Were violations committed at Big Cat Weekend? And, if so, does it matter?

By Andrew Gribble
Auburn University Beat Reporter
Published: June 1, 2009

If nationwide buzz was what Auburn wanted from “Big Cat Weekend,“ score one for the Tigers. In just two days, one of which being a Sunday, the stir has already rivaled what came out of that whole limo thing.

But will it hurt Auburn more than help?

As Evan Woodbery of the Mobile Press-Register outlined today, Auburn could have violated a number of NCAA bylaws with its culminated rolling of Toomer’s Corner, which drew hundreds of fans out on a Saturday night for an impromptu (or was it?) pep rally.

If you haven’t seen it yet, here’s some footage. Here’s some more.

Anyways, I was in the vicinity that night—across the street at one of my favorite Auburn hangouts—though I wasn’t on the clock. I saw it from an outsiders’ perspective, so I didn’t catch any of the nitty gritty that the videographers were able to capture. Heck, I didn’t even hear the players have their names announced. It was just a whole lot of noise from what appeared to be a very fun time if your favorite team plays tackle football at Jordan-Hare Stadium.

What I do know is that a police officer was standing there at the ready at least 45 minutes before the celebration began. I also know Aubie was there. And I know assistant head coach Trooper Taylor was there. And I know the recruits were taken away in a large golf cart. And I know three major Auburn sports Web sites, all of which had thumbtack message postings at some point Saturday afternoon, promoted the event and urged Auburn fans to attend.

As Woodbery outlined in his article, and as we will right now and in tomorrow’s OA-News, all of the information in the preceding paragraph could be constituted as an NCAA violation.

13.10.6 Introduction of Prospective Student-Athlete.
An institution may not introduce a visiting prospective student-athlete at a function (e.g., the institution’s sports award banquet or an intercollegiate athletics contest) that is attended by media representatives or open to the general public. Violations of this bylaw do not affect a prospective student-athlete’s eligibility and are considered institutional violations per Constitution 2.8.1.

As can be heard in all videos, a number of players had their name, position and native locale announced, a la Michael Buffer, before they tossed their roll of toilet paper into the big live oak tree at the heart of Toomer’s Corner. It’s unknown who was doing the introductions. Presumably, if the person is employed by Auburn, it constitutes a violation. Just to cover all our bases, media representatives and the general public were in attendance.

13.10.5 Prospective Student-Athlete’s Visit.
A member institution shall not publicize (or arrange for publicity of) a prospective student-athlete’s visit to the institution’s campus.  Further, a prospective student-athlete may not participate in team activities that would make the public or media aware of the prospective student-athlete’s visit to the institution (e.g., running out of the tunnel with team, celebratory walks to or around the stadium/arena, on-field pregame celebrations). Violations of this bylaw do not affect a prospective student-athlete’s eligibility and are considered institutional violations per Constitution 2.8.1.

This is where we dip into the gray area. Prospective student-athletes’ visits are publicized all the time by recruiting Web sites. That’s OK, as long as it’s coming from the players themselves. Here, though, it is uncertain where the information came from regarding the 9 p.m. gathering at Toomer’s Corner. Niffer’s Place, Auburn’s finest restaurant for cajun tots and even better trivia, jumped on board and put the announcement on its marquee. None of the message board posts were attributed to the Auburn coaching staff and recruiting coordinator Curtis Luper told AuburnUndercover.com he had “no idea how it got started.“

I talked with Steve Woods of the Auburn Police Department today. He told me at least seven cops were on site for the “impromptu” event, a typical amount designated for crowd control during the ceremony, which typically occurs only after Auburn wins something. He wasn’t able to tell me what prompted the large police presence and wasn’t sure who made the call(s) to ask for the police to be on hand. I asked him, theoretically, if I were to make a call to the APD and tell him that there would be a large gathering somewhere in Auburn, what would be their response. He said the supervisors, obviously, make the call when it comes to sending out the force and that there ultimately would have to be some research done to determine whether the event is legit. Take it for what it’s worth.

13.10.1 Presence of Media during Recruiting Contact.
A member institution shall not permit a media entity to be present during any recruiting contact made by an institution’s coaching staff member. Violations of this bylaw do not affect a prospective student-athlete’s eligibility and are considered institutional violations per Constitution 2.8.1. (Adopted: 1/9/96, Revised: 1/14/97)

This one isn’t so gray. Reporters were present while prospective student-athletes were still on their visit. Some of the student-athletes even gave interviews that night. These were unofficial visits, which maybe creates some leeway, but this still looks like the toughest one for Auburn to get around.

Now, let’s say Auburn violated all three of these rules. What are the consequences?

Surprisingly, and sadly in our opinion, there really aren’t any.

All three of those bylaws, when broken, are considered secondary violations. If self-reported, these will result in the equivalent of something less than a slap on the wrist. The school still has free reign in recruiting a player involved in a secondary violation and nothing else is really affected by it. These happen all the time. Since Lane Kiffin arrived at Tennessee, the Volunteers have committed four secondary violations—all of which seemingly more boneheaded than any of the ones Auburn may have committed this weekend.

So what’s there to lose? From all accounts, it appears that “Big Cat Weekend” was a rip-roaring success. None of the largely highly touted prospects voiced a commitment, but all seemed pleased with their weekend on the Plain, which also included pie-eating and watermelon-eating contests. If it comes out that Auburn bent the rules a bit to give these kids such a good time, it will have little to no effect on their recruitment of these players.

In breaking these rules and having it subsequently reported, the NCAA, you’d think, is hoping that it would create bad PR for the university at fault and, therefore, discouraging it from ever breaking the rules again. Really, though, it’s the opposite. Auburn’s recruiting efforts have been all over the headlines in what is usually the dead period for football stories.

Just ask Tennessee athletic director Mike Hamilton, who has lauded Kiffin’s questionable antics for their ability to put “Tennessee back on the map.“

No one will compare Gene Chizik to Kiffin, in regards to personality and media savvy, but they have mimicked each other in drumming up attention for their respective rebuilding programs, which have few, if any, big-name players and little reason to believe that they will succeed in 2009.

Even if it takes bending and breaking the rules to do so.