How much agent talk will filter into Big 12 Media Days?
Published: 7/26/2010 12:29 PM
Last Modified: 7/26/2010 12:29 PM
IRVING, Texas – Talk of agents, and their infiltration of college football, took over SEC Media Days. I doubt that will happen here at the Big 12 gathering this week, but it will be a topic.
On my checklist this week is to ask players if they have ever been contacted or approached by players. Then it will be up to us, I guess, to determine whether they're being truthful, assuming everyone answers, "No, sir."
In the meantime, it was interesting to hear Adrian Peterson's take on the issue last Friday, the day he returned to OU to host a youth football camp.
Asked how often agents approached him during his time as a Sooner, Peterson responded: "That all comes with it. That's part of it. Agents try and come at you from all different directions, especially your junior year. Even more so my sophomore year, you had different guys try to come in and get in contact with you.
"As a student-athlete, you've got to make sure you stay away from those guys. You don't definitely want to (be caught in any) violations or anything."
Houston coach Kevin Sumlin was on the OU staff during Peterson's time there. Addressing the agent subject at Conference USA Media Days this week, Sumlin spoke highly of the awareness both Bob Stoops and Joe Castiglione raised among the players.
"They did an excellent job educating players and families about what's out there for them," Sumlin said in the Huntington (W.V.) Herald-Dispatch. "And what the dangers are of communicating with agents early and jeopardizing the amateur status."
-- Guerin Emig
Written by
Jason Collington
Web Editor
