way. I am venting. If I were someone that didn't have time or money to go and see UK play next year, and got to see Rondo in high school. It just isn't fair that I am BARRED from a conversation with him. I mean, he's verbaled to come here, so why can't we talk to him. I know that probably countless thousands of people, including friends and family, have told him to go here, or go there. Is that not booster contact? Knowing how dumb the NCAA is, they will probably launch an investigation on his family and see if they influenced him to come to UK! >:(I am sorry for this post, but the NCAA sucks! Their rules are absolutely OUTRAGEOUS! It hinders the game, players, coaches, and fans a.k.a. boosters! ;)4TheLuvOfTubby44 has spoken! LoL! I'm done now. Phew, I feel better now. *wipes sweet off of forehead* ;D
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BBlueFan
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Post by BBlueFan on Feb 19, 2004 16:37:09 GMT -5
Something to think about. We're ALL boosters. Just a thought that came to me. Could anyone such as a UofL fan claim he is a booster for UK and mess up our chances with lets say Rondo and get Rondo and UK in NCAA trouble maybe even probation. There Hurting our program to better his true team (UofL). This goes for all schools.
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Post by Ncheeks4 on Feb 19, 2004 16:38:18 GMT -5
interesting
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BBlueFan
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Post by BBlueFan on Feb 19, 2004 16:41:32 GMT -5
Great post and great points 4TheLuvOfTubby44. I would like to see Sandy's response to the Midnight madness chants, and all the other questions i have asked because i am totally lost on this subject. This is more confussing then the 5/8 rule.
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Post by 4TheLuvOfBilly44 on Feb 19, 2004 16:44:55 GMT -5
This is more confussing then the 5/8 rule. Don't get me started on that friggin' 5/8 rule! *puts hand over mouth* Oh! *wants to say something really bad* AHHHHHHHHH *feels like going off, but in a Christian way* LoL The good ole NCAA. Gotta' love'em. NOT! Yeah, you see that, I'm stickin' my stinkin' tongue out atcha'!
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Post by Administrator on Feb 19, 2004 16:50:00 GMT -5
Feel free to post any questions you have concerning this subject and let's also remember that Sandy and her staff are the ones responsible for making certain UK maintains compliance with the NCAA.
Whether we agree with NCAA rules or not, they will be enforced and that's something we dare not take lightly.
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Post by BlueCat on Feb 19, 2004 17:20:16 GMT -5
I totally agree with these comments. As a UK fan I don't want to jeopardize the scholarship of anyone that want's to play for UK. There is more at stake here than just a basketball career. We have to think of the kids, and the tremendous pressure that they are already under. I think it's quite evident the support that UK fans give to their players. Just attend one game at Rupp Arena.
Thanks again Sandy
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Post by Tummygoat on Feb 19, 2004 17:23:27 GMT -5
The NCAA may suck, but rules are rules and Kentucky is a first rate program. Fans should never risk the rules and excuse themselves with the NCAA being so strict. I think this is an important issue that needs to be brought up across the land.
Eventually this rule will be dropped due to the internet and message boards. This is a new era in sports and NCAA should focus on rules that actually matter like giving money to a player, not talking to them.
Regardless of the rule, its a rule and message boards should keep fans in the know about basketball, but should also keep fans in the know of the rules. We are a community just like a real interpersonal one and we should make sure our brothers and sisters don't mess our program up.
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Post by UKCOMPLIANCE on Feb 19, 2004 17:25:44 GMT -5
Sorry if it has taken a while to get your question answered. I have been working on a waiver trying to get a young man eligible in another sport. The answers to your questions are: it is not permissible to go up to a recruit after a game and congratulate him on the game or on a commitment. The rule states no contact at all. Also, a verbal commitment does not change anything as far as the NCAA is concerned. All the rules apply exactly the same as they did prior to the commitment because recruitment does not cease with a commitment. Actually, boosters are prohibited from contacting a prospect until they cease to be a prospect which is when they show up on our campus to start classes for the fall term. So, it is also not permissible to have any contact with those who signed in the fall. It is not possible to ask a recruit for an autograph because, once again, that qualifies as a contact. It is just really important to leave the recruiting to the coaches. Once they become an enrolled student-athlete, you can talk to them, ask for autographs, etc. Having a personal conversation with a young man is very different from a crowd chanting during an athletics event. The NCAA defines contact as "face-to-face", therefore, I don't think the Midnight Madness chant would qualify. We are not permitted to instigate or encourage those chants or signs, but they are not considered to be an NCAA violation. I know many of you do not agree with these rules but most of them are in place to attempt to level the playing field in recruiting. UK has many more supporters and boosters across the country than a lot of other schools so it would be a great advantage in the recruiting process if ALL of those people could participate in recruiting someone to that school. (It would also probably drive the young person crazy !) The NCAA is a membership organization and UK is one of those members. The rules are an effort to make the recruiting process as fair as possible for all members not just us. There are exceptions for the recruit's legitimate family members. The rules are not meant to interfere with those relationships they are only meant to control interaction that would exist only because the young person is an athlete. Hope this covers most of what you asked. Again we greatly appreciate the willingness of everyone on this board to honor these restrictions whether you agree with them or not. Believe me, a lot of our coaches also do not agree with a lot of the rules they have to follow but they know they have to do that to protect the young men and women we recruit. Thanks to all of you! Sandy Bell
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Post by BIGBLUEguru on Feb 19, 2004 17:38:19 GMT -5
HMMMMMM, where to start. I appreciate the thread and all the info but let me just go ahead and get things off my chest to. I am and always have been a HUGE UK fan. I keep up with recruiting as close as possible and would do nothing to jeapordize any part of UK's "NCAA" restrictions. The last time I looked at myself I seen a... 30 year old man that works a 50 hour a week job, been married for 10 years, have three beautiful boys, am living in the finest country in the world, and proud to be called an American. I enjoy many things in this life and UK sports are one of them. I said all that to say this... I PAID to go watch a awesome highschool basketball game dominated with many talented players from all over the world in which one is going to UK. I don't care what the rules say, I have done nothing to add to or take away from what UK is trying to do. I had the chance to meet a nice kid not much younger than myself and talk about something we both have a passion for. My little boy had an opportunity to meet this kid and get an autograph that made his day. So listen close... If being a fan means I have done something wrong then I am guilty. If I had to do it all over again then I would without a doubt do it the same way. If that tends to make anyone on this board mad then I will not post anymore. I don't know any of you and you don't know me so if by chance we LOSE a player over this then blame it on me. I just have never heard of anyone not getting a scholarship because of a fan acting like a fan. Call me what you will but all of this is silly..!!!! I am not a whiner and I am not a baby but this is really gets in my crawl. I am sure that the NCAA can find better things to worry about than any individual being a sensible acting fan. Thank you all for your time and I have truly enjoyed being a part of this board and all the info I have been able to learn of...
GO CATS
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