Big Cat Weekend: Maybe Not The Best Idea Ever

Hey everyone. So Auburn today released requested information about Big Cat Weekend and the punishments levied by the Southeastern Conference for secondary violations associated with that event.

The documents are numerous. As we like to do on the HABOTN, let's just do a tidy summary.

• Big Cat Weekend occurred on Saturday, May 30, 2009.
  
  
• It occurred during a weekend when 23 PSAs (that's how the NCAA refers to prospective student athletes) gathered at Auburn and learned about the program.
  
  
• After those officially sanctioned activities ended, Auburn officials reported that eight of those PSAs attended an "impromptu" event at Toomer's Corner. Fans gathered, recruits were announced to the crowd, Aubie was there, trees were rolled. A good time was had by all.
  
  
• PSAs are not permitted to attend an event like that. It's considered a "simulated game-day activity". It's also wrong to announce the names of PSAs . It's also wrong to for PSAs to be in the presence of boosters.
  
  
• Those are secondary violations.
  
  
• Auburn reported those violations to the SEC on June 30, 2009.
  
  
• Here's what Auburn self imposed:
  
  • Auburn agreed to conduct "multiple education sessions" for athletic employees regarding NCAA rules.
    
    
  • Auburn agreed to provide literature for boosters to better understand their prohibition from PSA contact.
    
    
  • Auburn also eliminated one official visit for each of the eight PSAs who attended the Toomer's Corner celebration.
    
    
  • Auburn provided a written letter of reprimand to Trooper Taylor. (I don't understand why Taylor was singled out; six assistant coaches attended the event)
  
  
• The SEC responded on July 31, 2009.
  
  
• The SEC accepted Auburn's self-imposed sanctions, then added a few more:
  
  • The SEC banned Auburn from meeting with six PSAs until Sept. 15, 2009: Jessel Curry, Kahiri Fortt, Eric Mack, Trovon Reed, Marcus Lattimore, Lache Seastrunk.
    
    (*Auburn never identified the other two PSAs who attended the event.)
    
    
  • The SEC limited Auburn to one phone call to each of those six PSAs in September.
    
    
  • The SEC banned Taylor from all off-campus recruiting activities through Nov. 30, 2009.
    
    
  • The SEC asked that each of the six assistant coaches who attended the event (Taylor, Jay Boulware, Jeff Grimes, Curtis Luper, Tommy Thigpen, Gus Malzahn) receive written reprimands.
  
  
• Auburn complied with all that.
  
  
• The NCAA then reviewed all that and decided the punishment fit the trangressions.
  
  
• Now you know.