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Recruiting

vtcwbuff

vtcwbuff

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Is it time to revisit the rules about posting comments regarding recruiting?
 
For those that weren't around at the time, there were things posted here on the Boneyard that were included as recruiting violations in the Tennessee complaint against UConn. Some of the same sort of things are being posted again and being commented on over in Orangeland.
My advice - if you are going to comment about a recruit or about recruiting - be mindful of the rules.
 
vtcwbuff said:
For those that weren't around at the time, there were things posted here on the Boneyard that were included as recruiting violations in the Tennessee complaint against UConn. Some of the same sort of things are being posted again and being commented on over in Orangeland.
My advice - if you are going to comment about a recruit or about recruiting - be mindful of the rules.
Expand ...

What sort of things are being posted here? I'm confused.
 
vtcwbuff said:
For those that weren't around at the time, there were things posted here on the Boneyard that were included as recruiting violations in the Tennessee complaint against UConn. Some of the same sort of things are being posted again and being commented on over in Orangeland.
My advice - if you are going to comment about a recruit or about recruiting - be mindful of the rules.
Expand ...
Use the Reportbutton to flag items of concern
 
Former players meeting recruits during on-camous visits is permitted as long as it wasn't overtly planned.
And 2 former players being on campus for First Night is perfectly normal. Ms Parker always seemed to be in Knoxville on official visit weekends. She came for the football. :rolleyes:
 
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Was it those posts written in the oversized, plum-coloured text?
 
Last edited:
Tennessee can whine and complain all they want (or their fans can). Pretty much all they have to hang their hats on these days I guess.

Stewie and KML were on campus the same weekend as DeBerry. . And the "F" does not stand for "Freaking". There were pictures posted of KML, Stewie, and Amari. Probably posted by Amari herself...

Maybe if Tennessee had more all time greats percolating around, they'd all show up on campus more often.

As long as no one took Amari to Wendy's and paid for her fries, or arranged an ESPN tour for her, I'm fine with it all.

Welcome to Mt. Everest, Amari. The lowlands are still bitter...
 
When a BY member brags in a recruit commitment thread about a former UConn player being a "closer" that might be interpreted (rightly or wrongly) by some as an recruiting violation.
 
Crazy rules. just does not seem logical that NCAA would consider message board comments as viable in regards to recruiting violation but lots of NCAA actions do not make sense to me!
 
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vtcwbuff said:
When a BY member brags in a recruit commitment thread about a former UConn player being a "closer" that might be interpreted (rightly or wrongly) by some as an recruiting violation.
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1573489181398.png
 
Jmsdawg said:
Crazy rules. just does not seem logical that NCAA would consider message board comments as viable in regards to recruiting violation but lots of NCAA actions do not make sense to me!
Expand ...
Point of clarification - Pat Summitt, Tennessee, and the SEC used numerous boneyard posts as part of their 39 page complaint to the NCAA when they accused UCONN and Geno of recruiting violations (I'm not making that up). It was determined that when one of our disabled Veteran fans gave a recruit a home made sign, it was a potential problem, so we were instructed not to do that again. Reality crazier than fiction, right? @Tonyc has a more specific memory of what was involved. He tells the story better than I do!
 
Just to clarify - NCAA does not do much if any research into recruiting violations until complaints are filed - they don't have to because all the member schools are doing it for them as well as the schools fans. Specifically, the NCAA did not investigate Uconn back in the day until TN and the SEC filed a zillion page complaint that included screen captures of boneyard postings and wildly inaccurate speculations originating from their own fans. And Uconn wasn't sited for a secondary violation for Geno calling a non-recruit aged little league baseball pitcher until a rival coach called to complain.

As to what rules exist - the book is very long and complex, but ... some guidelines:
1. School contact and comment with/on a recruit is strictly regulated and limited by time, frequency, and personnel - violation of any of that is generally considered a major violation.

