Bang Bang Notre Dame Gang - No New Recruits

Emcee77

Emcee77

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Whiskeyjack said:
It's a challenging issue. I see lots of ND fans offering generic cheers and well-wishes to recruits and players on Twitter, which strikes me as mostly harmless. But when those fans start seeking to really interact with a high school kid, it definitely crosses a line.

These kids are definitely not full grown men (regardless of how they view themselves), and every tweet is technically a secondary violation; that should be enough to keep most normal fans away.
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Is the bolded a fact? I did not know that. Seems silly, no? I mean what if you just say "good game today" or something? You might argue that it is so easy to contact someone on Twitter that such a tweet would be no different from saying "good game" to a player as you passed him on a South Bend sidewalk, which surely wouldn't be a violation. On the other hand, I guess you could argue that a tweet is more like fan mail. I don't know the rules about that.

EDIT: Just idly curious about the rules here; not looking for clearance to tweet at recruits and have no intention of doing so, lol. But my objection to that is just that I personally don't think it's good for kids to be treated like rock stars; I actually don't think it should be against the rules to tweet at recruits if they invite that sort of thing.

In other news, we could probably figure out who this mystery recruit is if we tried. Who, among our current class and excepting Zaire, was heavily recruited by OSU? I'd guess Heuerman.
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I think so. I thought of Smith, too, since there are rumors that his family is disenchanted with OSU based on his brother's experience.
 
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Whiskeyjack

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Emcee77 said:
Is the bolded a fact? I did not know that. Seems silly, no? I mean what if you just say "good game today" or something? You might argue that it is so easy to contact someone on Twitter that such a tweet would be no different from saying "good game" to a player as you passed him on a South Bend sidewalk, which surely wouldn't be a violation. On the other hand, I guess you could argue that a tweet is more like fan mail. I don't know the rules about that.
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Here's my understanding of the rules: the definition of "booster" is absurdly broad. It basically encompasses every self-avowed ND fan, and a lot of people who probably don't even think of themselves as fans. Tweeting "good game today" at a recruit wouldn't be a violation, but "Go Irish!" or "You'd look great in blue and gold" would be violations, as you're attempting to influence a recruit with whom you have no pre-existing relationship to attend your favored program.

No, it doesn't make much sense, but I believe those are the current rules.

EDIT: Just idly curious about the rules here; not looking for clearance to tweet at recruits and have no intention of doing so, lol. But my objection to that is just that I personally don't think it's good for kids to be treated like rock stars; I actually don't think it should be against the rules to tweet at recruits if they invite that sort of thing.
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As I mentioned earlier, I don't see any harm in sending recruits generic cheers and well-wishes. But it's a slippery slope. Complete strangers attempting to influence a high school kid is a recipe for disaster.
 
Emcee77

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Well, you may be right. Quick Google search turned up this:

Only institutional staff members are permitted to recruit prospective student-athletes. Generally, NCAA rules prohibit anyone else from contacting (calling, writing or in-person contact) prospects or the prospect’s relatives or guardian for recruiting purposes.
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Role of Boosters - NCAA.org

I have to think that simple comments like "Go Irish" or "You'd look great in blue and gold" are fine. It would be absurd if it were otherwise. Jacob Matuska grew up in Columbus, Ohio, where I happen to know that local schools have (or at least used to have) a yearly "Scarlet and Gray Day" where you wear your OSU colors to school on the school day before the UM/OSU game. You can't tell me that 100,00 people, or however many people he has ever met, whichever number is greater, didn't tell him that he would look great in scarlet and gray, growing up in that environment. I don't see any difference -- and the rules appear to make no distinction -- between in-person contact and contact via twitter. (I don't think Matuska actually had an OSU offer, but you get my point.)

However, as the rules are described in the info I pulled off the NCAA website and posted above, it seems that that they really are broad enough to cover even a simple "You'd look great in blue and gold." So to be on the safe side, no one should tweet at recruits.
 
