Indiana University Athletics
Compliance Question Of The Week
Compliance Question Of The Week
Question:
IU Coach has a tailgate for a home game at Memorial Stadium in October, with their current players as well as all prospects on official and unofficial visits in attendance. During the tailgate, IU Professor and three of her unidentified friends stop by and chat with some of the prospects and current players. Some of the parents of the current players come by the tailgate to give their children some money and wish them well, one set of parents hangs out at the tailgate for a while and talks to some of the prospects and the prospect's parents. During the tailgate a dozen or so fans stop by and ask for autographs and pictures with the players and the players happily oblige. The prospects are certainly impressed and make small talk with the fans as they interact with the current players. At the end of the tailgate an IU Trustee stops by and says hi to IU Coach. IU Coach, stunned that the Trustee knows his name, introduces Trustee to some of the current players and two of the prospects. What violations have occurred, if any?
Answer:
IU Professor may talk with a prospect on an official or unofficial visit as long as it is on campus (or within 30 miles of campus)- if the visit is unofficial, the talk should be centered on academics. However, the three unidentified friends could pose a problem. If any of IU Professor's friends are representatives of IU's athletics interests ("boosters") they are NOT allowed to interact with a prospect, other than a short greeting or something similar. It is likely that most ADULT people at an IU tailgate on game-days are boosters, so I would caution against any "unknown" person talking to prospects for any length of time, even if they are friends of professors or institutional staff members. Parents of current players are NOT allowed to interact with prospects or prospect's parents. Again, prospects should NOT be allowed to talk to or sign autographs for random fans passing by because in all likelihood some of them are boosters. As you know, we can't publicize our recruits that are visiting, so just another reason why prospects should not be interacting with fans. Lastly, Trustees are NOT allowed to talk to any prospects at any time, but they can interact with you and your current players at any time while on campus.
Although some of the rules regarding prospects interaction with boosters seem ridiculous when you're talking about a crowded place such as a tailgate- ridiculous is usually the name of the game and we all need to take precautions against prospects talking to people they shouldn't be while visiting IU. As always, please let us know if you have any questions. Thanks!
Question:
IU Coach has a tailgate for a home game at Memorial Stadium in October, with their current players as well as all prospects on official and unofficial visits in attendance. During the tailgate, IU Professor and three of her unidentified friends stop by and chat with some of the prospects and current players. Some of the parents of the current players come by the tailgate to give their children some money and wish them well, one set of parents hangs out at the tailgate for a while and talks to some of the prospects and the prospect's parents. During the tailgate a dozen or so fans stop by and ask for autographs and pictures with the players and the players happily oblige. The prospects are certainly impressed and make small talk with the fans as they interact with the current players. At the end of the tailgate an IU Trustee stops by and says hi to IU Coach. IU Coach, stunned that the Trustee knows his name, introduces Trustee to some of the current players and two of the prospects. What violations have occurred, if any?
Answer:
IU Professor may talk with a prospect on an official or unofficial visit as long as it is on campus (or within 30 miles of campus)- if the visit is unofficial, the talk should be centered on academics. However, the three unidentified friends could pose a problem. If any of IU Professor's friends are representatives of IU's athletics interests ("boosters") they are NOT allowed to interact with a prospect, other than a short greeting or something similar. It is likely that most ADULT people at an IU tailgate on game-days are boosters, so I would caution against any "unknown" person talking to prospects for any length of time, even if they are friends of professors or institutional staff members. Parents of current players are NOT allowed to interact with prospects or prospect's parents. Again, prospects should NOT be allowed to talk to or sign autographs for random fans passing by because in all likelihood some of them are boosters. As you know, we can't publicize our recruits that are visiting, so just another reason why prospects should not be interacting with fans. Lastly, Trustees are NOT allowed to talk to any prospects at any time, but they can interact with you and your current players at any time while on campus.
Although some of the rules regarding prospects interaction with boosters seem ridiculous when you're talking about a crowded place such as a tailgate- ridiculous is usually the name of the game and we all need to take precautions against prospects talking to people they shouldn't be while visiting IU. As always, please let us know if you have any questions. Thanks!