From: SCHMIDT@LSTC2VM.stortek.com (Jon Schmidt)
Subject: Letter of Intent Rules
Organization: StorageTek SW Engineering
Date: Thu, 21 Jan 1993 19:27:11 GMT

 
This year the National Letter of Intent program has selected February 3
as its initial signing date for the sport of football.  The NCAA's
recruiting rules regarding the signing of a letter of intent have been
changing recently.  This, coupled with the fact that many coaches just
love to brag to the media about their recruiting coups, makes this time
of year a golden opportunity to observe violations (however minor) of
NCAA recruiting rules.  And the best part is that these violations will
frequently occur right in front of your eyes on TV during interviews and
press conferences!  Of course, if you don't know the rules you won't
catch the violations and will miss out on all the fun.
 
So, with this in mind, I've listed below most of the NCAA's rules which
are pertinent to the signing of a letter of intent to play football.
Happy hunting!
 
________________________________________________________________________
 
13.02  DEFINITIONS AND APPLICATIONS <abridged>
 
13.02.4.4  Dead Period.  A dead period is that period of time when it is
not permissible to make in-person recruiting contacts or evaluations on
or off the member institution's campus or to permit official or
unofficial visits by prospects to the institution's campus.  During such
a dead period, a coaching staff member may not serve as a speaker at or
attend a meeting or banquet at which prospects are in attendance and may
not visit the prospects' educational institutions.  It remains
permissible, hovever, for an institutional staff member to write or
telephone prospects during such a dead period.
 
13.02.7  National Letter of Intent.  The National Letter of Intent
referred to in this bylaw is the official document administered by the
Collegiate Commissioners Association and utilized by subscribing member
institutions to establish the commitment of a prospect to attend a
particular institution.
________________________________________________________________________
 
13.1  CONTACTS AND EVALUATIONS <abridged>
 
FIGURE 13-5  Division I Football Recruiting Calendar <abridged>
 
Start Date             End Date              Recruiting Period
February 1 (8 a.m.)    February 5 (8 a.m.)   Dead
 
 
FIGURE 13-6  Division II Football Recruiting Calendar <abridged>
 
February 1 at 8 a.m. through February 3, at 8 a.m.:  Dead Period
 
 
13.1.2.7.2  Prospect's Signed Commitment.  In Division I-A football, the
head football coach shall not be present when an off-campus site is
utilized to obtain a prospect's signature on a National Letter of Intent
or a prospect's signed acceptance of the institution's financial aid
offer.
 
13.1.5.2.1  Activity During Letter-of-Intent Dead Period.  An
institutional staff member may not hand deliver a letter of intent
during the dead period surrounding the initial date for signing a letter
of intent.  The letter may be delivered by express mail, courier
service, regular mail or facsimile machine during this period.
________________________________________________________________________
 
13.10  LETTER-OF-INTENT PROGRAMS, FINANCIAL AID AGREEMENTS
 
13.10.1  General Restrictions.  A member institution may not participate
in an institutional or conference athletics letter-of-intent program or
issue an institutional or conference financial aid agreement that
involves a signing date that precedes the initial regular (as opposed to
early) signing date for the National Letter of Intent program in the
same sport.
 
    13.10.1.1  Mailing of Financial Aid Offer.  An institutional or
    conference financial aid form may be included in the normal mailing
    of the National Letter of Intent, but none of the forms enclosed in
    the mailing may be signed by the prospect prior to the initial
    signing date in that sport in the National Letter of Intent program.
 
    13.10.1.2  Offer of Aid Prior to Signing Date.  An institution may
    indicate in writing to a prospect that an athletically related
    grant-in-aid will be offered by the institution;  however, the
    institution may not permit the prospect to sign a form indicating
    his or her acceptance of such an award prior to the initial signing
    date in that sport in the National Letter of Intent program.
 
13.10.2  Division III Letter-of-Intent Prohibition.  A Division III
institution, or one that competes in a sport in Division III, shall not
utilize any form of a letter of intent or similar form of commitment in
the recruitment of a prospect in a sport classified in Division III.
However, it shall be permissible for the institution to utilize in the
recruitment of a prospect its preenrollment forms executed by
prospective students in general at that institution.
________________________________________________________________________
 
13.11  PUBLICITY
 
13.11.1  Comments Prior to Signing.  Prior to the signing of a prospect
to a National Letter of Intent or institutional tender of financial aid,
a member institution may comment publicly only to the extent of
confirming its recruitment of the prospect.  The institution may not
comment generally about the prospect's ability or the contribution that
the prospect might make to the institution's team;  further, the
institution is precluded from commenting in any manner as to the
likelihood of the prospect's signing with that institution.
 
