[NU Sports] Recruiting

[Dennis W. Brandt]

Eric West wrote:
> I don't recall mentioning Joe Paterno at all in my message above, nor 
> claiming anything else that you are talking about. But if you wish to 
> pretend that the "rule" is something that it isn't, based on a vague 
> reference in a newspaper article by a reporter who surely does not have 
> all the facts, that is your privilege.

Whether or not the reporter who wrote that article has "all the facts," I 
don't believe any of us can say at this point.  I questioned the article's 
statement that Big Ten coaches can only make "official recruiting visits to 
prospects who have either been admitted or on track to be admitted to 
school."  I did not "pretend that the 'rule' is something that it isn't" 
since, had I drawn any conclusion "based on a vague reference in a newspaper 
article," it would have been that the rule DOES exist because that is what 
the article implies.  "I doubt" is an expression of skepticism, not a 
conclusion.  I then used Joe Paterno as an illustration of a circumstance 
applicable to all Big Ten coaches (and perhaps other conferences).

Hopefully this clarifies it for you, Eric.

I doubt that such any rule exists that denies all pre-application contact 
between a university sports program and prospective players.  Mike Nolan's 
comment that the rule may apply "only to the head coach" makes the most 
sense so far.  Perhaps someone will cite the regulation.