Cara sent this to me and then asked me to forward it to the list, so here it is...with a few comments of mine at the end (you didn't think you'd get away that easy, did you). - mike ========== From: Cara Sartor <[log in to unmask]> Subject: Re: Rules violation at UW still to be settled Date: Fri, 16 Jul 93 10:29:35 EDT In-Reply-To: <[log in to unmask]>; from "Michael C. Machnik" at Jul 15, 93 3:02 pm Regarding all of this -- whose responsibility is it/should it be to inform the *players* of these NCAA rules. I've had conversations with both football and hockey players here at U of M(ichigan) who think I'm absolutely crazy when I tell them that these things are violations. They really don't know about the rules. It seems like somebody out there had better make it clear to everyone involved if they're going to turn around and penalize those who break the rules. Maybe the players should be required to take that test on regulations and rules too :) Cara, wishing they'd turn the AC *down* ========== Just a few comments...the players should be informed of the rules by the institution they're attending - either the coaches, or a rep of the athletic department, etc. is usually in charge of making sure the players know what the rules are. I know that many schools hold special meetings and/or give out booklets that the players are expected to read and understand. But Cara has a good point, the rules are so complex that often the players either do NOT understand or else they don't take the time to read through everything. In their defense, I'm willing to bet that many of the coaches and administrators are not aware of every rule either. This is one criticism, that 1) there are too many rules, and 2) they're too complicated. Some schools have established an administrative position of "NC$$ compliance" to deal with making sure the school's athletes don't break the rules, but it doesn't seem that this is widespread - and many of the schools that do have such a person(s), were forced to do so by the NC$$ as part of settling previous violations. Of course, the NC$$ won't buy it as an excuse when violations are uncovered (not that they should). But maybe the NC$$ and the schools need to make a joint effort to find ways to help educate the players effectively about what the rules are. It may not be a valid excuse for them to say "I didn't know", but nevertheless, sometimes no one told them. BTW...I wonder if what has made this drag on, is that the NC$$ is trying to determine which if any of the following knew the violation was occurring (i.e., that it was happening and that it was illegal) - 1) The two players 2) The boosters 3) The UW coaching staff and/or athletic department I'm not accusing anyone, mind you, just wondering if this is an issue. It would seem to be more serious if the violation was known by any of the above (especially 3) but allowed to take place. --- Mike Machnik [log in to unmask] [log in to unmask] Cabletron Systems, Inc. *HMN* 11/13/93