Special of the week; Issue 22-70

Annie are the national educational radio network presents special of the week. This week we spotlight the recent meeting of the National Collegiate Athletic Association in Washington D.C. of major concern to those who manage our into collegiate athletic programs. Is the problem of recruiting and the number of proposals to control recruiting were discussed at the NCW meeting. One of those who spoke in favor of changes in the recruiting practices was clip but they can executive secretary of the National Federation of State high school athletic associations. Thank you Mr. Flynn. Gentleman. Like skills of the country is usual of an all have long recognized that recruiting by colleges for athletic purposes as well as many other purposes including academics art scientists online. Is necessary. We believe that this is present as most of it is

presently arranged a good program. We're looking forward to the possibility of improving it. We're Treasurer Katie. Has said that. Recruiting has always been with us. We anticipate that if all were as will be we think however that it become increasingly complicated. And perhaps present as a presently constructed has some abuses which we look forward to working with you in eliminating. This complicated in part because there are so many agencies and people involved. The colleges universities themselves of course the high schools the Floridas parents. And even involved the games which were concerned whatever it might be. In addition you have the alumni very often. And the community from which they like come to the community in which the institution is

located. I say to you most sincerely. That the high schools are interested in the best possible in a scholastic an international collegiate programs of athletic. Wear not understood need program for today only but are interested in them for years to come and believe that whatever we should do should be done with this as one of the considerations. Certainly there will be times when you do not agree with what we do. In our attempt to reach this end. But we think that thus far we have a reasonably good record his fire is encouraging boys and perhaps even now girls can fire to support. And good girl strong athletic programs. We intend to keep this up and with this we have a common interest with you. Your programs as all of you know I'm certain. Motivate hours. And I would say in passing today that we're looking forward to more

motivation. There are some signs gentlemen that we need increased motivation. And there are some pockets in which there is less interest in Interscholastic Athletic today than there has been in the immediate years past. We had a high school level who were interested in athletics want more participation and better participation. I think that you will not consider one kind if I refer to some of the processes in recruiting as abuses but we do believe that there are some things developed. That are not in the best interest of the game. Certainly many of these have been corrected through your efforts. It was at least six years ago all along. That your representatives worked for some of the high school people. In the structuring of a code of ethical conduct. We think that this is Ben helpful in that

we hope that this meeting you will take steps. To further improve the situation. In the first category which we believe there are some need there is some need for improvement. It is a fact that there is a waste. Time and money both as we see it. We believe that for the most part. Boys know pretty well. At the beginning of their senior year. The two or three schools of work say they have a principal interest in attending and participating in Anderson intercollegiate athletics. We believe they could tell you at that time. Too which schools they look with favor and we think that most of them if they had but a single choice could make it early in their senior year. Therefore we believe that it is reasonable on your part. To restrict or limit the number of expense paid trip that a prospect made to a given campus.

The number of times that a athletic staff member may visit this prospect at his home. The number of times a day and the kind of entertainment that you might provide for a prospect. And the number of times you might include perhaps his parents to take part in such a visitation to a camp. Certainly don't have views that are most. Directly involved. In recruiting. Recognize that. Some boys exploit the situation. In the community from which I come. Three years ago there were four boys that were attracted were to active to many college and university athletic departments and they had little game going for themselves. In what's a seat to try to compare the number of miles that they could long with one another. You see you could add the greatest number of miles who could visit the greatest

number of campuses. This is not in the best interest of the boy and certainly is a waste of his time and a waste of the money of the athletic department. A second area in which there can be improvement we think is necessary because some of the recruiting effects a boy in an undesirable way. If he's contacted at the sight of. Competition particularly. Him or even at home. Did Lee prior to a game or during the tournaments or during the state track meet. It certainly takes a boy's mind off the job this immediately before. And we would ask your serious consideration. And we hope that you would look on with favor the possibility of limiting contacts to where the boy at times other than when he is preparing to compete at the sight of a big competition.

