Officials at 65 schools want stronger agent laws

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RALEIGH, N.C. -- Athletic officials across the country have banded together to stop underhanded tactics some sports agents use to illegally contact college athletes.

They have been joined in the fight by five agents certified by the NFL Players Association.

"As we've seen over the years, there are a decent number of people out there that don't play by the rules," said Paul Pogge, an associate athletic director at North Carolina and a co-author of a nine-page memo proposing changes to agent laws. "The more entities and individuals we can have working together to protect the student-athletes, the institutions and the professional representatives who do play by the rules, I think that benefits all of us."

The list of people named as supporters of proposals in a nine-page memo sent to the committee that will meet later this month in Chicago to consider updates to the Uniform Athlete Agents Act:

• Tony Agnone, NFLPA certified agent, ex-president of Sports Lawyers Association*
• Mike Alden, Missouri AD
• Whit Babcock, Cincinnati AD
• Scott Barnes, Utah State AD
• Sandy Barbour, California AD
• Gary Barta, Iowa AD
• Jack Bechta, NFLPA certified agent, president/CEO, JB Sports
• Ross Bjork, Mississippi AD
• Gene Bleymaier, San Jose State AD
• Mike Bobinski, Georgia Tech AD
• McKinley Boston, New Mexico State AD
• Tom Bowen, Memphis AD
• Peg Bradley-Doppes, Denver AD
• Morgan Burke, Purdue AD
• Tom Burman, Wyoming AD
• Greg Byrne, Arizona AD
• Patrick Chun, Florida Atlantic AD
• Jeff Compher, East Carolina AD
• William Conaty, NFLPA certified agent, Eastern Athletic Services
• Mark Coyle, Boise State AD
• Bubba Cunningham, North Carolina AD
• John Currie, Kansas State AD
• Joel Erdmann, South Alabama AD
• Rick Evrard, Bond, Schoeneck and King, PLLC
• Jeremy Foley, Florida AD
• Chet Gladchuk, Navy AD
• Scott Farmer, Louisiana AD
• Derrick Gragg, Tulsa AD
• Jack Graham, Colorado State AD
• Daryl Gross, Syracuse AD
• Rick Hart, SMU AD
• John Hartwell, Troy AD
• Jeff Hawkins, Oregon sr. assoc. AD
• Lynn Hickey, Texas-San Antonio AD
• Kirby Hocutt, Texas Tech AD
• Mike Holder, Oklahoma State AD
• Mark Hollis, Michigan State AD
• Eric Hyman, Texas A&M AD
• Vince Ille, North Carolina sr. assoc. AD
• Jay Jacobs, Auburn AD
• Edward Johnson, NFLPA certified agent and partner, Eastern Athletic Services
• Paul Krebs, New Mexico AD
• Noel LaMontagne, NFLPA certified agent, Eastern Athletic Services
• Craig Littlepage, Virginia AD
• Jim Livengood, ex-AD, Arizona, UNLV
• Jeff Long, Arkansas AD
• Warde Manuel, Connecticut AD
• Chris Massaro, Middle Tennessee AD
• Ian McCaw, Baylor AD
• Terry Mohajir, Arkansas State AD
• Hans Mueh, Air Force AD
• Bernard Muir, Stanford AD
• Rob Mullens, Oregon AD
• Michael O'Brien, Toledo AD
• Jim Phillips, Northwestern AD
• Paul Pogge, North Carolina assoc. AD*
• Jamie Pollard, Iowa State AD
• Dan Radakovich, Clemson AD
• Mack Rhoades, Houston AD
• Judy Rose, Charlotte AD
• David Sayler, Miami (Ohio) AD
• Jim Schaus, Ohio AD
• Rob Spear, Idaho AD
• Todd Stansbury, Central Florida AD
• Todd Stewart, Western Kentucky AD
• Scott Stricklin, Mississippi State AD
• Jack Swarbrick, Notre Dame AD
• Norwood Teague, Minnesota AD
• Mike Thomas, Illinois AD
• Todd Turner, president, Collegiate Sports Associates
• Ron Wellman, Wake Forest AD
• Daniel White, Buffalo AD
• Kevin White, Duke AD
• Brian Wickstrom, Louisiana-Monroe AD
• Stan Wilcox, Florida State AD
• Doug Woolard, South Florida AD
• Debbie Yow, NC State AD

*- co-authors of the memo

The memo, which was also co-authored by agent Tony Agnone, was sent Thursday to the committee that will meet later this month in Chicago to consider updates to the Uniform Athlete Agents Act.

The names of athletics officials at 65 schools in 32 states -- including BCS conference programs like Arkansas, Florida, Notre Dame, Oklahoma State, Oregon, Stanford and Texas A&M -- appear at the end of the memo in support of the proposals.

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