Fansided

Someone ratted out Geno Auriemma to NCAA over call to Mo’ne Davis

By Phil Watson

Apr 8, 2014; Nashville, TN, USA; Connecticut Huskies head coach Geno Auriemma speaks during a press conference after the championship game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the Final Four in the 2014 NCAA Womens Division I Championship tournament at Bridgestone Arena. Connecticut Huskies won 79-58. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 8, 2014; Nashville, TN, USA; Connecticut Huskies head coach Geno Auriemma speaks during a press conference after the championship game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the Final Four in the 2014 NCAA Womens Division I Championship tournament at Bridgestone Arena. Connecticut Huskies won 79-58. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports /
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Geno Auriemma continues to not be a popular guy in women’s basketball.

Auriemma, the wildly successful coach at Connecticut, reached out to Little League World Series sensation Mo’ne Davis to offer some congratulations and encouragement, a conversation that was not a violation of NCAA rules because Davis—at age 13—is not considered to be a recruitable athlete.

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Auriemma told the Hartford Courant on Wednesday that an unnamed school reported Connecticut for a violation of NCAA rules.

Davis drew national attention for her pitching exploits in Williamsport and also for saying she wants to play basketball at UConn and in the WNBA.

Auriemma called the communications office of Little League to leave a message. Davis was in the room and was handed the phone.

"“The conversation lasted like two minutes and we hung up,” Auriemma said. “And then I was told a school turned us in for a recruiting violation because we are not allowed contact before July 1 of her junior year of high school.“That’s the world we live in.”"

Auriemma said the school that reported the call is under no obligation to identify itself, but also pointed out the whole thing is kind of silly.

“I have no idea if the kid is very good, kind of good, not good at all or a superstar or can even reach the basket. How is that a violation?

"“So what does this mean? If a kid wins a swimming contest somewhere and is wearing a [UConn] sweatshirt and I call to congratulate her in seventh grade, is someone now going to say you are not allowed to do that? Well, why not? Isn’t that unbelievable?“There are guys playing college basketball driving around in cars worth more than my house and we’re worried about a phone call to a little girl?”"

Davis, who is going into eighth grade, is not considered a prospective student athlete. That designation doesn’t happen until a student is in high school.