January 1, 2006
USC is told of possible recruiting violations
Reporters from the Fort Worth Star-Telegram and CBS Sportsline have told the USC football team has of potential recruiting violations stemming from visits by USC recruits to Papadakis Taverna, a Greek restaurant in San Pedro, Calif., owned by former USC linebacker John Papadakis.
The infractions are two-fold, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, in that --during visits to his restaurant-- Papadakis gives lengthy, impassioned speeches to the tables of recruits about USC football. As a former player, Papadakis is considered "a 'representative of athletics interests' by the NCAA and is prohibited from speaking to recruits about the Trojans."
John Papadakis (center) with USC Head Coach Pete Carroll (image from the Papadakis Taverna website)
A Division I compliance director interviewed for the story outlines the infraction as it relates to Papadakis:
"Alumni are not allowed to be involved in the recruiting process," the source said. "He has a right, if they go there, to use his facility. But to have him involved in the meal, and serving the restaurant, singing and entertaining and dancing, that's just illegal."Papadakis, who lettered at USC in 1970-71, told the Star-Telegram earlier this week that he gives recruits a speech about the significance of the Trojans' cardinal and gold uniform colors and closes the dining experience by urging recruits to declare, "I want to be a Trojan."
The CBS Sports Line story quotes Papadakis as saying he called a prospective recruit a "dumbass" if he didn't go to USC. The player, offensive lineman Jeff Byers, signed with the Trojans in 2004.
"I cringed for the USC people," the compliance director told the Star-Telegram. "That's just not permissible."
The CBS Sportsline quote referenced above alos appears in the LA Daily Breeze:
According to CBS Sportsline. com, Papadakis told Byers: "You're a great kid. I love your parents. If you were a woman, all my problems would be over. Wherever you go, I'm going to follow you and root for you. But if (USC coach) Pete Carroll is going to offer you a scholarship ... if you turn it down, I'm going to feel sorry for you because you're such a dumb---.''
The second infraction relates to the location of the restaurant and the high-prices of some menu items.
The eatery is 25 miles from the USC campus and prices for entrees are as high as $59.95. The combination of distance and expense appear to go beyond the NCAA stipulation that a recruit's meals should reflect those comparable to normal college life....
NCAA rules state that recruits' meals "must be comparable to those provided to student-athletes during the academic year."
The source said USC players who were taken to Papadakis Taverna would remain eligible unless their meal exceeded the $100 NCAA limit. If that occurred, players become ineligible, must reimburse the amount over $100 (payable to a charity) and have to be reinstated.
On the surface, this looks like the little incidents that pop up all the time from campus to campus. The Trojans will liekly have to report this to the Pac10 and NCAA for investigation. USC is considered a pretty clean program today, so it's likely that these potential infractions will result in little more than a probationary or cautionary letter to the USC football team.
Comments:
Dennis Strojny said:
posted on January 2, 2006 9:00 AM — 65.191.103.246 — link — abuse?
Tsk, tsk!! A violation is a violation. If Notre Dame had pulled this stunt, Mark May, John Saunders and the rest of the Irish haters would have demanded an immediate death penalty and the story would be all over every Game Day program from now ad nauseum!!
posted on January 2, 2006 10:39 AM — 68.4.111.98 — link — abuse?Dave said:
Every program that I was recruited by introduced me to allumni that said something to the effect of "it's a great place to come to school". So I guess I better inform the NCAA of violations by 3 dozen DIV 1A programs, including TEXAS! Not to mention a fun night on the town in Austin with a female UT allumn on the trip.
This is nothing more than a distraction hunt.
Bleed Crimson said:
posted on January 3, 2006 2:22 AM — 72.146.18.93 — link — abuse?
ALUMNI'S ACTS SHOULD NOT GET THE SCHOOL PUNISHED!!!
The school has no control of what some alum is doing miles away from campus. This the same bullshit that happened to Alabama 5 years ago. The alumni should get punished, not the school. When a team becomes a dynasty in college football, everyone is always on the lookout for some kind of infraction. Don't be suprised when USC gets put on probation. A dynasty can never last when put under a microscope.
notre dame 444 said:
posted on January 4, 2006 10:25 PM — 71.114.96.122 — link — abuse?
Nothing should come of this. This is nothing new in college football, name a football team who doesn't take their recruits out to eat or a local place to hang out. You can't stop the owner of a resteruant from talking to his/her patrons. Much to do about nothing !!!!!!!!!
EXCollege Player said:
posted on August 14, 2006 4:09 PM — 68.166.202.219 — link — abuse?
You are correct, almost every school will say something the violates ncaa violations. I never had anyone go as far as calling me a dumbass if i didnt accepted it, except family. As far as my visits, i would say Miami treated me by far the best, all the lobster and steak I wanted, which i ate far over 200.00 at a restraunt in S. Beach.
Scrub said:
posted on January 1, 2006 12:28 PM — 69.248.103.67 — link — abuse?What is weird is both CBS SportsLine.com and Fort Worth Star Telegram had fluff stories about this restaurant and how USC hanged out here over a week ago. There was nothing wrong indicated in the stories back then by both them. Sounds like it was reporters "looking" for a story, especially with the Rose Bowl coming up. I agree that this is a little issue and USC is a clean program that does a good job self-reporting any little thing to the NCAA, such as the Leinart-ESPN thing. It just goes to show you that a top program is going to be under the microscope by the media, but atleast it keeps those programs honest.