Collegiate athletic programs have recruited athletes to join their program for years, and throughout the years of recruiting the way coaches recruit have constantly changed. With these techniques of recruiting some often weaken and are never used again, while some strengthen and turn into something bigger than expected. One of the techniques that have strengthened throughout the years of recruiting would be facades, and bribes coaches give to athletes. This is an illegal act which has snowballed into something huge, and is found in all levels of sports. There have been several big name schools, well-known coaches, and high-caliber athletes whose reputations have become tarnished, and futures ruined due to such illegal activities.
For instance, in 2003 the Oklahoma State University football team was under investigation for providing athletes money due to their performance on the field, and for providing sex for their recruits. A couple of other programs that were involved in similar activities were Miami Hurricanes football & basketball, Louisville men’s basketball, and SMU football. All of the schools mentioned received sanctions due to their illegal activities which violated NCAA policy. However, all though those teams were caught and disciplined this illegal activity is still alive, and has repercussions that can damage the futures of athletes who do not have a career yet.
After a college coach recruits, and lands an athlete he or she wanted the coach is now left to mold an athlete for the next four to five years. Athletes interactions with their coaches can be pivotal moments in an athlete’s life, and should not be taken lightly.
In this exclusive first interview about facades, and bribes coaches give athletes, Miami Dade College Baseball’s Head Coach Danny Price shared his thoughts on the topic that is at hand in sports.
What is the craziest façade you’ve heard a coach try to bribe an athlete with?
It seems to be to my knowledge basketball, I think that’s where they make the most money across the board. But I don’t think it goes on like it used to I think the NCAA has gotten a better handle on it. I think there were some people who were untouchable, and I think it’s always been that way. The worst thing that happens in college baseball would be the facilities, kids love to play in nice facilities, they love to play on tv, and the schools that have that access like the ACC, and SEC are the ones that get the advantage. The crazy stuff happened 25-30 years ago when things were blatant, things were very, very blatant.
In baseball since players don’t need to attend college to play professionally what is the craziest thing you have heard happen between a player, and a coach or agent?
I think the last person who is going to know about what an agent does is the head baseball coach, and number one the agents are called advisors. Nobody is going to tell me if there is a really poor kid that needs something, and the advisor helps out whether it be shoes, or something. I’ve never heard blatant stories because that is one of the most hushed, tight-lipped things of all.
What do you think should be done to a coach who follows through with a bribe?
He should be fired. You ban these coaches for five years, and you will stop the cheating. The cheating has to stop, and rest on the coaches. The coach has to go he has to be banned for five years. You let him go he has to be banned, and the assistant coach that did it has to be banned as well. I’m talking about he’s not coaching in high school; he’s not coaching anywhere. It’s like a license to be a doctor if you have a malpractice you’re done, and if the athletic director was involved he has to be banned.
What do you think should be done to an athlete who accepts the bribe?
When you sign professional baseball the number one rule that you have is that you cannot gamble on baseball. Now one of the greatest players ever was Pete Rose; Pete Rose was admired by every kid, every human being, everybody because he was Charlie Hustle. But he did it wrong, he was a first-vote hall of famer, and he has never gotten into the hall of fame. What has to happen here is that there needs to be accountability, he should never get into the hall of fame, I’m sorry. A player that takes a bribe… we need to do a better job educating these kids to know that. The player that cheats has to be banned, and 1 year doesn’t do it. Two years, because if he does one year a college will take him, and he’ll get bigger, stronger, faster, and then he will be ready anyway. No, you have to ban him but you have to do a teaching job, you have to do a sales job. We have to get these kids to take ownership of their stuff, that’s where it has to start a ton of education.