Agents: The Great White Sharks and Their Prey

By Aimee Zagelow

It has been highly noted in sports news that the NCAA is probing student athletes at various universities for eligibility violations; the center of attention being dealings with agents. These accusations throughout the sports world have begun to scrutinize athletes, but are they the only ones to blame?

The agents are more at fault. Athletes are being targeted; this needs to be the biggest concern and should be addressed by the NCAA enforcement department.

A student star athlete with potential for the pros is constantly preyed upon by the predatory agents. We must remember these students are just that, students, and range from 18-22 years old. They are not only influenced by their peers, but also very susceptible to outside forces, especially these sharks.

Athletes are dealt the repercussions and become ineligible for allowing the agents to negotiate deals or accept financial incentives. The alarm surfaces here. Where are the consequences for the agents who are equally, if not more, responsible for not abiding by the rules?

They too should have consequences for violating the rules. I would go as far as suspending the agents, restraining orders for the players and even being banned from recruiting at the university if caught in an investigation. Tap their communication devices if you have to.

As reported from Pat Ford, journalist for ESPN, on Kansas State football player Daniel Thomas:

“How they got his cell number, he has no idea. He's tried to redirect them to his parents back home in Hilliard, Fla., but he says they keep calling.”

"Five different ones call every day," Thomas said at Big 12 media days (July, 2010)…”

The fact is, this is harassment, and in the end the most persuasive agent may just get his/her way, convincing the athlete or parental guardian(s) that they are obliging by NCAA regulations when they are not.

But until this issue gets resolved and agents are held accountable and given repercussions for these violations, NCAA sport programs are going to suffer, have numerous athletes ineligible, trophies torn away, scholarships lost, fines, etc.

If you’re a small fish in a giant sea and a great white shark comes your way, what are the odds you can just ignore it and it will swim away? Not good; you may be eaten alive.