Remember the fairy tale Fiesta Bowl marriage proposal? Now track every wedding detail.
Who can forget the Cinderella story at the Fiesta Bowl. Running back Ian Johnson has just scored the winning points for Boise State to upset Oklahoma. On national TV, he proposes to cheerleader Chrissy Popadics. The Idaho Statesman is there as she shops for her wedding dress and checks off other tasks on her to do list for the July 28 ceremony. Lots of pictures and video. Ya gotta click on the story about how the bride and groom, coaches, family and friends must be careful about not violating NCAA regulations on gifts.
Here are a few of the rules that pertain to the wedding:
• No freebies: Ian Johnson, as a student-athlete, can't take any extra benefits. Most people know that.
But Popadics and her family fall under a friends and relatives portion of the rule. They cannot accept anything that Ian Johnson can't.
It would be the same as an agent giving a star player's best friend $10,000, with the clear understanding that the money would end up with the star player.
BSU staff members have met with Ian Johnson, Popadics and both sets of parents to discuss the rules.
"Her parents are starting to get into the loop," Billings said. "All of a sudden they're thrust into things."
Popadics and her family say they understand the scrutiny they all are under, and are being careful to make sure they abide by the rules.
• WEDDING GIFTS: Coaches can give gifts. BSU coaches are allowed to give Ian Johnson a wedding gift, but only if they do the same for all of their players who invite them to weddings. The same rule applies to staff members. They must be able to document that under similar circumstances they have given gifts in the past.
• BOOSTERS: Boosters should not give gifts. The general rule of thumb for gift-giving is to follow your standard practice. If you usually give a $50 gift to an acquaintance who gets married, then that's what you should do for the student-athlete in your life.
However, WAC assistant commissioner for compliance Anthony Archbald says boosters should not give gifts at all.
"It's just a very, very fine line," Archbald said.
And like any fine line, there are exceptions. People who had a relationship with Ian Johnson before he became associated with the Broncos can bring a gift. And a booster who also is his boss -- Ian Johnson works for DeBest Plumbing, a Bronco supporter -- can give a gift under the same guidelines as a coach.
The problem with allowing boosters to bring gifts is that a popular athlete could invite every season-ticket holder to the wedding and collect tens of thousands of dollars worth of cash and merchandise.
That has not been an issue with Ian Johnson.
"Basically the premise is no special arrangement is being made for Mr. Ian Johnson as a student-athlete," Archbald said.
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