Laws regarding "boosters"

[RocketDawg]

My understanding is that the definition of a booster is anyone who provides monetary gifts to an athletic program, or even buys season tickets to said program. It's also my understand that there are not state or federal laws keeping boosters from influencing potential players, but the universities (or at least MSU does in all their emails and correspondence) cautions boosters that doing so is against NCAA regulations and can result in penalties to the athletic program.

The federal government is totally into professional baseball, as seen from the recent "juicing" hearings in Congress. Presumably it's the same for football and other major professional sports.

College athletics, and football in particular, are big dollar businesses, and growing by leaps and bounds every year. Overall, they probably have more money than professional baseball (purely an assumption my part).

So why can't booster interference be made a state or federal crime, punishable by jail time, fines, or whatever is appropriate? The school cannot possibly control the actions of all their boosters, yet they have the responsibility and are severely punished for others' actions.

So why not make it a crime. I can see all the probations, etc., if the University or its coaches try to pay potential players, but why when it's done by persons that are out of their control, do the schools' athletics programs have to suffer?

 

[Wicked Pissah]

So send someone to jail for a $200 hand shake?

It isnt illegal to give any joe blow money. It is against ncaa rules but not federal laws.

 

[RocketDawg]

I know it's not illegal. That's why I'm asking opinions. If that $200 handshake has such far-reaching implications of negative affecting a school's program, then yes, send him to jail or fine him ... depending on the severity of the punishment to the school for what he did.

If it was illegal, boosters might have second thoughts about those "handshakes". They already know it's against NCAA rules.

 

[Wicked Pissah]

Good idea. Let yours and my tax dollars spend 45k a year to incarcerate a guy that is probably 45, upper middle class, pays taxes but is just a little to much of a fanatic and hands some 18 yr old $500. Brilliant sparky.

 

[RocketDawg]

It wouldn't take many incarcerations until the normal tempted fan would never do it.

 

[DerHntr]

You can't seriously think someone should be imprisoned for...

giving away money, clothes, or other benefits.

I am starting to believe that the NCAA's mission to have totalitarian rule (cough cough PSU) in all situations is working. Anyone suggesting that breaking an NCAA rule should lead to jail time is All In.

 

[ArtVandelay.sixpack]

I can tell you it is going to cost our University (funded primarily by tax dollars and donations) much more than $45K to deal with the problems this idiot caused. I don't care how harmless it sounds or the fact that the outcome won't likely cripple the program, the administrative cost to deal with any NCAA issue is going to be fairly significant.

 

[Wicked Pissah]

I was referring to the avg cost of a year in prisoner.

I dont pay for msu's law team. I pay for inmates.

 

[GreaterCowbell]

Based on the NCAA's past equity and fairness in all situations........HELL NO!

 

[dudehead]

Are you serious?

(sorry my 'net sarcasm meter is broke)

 

[ArtVandelay.sixpack]

What I was saying is that no matter what state you live in, your tax dollars go to fund a State University. Therefore, those tax dollars pay for many things, including legal issues. I am not necessarily saying that I think a booster should be thrown in jail, he can do what he wants with his money. However, in the long run it probably cost Universities (subsidized by State governements - i.e. our tax dollars) more money, on average, to deal with NCAA issues like this than it would be to put a someone in jail.

Then there are real consequences and boosters quit acting like morons and you deal with less and less of these type issues. Eventually, you likely save more than $45K, on average, when these type of situtations beging to decrease substantially.

 

[HammerOfTheDogs]

This is how big-name programs get off so easy

Your Notre Dames, Alabamas, Ohio States, etc. have fans who not only never went to skool there, they don't have season tickets or are members of official booster clubs. The big-time skools can use these fans to funnel money to their players. Then, when they get caught, they can simply burn the bridge of a sidewalk fan.

"Lack of Institutional Control" is the excuse the NCAA uses to hammer little skools.

 

[Wicked Pissah]

What I was saying is that no matter what state you live in, your tax dollars go to fund a State University. Therefore, those tax dollars pay for many things, including legal issues. I am not necessarily saying that I think a booster should be thrown in jail, he can do what he wants with his money. However, in the long run it probably cost Universities (subsidized by State governements - i.e. our tax dollars) more money, on average, to deal with NCAA issues like this than it would be to put a someone in jail.

