Whether an athlete is a star recruit or just a walk-on, the rules are the same, and the coaches make sure that everyone knows the rules. The next player interviewed hadn’t even focused on playing college sports until he got to USC.
“I thought I could play,” he said, “but I never had a break between sports in high school, and I kind of thought it would be nice to have that break in college.”
So when he arrived at SC, he took that first year break he truly needed from athletics. The next year he walked on to the team, and subsequently made the cut. Even though he wasn’t recruited by USC, he said he also wasn’t oblivious to the recruiting techniques widely practiced by schools with strong athletic programs.
“I am absolutely sure there is more shady stuff that goes on behind the back of NCAA rules. “
But he says that the parity between all of the colleges make the recruiting process of high school athletes fair.
“I don’t think it’s nearly as big of a deal as steroids in baseball. Whenever you go on trips, they are going to try to impress you. As far as the big programs go, they work around (the rules).
They give some players money, and those players take the recruits out (on the town).”
He said that the same parity can be applied to the way that agents recruit collegiate athletes. But sports agencies, he emphasizes, are much dirtier in recruiting than colleges.
“I think the NCAA should be cracking down more on that (sports agent recruiting). Coaches do tell us what we can accept, and what we can’t accept. Once you accept something from them, you’re basically theirs.”
This athlete further stated that coaches do a good job of informing players of the rules, whether they choose to listen or not.
“In team meetings,” he explained, “they always tell us what you can accept and what you can’t accept, and how it can hurt you in the long run.”
He additionally points out, however, that the responsibility is ultimately on the players to do the right thing.
“While the agents may be shady, it’s also the players’ responsibility to not accept the gifts and know what’s going on. But, who’s to say someone can’t buy something for someone else? … It gets really confusing.”
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