hoopsinstead

When the remainder of the aid is being paid by an interested party, it's not going to show up on the school's tax return. I'm sure the donor doesn't want it showing up anywhere for that matter. The AD and coaches have a moral, ethical and a TSSAA legal obligation to know what is going on in their programs, even if they aren't a direct party to the transaction.

Its not the families that are actually paying the $7 to $8m mentioned above that are causing any problems. That is their choice and I'm happy they can go where they want to with part of their tuition paid via legitimate financial aid. The problems lie in having that remaining $7 to $8m paid by an interested party, or work study or a loan. Schools paying the entire way for star athletes that can't afford any tuition obviously have an advantage. Why don't they pay the entire way for these same kids that they are so interested in helping to educate but simply stipulate that they can't play varsity athletics so that it is legal and they have truly helped the kid?

Fromthetop, you have totally missed the point. Nobody that is paying their own way is complaining about what they are paying. The problem is that there are athletes who are having their way paid illegally which is a TSSAA death penalty violation but no one is getting caught. Switch over to the previous thread that talks about scholarships at private schools for further responses on this issue.

It would be extremely difficult to catch someone "marketing" their private school's athletic programs to a new prospect. Some call that recruiting. To me, the more obvious recruiting lies in actually paying someone to play by picking up the non-qualified portion of their tuition (i.e. the amount over and above what Princeton says you can legitimately qualify for). Look at the thread listed a few below this one entitled "Scholarships at Private Schools" for a much more meaty issue than simply "marketing" to new athletes.

Clint, I think BaldCoach presented a clearer assessment when he said it is "supposed to be" need based. The potential violations occur when aid over and above what Princeton determines the family qualifies for is given by an interested party most often to a relative who then pays the tuition difference. Sometimes the parents income is such that they don't qualify for any financial aid per Princeton so the interested party forks over the entire tuition rather than the difference between legitimate financial aid and the tuition bill. This is old news that TSSAA can't seem to bust anyone on as it requires too much heresay and that someone step up and tell the truth. The more interesting question to me is the newer, supposedly legal, issues of "work study" and "loans". Would someone please explain how these could possibly be legal and consistent with the spirit of not paying someone to play?? I need a lot more details to understand how a kid could be paid half of an $8,000 tuition, as an example, for working in the library or in a concession stand when the number of hours the school is open and that they aren't in class or at practice or playing in a game dictates very few available hours to even work. I have no understanding at all of how the loans could possibly work and be an "arms length" transaction. Anybody in the know please shed some light.

Congratulations to the Memphis Elite for a well run 11U and 15U State tournament. The facilities were outstanding and the officiating was good, especially in the 15U bracket. Being truly independent gives one a whole diffferent viewpoint than when you have a dog in the hunt (I coach in the 10U age group and not with any clubs that had teams playing this past weekend). There was some physical play allowed particularly in the post that was good for all the teams as they get ready for Nationals where they will be battered in the paint and no whistles will be blown. There were a below average number of incorrect or missed calls, mostly in the 11U, but nothing intentional and the misses evened out both ways. All in all, a well officiated weekend. I continued to see about the normal level of unsportsmanlike behavior (legal but unsportsmanlike) out of some fans banging bleachers/screaming during free throws, etc. and just a few seemingly level headed parents who were miraculously transformed into irate/rabid fans whenever their daughter was involved in some contact. It was a good weekend of basketball to watch and just showed once again how passionate people are about girls basketball in the state of Tennessee.

10U State Final Results-- 1. FCA Lady Eagles 2. TN Xtreme 3. TN Express 4. Cookeville Ladies 5. Team Pride 6. TN Raiders Congratulations to all. Very classy group of coaches and very talented teams.

Saturday Results-- Pool A TN Express wins over W TN Lady Tigers TN Xtreme wins over Team Pride Team Pride wins over W TN Lady Tigers TN Xtreme wins over TN Express Pool A #1 TN Xtreme plays Pool B #2 Cookeville Ladies Sunday morning Pool B Cookeville wins over TN Raiders FCA Lady Eagles win over Top Guns TN Raiders win over Top Guns FCA Lady Eagles win over Cookeville Ladies Pool B #1 FCA Lady Eagles play Pool A #2 TN Express Sunday morning Team Pride plays TN Raiders early Sunday to decide 5th place--top 6 places go to Nationals

Pool B-Friday night results Cookeville wins over Top Guns and FCA Lady Eagles win over TN Raiders

What 10U teams have actually paid thus far for the Shelbyville Super Regional?? What other 10U teams have said they are coming but haven't paid yet??

