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
Lafayette College Field Hockey 