With increasing attention being given to NCAA infractions regarding college athletes allegedly signing autographs in exchange for compensation or other benefits, the president of the NCAA has finally weighed in on the subject. Mark Emmert, in an interview with USA Today, says it is time for the NCAA to take a look at whether or not the rules regarding autographs need to be altered.
“I hope the members do look at it,” Emmert told USA Today. “Whether they change it or not is less important than whether or not they look at it and say, ‘We still think this is a good rule for good reasons’ or not, but we need to have it affirmed or changed — one of the two — and this is a good time to do it.”
Georgia running back Todd Gurley remains suspended while an investigation regarding autograph signings continues. Georgia has requested for Gurley to be reinstated, but one fo the top offensive players in college football remains in limbo. Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston was also connected to the same authenticator tied to Gurley’s investigation, but Florida State found no evidence of any wrongdoing by Winston regarding autograph signings for compensation. Winston did not miss any playing time either. Last season saw Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel serve a half-game suspension for breaking the principle of the NCAA rules regarding compensation from a violation over the summer.
For now, the rules are pretty black and white on the issue, and players should be aware of the golden rule; don’t sign autographs for compensation. Do so, and risk the consequences. The rule may seem silly and outdated, which it is on both accounts, but the NCAA has a job to do and any player found to break this rule deserves any punishment deemed necessary per the NCAA’s own guidelines.
“There shouldn’t be any doubt in the minds of student-athletes that under the current rules the membership has in place, you can’t sign autographs for pay, and everybody’s supposed to know that and be educated on that by their athletic department,” Emmert said. “Whether or not that’s a rule you like is a different story. Here in Indianapolis, the beltway speed limit is 55 and as Mark Emmert, I think that’s too low. But if I’m driving 65 and get pulled over, I can’t say I don’t like the rule. So we need to deal with the second question and is it time to re-look at this rule?”
Read the full story with more quotes from Emmert via USA Today.