While people across the country are filling out polls for the NCAA basketball tournament, members of the Ball State University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics are not. If they do, they could lose their job or eligibility.
According to the 2007-2008 NCAA Division I manual, staff members within athletics departments, non-athletics department staff members who have responsibilities within or over the athletics department, staff members of a conference office and student-athletes are not allowed to knowingly participate in sports wagering activities or provide information to individuals involved in or associated with an type of sports wagering.
Any student athletes who participate in any sports wagering activity lose their eligibility for a minimum of one year, according to the NCAA manual.
Quinn said staff members who violate the NCAA rules on wagering could lose their job.
Men's tennis player Joe Vallee said like every year the team was reminded of the rule Monday.
"They said we can do it if there wasn't any money involved," Vallee said. "It really doesn't bother me."
Associate Athletics Director Pat Quinn, who is in charge of compliance within the athletics department, said he sent out an e-mail to all coaches and staff members to remind them of the policy. He also asked the coaches to remind their athletes, he said.
"If there is any type of prize involved they can't participate," Quinn said.
Although rules do not prohibit coaches, staff and athletes from participating in polls with no prizes, Quinn said, the Ball State athletics department discourages it.
The NCAA said it does not keep records on the number of people at NCAA institutions who are fired or suspended for violating the wagering rules.
Quinn said Ball State has had no problems in the past with anyone violating the rules.
However, other universities had problems in the past with people wagering in NCAA basketball polls.
Rick Neuheisel, the coach of the UCLA football team, was fired in 2003 as the coach of the University of Washington football team for betting in an NCAA basketball tournament poll. Neuheisel sued Washington and the NCAA for wrongful termination and settled in March 2005 for $4.5 million.
Although Vallee said he does not have a problem with the rule, the restrictions do take away from some of the fun of participating in the polls.
"It's obviously not as fun because you don't win anything," Vallee said, "but it's still exciting."
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