Ole Miss Recruiting Violation?

[graphicBYdesign]

http://twitter.com/SEC_Logo/status/334885350805733378/photo/1

Isn't this a violation? Didn't we get some minor sanctions for saying "play with the best" on a billboard?

I'm on my phone, so I can't figure out how to post the pic directly in the message.

 

[patdog]

No violation. That tweet is just stating a fact. Eli was a Bear. Our billboard directly solicited recruits to come to MSU. There's a subtle difference. And that's the difference between a minor violation and no violation. That tweet is no different than the billboards we've both put up with the Super Bowl winners that played at both schools, which weren't violations either. As a practical matter, it really doesn't matter. If you cross the line that slightly, there's no penalty anyway, other than that you can't do that exact same thing again.

 

[graphicBYdesign]

Maybe i wasn't clear in why I thought it was a violation. Yes, Eli played for Ole Miss, however, the ad then states "begin your journey here." How is "play with the best" different from "begin your journey here?"

The Super Bowl billboards that both schools put up only acknowledged that players in the Super Bowl went to their schools. None of them had a message to recruits.

 

[FormerlyHighLifeRebel]

Pretty sure the "play with the best" billboards

Were put up in Oxford and another small town with the obvious intent being targeted at a specific recruit. That was the violation.

If you couldn't ask or tell people to come to your university, then almost all advertising would be illegal.

 

[graphicBYdesign]

The "Play with the Best" Billboards were placed in 5 different locations around the state. As dumb as it is, the NCAA rules state clearly that you cannot solicit recruits to your school through advertising. You can advertise your school, but you can't say "come here" which is ridiculous.

 

[patdog]

Didn't notice that part. You're right. That phrase is no different than "play with the best." Again, as a practical matter, there's really no penalty even if you do get your wrist slapped.

 

[dawgstudent]

The problem I believe was there was a public quote by an MSU official saying they were strategically placed.

 

[graphicBYdesign]

Gotcha... I Had no clue about a public statement (didn't know that was why it was a big deal). Just knew that there was an NCAA rule, what the NCAA said the problem was, and we sanctioned ourselves.

So, if we didn't say anything, then we could have kept the billboards up? Damn, we shoot ourselves in the foot to much.

 

[dawgstudent]

I think in the spirit of the rule - it's a violation for both OM and State. But the fact there was something public was the reason we took it down.

 

[goindhoo]

That tweet is just stating a fact.

Fact: He wasn't drafted number one by the Giants as that tweet implies.

 

[graphicBYdesign]

I know that our "sanctions" were nothing in the grand scheme of things (have to run all athletic advertising through the compliance office). It still sucks that we had to take down $5,000 worth of billboards.

 

[patdog]

The billboards served their purpose. In fact, the publicity from the violation just served that purpose even more.