Who do we pretend Alabama isn't dirty?

[KingOfBBN]

They have had a number of things alleged against them with merit and like Duke, they escape untouched. It probably doesn't hurt that the Emmert was Nick Saban's AD at LSU.

For instance, what normal school would get away with the D.J. Fluker scandal? A report in Yahoo! Sports that former player Luther Davis was serving as a middleman between agents and now-Chargers left tackle D.J. Fluker for payments and gifts.

There was also a fishing trip for Julio Jones and Mark Ingram that was paid for by a businessman in 2009. Yet the NCAA does nothing to them because of who they are and the relationship with Saban. They are absolutely the football version of UNC/Duke yet we have cheerleaders for them on here constantly.

A great article by CBS on them over a year ago called "Teflon Tide."

http://www.cbssports.com/collegefoo...-tide-examining-alabamas-recent-ncaa-concerns

 

[KingOfBBN]

Read this story where in 1999 an Alabama booster paid $200,000 for a player from Memphis that the recruit's high school coaches were bidding and was eventually stripped of his luxury box and the university cut ties with him.

http://www.nola.com/lsu/index.ssf/2015/06/no_college_is_ever_going_to_ge.html

Alabama boosters and fans are the craziest in all of college sports and we somehow think there is nothing they won't do?

 

[BBBLazing]

Read this story where in 1999 an Alabama booster paid $200,000 for a player from Memphis that the recruit's high school coaches were bidding and was eventually stripped of his luxury box and the university cut ties with him.

http://www.nola.com/lsu/index.ssf/2015/06/no_college_is_ever_going_to_ge.html

Alabama boosters and fans are the craziest in all of college sports and we somehow think there is nothing they won't do?

This article is about the same kid that we paid just to visit.

 

[ukalum1988]

This article is about the same kid that we paid just to visit.

It was also the cause of us getting put on probation.

 

[Goingfor13]

Um, I know the FSU guy is Bama obsessed, but what does what happened in 1999 (and something we got nailed for) have to do with now?

By the way, you're an FSU fan. Glass houses and all.

 

[greginky1957]

Probably the same people who rag on Cal

 

[SpamburgerHamburger_rivals101482]

Any team that has the success Alabama enjoys, people are going to accuse them of being dirty or cheating. It's all just jealousy and sour grapes unless something is proven. Bama doesn't have to cheat to get the best players in the country. It's Alabama.

 

[eku69]

This article is about the same kid that we paid just to visit.

I remember this. Was the fellow's name Albert Means? Seems like I remember that's who it was. Around this same time, the Cats did recruit a fine DL from the Memphis area whose name escapes me. I'm probably wrong, but I think this second lineman played in the NFL for a while.

 

[RammerJammer91_rivals23256]

I don't think there's any doubt that Bama has boosters that offer benefits to recruits/current players. But there's definitely a distinction between boosters and a coaching staff (specifically, the HC) providing players/recruits with cash and others benefits. Unfortunately, a lot of people don't recognize that distinction. I doubt that Nick Saban is dangling hundred dollar bills in front of players. The boosters? That's a different story. In fact, Saban went on a rant during SEC media days in 2010 when he compared agents and boosters who buy recruits and/or offer them money, to pimps. A direct quote: "How are they any better than a pimp? I have no respect for people who do that to young people. None."

And to remain consistent, I feel the same way about folks who accuse Hugh Freeze and Urban Meyer of cheating and buying recruits, especially the former. There is no way in hell that they're dumb enough to do something like that and risk being caught. With Ole Miss, there is clearly something going on, but I doubt it's the coaching staff. It's the boosters. Freeze is a class act, and has always encouraged his players to do the right thing and to tell the truth if they are in the wrong. I get a kick out of folks who say Freeze is dirty, and I'll go to bat for him (and Meyer) any day. Alabama boosters provided Reuben Foster's mom with a job after he signed his LOI. Some posters on here have mentioned that. What some of those individuals fail to realize is that Nick Saban didn't do that. Had Foster signed with UGA, UGA boosters would have done the same thing. They tried to buy him to play with his best friend, Tray Matthews. Again, to remain consistent, Mark Richt and his staff didn't offer his mom a job. Unfortunately, there were people (especially Alabama fans) who didn't recognize the difference.

