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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
SPORTS
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2005
NCAA rules limit recruit perks
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
NEW YORK — Dajleon Farr one of the top high school football players in the country, recently took recruiting trips to LSU, Miami, Nebraska and Oklahoma.
Farr toured the campuses, checked out the facilities, met some of the players and coaches and got a 48-hour feel for life as a student-athlete at a football powerhouse.
But he didn't get to see his name in lights. As of last year, that's against the rules.
"I remember watching that in 'The Program,' and I was like, 'I can't wait until it's my turn to take my trip, and I'll see my name on the scoreboard and get to run out on the field,'" said Farr, a tight end from Houston's North Shore High School.
High-profile scandals involving football recruits at Colorado and Miami prompted the NCAA to take what it called emergency action last summer.
No longer are schools allowed to woo prespects with rock star treatment. Fancy hotels, ritz restaurants and private planes are now off-limits. So are personalized jerseys and the use of simulated game-day activities, like the ones Farr saw in "The Program," a 1993 film about a fictitious scandal-ridden college football team.
The NCAA also now requires schools to file a written recruiting policy with their conference or the NCAA.
NCAA vice president David Berst, who chaired the panel that came up with the reforms, said the goal was to change the philosophy of recruiting and stamp out the "culture of entitlement," as NCAA president Mylens Brand referred to it.
major, as foreign as that concept may be to some."
"I think it remains to be seen if it has any long-term benefit of reducing the celebrity of the recruiting weekends," Berst said. "You shouldn't win the recruiting war by a lobster tail. You should win by an academic
National signing day is today.
Most of the reforms have been well received by coaches, said Grant Teaff, American Football Coaches Association executive director.
"I haven't heard one word of complaint," he said. "Though we may get that after signing day."
He said many schools don't have the type of perks available to them — five-star hotels and restaurants, for example — that the NCAA has outlawed. But some do, and opposing coaches were happy to see the playing field leveled.
"I can't imagine offering our recruits five-star hotels or restaurants," new LSU coach Les Miles said. "If staying where they have a hot tub in the room is important to them, this isn't the place for them."
New Mississippi coach Ed Orgeron was recruiting coordinator and defensive line coach for Southern California. He said
the new restrictions did little to change how USC conducted recruiting visits, and that he doesn't anticipate them being a problem at Ole Miss.
Rugers coach Greg Schiano was disappointed that he had to stop taking recruits on the Scarlet Walk, following the path the Scarlet Knights take on game day into the their new stadium, where the prospects' names would be displayed on the scoreboard.
"I think that's big, a kid getting a feel for being a part of the program for 48 hours," said Schiano.
Teaff said the reform that prompted the most protest from coaches was prohibiting college's from using chartered or private planes to transport recruits. About 35 Division I-A schools don't have a commercial airport near by, Teaff said. It saves time for those schools to use charters, but as Teaff pointed out, "There's no private planes to get you there when you become a student."
LAKE: Fishing locations plentiful in Clinton Lake park areas
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"For me, I don't see why anyone would want to harvest 50 and then have to clean them on top of that," he said. "They are good to eat, but there's no need to keep 50."
Fish that are too small or are over the daily limit should be thrown back.
During the spring spawn — April to May — there are several areas of Clinton lake that are hotspots for crappie. Sanders advised that during the spawn crappie swim in shallow waters, making boats unnecessary.
First of all, along the east side of the lake is the dam. Sanders said it is among the best places during the spawn. Crappie are usually visible, if the water is clear, so walking along the dam should reveal a good spot.
Bloomington Park, which is along the south edge of Clinton
Lake, is another area with two spots that are among the best accessible by land.
The first hole is along a tree line in the east part of the park. To find the second hole, look for a fireplace in the western portion of the park. It's on a foundation of a house. Straight west, there's a curve in the park that indicates a popular crappie spot.
The final hole accessible by land can be reached from the north. Around the northwest corner of Clinton Lake is Woodridge Park. The hole is just west, where Dry Creek runs into Clinton Lake.
Also, Sanders said the most successful crappie anglers at Clinton Lake seem to use charteuse colored crappie jigs. Minnows will also work well during the spawn.
— Edited by Jennifer Voldness
Amy Sancetta/AP Photo
Philadelphia Eagles receiver Terrell Owens talks with reporters at Alltel Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla., yesterday. Owens told the more than 1,000 reporters who gathered at the stadium for Media Day prior to Super Bowl XXXIX that he was ready to play.
Owens says he'll play in the Super Bowl
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Terrell Owens strolled onto the field, claiming a podium near the 25-yard line. It would have been more appropriate to put him right in the middle of the field.
T. O. was clearly in his comfort zone yesterday at the Super Bowl's media extravaganza the center of attention, the star of the show, the guy making all the news.
And say this about the Philadelphia Eagles' All-Pro receiver: He didn't leave anyone in suspense. Less than a minute after the tape recorders and cameras began rolling, Owens made his pronouncement.
"I will play on Sunday," he said.
Then, transforming the podium into a pulpit, Owens put on an hourlong performance that was part Ali, part Reverend Ike — and pure TO.
Adorned with diamonds in each ear and a matching bracelet, Owens let the conversation flow in all sorts of directions. At times, he sounded downright humble while crediting a strong religious faith for hastening the recovery of his right knee and ankle.
"God brought me here for a reason," he said.
But those were only momentary interludes. For the most part, Owens was at his bombastic best, saying he has no intention of being a decoy and embracing the controversy that seems to follow him around like a cornerback in a man-to-man defense. From Sharpies in the socks to towel-clad actresses in the locker room, it's all good in TO.'s world.
"I can't change who I am," he said. "I can't who I am."
The New England Patriots, with victories in two of the last three Super Bowls and on the cusp of becoming a full-fledged dynasty, had to settle for a supporting role on this day.
Owens was the star.
"It shows what kind of guy he is," said Troy Brown, the Patriots' receiver and nickel back. "He came to Philly because he wanted to play in this game. To see him out there running around, well, I've got to take my hat off to the guy."
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