So what was the NCAA violation?
The PUKE (teflon) will never have any violations attached to it or so I've been told!
https://www.ncaa.org
"Extra Benefits":
- "One area that causes concern and raises the greatest number of questions involves a student- athlete or his family member’s receipt of an “extra benefit.”
- An extra benefit is defined as any special arrangement by an institutional employee or booster to provide a student-athlete or the student-athlete’s relatives or friends a benefit not authorized by the NCAA.
- The receipt of a benefit not authorized by NCAA regulations by a student-athlete or his parents, relatives or friends will immediately place the student-athlete’s eligibility for intercollegiate athletics competition in jeopardy.
- A parent may not sell memorabilia from their student athlete's athletic accomplishments.
- Parents or student-athletes selling memorabilia can jeopardize eligibility.
- Extra benefit rules apply to both student-athletes and parents.
- To provide a student-athlete (or a student-athlete’s relative or friend) a benefit that is not generally available to other university students and their relatives and/or friends, or, is not expressly authorized by the NCAA legislation.
- Examples of extra benefits include, but are not limited to, the following:
- A loan of money, regardless of temporary nature of loan, intent to pay back the value, or whom the loan is from (i.e. parents of teammates are not appropriate persons to offer loans to student athletes.)
- A special discount, payment arrangement or credit on a purchase or service (e.g., dry cleaning, legal representation)
- Free or reduced-cost housing; (ZW much?)
- Transportation, an automobile or use of an automobile;
- Services (e.g., movie tickets, dinners, use of a car) from commercial agencies (e.g., movie theaters, restaurants, car dealers) without charge or at reduced rates; and
- Cash, gift certificates or other items with value."
http://www.espn.com/mens-college-ba...et-duke-firestorm-ncaa-men-college-basketball
"The first and most obvious question for NCAA investigators: Where did a college senior, the son of a single mother who is a manager at a Ford plant in New Jersey, according to Duke's website, come up with that sort of cash to drop on something as frivolous as jewelry?
The second and more complicated question: Did Rafaello & Co., a New York-based jeweler with a website that touts its client list of rappers and pro athletes, extend an opportunity to Thomas to pay less than a third of the purchase in advance because of who he is? Because, in other words, he played for Duke?"
https://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2014/10/athletes_can_purchase_loss_of.html
"The NCAA announced its Academic and Membership Affairs staff approved a waiver to NCAA bylaws regarding amateur status and "benefits, gifts and services." Under the waiver (first reported by blogger and NCAA rules expert John Infante), athletes can now borrow against future earnings to secure a loan in order to purchase "loss of value" insurance."
Also,
https://247sports.com
....."That may or may not be the case. Having sufficient funds to cover a down payment isn't usually enough to obtain a loan. One also has to show adequate income to cover one's obligations. It is a violation of NCAA amateurism rules to receive a loan based on future earning potential in athletics unless the only purpose for the loan is to secure an insurance policy against the risk of injury.
Disallowed benefits include
12.1.2.1.6 Preferential Treatment, Benefits or Services. Preferential treatment, benefits or services
because of the individual’s athletics reputation or skill or pay-back potential as a professional
athlete, unless such treatment, benefits or services are specifically permitted under NCAA legislation.
[R] (Revised: 1/11/94, 1/14/08)
The exception being:
12.1.2.4.5 Exception for Insurance Against Disabling Injury or Illness. An individual may borrow
against his or her future earnings potential from an established, accredited commercial lending institution
exclusively for the purpose of purchasing insurance (with no cash surrender value) against a disabling
injury or illness that would prevent the individual from pursuing a chosen career, provided a third party
(including a representative of an institution’s athletics interests) is not involved in arrangements for securing
the loan. However, an institution’s president or chancellor (or his or her designated representative from
outside the department of athletics) may designate an institutional staff member (or staff members) (e.g.,
professional sports counseling panel) to assist a student-athlete with arrangements for securing the loan and
insurance. The institution shall retain copies of all documents related to loan transactions and insurance
policies, regardless of whether the institution is involved in the arrangements. (Revised: 1/16/93, 1/14/97
effective 8/1/97, 1/16/10)
So there is a very real question about how the loan was secured. If this is found to be an amateurism violation, the question becomes what does the NCAA do about it?
UMass had its Final Four appearance vacated because Camby received $28,000.00. Ohio State vacated the entire 2010 football season for memorabilia sales, discounts, preferential loans. While it imposed that penalty itself, I have no doubt the NCAA would have done the same."