2. Contact initiated with a recruit by a 'booster' is forbidden and the definition of a 'booster' is extremely broad including just about everyone who reads this blog, has ever been on campus, and probably anyone who has had a cup of coffee within 30 miles of campus. If you even wonder if you might qualify as a booster, then the answer is yes. The TN complaint included the opening night use of recruit specific signs for which Gampel was fairly famous - the NCAA determined that these were minor improprieties and Gampel staff started confiscating any scrap of cardboard that fans tried to bring into the venue - not sure if Jonathan has completed his training as a cardboard sniffing dog, but rumor has it he has!

3. Contact with current and former players (who are also identified as boosters) is also regulated and their presence on campus during official and unofficial recruiting visits is open to question - the fact that so many Uconn alum do return for work outs and recovery/training after injury makes overlaps inevitable, but while they may come in contact with recruits, they cannot be in anyway be involved in the recruiting process.

4. Uconn cannot comment on or publicize any player they are recruiting and they must be seen to be diligent in protecting recruits that visit campus from being contacted by unauthorized people/boosters (see #2) or allow/provide access to the recruit by news media.

5. Social media remains a grey area that the NCAA has struggled to regulate, but ... any contact by 'boosters' with recruits and/or their family/friends/coaches/handlers is very problematic as well as being pretty creepy. JUST DON'T GO THERE! (Same holds true for the players on the team already - let them enjoy college without your 'help'.)

I understand the desire of sports fans to 'belong' and to help their team - and the simple answer is the only 'help' we can provide to Uconn women's basketball is to make the game time experience great by attending games and cheering. Being 'involved' with recruits or posting wild speculations is not helpful in any way.
The other thing we can do is make this forum the best source for WCBB information on the internet. Keep it positive and civil and informative, and welcoming. This forum is a great window into the Uconn community and I am sure it is visited by recruits, and players, and their families, and the civility and/or incivility will be duly noted. We all like to complain, but please do remember that complaints about players/recruits are being made about teenagers and would you really like to read what you have written if it was about you daughter/sister/etc. We are mostly anonymous here and everywhere on the internet, but we are not anonymous to ourselves.
 
UcMiami said:
Just to clarify - NCAA does not do much if any research into recruiting violations until complaints are filed - they don't have to because all the member schools are doing it for them as well as the schools fans. Specifically, the NCAA did not investigate Uconn back in the day until TN and the SEC filed a zillion page complaint that included screen captures of boneyard postings and wildly inaccurate speculations originating from their own fans. And Uconn wasn't sited for a secondary violation for Geno calling a non-recruit aged little league baseball pitcher until a rival coach called to complain.

As to what rules exist - the book is very long and complex, but ... some guidelines:
1. School contact and comment with/on a recruit is strictly regulated and limited by time, frequency, and personnel - violation of any of that is generally considered a major violation.

2. Contact initiated with a recruit by a 'booster' is forbidden and the definition of a 'booster' is extremely broad including just about everyone who reads this blog, has ever been on campus, and probably anyone who has had a cup of coffee within 30 miles of campus. If you even wonder if you might qualify as a booster, then the answer is yes. The TN complaint included the opening night use of recruit specific signs for which Gampel was fairly famous - the NCAA determined that these were minor improprieties and Gampel staff started confiscating any scrap of cardboard that fans tried to bring into the venue - not sure if Jonathan has completed his training as a cardboard sniffing dog, but rumor has it he has!

3. Contact with current and former players (who are also identified as boosters) is also regulated and their presence on campus during official and unofficial recruiting visits is open to question - the fact that so many Uconn alum do return for work outs and recovery/training after injury makes overlaps inevitable, but while they may come in contact with recruits, they cannot be in anyway be involved in the recruiting process.

4. Uconn cannot comment on or publicize any player they are recruiting and they must be seen to be diligent in protecting recruits that visit campus from being contacted by unauthorized people/boosters (see #2) or allow/provide access to the recruit by news media.

5. Social media remains a grey area that the NCAA has struggled to regulate, but ... any contact by 'boosters' with recruits and/or their family/friends/coaches/handlers is very problematic as well as being pretty creepy. JUST DON'T GO THERE! (Same holds true for the players on the team already - let them enjoy college without your 'help'.)