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Bogtrotter07

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Because you are on a web site, it doesn't make you a booster. I have a friend that regularly contributes to ND. He is a booster. He can no longer talk to his friend and co-worker who has a son that is an awesome running back, and placed in the state in track for some sprinting event. I don't talk to him either. I just told the father to call Tony Alford.

Remember back in the day when you would pay $25 and get some Subway Alumni stickers? That's why.
 
Emcee77

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Bogtrotter07 said:
Because you are on a web site, it doesn't make you a booster. I have a friend that regularly contributes to ND. He is a booster. He can no longer talk to his friend and co-worker who has a son that is an awesome running back, and placed in the state in track for some sprinting event. I don't talk to him either. I just told the father to call Tony Alford.

Remember back in the day when you would pay $25 and get some Subway Alumni stickers? That's why.
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True. "Recruiting" activities that are governed by NCAA rules are only those conducted by an institutional staff member or a booster. The most casual fans are probably not boosters. According to ND's compliance office:

The NCAA broadly defines a "booster" as an individual, agency, entity or organization who is known by an institution to:

Have participated in or been a member of an agency that promotes the institution's intercollegiate athletics program;
Have made financial contributions to the athletics department or a booster organization for the department;
Have been involved otherwise in promoting the institution's athletics program;
Have been a season ticket holder;
Have provided benefits to student-athletes or their relatives or friends
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I guess it depends how the NCAA interprets the bolded catch-all provision. Does it only refer to people who have been engaged by the institution to promote the institution's athletic program? Or can it refer to someone who has taken it upon himself to promote the institution's athletic program? If it's the latter, a tweet from a fan might be a violation, especially a fan who runs an ND blog or something like that. Frankly, I don't think the rule is meant to be that broad, but until they draft clearer rules we should probably err on the side of caution.

Edit: Just noticed that "known by an institution" language. That language is not in the definition of booster on the NCAA website, which is otherwise similar. Not sure what to make of that. We need an expert.
 
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Whiskeyjack

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Emcee77 said:
Edit: Just noticed that "known by an institution" language. That language is not in the definition of booster on the NCAA website, which is otherwise similar. Not sure what to make of that. We need an expert.
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The NCAA's language is incredibly broad, but as you've noted, it's very unlikely that a program would actually get reprimanded for the activity of people on the internet over whom it has no control.

ND's definition is more narrow, and probably more realistic regarding which types of people could actually get the school in trouble.
 
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DomeLover3

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I'm going to put the odds of Tee coming back to ND at slightly better than pigs flying
 
military_irish

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DomeLover3 said:
I'm going to put the odds of Tee coming back to ND at slightly better than pigs flying
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Pigs_fly.gif
 
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DomeLover3

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Lets not forget Tee likes to have a little fun at the expense of the fan base.
 
STLDomer

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This thread isn't gonna end well, how many threads to be closed over why Tee is not at ND anymore?
 
Ironman8

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Tee is trying to now go to his fourth school since graduating HS (and he was not allowed to play at his most recent HS). #yikesandnothanks
 
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DomeLover3

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STLDomer said:
This thread isn't gonna end well, how many threads to be closed over why Tee is not at ND anymore?
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Are you a mod? Do you have the power to close this thread? Lol stop STL... We can all be civil.
 
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Grahambo

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Never say never.

I see the Pham patrolling in here. Don't worry Pham, we can keep it clean....I think.
 
D-BOE34

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Let him try! You guys wouldn't mind. I understand the off set attitude and by all means, me too! I would take him in a heart beat though.
 
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Irish4Life09

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There is a simple solution to this.
As with any situation, pray for the best and expect the worst.No more,no less.
 
anarin

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Anyone that says they wouldn't take him back is crazy. ESPECIALLY if he puts the work in the classroom and rededicates himself.
 
tadman95

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For Tee's sake, I hope he'd do the work and whatever changes he would have to make to get back in.

I agree with TT, can't see it though. Would bet it's just a thought of the day from Tee.
 
TerryTate

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Sure I hope he gets back in and goes to class.

I just don't see it happening
 
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