College athletes may not see the harm in accepting perks or money from agents, but the NCAA does. The penalties for player contact with an agent can be as simple as a one- or two- game suspension, or as severe as loss of eligibility.
The player's university also can lose scholarships and be forced to forfeit wins. NCAA athletes may not have any contact with an agent until their eligibility has been exhausted. An agent caught contacting an athlete can be held accountable and be formally banned from sporting venues.
The public is invited to the games, but universities can send out a cease and desist letter to an agent who has tampered with an athlete, banning that agent from any university sports stadium.
Some feel that the penalties are too lax for agents and that coming down harder on agents may make them think twice about approaching athletes.
"They do what they do because they know they will get a slap on the wrist. They're willing to bet the athletes' career that they won't get caught," said senior running back Justin Campbell.
N.C. Central University has several methods for educating players about NCAA regulations.
Every year athletes attend an orientation session with athletic administrators to learn about the guidelines for and consequences of being an athlete.
NCCU also has created a professional sports panel designed to steer athletes who may want to go pro.
The panel is comprised of former athletes, alumni and faculty from the law and business schools.
Sports agents may seem harmless on the surface.
"Someone may give you something just trying to help you out; but you have to understand that you cannot receive anything a non-athlete would not be able to receive," said Etienne Thomas, associate athletic director.
"If someone is handing out free shirts on the corner, then it is okay to accept one," Thomas said.
"If someone only gives you a free shirt because you play a sport, it becomes an improper benefit."
As agents get more involved in college athletics, more athletes are beginning to find themselves in trouble.
Already this season, six UNC-CH football players were declared ineligible and six were withheld from playing in Carolina's opening game against LSU. Violations included improper contact with and allegations that they received benefits from agents.
The University of Southern California received four years' probation, a two-year bowl ban and a reduction in football scholarships because Reggie Bush received improper benefits.
There have also been NCAA investigations at the universities of Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina to decide whether athletes have received improper benefits from agents.
"Agents give gifts and trips to try and get players to sign with them when they go pro," said Campbell. "People may think it is rare, but it is more common than people think."
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