STAFF BLOG: David Wells

OleMissSports.com's Inside Athletics is a biweekly blog by the Ole Miss athletics department's senior administrators and key personnel to offer fans added insight into the overall operation of the department.

May 25, 2008

“What do ya’ll do in the summer?” That is a question coaches and staff frequently hear. Summers have always been busy, but more so now than ever before. There has been a huge surge in the number of student-athletes attending summer school. NCAA rules now permit signees to receive financial aid in the summer before their first fall, provided they meet certain conditions. Many returning student-athletes attend one or both terms of summer school. Attendance helps student-athletes complete academic requirements with less pressure, rehab injuries, and improve their physical conditioning. While practices being supervised or observed by coaches are prohibited, student-athletes may participate in conditioning workouts under the supervision of the strength and conditioning staff, and they may participate in voluntary workouts. Coaches stay busy conducting on-campus sports camps, and in some sports, they are permitted to evaluate prospects during the summer.

For the administrative staff, summer is especially very busy. At one time, the university had three terms: fall, spring, and summer. A few breaks existed between semesters. Now the breaks have been replaced with three intersessions (two weeks each) wedged between fall-spring, spring-summer, and summer-fall. The administrative staff (i.e., academic support, compliance, business, strength and conditioning, athletic training, equipment room, etc.) is constantly working with student-athletes year round.

Late spring is coaches test time. NCAA rules require all coaches to successfully complete a coaches recruiting test before being permitted to participate in any off-campus recruiting activities. The compliance staff is responsible for assisting coaches in test preparation. The 2008-09 test was administered to our coaches this month by the SEC, and all coaches present passed.

In early May, the compliance staff, working with the Registrar and Academic Support Office, finished verifying the eligibility status of teams and individuals who qualified for postseason competition. Now the same offices are calculating the eligibility status of student-athletes for the 2008-09 academic year. Each returning student-athlete must meet at least four different academic requirement categories. Most student-athletes with deficiencies have the summer and intersessions to “get well.”

Spring and summer are the times we validate various NCAA requirements. For example, we are required to conduct exit interviews with seniors. Student-athletes with eligibility remaining must be notified in writing whether their scholarship will be renewed, reduced, or non-renewed. Those whose scholarship is not renewed must be afforded an opportunity to request a hearing before a non-athletic board. Finally, various membership certification reports must be submitted to the NCAA before we may receive our share of NCAA revenue distribution.

The 2008 freshman class is in the process of completing admission and eligibility requirements. All applicants must meet the admission requirements established by the IHL Board of Trustees. Freshmen also must be certified eligible by the NCAA Eligibility Center (formerly the Initial Eligibility Clearinghouse). Two years ago, the NCAA began requiring all first-year student-athletes to validate their amateurism status through the NCAA Amateurism Clearinghouse. Now students must register with the Amateurism Clearinghouse and respond to a set of on-line questions. Until all of these requirements have been completed, the student is not eligible.

Many waiver requests are processed between now and the fall semester. When a prospect, student-athlete, or institution has not satisfied a particular NCAA or SEC bylaw, institutions may seek relief through a waiver request, which requires thorough documentation. A recent medical hardship case we submitted which was approved consisted of over 175 pages!

So you thought nothing happened in the summer! This may not be the entertaining part of athletics, but it is essential.

Listed below are several summer reminders:

Signees continue to be “prospects” for recruiting purposes until they enroll in the fall.

Student-athletes and their employers must complete and sign an agreement which is kept on file in the compliance office.

Student-athletes may not receive any benefits or services because of their athletic reputation or which are not available to other students on an equal basis.

Thank you so much for your support of Ole Miss. We appreciate your attendance, contributions, and commitment to ensuring that the University remains compliant with the rules of the NCAA and SEC. If you have any questions, please contact us at 662-915-1594 or visit the OleMissSports.com compliance website.

November 6, 2007

The University of Mississippi is a member of the NCAA and the Southeastern Conference. Member institutions are obligated to comply with the rules of each governing organization.  Infractions can result in a wide range of penalties. 

The mission of the Compliance Office is to assist administrators, alumni, coaches, staff, student-athletes, and prospects through educational programs and oversight.  The Compliance Office monitors actions relating to employment of athletic personnel, amateurism, eligibility, recruiting, financial aid, awards/benefits/services, practice activities, etc. 

The Compliance Office submits special and annual reports to the NCAA and SEC confirming the University has satisfied its Division I membership requirements.  These reports are a prerequisite for the University to participate in championship events and receive revenue from the NCAA and SEC.  

The Compliance Office administers two NCAA grant programs which directly benefits student-athletes.  One is “need based” and the other is available to all student-athletes.  These two funds provide financial assistance to student-athletes for financial needs which are beyond what an athletic scholarship can provide.  Examples include clothing, media/dental care, transportation home, etc.)

Since the University is responsible for the actions of its alumni and supporters, listed below are a few rule reminders:  

Boosters may not be involved in the athletic recruitment of prospects (i.e., no personal contact, correspondence, or telephone calls).

Boosters may provide an “occasional home meal” to a student-athlete provided the meal is served in the home. 

Student-athletes are not permitted to sell their complimentary admission passes to anyone regardless of price.

Student-athletes may not be provided any benefit not available to other students on the same basis.  

Student-athletes may be employed, but the employer and student-athlete must sign an agreement which is on file in the athletics department.

Coaches are not permitted to assist HS/JC athletic programs with fund raising activities

Student-athletes may assist in fund raising activities only for non-profit and charitable organizations provided the organization has signed an agreement on file in the athletics department.   

Your support of the University and its commitment to rules compliance is appreciated. If you have any questions, please contact us or visit the OleMissSports.com compliance website.

David Wells
Ole Miss Senior Associate Athletics Director for Compliance

The University of Mississippi Athletics

Related Videos