The NCAA always leaves you guessing which potential violation they will go after in any serious fashion. The same organization that has weighed in on programs allowing too much cream cheese on bagels but merely looks the other way on players taking fraudulent classes lacks a consistent and dependable disciplinary process that seems too involved on the most minor of potential violations. Among those silly rules that still exist today is the issue of players working other jobs that could open the door to potential extra benefits.
It used to be the NCAA would frown upon college football and basketball players working at car dealers, but times have changed and the NCAA may be slow to evolve with the next biggest threat to the powers that be in the NCAA offices; Uber.
Uber and Lyft are ride-sharing services anyone can sign up for to earn some extra money from customers paying a fee to get from Point A to Point B and any additional tips for a good ride experience. In addition to tipping, drivers are also rated on a grading system to riders can share their feedback and let others know which drivers are the most reliable and enjoyable. Some drivers using these services pick up some extra money with their side hustle in some spare time, while others manage to make a full-time job of it.
Among the many Uber drivers out there looking for a little extra cash on the side is Michigan defensive tackle Maurice Hurst. Hurst has been driving as an Uber driver for a few years now without a sniff coming from the NCAA. Whether that changes anytime soon remains to be seen, but for now, Hurst is enjoying using Uber in his spare time.
“I’m the best Uber driver in Ann Arbor,” Hurst said Monday night on a Michigan radio show. And while most football players will brag about a 4.4 40-yard dash time, Hurst is showing off his 4.9 rating as an Uber driver. “I don’t know who gave me a four-star. I have 86 five-star ratings.”
86 5 Star Trips….4.96 Rating….and 0 trips canceled ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️@Uber @Uber_MI 🐐 🐐 pic.twitter.com/lBjhb1Jmkw
— Maurice Hurst II (@mohurstjr) May 4, 2017
Hurst has joked about the possibility of his Uber driving being an NCAA issue when the idea of potentially driving a coach where he needs to go exists.
“It might be a (NCAA) violation,” Hurst said. “I don’t know if you’re allowed to drive your coaches. I don’t think our compliance (office) would be OK with that.”
And this is where the NCAA will likely begin keeping their eyes open as more and more people, including college athletes, potentially make themselves available for some extra cash using Uber or Lyft. When a rider can tip any amount of money they want, what is to hold back some anonymous booster from dropping a nice $100+ tip for a quick ride around the block? Maybe this has yet to be a problem, or perhaps it flies completely under the radar from the NCAA offices, but it does present a concern the NCAA may one day have to investigate.
Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but the NCAA is going to address the Uber loophole in some way that will be sure to frustrate and infuriate because that is just what they do. As it stands now, all student-athletes are allowed to work during the academic year, but their work must be monitored by the athletics department to make sure all rules are being followed and no shady activity is tied to the work. Driving for Uber may not be your traditional type of job, but it is a service in which a driver is paid for his work so it still qualifies as an employment opportunity.
The guidelines for employment opportunities (Bylaw 12.4.1) are as follows:
- The student-athlete must perform useful work.
- The rate of pay must be the regular rate paid for such duties.
- Hours paid must equal actual hours worked.
- Payment in advance of hours worked is not permitted.
- Transportation to the job site may be provided only if such transportation is made available to all employees.
- Student-athletes are responsible for complying with employment rules and are to report any irregularities in employment compensation or benefits to the Compliance Coordinator.
At a quick glance, driving for Uber knocks most of these guidelines down without any reason for concern. Driving people where they need to go is “useful work.” The rate of pay is set by Uber and is the same for all drivers in the region, although rates may vary by region or time of day. The pay for drivers using ride-sharing services is straightforward and directly correlates to the time performing the duties. All payments occur after the ride is completed. Transportation to the job is provided by the student-athlete by the default business model of Uber and Lyft. The only concern with the guidelines is the reporting of all additional compensation and benefits that come from tips from customers. This is no different from a student-athlete waiting tables at a restaurant. This is just a modern twist on the scenario.
The NCAA evolves too slowly for its own good. Because they do, any student-athlete with a vehicle at their disposal is clear to earn some extra cash by driving for Uber so long as they aren’t driving boosters or coaches around and getting massive tips to go with their five-star rating. And we’re not talking about their recruiting ratings.
