And Getting Back to Notre Dame . . .
Back on May 2, I wrote the following: ``We’re 2,000 miles from South Bend but I talked to someone tonight with first-hand knowledge who said Notre Dame sent a Hummer stretch limo to pickup Oaks Christian quarterback Jimmy Clausen during his recent visit and commitment. Sounds a bit excessive, no?
``There’s also reports that a sports agent helped coordinate the public announcement of the commitment at the College Football Hall of Fame.''
Naturally, this upset Notre Dame fans.
But look at what my former Daily News colleague, Eric Sondheimer, wrote today in the L.A. Times.
``(The Clausen family) allowed an NFL agent, Gary Wichard, to put together the news conference . . . Wichard, who said he's a family friend, had his former employee, Jeff Freedman, a public relations specialist, call the College Hall of Fame to make arrangements to use the facility.
``Wichard confirmed he was among more than a dozen Clausen friends and family members who showed up at the Hall of Fame in a stretch limo escorted by police.''
Comments
recruiting violations galore- ding! ding! ding! selective investingating (and prosecuting?) by ncaa- ding! ding! ding!
Posted by: John | May 14, 2006 06:03 PM
How is this a recruiting violation by Notre Dame? Sounds like USC fan bitterness and a desire to get the spotlight off the SC program.
Posted by: george | May 14, 2006 09:45 PM
sounds like George is bitter over the spotlight back on Notre Dame with another Ron Powlus....
Posted by: CH | May 15, 2006 12:15 AM
Nothing fishy going on there... hmmm... will this only become an issue if the agent... cough... firend... represents Clausen as a pro??? For all we know Clausen is going to follow his family's legacy and be all hype and no substance.. Bitterness???? I'm more than happy to have Aaron Corp and Samson Szakacsy commit to USC... both great QB's... Aaron the QB who can run... and Samson the QB with the passing skills that have been compared favorably to Elway.
Posted by: Martin | May 15, 2006 12:20 AM
...it's a legitimate gripe by the LA times because Claussen was receiving a benefit from a an agent/representative of an agent, which is against NCAA regulations.
Claussen's benefit came in form of a limousine ride and the overall logistics behind Claussen's "ceremonial" commitment.
His parents PAID A PRO AGENT to help organize such an event and get that stretch limo.
Posted by: Ryan | May 15, 2006 04:54 AM
So ..........I guess SC is Ok to send Limos and have Agents,ahem, I meant friends set up major media events for recruits now too? guess as long as Dad doesnt help pay rent for him and his room mate because that would be Illegal.....Huh? I'm lost now some one help me here..........I cant seem to find my latest NCAA manual !!
Posted by: Loenzo | May 15, 2006 06:22 AM
So, Scott, was it a violation or not? Can't imagine Notre Dame would have been dumb enough to conduct this very public event if they suspected it violated NCAA rules.
Posted by: Mike | May 15, 2006 09:50 AM
Lorenzo, if Claussen's parents had planned for everything themselves and paid for their own limo OUTSIDE OF A PRO AGENT'S HELP than everything would be okay!
Posted by: Lorenzo | May 15, 2006 12:43 PM
No one else is even reporting this. Is this a violation or not?
Posted by: George | May 15, 2006 06:01 PM
You idiots. A hummer limo costs $150 per hour. Renting the college football hall of fame costs $250 for a three hour event. Do you honestly believe that:
A) Jimmy risked losing tens of millions of dollars in NFL revenue in order to have a $500 announcement?
AND
B) Notre Dame committed a recruiting violation ON NATIONAL TELEVISION?
This is the stupidest frigging story I've ever seen. OF COURSE he didn't sign with an agent or accept a limo ride from a booster. HE KNEW IT WAS GOING TO BE ON ESPN. How stupid can you people be?!
Posted by: Sean | May 16, 2006 12:40 AM
Also, remember that the family has had two other sons play QB for big time programs. Its not like they don't know the ins and outs of the NCAA rules. It would be incredibly dumb of them to committ a violation on national television after what they have already gone through.
Posted by: fc | May 16, 2006 11:46 AM