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Possible recruiting violation involving Tigers' Spiller, Florida
CLEMSON - Don't expect Tommy Bowden and Urban Meyer to go golfing together anytime soon.
Sources close to the Clemson football program said recently that the Florida football program attempted an end run on star Tiger recruit and Lake Butler, Fla., native C.J. Spiller by sending star quarterback Tim Tebow to spend time with him on Jan. 31 - the night before national signing day - attempting to get Spiller to sign with Florida.
If those allegations are true, Tebow's visit was a violation of NCAA rules.
Tebow signed with Florida in December and was already enrolled in UF at the time. NCAA rules state that contact between an enrolled player and potential recruits are legal if "unavoidable and incidental," like on an official visit, or at a basketball game matching the two players' high schools.
However, Lake Butler, Spiller's hometown, is 30 miles from Gainesville, which means Tebow visiting Spiller would be anything but incidental or unavoidable.
"I prefer to talk only about my dealings with C.J.," Bowden said Tuesday, "but if Tim Tebow did drive up there on that Tuesday and talk with him, I'd be extremely disappointed. That's a violation of NCAA rules."
It is well-known that Spiller and Tebow became friends during the recruiting process; they even sat next to each other at a basketball game during Spiller's official visit.
Bowden said he had not talked with Meyer directly about the matter.
Meyer and Florida officials were not immediately available for comment; Florida sports information director Steve McClain said Meyer was on the road recruiting this week.
Sources added that the matter has been forwarded to the NCAA for investigation.
Spiller is one of Clemson's most-hyped recruits in recent memory; he chose the Tigers over Florida, Florida State and Southern California, among others, and was considered by some recruiting services as the No.1 tailback prospect in America.
He rushed for 1,800 yards and 30 touchdowns as a senior at Union County High School, adding 215 yards receiving. He runs the 40-yard dash in 4.35 seconds.
Bowden emphasized Tuesday that Spiller has no NCAA worries in his future.
"We've informed C.J. that if the NCAA does call him, be honest with them," he said. "About our recruiting process or anyone else's."
Spiller is also a finalist for an ESPN reality show called "Summer House," which will pick six high-profile recruits to live together in a Chicago home, where they will "compete in physical and mental challenges" which "have practical application to the world of football and test their skills in other areas" before their freshman year of college.
NFL players are also expected to visit and watch film with the recruits.
"It's a different generation, but it's something that doesn't bother me much," Bowden said. "It's the world we live in."
Bowden said that Spiller would likely have to pay for his own transportation to and from the show, considering the stringency of NCAA regulations.
"I'd think he's going to have to fly up on his own," Bowden said. "I think that's something that the NCAA says we can't give him - of course, this is ESPN.
"I'd imagine that the first thing ESPN would do would be call the NCAA and see what and what not to do. They wouldn't take six guys and jeopardize their eligibility, especially since these are six guys who are going to play early."
Even if Spiller is picked for the show, Bowden said he still expects him to report to Clemson for the second session of summer school. NCAA rules now say schools can pay for incoming freshmen to enroll in summer school before their college career begins.
Source: Anderson Independent-Mail
CLEMSON - Don't expect Tommy Bowden and Urban Meyer to go golfing together anytime soon.
Sources close to the Clemson football program said recently that the Florida football program attempted an end run on star Tiger recruit and Lake Butler, Fla., native C.J. Spiller by sending star quarterback Tim Tebow to spend time with him on Jan. 31 - the night before national signing day - attempting to get Spiller to sign with Florida.
If those allegations are true, Tebow's visit was a violation of NCAA rules.
Tebow signed with Florida in December and was already enrolled in UF at the time. NCAA rules state that contact between an enrolled player and potential recruits are legal if "unavoidable and incidental," like on an official visit, or at a basketball game matching the two players' high schools.
However, Lake Butler, Spiller's hometown, is 30 miles from Gainesville, which means Tebow visiting Spiller would be anything but incidental or unavoidable.
"I prefer to talk only about my dealings with C.J.," Bowden said Tuesday, "but if Tim Tebow did drive up there on that Tuesday and talk with him, I'd be extremely disappointed. That's a violation of NCAA rules."
It is well-known that Spiller and Tebow became friends during the recruiting process; they even sat next to each other at a basketball game during Spiller's official visit.
Bowden said he had not talked with Meyer directly about the matter.
Meyer and Florida officials were not immediately available for comment; Florida sports information director Steve McClain said Meyer was on the road recruiting this week.
Sources added that the matter has been forwarded to the NCAA for investigation.
Spiller is one of Clemson's most-hyped recruits in recent memory; he chose the Tigers over Florida, Florida State and Southern California, among others, and was considered by some recruiting services as the No.1 tailback prospect in America.
He rushed for 1,800 yards and 30 touchdowns as a senior at Union County High School, adding 215 yards receiving. He runs the 40-yard dash in 4.35 seconds.
Bowden emphasized Tuesday that Spiller has no NCAA worries in his future.
"We've informed C.J. that if the NCAA does call him, be honest with them," he said. "About our recruiting process or anyone else's."
Spiller is also a finalist for an ESPN reality show called "Summer House," which will pick six high-profile recruits to live together in a Chicago home, where they will "compete in physical and mental challenges" which "have practical application to the world of football and test their skills in other areas" before their freshman year of college.
NFL players are also expected to visit and watch film with the recruits.
"It's a different generation, but it's something that doesn't bother me much," Bowden said. "It's the world we live in."
Bowden said that Spiller would likely have to pay for his own transportation to and from the show, considering the stringency of NCAA regulations.
"I'd think he's going to have to fly up on his own," Bowden said. "I think that's something that the NCAA says we can't give him - of course, this is ESPN.
"I'd imagine that the first thing ESPN would do would be call the NCAA and see what and what not to do. They wouldn't take six guys and jeopardize their eligibility, especially since these are six guys who are going to play early."
Even if Spiller is picked for the show, Bowden said he still expects him to report to Clemson for the second session of summer school. NCAA rules now say schools can pay for incoming freshmen to enroll in summer school before their college career begins.
Source: Anderson Independent-Mail
