UT steers clear of third-party charges

Bertani, UT's NCAA compliance officer, was called in to meet with Antron Wright by UT assistant coach Trooper Taylor in the fall of 2004. Wright came under criticism for his work in the recruitment of defensive back Demetrice Morley.

After investigating the matter, Bertani was quick to point out that Wright's relationship with Morley began as Morley's coach at Killian High School in Miami. Wright left just before Morley's senior year. In this case, the prior relationship blurs the definition of a recruiting third party.

Third-party involvement refers to those outside a prospect's family or high school that has influence in an athlete's recruitment.

The source of much of the criticism surrounding Wright came from former NFL player Joe Rose, a radio talk show host in Miami. Bertani said Rose did not return requests to meet with UT about his allegations. Rose did not return repeated phone calls requesting an interview with the News Sentinel.

Bertani also took exception to a Miami Herald portrayal of Wright as a possible UT booster when the newspaper reported that he was wearing UT apparel at an event.

"We looked into it," Bertani said. "I talked to Antron. He said he purchased all those items for himself. He said the next day at the same event he was wearing another college's shirt. But no one said anything about that."

Wright has maintained that his On Track program is designed to help inner-city athletes with no loyalties to any particular school. Wright's track record supports that claim. He has helped send well over 50 prospects to more than a dozen schools.

Steering a prospect to a particular school is a sign the NCAA looks for in designating someone as a booster.

Bertani said Wright, who traveled with Morley on his official visit to Knoxville, recently sent UT a receipt showing he paid for his flight to Knoxville. NCAA rules do not permit travel expenses for anyone other than the prospect. UT requested the receipt to help demonstrate that UT was not providing expenses to Wright in an attempt to influence him to steer Morley to UT. Morley signed with the Vols on Feb. 2.

Wright passed all the tests employed by UT's compliance office. In future cases, Bertani is well aware that instances of third-party involvement in recruiting may not be so altruistic. Basketball has taught the NCAA and SEC to be wary of such influences.

Auburn was placed on two years' probation last April by the NCAA for its association with a summer-league basketball team. Auburn lost one scholarship and had travel restrictions placed on its recruiting.

The NCAA found that AAU coach Mark Komara of Huntsville, Ala., was acting as a representative of the university when he offered cash and cars to steer high school stars Chadd Moore and Jackie Butler to Auburn.

The NCAA's message: You can be a booster or a mentor, but you can't be both.

The very nature of high school basketball recruiting provides the perfect environment for third-party involvement. A summer-league coach can have as much influence over a prospect as anyone. AAU teams travel together for months and relationships are built.

"You have to look at any benefits being provided to a specific individual from a institutional staff member or from a booster," said Bertani. "Or signs that this third-party individual is steering the kid to a particular school by providing benefits."

The very nature of football won't allow it to approach basketball's level of concern when it comes to a third party. Because of the physical nature of football, summer leagues are not within the realm of possibility. Such examples of mentors are not as common, but treated with the same level of concern.

"It's hard to quantify what a third party is," Bertani said. "Is it the preacher in the neighborhood, the uncle, or the good friend down the street that comes in during the home visit? There are a lot of different levels all the way up to the street agent that people think the worst of."

Dave Hooker covers recruiting. He can be reached at hookerd@knews.com.