Two vigorous. Recruiting for two or three members of a team or perhaps one member of a team and if the recruiting is done consistently. It takes a team because sometime it causes jealousies on the part of the team. I'm not certain that this can always be control but when a school comes back time after time. And talks to only one boy or evidence has an interest in only one boy this frequently has an. Undesirable. Effect on the rest of the team. This involves of course a school eventually end. Even the community we recognize today as we would any time. That much of your problem. Is a fact that there are high school cultures that solicit. Your interest in their boys and sometime they cal going reports about ability that he doesn't have. We acknowledge that this adds here problem. And we hope that you will discourage coaches from doing this. And we hope that we have an

opportunity to join you and try to get coaches to be more reasonable and to let you conduct this aspect of your own program. Therefore we trust that the membership of the NC double eg well provide some protection for the school and the boy. By not contacting him at the side of competition. We hope that there will be a limitation to the number of paid trips that a boy can be made to a camp that you won't bother him too often at his home. And that it will be spelled out who can accompany the boy to the campus is fired. Paid tips are concerned. We hope eventually that you people will see that it would be beneficial to both programs both at a level 2 programs at both levels. Do not contact avoid doing is sports season. This probably is an impossibility at the present time. Welp that

in the not too distant future you can establish some kind of respect for a commitment that a prospect makes and that after he indicated he has selected his college. That he no longer will receive invitation from other colleges. And perhaps sometime in the future we can limit. Recruiting practices to boys during the last two semesters of high school. We believe that it would be possible for the high schools to provide some kind of legislation and that's not it. We're sure that the high schools associations could do this. If this were done your membership would not get the kind of direct kind of regulations which under which they can best work in which you really want. I fear that it would be too limiting and not be to your advantage. In addition there probably would be all too many kinds of. Rules. Each

step reached a dissertation would have their separate rules and that should make it extremely difficult for you people to work. Sure looking forward to you were taking more progress today. To keep on the job. To regulate recruiting So it's a benefit of both. Our program and your program. I want to thank the NCW for the consideration that they have given to high school programs and down through the years. We're greatly appreciative. We hope that we are able to help you with your program when the opportunity arises. Clifford Fagan executive secretary of the National Federation of State high school athletic associations speaking on the subject of recruiting at the NCW meeting in January. Edwin HKT is the faculty athletic representative prom in Indiana University and chairman of a special him CWA Committee on recruiting. He outlined some of the proposals his committee is considering

a recent been fair and Observer conduct the problems concerning the recruitment of student athletes are acute problems. They remain so quiet as far as who can see into the future. Regardless of the fate of the current special committee and its proposals it's not this committee. Then some and they're going to have to be confined to recruiting family intermarry for the present and future. You have been asked to speak to the question of how some of those other and future problems look to the current committee for taking up specific issues however it might be helpful to mention the generally principals and which we have been working to ask there have been four basic and generally concerns. One. The personal and academic welfare of the pre-college Jaslene he becomes a collegiate recruit think prospects to the defensibility unsound principles of value of all recruitment practices. Three expense for the good name and

proper public understanding of collegiate athletics. I could elaborate on these and other ideas and their general applicability but it is probably not necessary for most of you. And the specifics are more to the point I have 12 general projects or notions and ideas for future consideration. One High School Association severally and nationally the committee staff sets great store by the prohibition a formal institution in recruitment of a prospect before he has completed his junior year in high school. We hope the council will again bring such a room to you. Perhaps next year to the question of limiting to some same number the expenses paid visits to institutions by anyone prospective student athlete. Your committee has found itself stumped. Perhaps unnecessarily and asks for your help. Almost

everybody we hear from thinks such a limitation essential and seems to think a sensible number of visitors. The problem is to write a rule which would not give rise to abuses perhaps nurse than the problem we wish to sign up entering which would be workable in the present climates of opinion and sentiment. Might a simple rule compound certain recruiting evils by a regressive effect. That is. One we give rise to a recruiter's effort to preempt the visitation opportunities of many more potential prospects than the preempt or has any intention of actually forwarding into paid visits. Many of the pressures now exerted to get a prospect to come and visit might buy the wrong sort of will simply be pushed back to the drive to get him to put sidewalks on his visiting list and perhaps keep teachers off even asylums for pushing for 300 commitments while intending only 100 actual