I understand the desire of sports fans to 'belong' and to help their team - and the simple answer is the only 'help' we can provide to Uconn women's basketball is to make the game time experience great by attending games and cheering. Being 'involved' with recruits or posting wild speculations is not helpful in any way.
The other thing we can do is make this forum the best source for WCBB information on the internet. Keep it positive and civil and informative, and welcoming. This forum is a great window into the Uconn community and I am sure it is visited by recruits, and players, and their families, and the civility and/or incivility will be duly noted. We all like to complain, but please do remember that complaints about players/recruits are being made about teenagers and would you really like to read what you have written if it was about you daughter/sister/etc. We are mostly anonymous here and everywhere on the internet, but we are not anonymous to ourselves.
Expand ...
Well summarized. Thank you sir.
 
All these rules give the NCAA something to do rather than investigating the millions and millions of dollars passing between schools/boosters and players/families/HS/AAU coaches in football and men's basketball to say nothing of corruption in officiating. I can't think of even one official getting caught fixing an NCAA final score but I am not naive enough to believe it doesn't happen. It was the same in the NBA until they caught one guy. A week after the story broke it was never again mentioned by the media. They know who butters their bread.
 
.-.
UcMiami said:
Just to clarify - NCAA does not do much if any research into recruiting violations until complaints are filed - they don't have to because all the member schools are doing it for them as well as the schools fans. Specifically, the NCAA did not investigate Uconn back in the day until TN and the SEC filed a zillion page complaint that included screen captures of boneyard postings and wildly inaccurate speculations originating from their own fans. And Uconn wasn't sited for a secondary violation for Geno calling a non-recruit aged little league baseball pitcher until a rival coach called to complain.

As to what rules exist - the book is very long and complex, but ... some guidelines:
1. School contact and comment with/on a recruit is strictly regulated and limited by time, frequency, and personnel - violation of any of that is generally considered a major violation.

2. Contact initiated with a recruit by a 'booster' is forbidden and the definition of a 'booster' is extremely broad including just about everyone who reads this blog, has ever been on campus, and probably anyone who has had a cup of coffee within 30 miles of campus. If you even wonder if you might qualify as a booster, then the answer is yes. The TN complaint included the opening night use of recruit specific signs for which Gampel was fairly famous - the NCAA determined that these were minor improprieties and Gampel staff started confiscating any scrap of cardboard that fans tried to bring into the venue - not sure if Jonathan has completed his training as a cardboard sniffing dog, but rumor has it he has!

3. Contact with current and former players (who are also identified as boosters) is also regulated and their presence on campus during official and unofficial recruiting visits is open to question - the fact that so many Uconn alum do return for work outs and recovery/training after injury makes overlaps inevitable, but while they may come in contact with recruits, they cannot be in anyway be involved in the recruiting process.

4. Uconn cannot comment on or publicize any player they are recruiting and they must be seen to be diligent in protecting recruits that visit campus from being contacted by unauthorized people/boosters (see #2) or allow/provide access to the recruit by news media.

5. Social media remains a grey area that the NCAA has struggled to regulate, but ... any contact by 'boosters' with recruits and/or their family/friends/coaches/handlers is very problematic as well as being pretty creepy. JUST DON'T GO THERE! (Same holds true for the players on the team already - let them enjoy college without your 'help'.)

I understand the desire of sports fans to 'belong' and to help their team - and the simple answer is the only 'help' we can provide to Uconn women's basketball is to make the game time experience great by attending games and cheering. Being 'involved' with recruits or posting wild speculations is not helpful in any way.
The other thing we can do is make this forum the best source for WCBB information on the internet. Keep it positive and civil and informative, and welcoming. This forum is a great window into the Uconn community and I am sure it is visited by recruits, and players, and their families, and the civility and/or incivility will be duly noted. We all like to complain, but please do remember that complaints about players/recruits are being made about teenagers and would you really like to read what you have written if it was about you daughter/sister/etc. We are mostly anonymous here and everywhere on the internet, but we are not anonymous to ourselves.
Expand ...
Excellent summary and just one clarification regarding the bolded part: "Contact with current and former players (who are also identified as boosters) is also regulated and their presence on campus during official and unofficial recruiting visits is open to question".
Contact, on campus or off, with former players is definitely permissible. Subject to these very simple rules: 1) The former players CANNOT initiate the contact 2) Recruiting CANNOT be discussed during the contact. The NCAA defines contact as anything more than saying hello to a prospect.



