Month: March 2020

NCAA Denies That It Stopped Lawrence and Girlfriend From Raising Money For Virus Victims

On Monday, an overzealous compliance official at Clemson University stopped Treavor Lawrence, star quarterback for the  national champions, and his girl friend Marissa Mowery, who plays soccer at Anderson University, from sponsoring a GoFundMe page to support virus victims.  On Monday, the Clemson University compliance department demanded the two stop all efforts to raise money citing NCAA regulations. Anderson University did not join in the sanction.

On Monday, a Clemson official confirmed that the two were not allowed to use the GoFundMe page due to NCAA rules that prohibit using names, image and likeness for fundraising purposes.

However, by Tuesday afternoon the NCAA denied it ever asked Lawrence to stop raising  money and clarified the matter issuing a waiver for Lawrence. His girlfriend’s university never denied her efforts in the matter. A total of about 2700 dollars were raised by the couple.

Maybe during this time, University officials had nothing better to do, but once it reached the public domain sanity prevailed. The idiot who imposed the original sanction was not named. In a statement from the NCAA, ” The NCAA did not ask Trevor Lawrence to take down his fundraising for COVID 19 patients and their families. We continue to work with member schools so they have the flexibility to ensure that student athletes and communities impacted by this illness are supported and we applaud Trevor for his efforts.” It appears Clemson never consulted the NCAA.

Compliance works when the application of rules are used to stop obvious corruption, but an overzealous interpretation can have a deleterious effect, and invites the very activity the rules are designed to stop. Member schools have an obligation to ensure the rules are followed but a sane interpretation is required to engender respect. This was a good response by the NCAA, and I hope that all local compliance groups will learn from this misadventure. Schools should contact the NCAA, and avoid the bad publicity and the disrespect it may engender from alumni and the general public.

 

Comments are invited !!!!

Bill Rappolt

 

 

It is now spring, and the date of the first spring game is approaching and there will be no  field hockey played on that date or any other date this season. No doubt this will put a heavy burden on players and coaches to be ready for the fall games. There are occasional emails from the athletic staff to alumni and members of the Lafayette community but. I hope I will see something from Lafayette Field Hockey soon. It does pain me that I probably will not see our heroic seniors before graduation, but as we have done in previous years Pam and I will be sending a small token of appreciation to them. I believe I have all the their home addresses but just in case could you all send me your home address??? I will post news if you want me to. So PM me with pictures and news of how you are doing . We have always enjoyed the company of parents and fans and would nice to hear from all of you.

It looks like the summer Olympics will be postponed until after the emergency… in an ironic twist, since our team did not qualify this year. All the remaining FIH games look like they will never be played. In addition, all the other USA field hockey events are suspended. So for we fans there is just recordings of last season’s games. Gratefully, there are some tremendous highlights for our Leopards to relive.

The NCAA has suspended all on site recruiting but their have been additions to Patriot League rosters. Lehigh has added their third Dutch player to their squad and Colgate has added a Canadian player from Vancouver whose film looks impressive. Assuming the fall season is able to be played this could be the most competitive season yet for the Patriot League.

There is no word on whether the League will go to instant replay like other top Division one field hockey leagues. It would be disappointing if the Patriot League again foolishly doesn’t join the rest of Division one.

Meanwhile, I am sure the Leopards are staying in contact. If anyone would like, you can PM me and I will post news for others to see.  Meanwhile, I have seen how some use those extra toilet paper rolls as obstacles to practice stick skills. I would love to to have some video.

This blog has been silent for the last several weeks, but the field hockey world marches on, and Lafayette and the Patriot League are no exception. But first I’ll catch up on my own activities over the recent past. First, Pam and I, welcomed a new addition, Bailey, an energetic and athletic Black Lab to our family. We forgot how much work a new puppy brings with her as we chase her around the house making sure our furniture and rugs survive this little one’s puppyhood. She will see her first field hockey game on March 29 against LaSalle at 1 pm. She loves people, balls, and exercise. She’d make a great midfielder given her. speed and elusiveness, but I suspect neither the stick or the ball would survive her attacking style!!!

Meanwhile, I have been busy with US Field Hockey looking for a good site for US Field Hockey’s new training headquarters. There is a plethora of opportunities as the organization brings nearly 25,000 hotel room rents in a given year. There is no shortage of opportunities. We are looking at the right combination of location, field quality, transportation access, employment opportunities as well as educational opportunities for our national team. It is a challenging exercise being run by Simon Hoskins Executive Director  along with three of us from the US Field Hockey Board and Foundation, but the interest is encouraging and  I feel it will be a successful search.

The Patriot League continues to add to their rosters. Since my last communication, PL coaches have not stopped trying to improve their rosters. Lehigh has added four, Jenny Caroni who will join 2 others at GK. She is from Bronxville, New York, Emily Mars a MF from nearby Strousberg, Pa, Bailie Sunderaland a field player from Virginia Beach, and Maeve Hierholzer a defender from New Jersey will round out the Lehigh freshmen class.

Holy Cross has added four to the four I already cited. It looks like they were looking to boost their offensive impact. Katie Guchen is a player that scored 116 points in High School, Allie McDonough struck for 61  goals at her school in Mass. Sarah Potter is a forward from North Reading, Mass. Meaghan Noon is defender also from Mass.

I did not see any additions from Colgate, Boston or American. but Bucknell has two additions, Sydney Paganos a striker from St.Louis,  and Guguethu Sibana  from Zimbabwe.

I would not rule out additions to the Lafayette roster in the coming months. Meantime the team is preparing for a full spring of competitions. Sunday March 29 Lafayette will host LaSalle at 1 pm, followed by an April 5 tournament at Penn State (TBD). On Saturday April 18, at the University Delaware, there will another tournament, followed by a home contest with Albany on April 19th at 2 pm and on  April 25th  there will be tilt at Rappolt Field at 11:30 with Drexel.

Lafayette returns a number of starters and many players with copious minutes that ended in the championship game last season. Key defensive positions will looked at including an opportunity for rising junior Haile Abbott get many minutes to prepare for the fall season.

lt is indeed a season for renewal and growth!!