Loopholes may lessen Sampson's recruiting ban

After the IU basketball program suffered a major setback Thursday when the NCAA handed down a one-year ban on making telephone calls and recruiting off-campus for IU coach Kelvin Sampson, several loopholes remain in which Sampson may still be able to contact potential recruits.\nWhile Sampson physically wouldn't be able to visit recruits away from campus or contact them directly via telephone, there are no NCAA provisions restricting the use of text messaging, e-mailing or receiving toll-free calls from the recruits. \nThomas Yeager, acting chairman of the committee and commissioner of the Colonial Athletic Association said Thursday that he expects IU will uphold the spirit of the sanctions and that the NCAA will work with IU if there are any issues regarding what it can or cannot do. \n"I'm sure there will be a lot of questions to answer and we'll work through those," Yeager said. "At the present time, there are no NCAA rules to rescrict receiving calls."\nOne of the most accessible routes Sampson can still take to talk to prospects is using a toll-free number that the Univeristy could provide to accept calls. \nInstitutions can use "a toll-free number to receive such calls from prospective student-athletes, prospect's parents or legal guardian(s)," accrording to the NCAA recruiting guide. \nThe rules go on to state that while this toll-free number cannot be installed in the coach's residence, "a coach may receive collect or toll-free calls via his or her institutionally issued cellular phone, provided the institution establishes appropriate oversight procedures to monitor the phone activity."\nSampson's assistant coaches could also provide a crucial asset for IU, as they will not face the high level of restrictions placed on Sampson. \n"I am fortunate to have a quality, veteran staff who has built and maintained a high standard in all aspects of coaching, particularly in recruiting," Sampson said in a statement Thursday. \nAnother area in which the restictions do not apply is with regards to on-campus visits from recruits. \nAccording to the NCAA rules, the University can still finance only one visit to the campus per prospective recruit and Sampson would still be permitted to meet with the potential recruit during this time. Annually, the rules state that an institution can provide visits for up to 12 basketball prospects.\nWhile it is not yet clear how the NCAA ruling will impact Sampson's reputation in regards to recruiting, Sampson displayed during the end of his tenure with Oklahoma University that he was still able to recruit successfully while facing OU's similiar self-imposed recruiting restrictions. Before coming to IU Sampson was able to land several high-profile recruits in what was widely regarded as one of OU's top incoming classes in years. \n"My goal is to build a basketball program of which all Indiana fans can be proud -- one that is successful on the floor, in the classroom and is active in the community," Sampson said in a statement.