Agents off campuses? Good luck, NCAA

The NCAA claims it's looking into the problem of agents on college campuses, an issue thrust into the spotlight this week because of a Yahoo! Sports story alleging an improper relationship between Jim Calhoun's Connecticut staff, a one-time recruit and an agent who also happens to be a former UConn manager.

If they look hard enough, what they'll find -- if they haven't already found it -- is that many of the "runners" working for agents in this era are former players or managers from elite college programs, and the reason is simple, because few coaches will shut their doors on a former player or manager, which means former players and managers have unique access to future draft picks. You see, it might look bad if a runner is hanging out after practice, taking players to dinner, buying beers, etc. But if that runner happens to be a former player or manager -- particularly a former player or manager who recently graduated -- then there's a natural disguise, and from the outside all anybody sees is a former player still hanging with his old teammates, or a former manager staying connected with his old program.

In reality, the former player or manager is employed by an agency.

So he's on the take.

And then when he takes care of the current players, they're on the take, too.

And then when the current players enter the NBA Draft, they go with the agency of the former player or manager.

And this is why it'll be impossible -- and if not impossible, then really, really difficult -- for the NCAA to keep agents and runners off of campuses, because college coaches can look in the mirror and tell themselves they're not doing anything wrong if all they're doing is letting former players or managers hang around their current players or recruits. Likewise, they pretend they're not really letting agents and runners into their program, just former players and managers. And that's a fine way to look at it ... right up until the point when it blows up, at which time you might find yourself heading into a Sweet 16 answering questions about a former manager who's bound to have your program on NCAA probation, and sooner rather than later.

