With a GIRLFRIEND? If you are the NCAA how do you even notice there is a relationship, unless someone tells you. The rule states that no FAMILY MEMBERS will get benefits. It might not even be considered a violation.
Further, the mother could be right about the job and wrong about the location.
I have heard it widely discussed that the way around NCAA regulations is to put the money at some distance from the recruit. So you offer a friend or more distant family member (a great uncle or even aunt, for instance) something and it eventually gets back to the student.
I find it very credible.
The article BDV posted directly quoted the NCAA rule covering this. Cut and pasted from the article:
If the allegation is true, it would appear to violate a 2010 NCAA rule put in place to prevent “package deals” for prospects and recruits. The rule states:
“During a two-year period before a prospective student-athlete’s anticipated enrollment and a two-year period after the student-athlete’s actual enrollment, an institution shall not employ an
individual associated with the prospective student-athlete in any athletics department non-coaching staff position.”
IF that was an accurate depiction of the rule in the article, then it doesn't seem to be limited to family members. I agree that a girlfriend is kind of iffy, espcially considering teenagers, but if his deciding on Bama was in part based on his girlfriend going there, then it must be at least more than just a casual relationship. As for your assertion that,"....If you are the NCAA how do you even notice there is a relationship, unless someone tells you...", well she was in the YouTube video, so they shouldn't have much of a problem identifying her.
And, you're right, it might not even be a violation. And, if that's the case, then what's all the hubbub about in the first place? If they're not breaking any rules, all's fair in love, war and recruiting, although it might be unethical and more than a little slimey.
I just find it highly unlikely that Bama would have done something that could be relatively easily discovered. Of course, the penalties that would be associated with that violation might be considered secondary without much penalty, so they might consider it worth the risk.
The bottom line for me is this: Maybe it happened. But, I'm going to need a little more evidence than the word of a mother who wanted her son to go to another school.