Need 1 to 3 more 10U teams and 1 to 3 more 14U teams to round out those brackets. Call me immediately if interested at 901-277-1444 (Coach Jeff Little).

Reminder Tomorrow (March 1st) is deadline to receive (so you must overnite if you haven't yet mailed) Section A of entry form plus registration fee. Grizzlies ticket order also due tomorrow. Griz game for this ticket level is a confirmed sellout once our ticket allocation expires. Tourney beginning Saturday looks great with roughly 40+ teams in ages 9 thru 14. Confirmed teams and their finish last year (listed by this year's age group): 10's-TN YBOA #2 and #3, etc.; 11's-AAU #3/AR #1, TN #1 and #2, AL #2, IN #3, MO #4, etc.; 12's-AAU #3, AAU #24/AR #1, TN #3, D2 #4/AL #3, etc.; 13's-AAU #5/TN #3, AAU #9/TN #1, AAU #13, AAU #30, MS #1, etc. Five 9yr old teams interested so far. Four 14U teams. Please call Sharon Armour at 901-419-8179 with any questions. Link to registration packet is listed in original post above.

It's gonna be great. No Tennessee teams (from ages 9 thru 14) within a reasonable driving distance of Memphis should miss this one!!

Just a heads up to all 14U teams that we have now added a 14U bracket to the FCA/Memphis Grizzlies "Rumble on the River" tourney. The original post above has been updated.

As an extra incentive to bring as many fans to the Grizzlies game on Friday, March 18th as possible, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) has graciously offered their "High Five" of the NBA players to the organization (Team/Club, etc.) that buys the most tickets. That means that if your Club sells the most total tickets to the Friday night game (that same ticket gets you into the jamboree on the FedEx Forum floor on Friday afternoon), then your Club can select 8 people to High-Five the Grizzlies players during the pregame player introductions. Pretty cool, huh? This offer is contingent upon the FCA selling at least 500 tickets to the game which they are expected to do given the quality of the Grizzlies opponent (T'Wolves and Kevin Garnett). Registration and contact information are listed above in the previous posts.

“Rumble on the River” March 18th (jamboree), 19th & 20th(tourney) Join many of the top 9U thru 14U Girls teams in the country for BBQ, Blues & Basketball Hosted by the 10U FCA Lady Eagles Come join us for a unique tournament experience! The NBA’s Memphis Grizzlies are offering a special invitation to girls’ competitive basketball teams participating in the “Rumble on the River” to join them on Friday March 18th as they honor the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA). • Participating teams can play in a jamboree versus other competitive teams on the FedEx Forum floor. The FedEx Forum is the new pride of the NBA and is considered by many as one of the premier arenas in the league. We will play “mini games” (potentially two 5 minute running clock periods per game with a 3 min. warm-up and a 2 minute half-time) in the Forum from 1:00 to 4:00 PM on Friday with those teams who can make it to Memphis on Friday in time for this fun event (these games will not count towards the tourney results and the actual tourney games will start on Saturday morning). The jamboree will be limited to the first 24 teams that register. Super Griz, the team mascot, will be on hand to meet the girls and cause havoc! Later that night, all teams and parents can return to the Forum (after possibly having dinner on Memphis’ famous Beale Street adjacent to the Forum!!) to watch the Grizzlies take on Kevin Garnett (reigning NBA MVP) and his defending regular season Western Conference Champion Minnesota Timberwolves. Teams and their families can purchase advance tickets at a special discount of $15 each versus the normal gate price of $19.75. For each ticket sold, the Grizzlies will donate $5 to the Memphis FCA (none of this money benefits the FCA Lady Eagles-rather, it all goes to further God’s work that the FCA is doing in the Memphis area). Each team will be recognized during the Grizzlies’ game on the giant Jumbo-tron scoreboard. You should enclose a separate check for the total number of tickets needed for your team and their families at $15 each. A ticket to the game Friday night will be required to be admitted into the Forum for the jamboree on Friday from 1 to 4. There is no additional charge for the jamboree. We anticipate that many of your local businesses would likely sponsor your team to enable them to attend this Christ centered event. We have a request letter from the FCA to help you find sponsors. Saturday morning begins our highly competitive elite tournament. Commitments have already been received from a number of the top teams from last year’s AAU Nationals (7 Sweet 16 teams already). Registration will be limited to no more than 16 teams per age group. Interested teams should register quickly. • Entry fee $275. Entry fee due with registration no later than March 1, 2005, roster/waivers due no later than March 7th, 2005. Download registration packet at http://eteamz.active.com/FCALadyEagles/fil...eontheRiver.pdf • Guaranteed 3+ games. All teams from pool play (Saturday AM) will advance to single elimination bracket play (Saturday PM and Sunday). • Medals for all players from champion and runner-up teams plus trophy for championship team. • FCA led worship service on Sunday by Steve Wigginton, dribbling trick artist/evangelist. Call Sharon Armour at 901-419-8179 or email at sharon.armour@ipaper.com for fax or email of entry forms and additional information.

