Agents’ influence is growing

Agents’ influence is growing
Colleges try to control access to their players

“One thing that gets lost in this is the ‘why’ behind it, why we need to have these rules in place,” Osburn said. “We really need to maintain amateurism. It’s crucial to making sure that the academic environment is healthy and that the competition is fair and equal.”
Agent conduct also is regulated by law in most states, including North Carolina and South Carolina. Agents must register with the Secretary of State in North Carolina and the Department of Consumer Affairs in South Carolina.
In both states, an agent must inform a school’s athletics director within 72 hours after contracting with an athlete. The laws also prevent agents from making false representations and from furnishing anything of value to athletes before they enter a contract.
For agents, violating the law is a Class I felony in North Carolina. In South Carolina, it’s a misdemeanor punishable by up to three years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

TheState.com
7/21/10