NCAA Closes 'Newton Loophole'; Opens Slippery Slope
by Jaxon on Jan 12, 2012 8:50 AM EST
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PrintThe NCAA in its never ending quest to limit the influence of money in college football thinks it has now closed the 'loophole' that allowed Cam Newton to play in 2010 for eventual National Champion Auburn:
The association's Division I legislative council endorsed a measure Wednesday expanding its definition of an agent to encompass third-party influences - including family members - who directly or indirectly market an athlete for profit as Newton's father tried to do as the quarterback was being recruited out of junior college.
Among the specific targets: anyone who "seeks to obtain any type of financial gain or benefit from securing a prospective student-athlete's enrollment at an educational institution or a from a student-athlete's potential earnings as a professional athlete."
So in hindsight the NCAA would have preferred to sideline Newton in 2010 and forego one of the best seasons by a college QB in NCAA history? A season in which they actually had an undisputed National Champion, a rare event in today's convoluted BCS process. While I admit I'm biased in my reaction being a fan Newton now, but it sure seems they have opened up an even slippery slope then that had previously.
So now if anyone tries to arrange payola for a college commitment and the NCAA finds out the player could be deemed ineligible? Cool! Let me play Devil's advocate with one of soon to be multiple emails, after the jump...
To: UGA Football Director of College Recruiting
From: John Theus's friend
BCC: NCAA Infractions Committee
Subject: Thanks for your Business!
Dear Sir:
Thanks for the timely cash payment for Mr. Theus's commitment. Though Florida offered more $ he is very happy to be a Bulldog. Being a 5 star OL recruit I'm sure he will help you win the SEC at some point in his NCAA career.
Cheers!
Seriously so what is to stop anybody from doing things like this (though less obvious) and then requiring the NCAA to investigate and cast doubt on the recruit. Talk about a slippery slope. I find this definition of 'agent' to not only be ridiculous but also so broad that kids will be loosing their eligibility through, like Newton, no fault of their own. It's just going to continue to erode the NCAA's credibility further than it already has. The real problem the NCAA had with Newton is that his dad almost got a couple hundred thousand dollars and the NCAA wasn't going to get their cut.
Which has me thinking that maybe the NFL should now reverse course and allow kids to go straight from HS to the NFL if the team wants to take a chance. When I look at this decision and then the BCS system that doesn't determine a true champion I find the NCAA a total joke.
Thoughts?
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I don't agree on the NBA's strategy of allowing HSers in directly, but definitely see the rock & hard place conundrum
I think the expense limit for student athletes should be expanded, considering its practically 1990’s level. All scholarships, for that matter.
It has been 6 years since the NBA
allowed HS players to go straight to NBA
As a Gamecock fan, I wish the NCAA would have declared him ineligible in 2010 ;-)
The truth will set you free, but not until it is finished with you. ~David Foster Wallace
I may not always be right, but even a blind nut finds a squirrel every once in a while.
but but but
Then the Gamecocks would have still been a second tier SEC team and the Panthers and NFL and whole world wouldn’t have a QB named Cam Newton. From this point the whole world would unravel.
Basically, the whole time space continuum would implode and we would all be reduced to primordial ooze.
Second tier? SECOND TIER?!
Going 11-2 overall and 6-0 in the SEC East (the only two losses being to Arkansas and Auburn, which should have been a win, but still…) isn’t second tier.
The truth will set you free, but not until it is finished with you. ~David Foster Wallace
I may not always be right, but even a blind nut finds a squirrel every once in a while.
The slippery slope argument
Has always been true. It will remain true forever. The NCAA has a monopoly that exists in a bubble outside of all the other normal ways of doing business in America.
If it isn’t one thing it is another, because when you have a multi billion dollar industry where the employees don’t get paid in money, can’t go play elsewhere for money until they work 2 years and last but not least it exists in America where cash rules everything …….. whats to be said other than the whole system is made to be exploited.
The NCAA is a old boy network that has no problem with executives, administrators, BCS bowl peons collecting 6 figure + paydays for consulting or other nonsense. When someone on the bottom tries to get some it is always portrayed as the ultimate sin of compromising amateur athletics.
I wouldn’t think of this as “The Newton Rule”. It is a loophole that has been there for a long time, mostly with AAU coaches or parents getting ‘coaching jobs’ for landing recruits and other 3rd party perks. These jobs are nothing but a way to indirectly move money. Too many examples exist, Cam Newton is a minor player and time will fade the scandal into nothing at all. As the old cliche goes, don’t hate the players, hate the game.
by Relax on Jan 12, 2012 9:17 AM EST reply actions 1 recs
This ruling may mean an end to the NCAA (finally!)
The NCAA was created at a time when young gentlemen were attending college and did not want to compete with “lower classes” across the tracks. They created rules that kept people who worked for a living from participating in their sports.
Those archaic rules are still dividing haves and have-nots.
Meanwhile:
NCAA officials make six & seven figure salaries.
The college administration makes money.
The coaches make money.
The agents make money.
The vendors in the stands make money.
The players are “amateurs”, work a sixty hour week at their sport, and get a worthless degree.
Agree with all but one points criolle
“worthless degree” is over simplifying things. The problem is the (pulling these numbers out if my ass) 3% of players that play for big time schools, blue chip recruits, these cash cows make big time money for the NCAA and go onto play pro sports. Yea, a degree is fairly worthless. Lots will argue about ‘maturity gained’ or other intangibles but lets not kid ourselves. College is mandatory only as a means to gain exposure and as the path to being in the NFL/NBA for this 3%. The other 97% find a degree much more valuable.
So you have another paradox of those who need a college education the least supporting those who will fall back on it the rest of their lives.
Do Want! I'm just saying...
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DT "When Did You Get Here?"
Greg Hardy "Man...I've been here all day."
what the hell
Don’t know how I posted that here, but let me post it in the right blog.
DT "When Did You Get Here?"
Greg Hardy "Man...I've been here all day."
that my be my favorite even though its on the wrong post. just saying!
"Don't tell me about the pain, just bring me the baby" Cam Newton
by braves&panthers4ever on Jan 12, 2012 4:10 PM EST via Android app up reply actions
Of course.
The NCAA wants to close every conceivable way that a players get some money. It would threaten the enormous amounts of money they make on the players backs.
Why does it seem like college footbl and basketball are the biggest offenders?
Yes, they are the biggest drawing sports but in the end would anyone give a damn about women’s golf or something?
Integrity first. Service before self. Excellence in all you do. -- USAF Core Values
by Disciple of Carolina on Jan 12, 2012 11:21 AM EST via mobile reply actions
because those two make sports make all the TV money
Every once in a while the NCAA will go after some obscure sport in a obscure program (Rice womens tetherball or whatever) for some sort of infractions. They do this to keep up appearances and so they can look the other way when any of the division one sacred cash cow programs gets caught with hands in cookie jar.
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