Cups of Cold Water . . . International Students
2009 February 13
You’re going to hear about it anyway. So here it is.
When you see the headlines, you’re tempted to think this is some major recruiting scam — some major ethical violation. But when you start reading closely, you realize that it was (best I can tell) some innocent mistakes . . . like members of an Abilene church throwing a Christmas party for international students who couldn’t go home.
You can read more about it on ACU’s homepage or at this NCAA site.
When I heard about it yesterday evening, the first thing I said to a friend was, “If you have to go through something like this, there is no one better to have at the helm than Royce.” Watch his news conference on the reporternews.com website and you’ll see what I mean.
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What really angers me is the part about Hillcrest (who is actually listed in the NCAA report) throwing a Christmas party and, yes, actually giving them real presents, for the International students. For example, one gift as a crockpot.
I can see a headline now: ACU lures athletic prospects with crockpots!
Give me a break.
So sad to hear. Thanks for clearing some of the details about these “gifts”. I was unaware of the details, thanks to the poor journalism of the ARN and their frequent decision to misrepresent ACU by not clarifying the details.
Richard, I wouldn’t mind it if the headline said that, because that’s more information and more clarity than what ARN’s article gives.
I understand the NCAA’s desire to curb monetary influence on college sports, but it’s simply frustrating when these policies blur the line between love/charity and bribery.
Was there a similar misunderstanding of the extra “help” some of the football players got to ensure their eligibility?
qb
It does appear to be an overly harsh penalty. Good grief; this is what you get when “letter of the law” is the watchword. The NCAA should exercise a bit more discretion.
WTAMU partisan qb
qp,
Football provided two 42 cent stamps and a coaches office computer to complete an assignment.
Agreed, Royce Money is a class act. The University is fortunate to have him at the helm.
I think 2 things…
1.) The assistant coaches (both b-ball & football) HAD to have known better. They ought to take resposibility for their misdeeds, and I’d suspect they will.
2.) After Paul lists the fruit of the spirit (including love, joy, peace, and kindness) he writes, “Against such things there is no law.” Clearly Paul could not conceive of an organization so devious as the NCAA.
I also think it important to remember that this whole thing started because ACU reported on itself. That, I think, is frequently going to get lost in the crosstalk.
It absolutely breaks my heart. Yes, the coaches, one of whom is a DEAR friend, should have known better. But to be unable to take care of international students living across the world from home makes me so sad. And, indeed, Royce rocks. Plain and simple.
I hope ACU appeals it – what an absolutely ludicrous ruling. I would bet someone in the NCAA had a beef with ACU.
The thing that really makes the NCAA look bad is that major programs like Oklahoma have been caught doing worse things and they get a slap on the wrist.
Oh the irony. Its a bad and unfortunate deal for everyone invovled but at the same time humors me because of our legalistic COC history.
The article mentions a $500 cash gift. It doesn’t mention that a well-meaning Christian was trying to help an international student get some dental care so he arranged for it and paid for it. He had no idea that violated NCAA rules.
I am so sick about this. It’s already been mentioned, but how nuts is it to think that a precious church wanted to help some international students get on their feet in a completely foreign place. So, some of them happened to be athletes. I can see it now… “Hey, let’s welcome some students to this great country of ours, but let’s check those NCAA rules and make sure we don’t give this frying pan to a sprinter.” Good grief. Again, already mentioned, but ACU REPORTED this to the NCAA when it became aware of it. Hello????? Do the right thing and you will get busted and smeared throughout the media. Nice. Nauseating.
Would it have been all right if they received spiritual gifts?
Rules are rules. And you must follow the rules. But when the rules say that you cannot give Christmas gifts to foreign students who have no place to go at Christmas, then perhaps the rules are wrong. What has not been mentioned – the student-athletes had to return these gifts and repay any cash they were given. When you have nothing, repaying a $20.00 gift can be a burden. Yes, the coaches should have done a better job researching the rules. But if you know the coaches at all, you know they were only trying to bring a little warmth into the lives of their students. I am really disgusted with the coverage given this by the local media. They seem to be doing everything they can to make ACU look bad. Incidentally, most of this is old news. The gifts were repaid before last summer. Many have learned a valuable lesson – if you are an athlete, you are entitled to less consideration than a normal student – because this might be considered a “bribe” to run faster or play harder. What a messed up governing body.
The NCAA is increasingly a joke. I agree with one commenter said, “After Paul lists the fruit of the spirit (including love, joy, peace, and kindness) he writes, “Against such things there is no law.” Clearly Paul could not conceive of an organization so devious as the NCAA.”
Perhaps my biggest fear is that knowing the gotcha spirit of some in the brotherhood who are more than willing to rejoice at the misdeeds of ACU, this event will be dragged through their journalistic ‘rags’ as yet another example of the increasingly worldliness of ACU.