invitations. It looks hard to us to write the right role. It has also occurred to us to worry about both institutional and legal vulnerability to a simple rule. Imagine for a moment another nohow surrender this time from Chicago. Suppose he has five slots on his visit list and puts down five Midwestern institutions. One big 10 1 Big 8 1 mid-America. 1 Missouri Valley one independent. Then fully committed. He has he has somehow struck by the dream of UCLA or Texas or going to the Carolinas. Can we in fact de bar him from visiting or matriculating after competing at one of those fine educational and athletic institution even though he goes over his 5 visit. Might we not be in grave danger of several kinds of legal action on behalf

of the prospective student athlete. Maybe the committee shies from the shadows. Perhaps we have confused our servers. We would be grateful for your help and guidance on this point. 3. We are concerned about the existence of activities in some places of the paid staff member who does not code but works full time as the recruiter. Perhaps he should disappear. Almost certainly he should stay away during the basketball season from the football prospect to his playing basketball for sure. Should we simply prohibit the recruiting coach or a staff member or even the non employed representative of the new institutions athletic interests from spending any money in the off campus entertainment of a prospective student athlete. If that passes the test I'd call it the ED Weaver rule. It has what the mathematicians call elegance. Just don't let him

spend any money so far. Might we define the acceptable representative of athletic interests as only one who resides in the home community or communities contiguous there to circus. Should we try to make the national die heard of intent truly national. Or to make its effective date early. Year Seven. Showed acceptance of an institutional letter of commitment or an or tender of Grant and become equivalent to signing a national letter of intent. Date should press announcements of a prospect's commitment to an institution prior to the date for signing of letters. And should press conferences and or pictures of Pope signing on code be prohibited. 9. Should there be a part a period of silence or no contact between a prospect in the institution during the time between the issuance of a letter of intent

and its return or expiration in ten. Should there be. Limitations on contact via long distance telephone. What can we do about the fair labeling of grants and should there be an NCAA model for 12. This is something I set great store by personally. Should we try to initiate positive campaigns for parent school media and public education about the truths and realities of the life. The future the value situation and the prospects of the student athlete. His recruitment and his problems of choice. Are we sufficiently effective or are we passive in guide and guiding and in likening the vast public enthusiasm for college of sport in the United States.

Edwin HKT faculty athletic representative from Indiana University presenting some of the proposals on recruiting being considered by the NCAA Double-A. At the time of the NCW meeting in Washington. Another group vitally concerned with recruiting was meeting less than a mile away. The football coaches of America. What do they think of the problems connected with recruiting. Binge watch while their football coach at Syracuse University urged the rule makers to make their intentions clear. Let's get some rules from the coach's point of view that are spelled out. And so we know. How many this is us and as long as this is uniform they see if you can sell them in one trip we canot serach use our budget so small that we can afford a second trip. We try to restrict it to whether the boys or it has applied to our school before we bring him in now years

gentlemen arrested and gotten down on expenses. Course if he hasn't visited you then say well maybe he doesn't know that he should apply. So there's all these things but get something down and so it's spelled out. The number of everything that you can do because gentlemen this is our lifeline of the coaches as you well know and you're certainly on the right track. And get some rules and regulations made and get some teeth in your butt. Something that is simple and workable as I know it's going to be like the alumni and town and. How many times a representative of a school can visit a boy in their home how many phone calls they can make how many paid visits to the campus and under what conditions. If you just do this you're doing the

coach's a favor. I heartily endorse what you're doing. I think it's a wonderful thing. I think it's something that was needed a long time ago and more power to you and just get it done and. Simple and forceful and I'm sure the colleges will will do what you tell them to do. Then swatch Wylder head football coach at Syracuse University. One of the nation's most successful football coaches is prank Broyles of Arkansas. He opposed a rule that would limit the number of visits a coach can make to a prospective athlete's hometown. Well I think the one that I most can start with because we have been a party to it and our. People in our conference are supporting their faculty people and that is due

to visit room. Where a coach can only visit. A prospect on two occasions. From the time that he becomes a scene I think that's about the way stated. And. We had a four visit ruin our conference too before signing day two after signing day and we had more hard feelings more suspicion of. Violating this rule than anything that we have ever experienced and we dropped it immediately. You know coaches are going on record unanimously 8 0 that this is a bad brew bad football. And there are many reasons for it and the main reason I think is that. When you have used your two basics then you have to involve your luck that. We went through this. We have used up to visit and before signing day

and here's another school in there see him. And so what do we do we get our alumni to go see. Or this is dangerous. Allow an alumni do not know the rules. If user Cephalon that he has known how to get business and when he begins to lose this boy it's human nature for him to start taking action to try to dissuade this boy to go to his school. And we have experienced this as much as any conference in America. And alumni. Just stay out of recruiting as much as possible. The two visit rule will throw you right in the lump. In every town where you've got a prospect had to know the rules explained to it and go through this. The second reason it's a bad rule is far Southwest Conference was. Concerned that the first thing was especially in the second thing was along and the third thing it did not cut cost in recruiting. It actually in this goons that we checked in my particular school it increased because.