People have also accused Jimbo of buying recruits. Again, to remain consistent, I'll defend him on that. There are also plenty of folks who believe the NCAA let FSU off the hook with past allegations, including the Jameis Winston saga. Jimbo and the FSU administration got crushed for how they handled that situation, as many believed that they tried to cover it up.

 

[GSM_Vol]

The truth is if you're not buying players you are not going to win. It's that simple. Every one cheats, just don't get caught. It's widely known Ole Miss gives out casino chips, how's that traceable or be proven without a player or parent turning them in? Recruiting is a cut throat business.

 

[Mikey Likes It]

Of course bama is dirty. They're the best.

 

[BBBLazing]

I don't think there's any doubt that Bama has boosters that offer benefits to recruits/current players. But there's definitely a distinction between boosters and a coaching staff (specifically, the HC) providing players/recruits with cash and others benefits. Unfortunately, a lot of people don't recognize that distinction. I doubt that Nick Saban is dangling hundred dollar bills in front of players. The boosters? That's a different story. In fact, Saban went on a rant during SEC media days in 2010 when he compared agents and boosters who buy recruits and/or offer them money, to pimps. A direct quote: "How are they any better than a pimp? I have no respect for people who do that to young people. None."

And to remain consistent, I feel the same way about folks who accuse Hugh Freeze and Urban Meyer of cheating and buying recruits, especially the former. There is no way in hell that they're dumb enough to do something like that and risk being caught. With Ole Miss, there is clearly something going on, but I doubt it's the coaching staff. It's the boosters. Freeze is a class act, and has always encouraged his players to do the right thing and to tell the truth if they are in the wrong. I get a kick out of folks who say Freeze is dirty, and I'll go to bat for him (and Meyer) any day. Alabama boosters provided Reuben Foster's mom with a job after he signed his LOI. Some posters on here have mentioned that. What some of those individuals fail to realize is that Nick Saban didn't do that. Had Foster signed with UGA, UGA boosters would have done the same thing. They tried to buy him to play with his best friend, Tray Matthews. Again, to remain consistent, Mark Richt and his staff didn't offer his mom a job. Unfortunately, there were people (especially Alabama fans) who didn't recognize the difference.

People have also accused Jimbo of buying recruits. Again, to remain consistent, I'll defend him on that. There are also plenty of folks who believe the NCAA let FSU off the hook with past allegations, including the Jameis Winston saga. Jimbo and the FSU administration got crushed for how they handled that situation, as many believed that they tried to cover it up.

Be careful, you are going to be called a troll or a UL fan if you don't call every team other than UK dirty and swear we are the only clean team around.

 

[jauk11]

The truth is if you're not buying players you are not going to win. It's that simple. Every one cheats, just don't get caught. It's widely known Ole Miss gives out casino chips, how's that traceable or be proven without a player or parent turning them in? Recruiting is a cut throat business.

And the Vols are among the best at not getting caught, that is how they built their huge stadium and elite facilities, which now gives them a huge recruiting advantage, along with their tradition, and a lot of that was earned when the NCAA (and methods of catching cheating) was a pretty primitive organization------and despite better surveillance and paperwork they are not any better today.

Their use of the "Orange Pride" (since outlawed, but no penalties) was scandalous.

UK's amateur cheaters have been caught and severely punished several times, and every time the punishment far outweighed any benefits in the long run. It took years (just doing it now) to recover from Basset, and a HOF coach in Claiborne started off at UK with a winless season after Curci.

And of course we also had the Bradshaw era, where he had some great talent (most from in state) but ran off most of the players and left us with no players (the Thin Thirty) or depth, we were top ten but when the #1 draft pick Norton went down at QB we had to replace him with the starting DB. And of course Bird was an All American both ways and several of the other stars had to play both ways. After we lost several high draft picks there almost wasn't enough decent players left to field a team, it took a while to rebuild.

In fact I don't think we did until Curci cheated, which ended up costing us dearly in the long run-----again.

