Congratulations NCAA, you screwed up again.
Apparently, you can pick and choose when bylaw 12.3.3 applies.
Bylaw 12.3.3 states that, “any individual, agency or organization that represents a prospective student-athlete for compensation in placing the prospect in a collegiate institution as a recipient of institutional financial aid shall be considered an agent or organization marketing the individual’s athletics ability or reputation.”
Auburn quarterback Cam Newton’s father fit exactly into that description when he solicited $180,000 for his son’s athletic ability.
But the NCAA found no problem in this because Newton said he didn’t know about his dad’s actions.
Yeah, right.
If your dad prevented you from attending a college and told you that you had to go to another school, wouldn’t you ask why?
On Monday, the NCAA alerted Auburn that Newton’s amateur status was violated and the school ruled him ineligible.
It took just 24 hours for the NCAA to determine that Newton had no idea what his dad was doing.
Would the NCAA turn a blind eye if this weren’t the best player on the nation’s top ranked team?
I don’t think they would.
Now the NCAA has opened up a whole new can of worms and set a huge precedent.
Memo to all parents: it is all right to sell your student-athletes to schools, just make sure they tell the NCAA they don’t know anything about it.
Reach the reporter at andrew.gruman@asu.edu