Of this reason we would visit the two boys we could visit and I've been more Mac coach sitting down. And he would have an area so we broadened our area for this coach. He would then go a little bit further than a neighboring state. We couldn't get commitments and we didn't have to have the commitment they wanted it till February and it used his two visits actually could only use one probably before signed a CO's got to use one after signed a contract signing. I've never seen you mail one and how competent get made it back to. You got to be there. So. Wacko does not know when what we could get my coaches begin to broaden out pro and I begin to stand on the thousand miles away from Fayetteville Arkansas and then we start bringing those boys in for a visit and it actually increased our cost. The fourth thing is that it actually I think the NCW and most of us agree that in the end that a boy close to home should go to spook close to home whether to

visit Roulette sees people just travel everywhere. You've seen the two boys in your area and you don't know what you're going to get I'm not your own home state. So what do you do you take off and go somewhere else and everybody is in your state. And we found that it did not work. And we have. Expressed our Binion to our faculty people that it is a bad and forcible rule in say Double-A to take six months to investigate something. By then the boys are already in school. And six months before they take action on that. We had. Accusations among each other hundreds and hundreds and we just never turned to me and to God it take too long to get it done in our current time speaking among each other we'd say well we heard you. You were there about 30 minutes long and you should have been. And you were in the hallway and you wanted me to see that ball we call and bumps you in the coach's office looking at the end of the blog saying. You've got to run and hide. But I know where you got the courage to shake his

hand Oh is that a proper set of this and you didn't mean you see him. And but he walked in the hopper so they just so many things it makes it kind of forcible. That we found from experience that it will work. Frank Broyles head football coach at the University of Arkansas. The president of the American Football Coaches Association is Paul Dietzel head football coach and athletic director at the University of South Carolina. He favors a National Letter of Intent to reduce the problems of recruiting. I believe. That the local schools should have the advantage. I mean by that. One of the things I really dislike. I expect if there were one such a thing is recruiting everyone United States would be a football coach. Because I honestly believe that football coaching is the most fun of anything in the world I can

imagine. A greater thing to do than really good coaching frankly it bothers me sometimes because I'm scared that they're going to find out that they're paying me for what is a hobby. Because football coaching is a lot of fun. The only problem in football coaching is recruiting. And every one of us feel the same way about it I believe it's a very challenging thing and I think it's kind of fun to accept the challenge of recruiting but this is the part of football that is not fun. And the reason is I think that in many respects this is the part of football that gets to be the long drawn out hours this is the thing that keeps you away from home. I wish the national letter of intent would be signed on December the 12th. Or the 13th or 14th. And the reason I do is. I think by the time a boy has grown up. And he is gone all the way through high school and lived in an area he should have a fairly decent idea about where he's going to go to school as it is now we signed a letter of

intent way down in the spring in our particular conference in the southeastern Atlantic coast and Southern Conference. We signed our letters of intent about the first week in December I think it's great. And the reason is by the middle of December our coaching staff is completely finished wurst up through. There the tiredest worn out dish band looking bunch your saw. But 90 percent of our recruiting is over with. And to me we have an advantage each one of our schools has an advantage in his own area. The only thing is I was at national level and then were signed on the same time just waiting along. Paul Dietzel football coach and athletic director of the University of South Carolina speaking on the subject of recruiting at a news conference in Washington D.C.. This has been special of the week featuring highlights from the recent meeting of the National Collegiate Athletic Association in Washington. Next week their series of

programmes will focus on the rising cost of medical aged athletics. This edition of special of the week was produced by our and we are at WFTV. Wake Forest University with special assistance from the staff of WMUR in Washington. This is an E.R. the national educational radio network A.