MVPMorneau Reputation: 90 Level: All-Star Since: Aug 20, 2006	Posted on: March 25, 2009 11:59 pm Score: 114 Agents off campuses? Good luck, NCAA Calhoun has always struck me as a sleazebag, and it doesnt shock me to find out I was right. He seems to have the same morals as Sampson, Haskins and other unscupolous coaches that are "successful" (at buyng success) at the D-I level. I'm equally sure his scuzz-buddy Gino A is as flithy as they come, but the NCAA is too scared to investigate his program. Its BS like this that makes me proud to be an alum of a D-III school and an ardent supporter of D-III athletics, where the closest thing to a "scandal" is an overdue library book-- checked out by a future MD or lawyer or teacher who will graduate college in four years and still finds time to play the sport he/she loves and enjoys. [ Reply to Comment ]
UofILoyalty Reputation: 97 Level: Superstar Since: Jan 9, 2009	Posted on: March 26, 2009 12:36 am Score: 110 Agents off campuses? Good luck, NCAA It's always difficult to develop boundaries that are fair but not over-reaching, but one of the things that bothers me about when NCAA sanctions are handed down is that they usually punish only a school instead of the coaches, asssistants or others involved with the infraction. While schools ned to be accountable for the people they hire, those people directly involved also need to be held personally accountable so they can't just leave a program once they've been caught and find somewhere else to pick up where they left off, having learned to be a bit more cautious. If a COACH was banned from the NCAA tournament for a few years their value to the school would plummet and therefore they might be less inclined to cheat because if they got caught they would be rendered "unemployable" by any major school. [ Reply to Comment ]
canes1531 Reputation: 95 Level: Superstar Since: Mar 11, 2009	Posted on: March 26, 2009 1:46 am Score: 95 Agents off campuses? Good luck, NCAA As a UConn fan, I must admit that I'm a little relieved after hearing of these allegations. When I first heard of the report, I was bracing for the worst; I'm talking like Penny Hardaway in Blue Chips level cheating. Still, these are pretty harsh allegations and are probably worse than what Sampson was doing (although Sampson is an idiot for getting caught twice, but that's another story). That being said, agents, runners, and handlers are not dissapearing any time soon. Just look at Worldwide Wes at Memphis. I don't even know what category he would fall under and I'm pretty suprised the NCAA hasn't taken a look at that. In this day and age, recruiting is getting more and more ridiculous by the year, and to be honest, if I'm a top level recruit getting recruited by top 10 programs, I'm choosing the school that can get me to the NBA and gives me a little extra spending money on the side. That's just a fact. [ Reply to Comment ]
lkenny1313 Reputation: 93 Level: All-Star Since: Mar 15, 2009	Posted on: March 26, 2009 7:50 am Score: 77 Agents off campuses? Good luck, NCAA Regardless of what the NCAA thinks they can do, or believes they should do, the reality is that untill coaches start careing more about the players and less about their legacy, deception and rule bending will never stop! Just as an example, the next time you get a chance, go check out a New York City or Atlanta Georgia high school (yes high school) basketball, city tournement! It truly looks like a convention of college and unfortunately proffessional scouts. Everyone wants to produce the next big sports star but not just for the school, because it also means a boost in salary, built into their lofty employment contracts are incentives for getting their team to the "Big Dance." After all is said and done what do you think is the worse thing that will come out of a full blown investigation will be? I know, lets disqualify Uconn from participating in future NCAA tournements and punish all those athletes that have worked so hard, legitimately, for the past three seasons who are about to begin their senior campaign! Lets destroy the dreams of the Hometown Hero who has played for their local college, who dreams of someday getting a chance to play in the biggest tournement in college sports. The NCAA needs to come up with a better way to punish the offending individuals, perhaps then we might see a fair playing field. Perhaps we can come up with an attachment to th Antitrust laws whereas any individual breaks the NCAA recruitment rules they face federal prison time? Now That's a plan with teeth, surely that would stop the rule breakers, wouldn't it? [ Reply to Comment ]
bmh1978 Reputation: 98 Level: Superstar Since: Feb 14, 2008	Posted on: March 26, 2009 9:20 am Score: 54 Agents off campuses? Good luck, NCAA Coaches need to have more integrity than this. Thats really all there is to it... but you are right, Good Luck... [ Reply to Comment ]
CentPaFan Reputation: 0 Level: Amateur Since: Feb 17, 2009	Posted on: March 26, 2009 9:24 am Score: 78 Jay Williams When is it going to come out about him being an "rep" for a west coast agent shop....... arranging 250,000 "donations" to AAU program of Kevin Love. Nothing will come of it........he's Duke. Just as nothing came of Cory Megette/Myron Piggee agent/AAU scum payments. Or fake jobs for unqualified people paid by companies run by Duke boosters for Boozer and Duhans dad and mom. And new cars for Duhans mom, whose house was in foreclosure or near foreclosure............ move to Durham and all is suddenly well. [ Reply to Comment ]
TerpAssassin Reputation: 0 Level: Amateur Since: Mar 29, 2007	Posted on: March 26, 2009 9:38 am Score: 117 Agents off campuses? Good luck, NCAA I'm glad Calhoun got caught, and they throw the book at him. It's unfair when he cheats and others dont. We have goody self-righteous coach, that plays by the book. yeah, that's great, but when others are cheating, we lose out on top recruits. I know Gary Williams was upset when we lost Rudy Gay to cheating Calhoun. Because Gay wasn't AAU guy like others we lost like Carmelo,et al. Everyone here knew Calhoun cheats, and even Williams "alluded" that he was beat out by cheating coach. Obviously he didn't come out and said it in our face, but we all knew what he meant. [ Reply to Comment ]
jeremybw Reputation: 84 Level: All-Star Since: Mar 4, 2009	Posted on: March 26, 2009 9:47 am Score: -3 Agents off campuses? Good luck, NCAA Because Duke is the only and most egregious right? :) Give me a break....have an original thought... [ Reply to Comment ]
Bertha Reputation: 96 Level: Superstar Since: Feb 22, 2007	Posted on: March 26, 2009 11:04 am Score: 71 Agents off campuses? Good luck, NCAA Williams is a complete whiner who can't even recruit in his own backyard. Nice game against Memphis. You guys got spanked and embarassed. [ Reply to Comment ]
TerpAssassin Reputation: 0 Level: Amateur Since: Mar 29, 2007	Posted on: March 26, 2009 3:22 pm Score: 60 Agents off campuses? Good luck, NCAA Just wait u fatazz. I heard in Mike & Mike, that cheater-alhoun did the same thing with another MD leaning player (6'10" Major). Apparantly the kid was coming to MD, until CON's runner start throwing money around. It's now involving more players and more cheating. I hope they take wins and ban cheating CON permanent ban. YOU ARE DOOMED. It's called Karma being a biatch. [ Reply to Comment ]

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