Who pays for Centrowitz to chase the standards

"Pay" includes:

Actual and necessary expenses, or any other form of compensation, to participate in athletics competition(while not representing an educational institution), from a sponsor other than an individual upon whom the athlete is naturally, or legally dependant or the NONPROFESSIONAL organization that is sponsoring the event.

This seems pretty shady, IF we are even trying to maintain the illusion of the "amateur collegiate athlete" anymore. Clearly getting a nice per diem for food etc, hotel stays while training and competing around Europe represents the activity of a professional. I don't even see how someone could argue that it's not.

What you COULD argue is that there's no point in fighting this. Why pretend it isn't rampant? Centro's trip to chase standard would be the least of the inducements given to many NCAA athletes, particularly if you compare to the money sports (basketball, football). Is it really OK for schools to act as if these athletes are not professionals, bend the rules to reward them materially, and for the NCAA to then penalize some runner who doesn't follow protocol in returning $50 at her hometown summer 5k??

A funded Diamond League tour is obviously not in the spirit of amateur athleticism. I just don't think it should have to be.

Prohibitive forms of Payment NCAA Bylaw 12.1.1.1

Who pays wrote:

So, an all expense paid vacation to Europe, for a non-NCAA meet is okay? This isn't considered a gift, or preferential treatment? These meets are run by private enterprise, and are invitation only. I understand that this happens even at the high school level, but nothing about this conveys amateur.

As someone trying to pay a mortgage on a very modest home and its requisite bills, I can tell you that anything less than $30k a year in this country is "amateur".

Couldn't Oregon just set up a random small "let's get Matt and Andrew their standards" meet not unlike the podunk meet Webb got his record in?

Europeans consider NCAA running as professional.

And of course it is.

US college kids have been making money racing in

Europe for nearly 40 years. And yes, that includes

Oregon kids.

I understand your frustration, but this really isn't the battle. Not with the ongoing corruption / stupidity at USATF. Imagine the NBA making a deal to show the championship game on tape delay.

Nike is going to be Nike, looking for maximal control for minimal expense. The real question is what to do about it.

I worked in NCAA Compliance, DI. Any compliance coordinator would gladly answer your questions, so just give your alma mater a call, or better yet, just log onto ncaa.org and the compliance portal to get your questions answered.

this is being made out to be far more than it actually is, there is no hypocrisy, no double standard, this has been going on for decades.

Remember that Ulrey (Arkansas was then sponsored by Adidas) went to Rome to chase the standard when he made the team in 09'

While the trip may be free for Centro this is no different than colleges paying for their teams to travel in all levels of college sports (even DIII) just because the trip is to Europe doesn't make it any different.

Centro will not be recieving any appearance fees or prize money. Doing so would be an ACTUAL NCAA violation

Who pays wrote:

so paying his expenses is acceptable? That doesn't seem right.

how do some of you people become such douchebags? nobody is going to buy this kid a car. they're sending him to a meet so he can try to represent his country after working his ass off for years. And here you have a bunch of shit-for-brains assholes whining that he might get a chance to go run a couple races without going broke.

AxC wrote:

just because the trip is to Europe doesn't make it any different.

Yeah, would "who pays" be upset of Centro got travel expenses to a meet in Boston?

The question isn't Who Pays, the real question is Who Cares?

I hope the kid gets it and runs his @ss off in Korea.

Aamateurs have pretty much always been able to accept per diems for food, travel and lodging at least back to the early 1900s. And you also have to figure the cost of this trip is peanuts compared to the 30k+ for tuition, the thousands of dollars of equipment (shoes, uniforms, gym access) and coaching, and so on that is already spent on this amateur.

Why is anyone complaining about this? More opportunity for American athletes = better

The Fab 5 got to travel to Europe one Summer to play Basketball while they were in college, and they were complete angels.

Who pays wrote:

He is getting a free experience, based soley on his athletic ability. That is preferential treatment. Whether or not it is a business trip, or a vacation, he will still have a great memory, most of us would pay for. It is a gift.

Did you win the US Championship? Quite getting your undies in a bundle and shut up.

We would pay for his shoes probably, and to compete in the meet down the road.

Who pays wrote:

He is getting a free experience, based soley on his athletic ability. That is preferential treatment. Whether or not it is a business trip, or a vacation, he will still have a great memory, most of us would pay for. It is a gift.

Who pays wrote:

He is getting a free experience, based soley on his athletic ability. That is preferential treatment.

Winning meats is a free experience based on athletic ability. Championships are as well. Either everyone should be winners, or nobody, in order to get rid of this evil preferential treatment.

"Couldn't Oregon just set up a random small "let's get Matt and Andrew their standards" meet not unlike the podunk meet Webb got his record in?"

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Normally this might be the case, but in preparation for the 2012 Olympic Trials, beginning next week the University of Oregon will be tearing up the entire track and will be rebuilding the subsurface and track. This work will be going on for the next few months.

I find this discussion interesting. Last summer, A. . Acosta's parents footed the bill for A. J. to spend a week racing in Europe. He actually had very little time for any sightseeing, instead focusing on training, rest and racing. His result was a big Visa bill for his parents, but a personal best race.

How does that not seem right? Amateur athletes have been traveling over the world to meets since before Phil Knight was born.

Who pays wrote:

so paying his expenses is acceptable? That doesn't seem right. I know this has happened many times before, but what are the specific rules?

centro jr will have to stay in euro at $25/nite coed room hostels to avoid ncaa eligibility issues.