“Rumble on the River” March 18th (jamboree), 19th & 20th(tourney) Join many of the top 9U, 10U, 11U, 12U and 13U Girls teams in the country for BBQ, Blues & Basketball Hosted by the 10U FCA Lady Eagles Come join us for a unique tournament experience! The NBA’s Memphis Grizzlies are offering a special invitation to girls’ competitive basketball teams participating in the “Rumble on the River” to join them on Friday March 18th as they honor the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA). • Participating teams can play in a jamboree versus other competitive teams on the FedEx Forum floor. The FedEx Forum is the new pride of the NBA and is considered by many as one of the premier arenas in the league. We will play “mini games” (potentially two 8 minute running clock periods per game with a 2 min. warm-up and a 2 minute half-time) in the Forum from 1:00 to 4:00 PM on Friday with those teams who can make it to Memphis on Friday in time for this fun event (these games will not count towards the tourney results and the actual tourney games will start on Saturday morning). The jamboree will be limited to the first 30 teams that register. Super Griz, the team mascot, will be on hand to meet the girls and cause havoc! Later that night, all teams and parents can return to the Forum (after possibly having dinner on Memphis’ famous Beale Street adjacent to the Forum!!) to watch the Grizzlies take on Kevin Garnett (reigning NBA MVP) and his defending regular season Western Conference Champion Minnesota Timberwolves. Teams and their families can purchase advance tickets at a special discount of $15 each versus the normal gate price of $19.75. For each ticket sold, the Grizzlies will donate $5 to the Memphis FCA (none of this money benefits the FCA Lady Eagles-rather, it all goes to further God’s work that the FCA is doing in the Memphis area). Each team will be recognized during the Grizzlies’ game by the PA announcer and on the giant Jumbo-tron scoreboard. You should enclose a separate check for the total number of tickets needed for your team and their families at $15 each. A ticket to the game Friday night will be required to be admitted into the Forum for the jamboree on Friday from 1 to 4. There is no additional charge for the jamboree. We anticipate that many of your local businesses would likely sponsor your team to enable them to attend this Christ centered event. We have a request letter from the FCA to help you find sponsors. Saturday morning begins our highly competitive elite tournament. Commitments have already been received from a number of the top teams from last year’s AAU Nationals in the older age groups (call for more info.). Registration will be limited to no more than 12 teams per age group. Interested teams should register quickly. • Entry fee $275. Entry fee due with registration no later than March 1, 2005, roster/waivers due no later than March 7th, 2005. Download registration packet at http://eteamz.active.com/FCALadyEagles/fil...eontheRiver.pdf • Guaranteed 3 games. All teams from pool play (Saturday AM) will advance to single elimination bracket play (Saturday PM and Sunday). • Medals for all players from champion and runner-up teams plus trophy for championship team. • Every player/coach will receive lunch at no charge on Saturday. We will be grilling chicken, hamburgers and hot dogs. • FCA led worship service on Sunday. Call Sharon Armour at 901-419-8179 or email at sharon.armour@ipaper.com for fax or email of entry forms and additional information.