Greg Byrne on Alabama baseball scandal, gambling: ‘Can’t be any question from an integrity standpoint’

The full details of the Alabama baseball betting saga are not quite clear. At this point, the broad strokes are that head coach Brad Bohannon was fired in early May for allegedly being in contact with someone in Ohio betting on a Crimson Tide game against LSU.

In the interim period, though, Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne wanted to be clear about something: College sports and its participants need to have a strong firewall between them and sports gambling. It’s a lesson that Alabama has learned quickly in recent weeks. And Byrne shared his perspective as Iowa and Iowa State are being investigated for a number of student athletes committing gambling violations.

“And I do think that from an integrity standpoint within the game, to make sure that our student athletes, our coaches, our staff understand that there has to be a separation there, it’s critical,” Byrne said in a video posted by AL.com. “You’ve seen some schools be pretty aggressive with embracing different gaming outlets. We haven’t done that as much. And I do think it’s something — there just can’t be any question from an integrity standpoint, that we understand that there has to be a separation.”

Byrne also sought to make clear that no Alabama baseball players were, to the athletic department’s knowledge, were not involved in any improper behavior.

“We don’t have any information that shows any of our student athletes are involved,” Byrne said.

And while he was generally mum on where the investigation was headed, he applauded the players for keeping their heads down and focusing on playing out the remainder of the season, including winning a weekend series against No. 5 ranked Vanderbilt.

“Obviously, like any time you have any challenges, you get the information that you can. You deal with it in the most appropriate way that you can, with the information that you have at the time. But it’s something that, I want to tell you the kids have been really good,” Byrne said. “Having the news come out on game day was obviously a challenge. But at the same time, too, it’s a really good group of young men. Went out and beat No. 5 Vanderbilt, two-out-of-three.”

While Byrne lauded the players, interim coach Jason Jackson shared what fans should expect from the team

With two series left in the season, a three-game road trip against Texas A&M and a home stand versus Ole Miss, Jackson expects a focused, fun finish to the season.

“They’re gonna see a group of guys that really love to play,” Jackson said. “They love to play together. I think they’re gonna see, you know, a team that’s hungry and hopefully getting hot at the right time.”