The agent problem is everyone's problem.

It isn't the sole responsibility of the NCAA agents, gambling and amateurism staff, or the membership services or enforcement staffs, or the institutional compliance officers, or NCAA member institutions. But with everyone working together to provide education and control, a better environment may be achievable.

Member institutions are aware of the situations that exist between collegiate student-athletes who have the potential to play professionally and the agents trying to influence their decisions. Many schools are using compliance coordinators and CHAMPS/Life Skills programs to help educate, inform and protect student-athletes.

A panel of counselors

John Bove, compliance coordinator at Pennsylvania State University, runs one such model program. In the early 1980s, Penn State developed the Professional Sports Counseling Panel, which included a professor of finance, a real estate/tax law expert and an attorney in the business law program. With support from Bove, they combined forces to implement an educational program for Penn State student-athletes. Nearly 20 years later, the same individuals are committed to helping their athletes.

Some programs bring agents on campus to interact with student-athletes under the direct supervision of the compliance program. Bove said while that may be a good approach for some, he does not believe Penn State will use the concept in the near future.

"Our program doesn't allow agents on campus because we are afraid it will permit someone an unfair advantage," Bove said. "We would never be able to accommodate all the agents who would want to be involved with this program."

Penn State provides several educational sessions throughout the year for student-athletes, including guest speakers such as former high-profile Penn State athletes, FBI agents, general managers of professional teams and other professional representatives. All speakers share their perspectives and experiences about agents and financial advisors.

Beginning in their freshman year, student-athletes are made aware of the counseling panel. Each year, their interaction with the panel grows, as the panel visits the training table, travels to away games with the teams, and visits the locker room to create a relationship with the athletes. Bove said that the panel has to be visible at every step of the way to be effective.

"The key to the panel is to have the coaches support it; without the coaches' support, the panel won't work," Bove said.

As juniors, the educational sessions become mandatory. All juniors are given a textbook about sports agents. Parent sessions also are offered a few times throughout the year, and educational packets are mailed to mothers and fathers.

All meetings between student-athletes and agents are conducted on campus, where compliance members can be involved if asked. Student-athletes are given sample questions to ask, as well as a questionnaire to use with financial advisors.

Bove said, "In the end, we are all trying to help the student-athlete."

'Agent Day'

Ohio State University conducts an annual agent day in the spring, and it is open to all student-athletes. Any agent registered with the state of Ohio or with Ohio State is invited to attend. Agent-related resource files also are available for student-athletes.

In a preparatory education session in the weeks before Agent Day, student-athletes are engaged in role-playing and mock interviews and listen to guest speakers share their experiences. The school's Professional Sports Counseling Panel, former Heisman Trophy winner and current athletics administrator Archie Griffin, compliance coordinator Heather Lyke and athletics director Andy Geiger, initiated the project. The panel is available at all educational sessions and will review contracts with student-athletes if asked.

Agents and athletes compile a list of whom they want to meet and a schedule is made. All student-athletes are invited to walk around and meet with agents as they are available.

"Agent Day is an organized opportunity to meet with agents in a controlled setting and provide student-athletes with the tools needed to make sound decisions," Lyke said.

A year-round approach

Jean Boyd, manager of student services and CHAMPS/Life Skills coordinator at Arizona State University, and Foti Mellis, assistant athletics director for compliance services at Arizona State, coordinate that school's agent educational program.

"About three years ago, we really started to focus on agents and creating an educational program," Boyd said. "Before that, we did basic things, but we felt it was time to enhance our efforts and become more in tune with our student-athletes."

Arizona State began to register agents a few years ago, creating a database of more than 200. Any agent who contacts Arizona State is given a packet with NCAA guidelines and a background questionnaire to return for the database.

"With our baseball and basketball athletes, we begin the education process before they are even on campus because agents start recruiting at an early age for those sports," Boyd added.

The process ranges from educating all athletes during their team eligibility meetings, to video presentations for teams such as football and basketball that generally are more affected by agents.

Arizona State conducted its first Agent Day last fall, bringing 18 agents on campus to meet with the athletes individually in 20-minute increments in a controlled and safe environment.

During the fall football season, two educational sessions for parents are held at away games, primarily in southern and northern California, a major Arizona State recruiting base. During homecoming or senior day, another educational seminar for parents is held on campus.

"We try to emphasize to our athletes that you don't need an agent until the draft or you become a free agent, so there is no reason for them to be making phone calls or have meetings with you until that time," Boyd said. "In the middle of the season, you should be focusing on playing, not on an agent."

Arizona State also hosts a sports agent panel in the spring that includes representatives from professional players associations, a scout who was a former Arizona State standout; a current professional; a contract negotiator from the NFL's Arizona Cardinals; and, if possible, an NCAA enforcement representative.

"We have tried to create a comprehensive year-round program that touches all aspects of agent activity," Boyd said. "I feel we are making a difference. Our student-athletes are seeking advice about agents and asking more questions than before this program started."