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Update: Inside the NCAA is saying that Dean Smith’s gift is not an NCAA violation
Just when you think the NCAA couldn’t get any dumber, this bomb gets dropped. Dean Smith gifted $200 to each of his former players and apparently this may be an NCAA violation.
Marc Edelman took a look at NCAA rules and had this to say:
But, did Dean Smith’s final act of kindness violate the NCAA bylaws? As absurd as it sounds, the answer may be yes.
Indeed, unless overturned by antitrust laws, the NCAA’s current interpretation of its own bylaws prevents college athletes from accepting remuneration in any form based on their status as athletes. According to a recent NCAA statement, this rule purportedly includes preventing athletes from accepting even money offered after athletes graduate based on services they provided while in college.
…
Nevertheless, if one were to interpret website to raise money to offer a gift to college athletes upon their graduation as a violation of the NCAA bylaws, one would have to presume a trust fund to award payment to college athletes long after they graduate would violate theNCAA bylaws as well.
It is pretty much the most ridiculous thing ever that the NCAA has this much control over a school and it’s players this long after the fact. If the NCAA is smart, they will just let this one slide and move on. This was an extremely classy gesture made by Smith and it should not cause problems for the school he loved so much.
