October 4th: Prospective Athlete Interview

Richie Rich is a booster & alum of Ocean State University (OSU).  Richie also works as a sports reporter for the local newspaper.  In his weekly feature of local athletes, Richie would like to interview Wide Out, a highly touted senior football prospect.  If OSU is recruiting Wide, is it permissible for Richie to interview him for the article?

Yes with conditions.

Division I NCAA Staff Interpretation- 7/21/93- Booster who works with a media entity having contact with prospective student-athlete- states that a media entity (e.g., radio, talk show host, newspaper reporter) who also is a representative of an institution’s athletics interests may have contact with a prospective student-athlete, provided the contact is through a normal working relationship and not for the purpose of recruiting the prospective student-athlete.

THIS INTERPRETATION IS APPLICABLE TO ALL THREE DIVISIONS.  THE DATE OF THE INTERPRETATION FOR ALL DIVISIONS IS THE SAME