December 2, 2010
Chapel Hill
In an attempt to prevent amateur athletes from receiving improper benefits or payments for playing in college, the NCAA is testing a program where athletes actually have to pay fans in order to play. The details of the program are not clear yet, but one NCAA official and several officials from within the UNC program have leaked details. All sources speak from anonymity, as none are authorized to speak to the media on the matter. It should also be noted that one source is the NCAA president, but his name will not be mentioned in order to maintain his anonymity.
Essentially, anytime a UNC player is on campus and sees a person wearing a UNC shirt, the player must give a dollar to that person. "Our logic is simple," explains a source from the NCAA. "Say a player receives undue pay, or some other benefit. Now, he will be paying fans from his pocket. The cost of paying fans will balance out the money he earned against NCAA rules."
While the program is only at UNC and only within the basketball program right now, the NCAA hopes to expand it to other schools and sports once any kinks are worked out. One amendment to the program already added allows for players to not pay fans on game days as well as on football or basketball game days. Football and basketball games draw the most fans to campus. This was added after UNC's first home football game. Harrison Barnes made the freshman mistake of walking through Tar Heel Town. "I think I gave away $5,000," he said. "I had to go to the ATM just to get more money. I will probably have to sell my car now."
Fellow Freshman Reggie Bullock, who was with Barnes just stopped and closed his eyes, staying until Tar Heel town cleared out of fans. He then walked head down, looking at his feet, to his car and went home. He had wanted to see the football game.
The toll of this new program is effecting the play of the team, says numerous UNC sources. Most players have gotten one or two jobs in order to make enough money. They are tired and worn out, and it shows on the court.
Players are also finding ways to avoid seeing fans on campus. Larry Drew II was seen walking through the pit blindfolded, being led by a seeing eye dog. Tyler Zeller bought a pair of horse blinders and fashioned them to the mask former teammate Tyler Hansbrough wore when he broke his nose as a sophomore.
The NCAA source explains that UNC was targeted for this pilot program because of the allegations against the football program, and the basketball team was specifically chosen because it is easier to run the trial program with 15 men than 90.
College sports have been plagued with allegations of players violating their amateur status. Cam Newton of Auburn, Georgia wide receiver A.J. Green, and Kentucky basketball player Enes Kanter, as well as at least 16 players from the UNC football team, have been under NCAA investigation this season. Green and several UNC players have been suspended, while several other UNC players have been withheld as the investigation continues. Kanter and two UNC players were ruled permanently ineligible by the NCAA.
The allegations accuse UNC football players of receiving improper or exuberant benefits. Several reports have been released documenting such benefits. One NCAA report says several UNC football players spent the night at former teammate and friend Hakeem Nicks house while visiting New York City. The improper benefit received here is the estimated cost the players would have paid for lodging in New York City. Spending the night with a friend instead of paying for a hotel room is an NCAA rule infraction.
Another report tells of a player receiving a free brownie dessert at Chili's after his order was prepared wrong. Yet another player took a penny from the Give-A-Penny-Take-A-Penny at a Sheetz gas station when paying for a Reece's Cup. Both incidents are violations of NCAA rules against receiving improper benefits.
UNC is protesting the NCAA over this pilot program and hopes that it will be lifted and banned.
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