Lakeland Football Popularity? (Rainey)

[BuckeyeNation27]

I don't even know where to put this thread. Can this be 100% kosher with the NCAA?

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/sports/16165246.htm

LOCAL CELEBRITIES
It is this kind of success that has turned Lakeland football players into local celebrities, instantly recognized and constantly praised.

'People come up to you like, `Hey, great game on Friday,' or, 'Great catch,' '' said senior Paul Wilson, a wide receiver who also will play for UF next year. ``You don't know who they are, but they know who you are.''

Then there are the rewards that come with recognition. Rainey said a local clothing vendor recently gave him a bag full of sports jerseys and jewelry in exchange for his autograph. Another time, an elderly woman approached him at a restaurant, gave him a hug and handed him a wad of cash.

''I didn't even count it,'' Rainey said. ``When I walk around, people are buying me food, giving me money. I'm like, damn, I'm glad I'm Chris Rainey. It's real nice to be me.''

 

[scooter1369]

The NCAA likely doesn't care since Lakeland is a high school team.

 

[starBUCKS]

It sounds like it would definetly jepordize their "amature" status when headed to the NCAA.

 

[sandgk]

It sounds like a coach who wanted to make trouble for Lakeland could invoke section 11.9 of the FHSAA rules - "Amateurism" (PDF)

11.9.2

No awards of any kind having utilitarian value

may be made by members of this Association or by any individual
or organization whatsoever to students for participation
in interscholastic athletics. Medals, trophies, ribbons,
plaques, school letters, school sweaters, school jackets, and
school award blankets are hereby declared to be of decorative
value rather than utilitarian value, within the meaning
of this article, and may be awarded. Championship rings,
sweaters, jackets or award blankets may be accepted by students
provided they are presented by the school which they
represent.​

Guess the print is small so all can ignore the rule :)
​

 

[scooter1369]

It sounds like a paper backing Lakeland's next opponent is already making trouble.

 

[fourteenandoh]

``When I walk around, people are buying me food, giving me money. I'm like, damn, I'm glad I'm Chris Rainey. It's real nice to be me.''


Is this kid an idiot or what? Does he want to get in trouble? Who in their right mind would ever go on record in a big newspaper admitting that people give them money? I hope he gets suspended for the rest of the year for being a dipshit

 

[TRON]

Lakeland High?

Am I missing something?

 

[scooter1369]

Lakeland High?

Am I missing something?

Lakeland is the #1 ranked high school football team in the nation and they are defending national champs. They've won 44 straight games.

 

[craigblitz]

Some college is lucky to get him ... Wow he is going to be a headache!!

 

[scooter1369]

Some college is lucky to get him ... Wow he is going to be a headache!!

Rainey is a verbal commit to Florida. I'm sure they are already scheduling his suspensions for UCF, W.Carolina and MTSU games to be named later.

 

[wadc45]

Half of Lakeland is committed to UF...

CB Ahmad Black
OL Maurkice Pouncey
OL Michael Pouncey
RB Chris Rainey
DB Steven Wilks
WR Paul Wilson

TE Jordan Hammond (LSU verbal) and DT John Brown (undecided) also have UF offers. And they also have a kid committed to Alabama (Jamar Taylor) and another likely headed to MTSU or FIU (Brian Valdez). And they have more D1 talent in the 2008 class, including WR Keon Broxton.

 

[scooter1369]

Half of Lakeland is committed to UF...

CB Ahmad Black
OL Maurkice Pouncey
OL Michael Pouncey
RB Chris Rainey
DB Steven Wilks
WR Paul Wilson

TE Jordan Hammond (LSU verbal) and DT John Brown (undecided) also have UF offers. And they also have a kid committed to Alabama (Jamar Taylor) and another likely headed to MTSU or FIU (Brian Valdez). And they have more D1 talent in the 2008 class, including WR Keon Broxton.

So Lakeland could be called "Glenville South"

 

[Muck]

So Lakeland could be called "Glenville South"

...with free food!

 

[scooter1369]

...with free food!

and jerseys

and money

 

[LoKyBuckeye]

looks like Mr. Rainey should have kept his mouth shut.....

LINK

FHSAA Probing Rainey's Remarks

By ANWAR S. RICHARDSON The Tampa Tribune

Published: Dec 6, 2006

TAMPA - The Florida High School Athletic Association has launched a "full-scale" investigation into Lakeland High's football program because standout running back Chris Rainey said he received money and gifts from local school supporters.

An article published in Tuesday's Miami Herald stated Rainey said a local clothing vendor recently gave him a bag full of sports jerseys and jewelry in exchange for his autograph. Another time, the report said, an elderly woman approached him at a restaurant, gave him a hug and handed him a wad of cash.

"I didn't even count it," Rainey told the Herald. "When I walk around, people are buying me food, giving me money. I'm like, damn, I'm glad I'm Chris Rainey. It's real nice to be me."

However, Sonny Hester, the FHSAA's associate commissioner for compliance and eligibility, said Rainey is not allowed to receive gifts from any athletic fan. If its investigation proves there was wrongdoing, Lakeland would be forced to forfeit an undetermined amount of games.

Lakeland (14-0) plays Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas in the Class 5A state final Friday in Miami Gardens. If Lakeland wins with Rainey on the field and the FHSAA uncovers misconduct, the Dreadnaughts could have to forfeit that state title, which would be their third in a row.

According to the FHSAA bylaws, a student who receives a gift is no longer an amateur athlete and would be suspended for a year. Rainey is a senior.

"The investigation has to determine if what they [Miami Herald] reported is true," Hester said. "If it's true, we have to determine the intrinsic value of the gifts he received. A pair of socks is not intrinsic in value. A roll of dimes is not intrinsic in value. A $200 Dallas Cowboys jersey is.

"He is innocent until proven guilty. We have no idea about what sources the Miami Herald used, but we've been in contact with them, Lakeland High School and everybody else we need to be in contact with."

Rainey has verbally committed to sign with the University of Florida in February, but if the Herald story is true, he could have a problem with the NCAA.

Jamie McCloskey, UF's associate athletic director in charge of compliance, is barred by NCAA rules from speaking about a specific prospect, but he said in general that the NCAA will want to know how much the player received and whether the person providing the money or gifts gave them to entice the player to sign with a particular college. McCloskey said the player could forfeit his amateur status by the NCAA's definition, which could keep him from playing college football. If the gifts were enticements to attend a certain school, that school also could face sanctions.

Lakeland coach Bill Castle, Athletic Director Sid Kimbrell and Herald sports editor Jorge Rojas did not return phone calls Tuesday.

"There is no way to do our investigation before this Friday. Something like this can't be done overnight. It could take weeks," Hester said. "It will take a lot of painstaking interviews to get to the bottom of this, assuming there is even something to get to the bottom of."