NCAA president: Tougher parent rules needed

Associated Press

san antonio

NCAA president Mark Emmert on Thursday called for new rules so parents no longer “sell the athletic services” of their children in the wake of backlash following the investigation into Auburn quarterback Cam Newton.

Emmert didn’t mention the Heisman Trophy winner during his first state of the association speech at the NCAA’s annual convention. But he said the NCAA could vote on new enforcements early as April.

“It’s wrong for parents to sell the athletic services of their student athletes to a university, and we need to make sure that we have rules to stop that problem,” Emmert said. “And today we don’t. We have to fix that. Student athletes trading on their standing as star student athletes for money or benefits is not acceptable, and we need to address it and make sure it doesn’t happen.”

Emmert didn’t give suggest what new rules might look like. But he said the measures must be clear so that the public understands what’s a violation and what isn’t.

Emmert, who took over from interim president Jim Isch in October, led his first convention with the NCAA besieged by criticism for its handling of several college football scandals this season.

In the Newton case, the NCAA ruled the junior college transfer could continue playing for the eventual BCS national champions, even though his father had been seeking money from schools recruiting him.

That was followed by the NCAA suspending five Ohio State players for five games next season for selling memorabilia items, but still allowing them to play in the Sugar Bowl.

Critics assailed the NCAA of being selective with enforcement and the severity of punishments handed down. So intense was the scrutiny that the NCAA took the unusual step last month of defending its rulings on it website, saying it does not play favorites or make decisions based on financial considerations.