    13.11.1.1  Evaluations for Media, Recruiting Services.  Athletics
    department staff members shall not evaluate or rate a prospect for
    news media, scouting services or recruiting services prior to the
    prospect's signed acceptance of the institution's written offer of
    admission as a student and/or written tender of financial assistance
    to be provided upon the prospect's enrollment.
 
13.11.2  Radio/TV Show.  A member institution shall not permit a
prospect or a high-school, college preparatory school or two-year
college coach to appear, be interviewed or otherwise be involved (in
person or via film, audio tape or videotape) on:
(a) A radio or television program conducted by the institution's coach;
(b) A program in which the institution's coach is participating, or
(c) A program for which a member of the institution's athletics staff
    has been instrumental in arranging for the appearance of the
    prospect or coach or related program material.
 
    13.11.2.1  Announcer for High-School Broadcast.  A member of the
    athletics staff of a member institution may not serve as an
    announcer or commentator for a high-school, college preparatory
    school or two-year college contest, or appear (in person or by means
    of film, audio tape or videotape) on a radio or television broadcast
    of such contest.
 
    13.11.2.2  Game Broadcast/Telecast.  A prospect may not be
    interviewed during the broadcast or telecast of an institution's
    intercollegiate contest.  A member institution may not permit a
    station telecasting a game to show a videotape of competition
    involving high-school, preparatory school or two-year college
    players.
 
13.11.3  Prospect's Visit.  A member institution shall not publicize (or
arrange for publicity of) a prospect's visit to the institution's
campus.
 
13.11.4  Introduction of Prospect.  An institution may not introduce a
visiting prospect at a function (e.g., the institution's sports award
banquet or an intercollegiate athletics contest) that is attended by
media representatives or open to the general public.
 
13.11.5  Intent to Enroll.  A member institution shall not publicize (or
arrange for publicity of) a prospect's intention to accept its offer of
financial assistance.
 
13.11.6  Announcement of Signing.  Publicity released by an institution
concerning a prospect's commitment to attend the institution shall occur
only after the prospect's signed acceptance of the institution's written
offer of admission and/or financial aid.  Such communications shall be
limited to those media forms normally used by the institution.
 
    13.11.6.1  Media Outlets.  Such communications shall be released
    only to those media outlets normally used by the institution and by
    the educational institutions currently and formerly attended by the
    prospect.
 
    13.11.6.2  Press Conferences.  Institutional press conferences,
    receptions, dinners and similar meetings held for the purpose of
    making such an announcement are expressly prohibited.
 
        13.11.6.2.1  One-Time Exception--Announcement of All Signings.
        An institution may make an announcement on the institution's
        campus for the sole purpose of presenting at one time to the
        media the names of all prospects who have accepted offers of
        admission and/or athletically related aid in a particular sport
        from that institution, with the understanding that no prospects
        (or their friends or relatives) may be in attendance.
 
        13.11.6.2.2  Independent Announcement by Prospect.  Press
        conferences to announce a signing may be arranged independently
        by the prospect (or the prospect's family), provided there is no
        arrangement or involvement whatsoever by the institution or
        representatives of its athletics interests.
 
    13.11.6.3  Staff Member Presence.  Institutional staff members are
    expressly prohibited from personal contact with media
    representatives at the site of the signing or at any other
    prearranged site when a prospect accepts an offer made by the
    institution.  This does not preclude the presence of bona fide media
    representatives who are employed on a part-time basis by the
    institution.
 
    13.11.6.4  Signings On Campus.  An institution is responsible for
    signings on its campus (whether involving an individual or a group
    of prospects).  Any contact by the media with prospects on campus
    during the time the prospect signs a National Letter of Intent or
    tender of financial aid shall be considered to be prima facie
    evidence of institutional involvement in arranging media involvement
    and shall be prohibited.
 
    13.11.6.5  Press-Release Content.  The contents of a properly issued
    press release may be determined by the institution and may include
    comments by its coaching staff members about the abilities of the
    prospect [see 13.4.2-(c) <"In Division I only, an institution's
    athletics department press release is limited to two colors of
    printing on the release.  An institution may utilize a different
    color of typing or writing than the two colors of print on the press
    release.">].
________________________________________________________________________
 
-- 
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