After what could have been potential National Collegiate Athletic Association violations concerning men’s college basketball tournament pools on Facebook, the University administration began steps to eliminate possible complications Wednesday.

“We have begun notifying those coaches and student athletes who are registered (for March Madness pools) that involve any kind of prizes or money and telling them that they have to withdraw for any type of pool,” said Assistant Athletic Director for Compliance Eric Baumgartner.

The NCAA policy is clear when it comes to any brackets in which participants can win money, regardless of the cost of entry.

“It is a violation for student athletes, coaches, as well as administrators to participate in bracket contests for monetary benefit gain and sports wagering,” NCAA spokeswoman Stacey Osburn said Tuesday. “A prize would be the same as monetary gain.”

Facebook’s pool is free to enter, but entrants can win up to $25,000.

The potential violations also were pointed out on the Student Services page of the Athletic Association’s Web site, www.sports.uga.edu.

“You can lose your eligibility if you participate,” the page, updated Wednesday morning, said: “Word has it there is a bracket on Facebook and you should NOT be a part of it!”

Despite the warnings, student athletes, ranging several sports, still were listed as being in pools at press time on Wednesday.

Coaches, administrators and other players are at a loss as to why.

“On one end our compliance office and our coaching staff are very diligent in showing everything that our kids need to know,” Georgia women’s basketball coach Andy Landers said. “But sometimes I think it’s hard for them (student-athletes) to keep up with all of it.”

Baumgartner cited the need for administration and coaching staffs to remain vigilant.

“I think it’s fair to say we do an admirable job of educating our student-athletes about what is right and wrong as far as wagering and gambling,” Baumgartner said.

Lady Dog basketball player Tasha Humphrey agrees with both her coach and Baumgartner, and has been able to resist the temptation that has befallen other student athletes.

“I know when I get online to check Facebook I get 10 to 15 invitations to pools,” Humphrey said. “I know I can’t be a part of it so I just hit reject on down the line.”

- Contributing staff reports