 
UcMiami said:
Just to clarify - NCAA does not do much if any research into recruiting violations until complaints are filed - they don't have to because all the member schools are doing it for them as well as the schools fans. Specifically, the NCAA did not investigate Uconn back in the day until TN and the SEC filed a zillion page complaint that included screen captures of boneyard postings and wildly inaccurate speculations originating from their own fans. And Uconn wasn't sited for a secondary violation for Geno calling a non-recruit aged little league baseball pitcher until a rival coach called to complain.

As to what rules exist - the book is very long and complex, but ... some guidelines:
1. School contact and comment with/on a recruit is strictly regulated and limited by time, frequency, and personnel - violation of any of that is generally considered a major violation.

2. Contact initiated with a recruit by a 'booster' is forbidden and the definition of a 'booster' is extremely broad including just about everyone who reads this blog, has ever been on campus, and probably anyone who has had a cup of coffee within 30 miles of campus. If you even wonder if you might qualify as a booster, then the answer is yes. The TN complaint included the opening night use of recruit specific signs for which Gampel was fairly famous - the NCAA determined that these were minor improprieties and Gampel staff started confiscating any scrap of cardboard that fans tried to bring into the venue - not sure if Jonathan has completed his training as a cardboard sniffing dog, but rumor has it he has!

3. Contact with current and former players (who are also identified as boosters) is also regulated and their presence on campus during official and unofficial recruiting visits is open to question - the fact that so many Uconn alum do return for work outs and recovery/training after injury makes overlaps inevitable, but while they may come in contact with recruits, they cannot be in anyway be involved in the recruiting process.

4. Uconn cannot comment on or publicize any player they are recruiting and they must be seen to be diligent in protecting recruits that visit campus from being contacted by unauthorized people/boosters (see #2) or allow/provide access to the recruit by news media.

5. Social media remains a grey area that the NCAA has struggled to regulate, but ... any contact by 'boosters' with recruits and/or their family/friends/coaches/handlers is very problematic as well as being pretty creepy. JUST DON'T GO THERE! (Same holds true for the players on the team already - let them enjoy college without your 'help'.)

I understand the desire of sports fans to 'belong' and to help their team - and the simple answer is the only 'help' we can provide to Uconn women's basketball is to make the game time experience great by attending games and cheering. Being 'involved' with recruits or posting wild speculations is not helpful in any way.
The other thing we can do is make this forum the best source for WCBB information on the internet. Keep it positive and civil and informative, and welcoming. This forum is a great window into the Uconn community and I am sure it is visited by recruits, and players, and their families, and the civility and/or incivility will be duly noted. We all like to complain, but please do remember that complaints about players/recruits are being made about teenagers and would you really like to read what you have written if it was about you daughter/sister/etc. We are mostly anonymous here and everywhere on the internet, but we are not anonymous to ourselves.
Expand ...
Fantastically informative, snappily written, and with a spice of humor. Nominee for Post of the Month right here!
 
I tried to load the entire Tennessee complaint but it is too large for the forum. So I'll just say that there were several BY posts included in the complaint as evidence of recruiting violations along with allegations that UConn violated NCAA recruiting rules by deliberately having graduated players returning to campus to interact with recruits.

When I saw a post by a BY member calling a former player a recruiting "closer" in a thread about a recruit's commitment, I was reminded about how that sort of comment can be used against the team.
 
vtcwbuff said:
For those that weren't around at the time, there were things posted here on the Boneyard that were included as recruiting violations in the Tennessee complaint against UConn. Some of the same sort of things are being posted again and being commented on over in Orangeland.
My advice - if you are going to comment about a recruit or about recruiting - be mindful of the rules.
Expand ...
If someone is schooled in and up to date on NCAA violations and/or their guidelines and policies why not immediately notify moderator and get it pulled. Woulden't a dim lightbulb figure it out when their post were getting pulled & perhaps their post having to be reviewed for awhile to get their attention?