 

[BBBLazing]

I remember this. Was the fellow's name Albert Means? Seems like I remember that's who it was. Around this same time, the Cats did recruit a fine DL from the Memphis area whose name escapes me. I'm probably wrong, but I think this second lineman played in the NFL for a while.

It was Albert Means and we were the dipshit team that paid him but didn't sign him. My thoughts are that we shouldn't cheat, but if we do we should at least sign the kid we paid. Claude Bassett was an idiot and not very good at cheating.

 

[jauk11]

I remember this. Was the fellow's name Albert Means? Seems like I remember that's who it was. Around this same time, the Cats did recruit a fine DL from the Memphis area whose name escapes me. I'm probably wrong, but I think this second lineman played in the NFL for a while.

Yeah, I think Means is right, and the DL from Memphis was Robertson, drafted high in the first round.

 

[BBBLazing]

Robertson blocked the kick and returned it against Alabama that helped us beat them at Commonwealth in 97. I stayed at the Hyatt that night and had to listen to Alabama fans make excuses, but they were pissed that we won.

 

[CB3UK]

The majority of the SEC has bag men that operate in the shadows. Ours just concentrate on basketball. It's a damn shame these guys can't focus on getting more football recruits here. Ole Miss has been doing it recently at a much more prolific rate and it's paying off. We all know about Cam Newton. It's time to get off the high horse and level the playing field. New uniforms and stadium renovations are not what gets it done. Those are merely incidental costs of doing business.

 

[Calf]

Robertson blocked the kick and returned it against Alabama that helped us beat them at Commonwealth in 97. I stayed at the Hyatt that night and had to listen to Alabama fans make excuses, but they were pissed that we won.

I don't think that was Robertson. He wasn't at UK yet. I think his freshman year was 98 or 99. It was a DE who returned it. Ward maybe?

 

[Chadrock]

I don't think that was Robertson. He wasn't at UK yet. I think his freshman year was 98 or 99. It was a DE who returned it. Ward maybe?

Anwar Stewart

 

[Blue Decade]

Read this story where in 1999 an Alabama booster paid $200,000 for a player from Memphis that the recruit's high school coaches were bidding and was eventually stripped of his luxury box and the university cut ties with him.

http://www.nola.com/lsu/index.ssf/2015/06/no_college_is_ever_going_to_ge.html

Alabama boosters and fans are the craziest in all of college sports and we somehow think there is nothing they won't do?

This is more or less like starting a fresh criticism of Florida because of Charlie Pell. Your story is incomplete and dated. The booster, Logan Young, was formally dissociated from Alabama's athletic programs and barred from all University of Alabama functions and facilities nearly 2 decades ago. When Nick Saban took over at Alabama, he took the job on his own terms, including complete control of the program and complete control of booster access. If you have current information to support what you are saying, let's see it.

 

[KingOfBBN]

This is more or less like starting a fresh criticism of Florida because of Charlie Pell. Your story is incomplete and dated. The booster, Logan Young, was formally dissociated from Alabama's athletic programs and barred from all University of Alabama functions and facilities nearly 2 decades ago. When Nick Saban took over at Alabama, he took the job on his own terms, including complete control of the program and complete control of booster access. If you have current information to support what you are saying, let's see it.

That's only one of three stories I posted. I also mentioned D.J. Fluker, which is a huge scandal that was swept under the rug and the fishing trip for Jones/Ingram paid for by a local businessman. If these were from our rivals we'd never stop talking about it but for some reason so many on here are in love with Alabama and just bury their heads in the sand.

Saban also admits to helping his players cheat on the Wonderlic test. Let's not act like this guy is a beacon of morality.

 

[Blue Decade]

That's only one of three stories I posted. I also mentioned D.J. Fluker, which is a huge scandal that was swept under the rug and the fishing trip for Jones/Ingram paid for by a local businessman. If these were from our rivals we'd never stop talking about it but for some reason so many on here are in love with Alabama and just bury their heads in the sand.

Saban also admits to helping his players cheat on the Wonderlic test. Let's not act like this guy is a beacon of morality.

