NCAA seeks to close loophole arising from Cam Newton's father shopping his quarterback son

The NCAA Division I Amateurism Cabinet recently proposed expanding the definition of third parties who market student-athletes’ abilities for personal financial gain to include family members.

The NCAA is seeking to close a loophole in its rules that allowed Cecil Newton to shop his son Cam to schools for what has been reported as anywhere from $180,000 to $200,000 with minimal penalty.

Past definitions of third-party agents generally referred to marketing an athlete’s skills to a professional sports team. The new proposal would expand the definition to include people seeking money or benefits from a college as well. That includes certified contract advisers, financial advisers, marketing representatives, brand managers and family members.

The proposal comes nine months after the highly publicized Newton saga, in which the NCAA determined Cam’s father, Cecil, shopped his son’s services to Mississippi State during recruiting out of junior college without the quarterback’s knowledge. No proof has emerged that any actual benefits were received. The NCAA, which still is investigating the matter, ruled in early December that mere solicitation did not make Cam ineligible for any games. The quarterback was ruled ineligible for a rules violation but had his eligibility restored less than 24 hours later after Auburn filed for his immediate reinstatement.