Been here for a while now and it seems to me that one could count on one hand the number of posters here who have the knowledge and expertise to discussing recruiting. God and everyone else know I don't. Perhaps that's why this may very well be my first & last post in this thread.

Just Say-N
 
So I guess what I am learning from this thread is that the NCAA can use as evidence in a recruiting violation probe: posts on a forum that has no affiliation with the actual University, are posts from anonymous sources, posts that could be entirely fictitious or sarcastic and posts that could be made by "boosters" of the complaining University AND the NCAA can accept this evidence????
Wow, no wonder the NCAA is so ... err messed up.
 
.-.
vtcwbuff said:
I tried to load the entire Tennessee complaint but it is too large for the forum. So I'll just say that there were several BY posts included in the complaint as evidence of recruiting violations along with allegations that UConn violated NCAA recruiting rules by deliberately having graduated players returning to campus to interact with recruits.

When I saw a post by a BY member calling a former player a recruiting "closer" in a thread about a recruit's commitment, I was reminded about how that sort of comment can be used against the team.
Expand ...
If Stew and KML are seen as deliberate, remember at least one is recovering injuries, that is a stretch. All the BS of many eons is long past, at least with most if not ALL UConn fans. If UT fans have a problem; that's their problem not this board.
Uconn always, or often, had graduate players return. Uconn for most is the comfort zone where they feel love.
Then less than often, but close, rehabbing former/graduate players return to rehab. I have a huge SIN RADAR and it picks up nothing here.
It is best to look for trouble until it come knocking. Closers ?? Remember not all posters are UConn fans. To me calling isn't proving.
 
Centerstream said:
So I guess what I am learning from this thread is that the NCAA can use as evidence in a recruiting violation probe: posts on a forum that has no affiliation with the actual University, are posts from anonymous sources, posts that could be entirely fictitious or sarcastic and posts that could be made by "boosters" of the complaining University AND the NCAA can accept this evidence????
Wow, no wonder the NCAA is so ... err messed up.
Expand ...
Did you expect Constitutional Law protection, face your accuser, proof, with the NCAA. AS @CocoHusky pointed out to me: The NCAA is an Organization that established its own rules and means of adjudicating. the punishments. All that means is they can do what they want at least until someone tests it.
To me this Organization has outlived its useful life and be replaced with one that sees the world as it now exists.
 
The NCAA is and has always been a mess - look no further than the waiver process that no one understands and is shrouded in secrecy or UNC who admittedly ran a fake academic department that manufactured grades for athletes based on the communicated requirements of the coaching staffs of various sports and was not even given a slap on the wrist.

That said - an uneducated fan base and postings on this forum can easily lead to people doing really stupid things that violate recruiting rules or simply create uncomfortable situations for staff, players, and recruits.

While the TN complaint was mostly bull, it did lead to a few secondary violations and it probably cost the WBB staff and the university hundreds of wasted hours of labor - time that could have been spent much more usefully. No idea of the cost involved but would not be surprised if it topped $1M to defend all the bull. While US legal systems are based on innocent until proven guilty, the realty of civil systems are closer to guilty until you can prove you are innocent. Much easier and cost effective to stay clear of accusations than figure out how to defend against them.
 
Centerstream said:
So I guess what I am learning from this thread is that the NCAA can use as evidence in a recruiting violation probe: posts on a forum that has no affiliation with the actual University, are posts from anonymous sources, posts that could be entirely fictitious or sarcastic and posts that could be made by "boosters" of the complaining University AND the NCAA can accept this evidence????
Wow, no wonder the NCAA is so ... err messed up.
Expand ...

Your guess is wrong. It was not the NCAA. It was another (UTenn) school that filed a complaint through their conference. The NCAA found no violation but that doesn't mean the outcome would be the same were it to happen again.
 
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