Little advise, know and obey the laws
Mt:5:18: For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
Amen, Patsy! I know some of these people, and it was Christ-like generosity, not typical sports-related corruption taking place. So sad we live in a time when corruption is so much the norm we can’t tell a good deed when we see it.
ACU rocks! Keep up the good work Royce and crew!
This seems especially egregious on the part of NCAA since it was ACU that reported itself and had already begun to tighten up regulations.
I’ve a friend in CA that will be happy to hear this about the track & field teams since his son has unsuccessfully run against the ACU team. He has often complained about the African runners’ ages, etc. Guess he’ll be somewhat mollified by this news. Humpf!
To echo Chris C.
Meanwhile, the NCAA continues to look the other way regarding Reggie Bush’s alleged receipt of over $200,000 during his college career.
It’s the little guy that always gets it- if ACU was D1 and generated television revenue (like March Madness or the BC$), this wouldn’t have been an issue.
Let’s take a look at some of the comments, I assume were made by Christians.
“The thing that really makes the NCAA look bad is that major programs like Oklahoma have been caught doing worse things and they get a slap on the wrist.”
“Rules are rules. And you must follow the rules. But when the rules say that you cannot give Christmas gifts to foreign students who have no place to go at Christmas, then perhaps the rules are wrong.”
“This seems especially egregious on the part of NCAA since it was ACU that reported itself and had already begun to tighten up regulations.”
Even if the rules are wrong,and especially egregious, ACU signed on to obey the NCAA rules and regulations. could it be sour grapes about a deal made, Didn’t Jesus say if you signed on for a penny, you should honor that contract.?
It’s the same principle for signing up to attend ACU and committing to attend daily chapel. If you want to attend ACU, you sign up and commit to follow all the rules. If you can’t, then you go to a different university.
If the athletics program cannot sign on the dotted line with the NCAA and commit to following the rules, then perhaps it is time to reassess why its association with the NCAA throughout these decades has been so important.
The coaches have known about NCAA compliance and been professionally responsible for the knowledge for years. It takes dedicated administration to stay on top of anything such as the NCAA. Other academic programs at ACU must also follow outside organizations’ requirements if it brings worth, status and equity to their students. If compliance with the NCAA gets in the way of the Christian life-style and practice of compassion; if compliance and due diligence with the NCAA contradicts the ACU mission statement; and if the ACU athletic staff and leadership do not respect the rules and regulations of the NCAA, no matter how trivial some of them seem, enough to stay on top of the admin then ACU needs to cut its professional ties with the NCAA.
It’s much more fun to play the games than get stuck behind the desk with all the paperwork (details, details!).
Deb – where are you reading that “if the ACU athletic staff and leadership don’t respect the rules”?? They turned themselves in – how much more can you do than that once you realized the rules were broken?
Sure – it looks like some rules were broken – and ACU will pay a heft price for meeting the needs of poor students in a way that breaks rules – however idiotic they may be. Who is suggesting ACU break ties with the NCAA? They’ll pay the price, and be a stronger program for it. In all frankness, I’m proud of Hillcrest for breaking these rules – I would have been right there breaking them too.
Kent F
In all frankness, I’m proud of Hillcrest for breaking these rules – I would have been right there breaking them too.
So…you would have knowingly broken NCAA rules, even though ACU would face public humiliation including forfeitures, and competitive disadvantage after penalties are enforced?? I’m thinking you don’t really care much for ACU. Hope I misunderstood your bluster.
The NCAA is increasingly becoming more and more of a joke. That being said, I do believe the football team should have been punished because if you coach for a school that is a part of one of the most evil organizations in the history of mankind (slight exaggeration), you must pay close attention to detail. The infractions are slight, but they are infractions.
But how can the NCAA expect local churches to know all NCAA regulations? Further, how can the NCAA govern churches, or any non-school group, for that matter? If the coaches used Hillcrest to, in essence, launder these gifts, okay–punish them. But how are Christians supposed to moderate their Christianity?
Maybe I am missing it, but I just don’t get it.
I too am unhappy that ACU is having to pay the piper for Christian love that was out poured this past year. When my daughters were in high school the same kind of situation came up where some of the girls they played sports with needed things very benign and I offered to buy it but it would have been considered a violation of UIL rules. Same situation when we went to church with a college baseball coach and I suggested a cookout. Not a good idea. I heard a high school coach talking about this kind of situation and when kids are on scholarship their hands are tied on what they can accept for fear of losing their scholarship and eligiblity. At the very least schools should be able to give these students some sort of stipend so they can furnish their apts with household goods. College sports are a business and most of them are BIG business.
If you see your brother standing by the road
With a heavy load from the seeds he’s sowed
And if you see your sister falling by the way
Just stop and say – look out for the NCAA!
You’ve got to try a little kindness
Show a little kindness
Shine your light for everyone to see
And if you try a little kindness
Then you overlook the blindness
Of the narrow-minded people in the narrow NCAA!
(With apologies to Glen Campbell)