West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

[IUP24]

I am not sure that all teams are tampering. But i agree it is out of control. Until athletes are employees with contracts, tampering will be out of control.

I am limiting the scope of my assertion to declare that Ben did not tamper by making a general statement that some wlu players may come to Indy. I think it was a done deal by all parties when he made that statement. It is just not on verbalcommits (which is not the official xfer portal database).

We can split hairs about the degree to which they are doing it, but they are all doing it. I get we all want to think some individuals, maybe some close to our hearts, are morally and ethically squeaky clean when it comes to this stuff.

But they will all do what’s necessary.

[IUP24]

Tampering is like pornography, everybody knows it when they see it...but some just dismiss it as the cost of doing business. If you are the former coach at WLU and you say publicly that you are looking to bring several of your former players to jump start your new school, you have tampered. Now, will the NCAA investigate and discipline Howlett for it? Probably not. But that doesn't change the facts. It's the same as if I shop lift something from a store but don't get caught at it. Just because I didn't get caught doesn't mean I didn't shop lift.

Then what is the basis of your argument? You have said the same thing everyone else has said.

It’s not going to be investigated. It’s time to move on. The tampering discussion here is a non story.

[TopperNation]

Not as tired as the fans of teams that do not go to the Elite 8.
lol

True story, lol.

[Columbuseer]

Just to hopefully put this zombie issue to rest:

AI is your friend:
"Yes, if an athlete is released from a scholarship by their current school, they can contact a coach at another school to explore transferring. The NCAA transfer portal allows athletes to enter and be contacted by coaches from other schools after they have received written confirmation of their release from their current school."

A release allows athlete to initiate contact with coach at another school.
The transfer portal allows coaches to initiate contact with the athlete.

The transfer portal database is private, not public.

[boatcapt]

Then what is the basis of your argument? You have said the same thing everyone else has said.

It’s not going to be investigated. It’s time to move on. The tampering discussion here is a non story.

The basis is that it is wrong, no matter who it is. Just because it's not going to be investigated or that everyone does it doesn't make it right or not a violation. Just because you like the coach who does it shouldn't mean you sumarraly dismiss it as no big deal.

[boatcapt]

Just to hopefully put this zombie issue to rest:

AI is your friend:
"Yes, if an athlete is released from a scholarship by their current school, they can contact a coach at another school to explore transferring. The NCAA transfer portal allows athletes to enter and be contacted by coaches from other schools after they have received written confirmation of their release from their current school."

A release allows athlete to initiate contact with coach at another school.
The transfer portal allows coaches to initiate contact with the athlete.

The transfer portal database is private, not public.

Your bolded words are instructive. The first particularly. The athlete can initiate contact, not the coach. By saying you are seeking transfer of athletes from your old program is the coach initiating contact which can only take place when the athlete has entered the portal. By Howlett doing that, he was tampering, period. Doesn't matter if the NCAA investigates it or not.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

D'Augustino is Twitter official. He went with Ben.

[Scrub]

D'Augustino is Twitter official. He went with Ben.

Rumor is that Woodward & Dragas are going as well.

[Scrub]

I suppose I need to start looking into who was any good on Coker's roster last year LOL

[Columbuseer]

Your bolded words are instructive. The first particularly. The athlete can initiate contact, not the coach. By saying you are seeking transfer of athletes from your old program is the coach initiating contact which can only take place when the athlete has entered the portal. By Howlett doing that, he was tampering, period. Doesn't matter if the NCAA investigates it or not.

I disagree. It is not tampering if the athlete initiated the contact first. Then the coach can respond. All he said was some wlu players may come with him. I am confident all were in the transfer portal already. He is not ignorant of the rules.

[Columbuseer]

Aiden miller has decommitted and is going to Indy, per X. He is a very promising 6-8 player with d1 body

[Columbuseer]

Finley woodward has confirmed that he is going to indy.

[EyeoftheHawk]

I find this all to be quite sad, really. Maybe in the long run this ends up better for WLU but it’s just the latest example of why people are caring less and less about college sports. WLU doesn’t deserve this. The other schools it has happened to don’t deserve it. Coaches keep their eyes open for opportunities just like people in any other profession. When leaders in companies move on, they often take a few people with them. I think it hits a lot different in college sports though.

Ben had everything he wanted at WLU and in my opinion is leaving for a worse job and I have a hunch it’s not going to end well. For all he had at WLU, his “thank you” is to walk away and steal current and incoming players for HIS benefit. He used WLU resources to find those players and develop them. Obviously kids are going to go where they want to but the coach has to say yes. To me, this is a pretty disrespectful and ungrateful way to leave a former employer. Call me old school I guess.

[TopperNation]

I suppose I need to start looking into who was any good on Coker's roster last year LOL

I was just about to do that...I'm looking for any all conference players from Coker, come on down.

[boatcapt]

I disagree. It is not tampering if the athlete initiated the contact first. Then the coach can respond. All he said was some wlu players may come with him. I am confident all were in the transfer portal already. He is not ignorant of the rules.

If the ATHLETE initiates the contact after being released from their scholarship, it is not tampering for the coach to respond. But that is not what we are talking about, we are talking about a coach inviting players from a specific team to come join his new team before those players have entered the portal. The only way a COACH can initiate contact is for the player to be in the portal.