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SIU implements new recruiting policy

When Brandon Jacobs made his recruitment visit to SIU, he wasn't provided with exotic dancers, given alcoholic beverages or given a Saluki jersey with his number on it.

Jacobs, a senior running back, may not have experienced any of those things, all of which are NCAA violations. But various other recruits in college athletics have.

After controversies surrounding recruiting practices at Colorado and Miami surfaced, the NCAA formed a Recruiting Task Force to eliminate some of the discrepancies found.

Lavish hotels for recruits during their visits, trips to bars and gifts such as school jerseys with a recruit's number were among the most blatant violations.

As a result, the NCAA required all collegiate institutions to submit new official visits policies complying with the Recruiting Task Force recommendations.

In response, SIU formed the Campus Compliance Committee to review, develop and approve the University's policies.

Christian Spears, the assistant athletic director and compliance officer for SIU, is a member of the committee. Spears said SIU simply doesn't have the resources to provide some of the excess seen by larger schools in their recruiting practices.

"We don't have private jets like Ohio State," Spears said. "I don't think we even have any hotels in the area with Jacuzzi tubs in them."

Despite SIU's smaller stature in college sports, the school was still required to follow the institutional guidelines all members of the NCAA are subject to.

Dr. Harold Bardo, the faculty athletic representative on the committee, said roughly 15 areas of the policy were addressed. They ranged from the recruiting philosophy of SIU to the various devices permissible in the recruitment process.

Some of the recruitment tools specifically addressed included the use of alcohol, drugs and strippers or gentleman's clubs. While these things have not been a problem at SIU, all schools were required to define rules regarding them.

"It ought to be common sense," Bardo said of the rules pertaining to drugs, alcohol and women. "But the line gets blurred between what is good common sense and what is not."

SIU's official policy actually includes a form outlining these rules. The student-athlete, the student-athlete's parents and the head coach must all sign the form.

"I've had parents call me and ask me if they really have to sign it and if something will happen to their kids if they have a beer," Spears said.

The answer to both of those questions is yes.

All three parties must sign the forms or the student-athlete's visit will not occur. Also, there are punishments if any of the outlined rules are broken.

Another aspect of the NCAA legislation was a requirement for schools to provide an academic orientation for recruits, a practice SIU already took part in. Spears said a visit with an academic adviser is mandatory for recruits when they visit the campus.

While academic orientation is important for recruits, the main point of a visit is to decide if the student-athlete and the sports program will mesh well together.

This often leads to recruits engaging in pick-up games or training activities with their student host while at the campus. Of course, there are policies by both the NCAA and SIU regarding this as well.

Coaches and personnel may be present at these activities, but cannot organize them in anyway. Also, the media may not be present.

The NCAA decided upon this in an effort to diminish the celebrity-like status recruits are gaining, something Jacobs sees as beneficial.

"It helps save the hype until the season," Jacobs said.

Bardo agreed, saying student-athletes will have the ability to prove themselves on the field should they decide to play for a respective program.

"Students, and that's what student-athletes should be first, should have the ability to walk around like any other student," Bardo said. "All this build-up and these great expectations affect that."

That is exactly what the NCAA and member-schools, SIU included, are trying to accomplish through the Recruiting Task Force.

Wading through the pomp and circumstance of college recruiting can be a difficult process, but Jacobs had no problem in his visit at SIU.

"I was extremely comfortable here," Jacobs said. "All I need is a bed to sleep in and a fork and plate to eat with."