Clowney? Guilty? Nah. (Photo: Getty Images)
Earlier this week, South Carolina defensive lineman and master of the universe Jadeveon Clowney posted a picture a screengrab of an article on Instagram claiming he had been in contact with the rapper-turned-sports-mogul Jay, now hyphen-less, Z. The caption on Clowney's Instagrammed photo read "You kno we about to turn up. Dream coming true." Clowney quickly deleted the photo from his Instagram account and South Carolina's compliance department was swift to investigate.
According to NCAA bylaws, "It is not a violation of NCAA rules if a student-athlete merely talks to an agent (as long as an agreement for agent representation is not established) or socializes with an agent. For example, a student-athlete could go to dinner with an agent and no NCAA violations would result if the student-athlete provided his own transportation and paid for his meal."
A player can talk to agents all he wants, he just isn't allowed to enter any type of agreement – verbal or written – with any agent until that athlete has left school. Policing verbal agreements, unless the agent turns you in like Reggie Bush, seems like it would be a tough job. But after a painstakingly thorough two day investigation, the compliance officers apparently found no signs of compliance violations and announced that Clowney had done no wrong.
In a "press release" forwarded to ESPN's Travis Haney, South Carolina's Assistant Athletic Director Steve Fink said:
Was forwarded South Carolina memo re: Clowney and Jay-Z. pic.twitter.com/3MCYffJbYU
— Travis Haney (@TravHaneyESPN) July 25, 2013
If you can't read the handwriting it says, "Based on the facts that USC has gathered, Jadeveon Clowney has not had any impermissible conversations nor has he received impermissible benefits."
It seems that the Office of the Athletic Director at the University of South Carolina has not upgraded to owning computers, or maybe South Carolinians aren't sure that they trust something they don't understand. Either way, Jadeveon Clowney has been cleared of any rumored devious money-making ploys.
