Penn State Maybe Committed A Football Recruiting Violation During Hockey Game

Penn State finished off a home sweep of Wisconsin on Saturday, which, to the shock of  the year 2006, is 2016's version of 'Dog Bites Man'.

The most interesting part of the game may have come during the first intermission when Penn State brought potential football recruit Lavert Hill--a consensus four-star cornerback--visiting the Nittany Lions on an official visit out onto the ice.

Penn State just trotted out Lavert Hill and had everyone cheer for him during the intermission. pic.twitter.com/K0nEWtfjXe

— Ben Jones (@Ben_Jones88) January 16, 2016

NCAA rules would seem to indicated pretty clearly that you're not supposed to do that:

Here are the NCAA's rules regarding publicity and media relations for recruited athletes. pic.twitter.com/XoiUpvemIb

— Alejandro Zúñiga (@ByAZuniga) January 17, 2016

While college hockey games still being covered by the media is up for debate, one would have to assume Saturday's game was at least considered "open to the public".

But Penn State wide receiver coach Josh Gattis, who is somehow an employee of a Big Ten university despite tweeting like a 13-year-old, made it seem like Penn State had it under control

@Birm Negative!!! know your rules leave it to the Coaches!! #WeAre

— Josh Gattis (@Coach_Gattis) January 17, 2016

And that seems to be the case. Penn State sent out this statement following the game.

Penn State statement: We vetted tonight's appearance at hockey through our compliance office in advance and in this situation it is legal

— Ben Jones (@Ben_Jones88) January 17, 2016

So that's that. I have no explanation for how that wasn't an NCAA recruiting violation, but apparently it wasn't. Maybe Penn State threatened to sue the NCAA and the NCAA was like, "Yeah, do whatever you want'. I feel like there was a university that tried that after doing something especially heinous once and it worked out okay for them. Can't remember which one though.