Issues from recruiting services to 7-on-7 to mentors/'mentors'

CHICAGO -- Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany called the current mode of doing business as "a system established in the '50s and stuck in the '70s."

Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz speaks during the Big Ten football media day in Chicago, Thursday, July 28, 2011. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)

Then, he said it's important for Big Ten football coaches to uphold rules of recruiting and enforcement. He met behind closed doors with coaches Thursday at Big Ten media days. He wanted to make sure the message was received.

Iowa has virtually no rap sheet with the NCAA, but the issues at Ohio State and with recruiting services at Oregon are on Kirk Ferentz's radar.

Iowa does pay recruiting services for video on recruits. Ferentz said he knows what he's getting and believes it's a necessity.

"It was very typical for use to have someone in Ohio furnish us with video, or in Florida," Ferentz said. "I can't say that we've had any financial arrangements with a trainer, per se. If we have, I'm not aware of it. Our involvement has been to procure film and get written reports. I trust we're paying market prices. It's all on the up and up."

The situation with payments from Oregon to Willie Lyles, a recruiting services provider, is under scrutiny. Ferentz said he wasn't surprised to see that sort of situation.

"It concerns me, it doesn't surprise me," Ferentz said.

Somehow, college coaches need the video from the prospect. Ferentz cautions that he doesn't  want to pay "$100,000 for something that should cost $5." Ferentz mentioned a company that is using similar technology to what college coaches use when they review game video.

"It's kind of like one-stop shopping," Ferentz said. "They're kind of becoming a monopoly and with that comes a cost increase. I know they're not training guys are in bed with anybody, at least I hope they're not."

Ferentz said if the deal sounds too good, it's probably not a good deal.

Another issue that's more of a brush fire than an inferno is the rise of 7-on-7 competitions. It's found a niche on the ESPN networks. Some compare it to what AAU basketball is to college basketball recruiting. Ferentz isn't against 7-on-7, but he doesn't want to see it "AAU-ized," either.

"I'm all for kids playing with their teammates," he said. "It's a nice opportunity for them being together, but I think we're all concerned with the potential for us to be 'AAU-ized.' I think we all worry about the potential for any outside people to come in. I don't think any high school coach would want that."

Ferentz has a son, Stephen, who'll be a tight end at Iowa City High this fall. He wouldn't allow his son to compete in 7-on-7 competitions outside of a team structure set up by the school's coach.

"I just don't think it's what a high school player should be doing," Ferentz said. "I know I'm a caveman, but I think they should be with their teammates. It's important."

Another red-flag issue is the idea of mentors for recruits. Ferentz said he's seen it from both sides. He mentioned a former Hawkeye from five or six years ago who had a legitimate mentor who counseled him on what was best for him and his family.

Ferentz also said he had a recent encounter with a "mentor," someone who seemed to have a specific list of kids he mentored, all of whom were college football prospects.

"I was recently exposed to a mentor who, coincidentally, seemed to mentor players with great size and athleticism," Ferentz said. "When you start mentoring a select group, that's an interesting circumstance, I guess. We had one conversation and that was enough."