Porter incident reveals larger NCAA problems

By DARRELL FRY

© St. Petersburg Times, published March 4, 2000

From the looks of things, they've got Chris Porter nailed cold. They've got evidence, motive and an uncoerced confession from the Auburn star that he took money from a sports agent.

Even Johnnie Cochran couldn't get this kid off.

Lord only knows what's going to happen to him when Auburn officials appeal his suspension, which has totaled two games. After the NCAA hears the appeal, which it is supposed to receive in the next few days, Porter is sure to draw some type of extended suspension, and that's going to devastate Auburn, especially with the NCAA Tournament just around the corner.

But before the NCAA throws the book at Porter, someone ought to slap the NCAA upside the head with it first.

Look, Porter was dead wrong. It doesn't matter that he took the $2,500 from an agent because his unemployed mother was about to get evicted. But he shouldn't have been in that quandary in the first place. No student-athlete who helps generate millions of dollars for a university and the NCAA should feel compelled, as Porter seemingly was, to turn to an agent for help with a financial crisis.

Think about it. The NCAA is going to chastise Porter for breaking the rules when the NCAA itself has basically been robbing these kids for years, making millions off of them but not giving them their fair share.

Didn't the NCAA just sign some zillion-dollar TV deal with CBS to broadcast the NCAA Tournament? Hello?

"Obviously, a lot of people have difficult circumstances and there are ways to appropriately get funding to assist with those circumstances," University of Florida athletic director Jeremy Foley said. "But I don't think the message should be that when you have difficult circumstances it's okay to break the rules."

It's true the NCAA sets aside funds for student-athletes with financial needs. There's the special assistance fund, stocked with $10-million annually from the NCAA's fat TV deal, that's available for clothes, food, etc. And there's a fund that can be used to pay for airline tickets or expensive medicine in cases of emergency.

But here's the problem: The NCAA funds typically couldn't help someone in Porter's shoes. Each school sets its own guidelines, but Florida State associate athletic director Bob Minnix said most universities won't allow the funds to be used to pay family bills like rent and car loans.

"You don't want to go down that road because you'd have kids walking in saying, "Here's my mom's bills from last month and I'd like you to pay for them,' " Minnix joked. " "And here's the car loan for my dad's truck -- he just lost his job at the plant -- and I'd like you to pay for that too.' "

And here's another problem: A lot of student-athletes don't even know the special NCAA funds exist. NCAA and university officials don't do enough to inform the very student-athletes who probably need to know the most. Some universities don't even use half of the special funds they are allotted.

"I'll accept some of that responsibility," said Foley, presumably speaking for all athletic directors.

Somehow, there should be a way to help someone like Chris Porter. Surely the universities could grant special waivers for special situations.

After all, Porter is a big reason why Auburn is highly ranked and headed to the NCAA Tournament, where the school stands to make a big chunk of change. Let's not forget that he turned down a chance to make millions in the NBA after last season to instead try to help Auburn reach the Final Four this season.

Unfortunately, with seemingly no such help available to him, he accepted the wrong kind.

He already has sat out two games because of the situation. And, if the NCAA has any conscience, it won't punish him much longer. Porter, like a lot of other athletes, needs better judgment, not harsher penalties.

NCAA and university officials shouldn't excuse anyone's behavior just because of their disadvantaged backgrounds, but they should account for it. They should plan for it. And they should try to prevent their existing misfortune from leading to more of it.

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