A league source with intimate knowledge of the applicable NCAA regulations tells us that Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis might have rendered quarterback Brady Quinn and other incoming seniors ineligible if, as we previously have reported, Weis has directed the seniors with designs on pro football to pick their agents before the start of the 2006 season.

 

Rule 12.3.1 of the NCAA bylaws states that "[a]n individual shall be ineligible for participation in an intercollegiate sport if he or she ever has agreed (orally or in writing) to be represented by an agent for the purpose of marketing his or her athletics ability or reputation in that sport." Rule 12.3.1.1 elaborates on the general principle set forth in Rule 12.3.1: "An individual shall be ineligible per Bylaw 12.3.1 if he or she enters into a verbal or written agreement with an agent for representation in future professional sports negotiations that are to take place after the individual has completed his or her eligibility in that sport." A screen shot of the relevant page from the on-line NCAA manual appears below.

 

 

 

So what does it all mean? If Quinn or any other of his teammates actually pick a football agent before the completion of their eligibility, their eligibility might be completed far sooner than they realized.

 

The key is that eligibility evaporates per Rule 12.3.1.1 even if there's only a verbal agreement between, for example, Quinn and agent Don Yee that Yee will represent Quinn, and that a written agreement for the representation will be signed later. Although it might be difficult for the NCAA to prove that there's a violation if Quinn and Yee mutually agree to claim that there was no agreement, the fact that Quinn is going through the process of interviewing agents and narrowing the field before his final season of college ball is strong circumstantial evidence of an intention to pick his agent while still otherwise eligible. The fact that Yee and others are participating in the process is likewise circumstantial evidence of an implicit agreement that they'll agree to represent Quinn, if picked to do so.

 

The broader question is whether the NCAA will dare to do anything that might result in killing the goose that lays beneath the golden dome. Our guess? The powers-that-be will stick their heads in the sand on this one, content in spewing the party line that no final selections have been made by any of the Notre Dame seniors.

 

Still, it's a risk that Weis would have been wise not to take, in light of the plain language of the relevant bylaws (unless, of course, he got advance approval from the NCAA that it's okay to tell his guys to pick their agents if they merely don't tell the agents they've been picked).

 

And what does Weis really gain by forcing the players to pick agents now? Although some league insiders think it's a brilliant strategy for minimizing distractions, it's also a possible means for fomenting resentment from players who would have preferred not to be rushed. Many factors still need to be determined, and an agent who looks to be the right choice in June might not ultimately be a player's best bet come January.

 

As one league insider told us on Sunday, "Weis isn't doing the kids any favors by sheltering them. He instead should be educating them so that they can make good decisions at the right time."

 

Indeed, the only college players who talk to agents during the seasons are the college players who want to. Really, why should Weis or any other coach tell the players that they can't use what little free time they have talking to potential agents?

 

Stay tuned. At a time when the media ripped ferociously into various scandals that emerged in April regarding USC, we figure that there's enough blood in the water to prompt a few of them to take a hard look at whether the efforts of Charlie Weis to minimize distractions have inadvertently created a big fat one.

http://www.profootballtalk.com/rumormill.htm

Yeah, right. Star QB at Notre Dame being ruled in ineligible? As much as I'd love for it to happen, it won't.

Notre Dame is on a whole different level.

Norte Dame pretty much owns the NCAA boards, they wouldnt have someone like that rated out for the season.

 

They havem ore pull then any other 2 teams in the nation sadly

Yeah, right. Star QB at Notre Dame being ruled in ineligible? As much as I'd love for it to happen, it won't.

 

 

Exactly, won't happen. They should probably get a slap on the wrists, but I doubt even that happens.

 

Get to know your NCAA rulebook, Charlie.

the difference is he formally signed with an agent and declared himself eligible for the draft, while Quinn was apparantly just talking. it also helps that he is the QB of Notre Dame, so hell be playing this fall

See, I'm not sure I have a problem with this. It's not true cheating. He's nto using it to recruit players or anything...

 

I don't know if it's that big of a deal.

See, I'm not sure I have a problem with this. It's not true cheating. He's nto using it to recruit players or anything...

 

I don't know if it's that big of a deal.

 

:thumbup

if it was canes players they would be kicked off the team and the program suspended or something but not for ND

 

honestly I dont think it is a huge deal either. But oh wells.

See, I'm not sure I have a problem with this. It's not true cheating. He's nto using it to recruit players or anything...

 

I don't know if it's that big of a deal.

 

:thumbup

 

Gee.....you agree???? I don't know....somethign about that Notre Dame logo tells me you'd agree with anything that doesn't hurt the irish.

See, I'm not sure I have a problem with this. It's not true cheating. He's nto using it to recruit players or anything...

 

I don't know if it's that big of a deal.

 

:thumbup

 

Gee.....you agree???? I don't know....somethign about that Notre Dame logo tells me you'd agree with anything that doesn't hurt the irish.

And you wouldn't do the same for the Wolverines...

See, I'm not sure I have a problem with this. It's not true cheating. He's nto using it to recruit players or anything...

 

I don't know if it's that big of a deal.

 

:thumbup

 

Gee.....you agree???? I don't know....somethign about that Notre Dame logo tells me you'd agree with anything that doesn't hurt the irish.

And you wouldn't do the same for the Wolverines...

 

Obviously....I just find it funny.