LOL! Who said Saban is a beacon of morality? He is an SEC football coach with a competitive personality and a strong sense of loyalty to his players. Your understanding of these matters sounds superficial and incomplete. You are right about the fishing trip for Jones and Ingram. That was a minor violation of rules for player benefits, not a recruiting inducement. They sat out games for it. Not a whole lot different from Drake breaking NCAA rules with UK recruits, except that Drake could actually be construed as a recruiting advantage for Calipari. I'm not saying he is, but your take on this is goofy. The Wonderlic test is not covered by NCAA rules, and has nothing to do with the basis of your accusation against Alabama. The Wonderlic test is administered to players participating in the NFL scouting combine. In other words, for seniors who are already done with their college eligibility. Will be interesting to see how you figure that as a competitive edge for Alabama's football team. It isn't. If Saban wants former Alabama players to have access to coaching for the Wonderlic test, what do you care? Please show me proof, not a rumor, to support your claim that Saban swept a scandal about Fluker under the rug.

 

[RammerJammer91_rivals23256]

Where did anyone say that Saban is a beacon of morality? I must have missed that. Is HeismanWildcat85 an FSU football fan or a UK basketball fan? That's an interesting combo. Assuming that he's a fan of the former, I'm also interested in his thoughts on the allegations that the FSU administration/Jimbo tried to sweep the whole Winston thing under the rug. To be consistent, do you believe that FSU deserves criticism for how they handled Winston and other scandals over the years? Also, what does Saban have to do with the fishing trip and Fluker? Did he give them cash or take them on the fishing trip? Not trying to be a wise-***, maybe he did and I missed where he did. And if he did, then he's a total fraud.

Personally, I like Jimbo. I think he's a classy guy and a heck of a ball coach. IMO, the only bad thing he does is the negative recruiting against certain schools (in particular, LSU and Alabama), which is interesting since his roster is stacked at every position. Other than that, he's clean as a whistle. I think that the majority of the criticism that he gets is unwarranted.

 

[eku69]

Anwar Stewart

Yes, it was Stewart. I remember walking the floor toward the end of that game when the Cats beat the Tide.

 

[eku69]

It was Albert Means and we were the dipshit team that paid him but didn't sign him. My thoughts are that we shouldn't cheat, but if we do we should at least sign the kid we paid. Claude Bassett was an idiot and not very good at cheating.

What ever happened to Bassett? The last I heard he was a coach at a high school in Texas. Very true that he was a terrible cheater.

 

[GSM_Vol]

And the Vols are among the best at not getting caught, that is how they built their huge stadium and elite facilities, which now gives them a huge recruiting advantage, along with their tradition, and a lot of that was earned when the NCAA (and methods of catching cheating) was a pretty primitive organization------and despite better surveillance and paperwork they are not any better today.

Their use of the "Orange Pride" (since outlawed, but no penalties) was scandalous.

UK's amateur cheaters have been caught and severely punished several times, and every time the punishment far outweighed any benefits in the long run. It took years (just doing it now) to recover from Basset, and a HOF coach in Claiborne started off at UK with a winless season after Curci.

And of course we also had the Bradshaw era, where he had some great talent (most from in state) but ran off most of the players and left us with no players (the Thin Thirty) or depth, we were top ten but when the #1 draft pick Norton went down at QB we had to replace him with the starting DB. And of course Bird was an All American both ways and several of the other stars had to play both ways. After we lost several high draft picks there almost wasn't enough decent players left to field a team, it took a while to rebuild.

In fact I don't think we did until Curci cheated, which ended up costing us dearly in the long run-----again.

While we all know it happened, there wasn't any proof/evidence that anyone involved with UT paid for the girls trip to the HS in South Carolina. Tennessee did self impose recruiting restrictions though. The thing that helped the most was the fact that one of the girls went to that HS and all of them stayed with her parents and they didn't use a credit card on the trip, straight cash homie.

 

[GhostVol]

While we all know it happened, there wasn't any proof/evidence that anyone involved with UT paid for the girls trip to the HS in South Carolina. Tennessee did self impose recruiting restrictions though. The thing that helped the most was the fact that one of the girls went to that HS and all of them stayed with her parents and they didn't use a credit card on the trip, straight cash homie.