Then there are real consequences and boosters quit acting like morons and you deal with less and less of these type issues. Eventually, you likely save more than $45K, on average, when these type of situtations beging to decrease substantially.

Just like drug dealers. If we lock em up, theyll stop....except they wont, just like no kid is not going to not take money and theyll continue to get it if the school wants to compete.

I dont care one way or the other. Schools need to stop tattling on each other. Yes, auburn has gotten a ton of bad publicity but no probation and a ring....all for the bargain of 200k. I bet you jay jacobs and his law army would say it has been worth it

 

[gravedigger]

But to give joe, blow money....different thing

 

[tenureplan]

This

may be the dumbest **** i've read today this week this month ever

 

[Lucky13Dawg]

This makes my head explode that even suggested it.

My understanding is that the definition of a booster is anyone who provides monetary gifts to an athletic program, or even buys season tickets to said program. It's also my understand that there are not state or federal laws keeping boosters from influencing potential players, but the universities (or at least MSU does in all their emails and correspondence) cautions boosters that doing so is against NCAA regulations and can result in penalties to the athletic program.

The federal government is totally into professional baseball, as seen from the recent "juicing" hearings in Congress. Presumably it's the same for football and other major professional sports.

College athletics, and football in particular, are big dollar businesses, and growing by leaps and bounds every year. Overall, they probably have more money than professional baseball (purely an assumption my part).

So why can't booster interference be made a state or federal crime, punishable by jail time, fines, or whatever is appropriate? The school cannot possibly control the actions of all their boosters, yet they have the responsibility and are severely punished for others' actions.

So why not make it a crime. I can see all the probations, etc., if the University or its coaches try to pay potential players, but why when it's done by persons that are out of their control, do the schools' athletics programs have to suffer?

This type of thinking is beyond assanine. Let's prosecute someone for giving a little cash or a gift to someone? Maybe you've never heard of a slippery slope, but I can guarnagoddamntee you don't want to go down this path with the government unless you want them all up in your Cheerios. No thank you, sir. It scares me that you suggested it. Seriously.

I'm not interested in everyone buying players, but truthfully it's been going on forever and it'll continue even if it was illegal. It'll always be worth the risk to someone. If the NCAA wants to chase it then let them. Both the act and the enforcement aggravate me at times, but I can deal with that. I can't deal with being scared I might go to jail because I take some kid fishing then find out he's a prospect.

Uh...NO.

/and please delete that post before some congressmen reads it and gets some hair-brained idea. God knows, we've got all types on here....wouldn't surprise me a bit.

 

[Coach34]

What I was saying is that no matter what state you live in, your tax dollars go to fund a State University. Therefore, those tax dollars pay for many things, including legal issues. I am not necessarily saying that I think a booster should be thrown in jail, he can do what he wants with his money. However, in the long run it probably cost Universities (subsidized by State governements - i.e. our tax dollars) more money, on average, to deal with NCAA issues like this than it would be to put a someone in jail.

Then there are real consequences and boosters quit acting like morons and you deal with less and less of these type issues. Eventually, you likely save more than $45K, on average, when these type of situtations beging to decrease substantially.

What about the millions of dollars Auburn made from winning the NCAA title? All the t-shirts, videos, contributions to the school because they spent that 200K to get Cam Newton?

 

[Snave]

not criminal, but the university could sue based on NCAA sanctions

take dumbass booster to court and sue for damages. That would end **** quick.

 

[ArtVandelay.sixpack]

What about the millions of dollars Auburn made from winning the NCAA title? All the t-shirts, videos, contributions to the school because they spent that 200K to get Cam Newton?

Absolutely. If you do it right you can get one hell of a return on your investment. However, in our situation, it is likely going to cost us much more than it was worth.

$200K for Cam has to be one of the best "deals" in NCAA history. We have seen what Auburn and Chizik are capable of without him.

 

[o_hacker]

I dont pay for msu's law team.

You don't?