Bill aims at punishing sports agents

Michigan safety Marcus Ray may never play in another Michigan football game because of his alleged dealings with an agent. The football team, the University and Ray himself will all be penalized if the allegations are proven true.

But the agent who contacted Ray suffers no consequences from his actions that are legal, but violate NCAA rules.

That may not be the situation in similar cases for much longer.

The state House of Representatives passed two bills yesterday that, in addition to a third bill passed in May, will give the University ammunition in its fight against agents and boosters.

The bills, sponsored by Rep. Kirk Profit (D-Ypsilanti), would hold liable any individual who "interferes with a prospective advantage" through contact with student athletes. That means any contact with an individual that could potentially cause the athlete to break the NCAA's rules regarding contact with boosters or agents would now have ramifications for the athlete and the other individual.

In addition, the bills would allow universities to declare agents trespassers on campus and subject them to prosecution.

Profit said the work on the bills has been long and arduous, but the combination of bills hopefully will help all schools, especially the University. He said problems in the Michigan and Michigan State athletic programs were catalysts for the legislation.

"The University's athletic programs have a strong commitment to play by the rules, but I think it's important to add to that commitment the force of law," Profit said.

If passed by the Senate and approved by Gov. John Engler, Profit's legislation will impose a $50,000 penalty and up to one year in jail to anyone who breaks the rules. Profit said he does not anticipate any problems in the Senate, and Engler's administration has expressed support for the measure.

Members of the Michigan Athletic Department have been asked to give their input on the legislation, and Athletic Director Tom Goss said he plans to support the bill.

"We work diligently with our athletes to be sure they know the rules, but the agents know them too," Goss said. "It really bothers me because the agents are the adults in the process, and they are the ones in this for a profit."

Michigan football coach Lloyd Carr said during his press conference concerning Ray's suspension that he would not discuss his feelings about agents in a public forum. Carr said the department tries its best to protect players, but sometimes there are breaks in the system.

"We have an educational process," Carr said. "We bring the FBI in once a year to discuss - among other things - the gambling issues, the drugs. And a big part of that discussion centers around the agent issue in intercollegiate athletics.

"Throughout the country, this is an issue that confronts nearly every major college," Carr said.

Proponents of the bill said they hope it never has to be fully enforced, rather they hope it will be used as a deterrent to potential boosters and agents on campus.

"There needs to be something on the books so that at least the fear of a lawsuit exists," Goss said.

Bo Schembechler, the former Michigan football coach whose biography included a chapter titled "Get Those Agents Off My Campus," said most agents he's come into contact with have not been very reputable. He said that despite coaches' efforts to inform athletes about the dangers posed by agents, players are constantly harassed by agents.

"The agent problem is not new, and its not going away," Schembechler said. "Any legislation that would put some fear into those guys would be good."

The agents often times "just don't give a damn" about the consequences for athletes, he added.

- Daily Sports Editor Sharat Raju contributed to this report.

09-25-98