It's jauk, man. The UT alumni chapter here in Charleston, SC gives a scholarship every year to a Lowcountry HS grad that wants to go to UT. There's plenty of kids here with a UT connection. But we're lowdown dirty snitching cheaters /sarcasm

 

[UKWildcats#8]

The OP is a FSU fan...probably just mad that FSU's cheating has not led to more natty titles.

 

[GSM_Vol]

It's jauk, man. The UT alumni chapter here in Charleston, SC gives a scholarship every year to a Lowcountry HS grad that wants to go to UT. There's plenty of kids here with a UT connection. But we're lowdown dirty snitching cheaters /sarcasm

Yeah I know. He makes it up as he goes, ignores facts that don't support his agenda.

 

[hmt5000]

if you are gonna cheat, it needs to be bagmen that are not associated at all with the program. bassett and mumme were stupid cause the coach was the one paying. though the amount we paid was absolutely nothing compared to what is rumored today. michigan people are saying that gary turned down $200,000+ to go to um. cam newton's dad got something like $180,000. albert means got close to $100,000 way back then at bama. we paid robertson $5000.

once i heard rumors that vandy players were getting some extra on the side i pretty much figured that everyone is cheating. it's just too easy for joe random fan to walk up to a player and hand him $100 to think it doesn't happen even at wku or stanford. when i was at UK i worked at o'charley's on nicholasville rd and ron mercer came in and we game him extra everything... he didn't ask for anything extra but he was ron mercer, so we game him extra chicken strips, extra fries, even the salad was freaking falling off the side of the plate.

 

[KY1WING]

What ever happened to Bassett? The last I heard he was a coach at a high school in Texas. Very true that he was a terrible cheater.

Assistant Football Coach and head Track Coach at Elgin High, Elgin TX

 

[Grumpyolddawg]

They have had a number of things alleged against them with merit and like Duke, they escape untouched. It probably doesn't hurt that the Emmert was Nick Saban's AD at LSU.

For instance, what normal school would get away with the D.J. Fluker scandal? A report in Yahoo! Sports that former player Luther Davis was serving as a middleman between agents and now-Chargers left tackle D.J. Fluker for payments and gifts.

There was also a fishing trip for Julio Jones and Mark Ingram that was paid for by a businessman in 2009. Yet the NCAA does nothing to them because of who they are and the relationship with Saban. They are absolutely the football version of UNC/Duke yet we have cheerleaders for them on here constantly.

A great article by CBS on them over a year ago called "Teflon Tide."

http://www.cbssports.com/collegefoo...-tide-examining-alabamas-recent-ncaa-concerns

I think Bama was dirty at one time, probably the dirtiest. But right now with the roll they are on they don't have to be dirty, kids sign with them because they know they will play for at least 2 championships during the 4 years. They aren't even the dirtiest team in their state or near the top in the SEC west. If they drop off, lose 2-3 games recruiting will get harder for them, but right now they are sitting on top of the college football world and kids from all over the country want to play for them.

 

[Koaltil]

If any grown man on here that believes the upper echelon players are not getting paid at the majority of colleges then there just not very realistic. We can argue the point about is the NCAA exploiting the athletes for the sake of business. The NCAA let's boosters pay the labor fee IMO.

 

[KY1WING]

It was Albert Means and we were the dipshit team that paid him but didn't sign him. My thoughts are that we shouldn't cheat, but if we do we should at least sign the kid we paid. Claude Bassett was an idiot and not very good at cheating.

Wasn't Montrell Jones involved in there? Seem to recall that he was kY Mr. Football who committed to UK.

Showed up at an OU camp with all this illegal UK bling. Leach saw it and called Mumme and told him he had problem.

Somewhere along the line Jones winds up at Tennessee.

That didn't work out and he finished his career at UL.

Often wondered if UT just offered a better deal?

Course nothing happens to UT, never does. Guess while Kramer was Commissioner it didn't hurt having his daughter employed there.