🏈 Andre Suspended

[Go4Bama]

Ok my question is is there any sanctions headed our way because of this? Obviously it effects us in the bowl game but will it effect our future as well?

I guess the comment about this being nothing like the Langham situation wasn't clear enough.

The way this has been handled by the staff at UA is exactly as it should have happened. It was basically perfect by any definition you can find for perfect.

I realize it is tempting to fear the NCAA may get involved in this. But, I can assure you, it will not result in any repercussions.

I can't tell you who told me this, but I can say that this person is...well, let's call it "very high up on the food chain" when it comes to things around the Ath. Dept. and school administration.

Brother, you just lowered my blood pressure by 20 points.

 

[bamatommy]

I'm very disappointed. Can't believe our best player isn't going to get to play. :roll:

But Saban did the right thing. You have to have some discipline, which was sorely lacking before Saban took the helm.

Bear Bryant suspended Joe Namath before a bowl game.

 

[moreno_iv]

Maybe Im the only one but....im not suprised in the least.



As for Arenas turning pro......he is aware the arena league just folded isnt he :shock:

Actually, I'm with you on that. Some of his comments and his Dad's comments when he won the Outland Trophy revealed where some of his/his family's priorities lie.

When Corso asked his Dad when he knew Andre was going to be an outstanding player, his Dad said something to the effect of "When he asked me 'What is the highest paid position in the NFL?'".

I was a little disappointed by that answer.

 

[Guest]

Lenny Kozlowski wrote:
No, but I said privately a couple of weeks ago that he might pull the "Chris Samuels" rule.

He appears to have done that


Didn't you hear? It's a new NCAA rule.

If Bama is in a BCS game they can't play their LT.

I don't see it as pulling a Chris Samuels. Chris didn't want to get hurt. He could have played, chose not to play. That didn't set too well with me.

But, in the end, even though we lost I don't know if I can lay that loss at Chris' feet as much as on Phlugner's foot. Damn, ticks me off just thinking about him kicking that year.

I rewatched that game this weekend with the same agonizing kick in the gut feeling. I still hate Michigan and Tom Brady.

All I can say is..you gotta be kiddin me Andrea! Very disappointing and tacky if its the agent thing.

 

[TerryP]

Maybe Im the only one but....im not suprised in the least.



As for Arenas turning pro......he is aware the arena league just folded isnt he :shock:

Actually, I'm with you on that. Some of his comments and his Dad's comments when he won the Outland Trophy revealed where some of his/his family's priorities lie.

When Corso asked his Dad when he knew Andre was going to be an outstanding player, his Dad said something to the effect of "When he asked me 'What is the highest paid position in the NFL?'".

I was a little disappointed by that answer.

As I mention earlier, contact with an agent isn't limited to just the player...it can include family, etc.

In this case all signs point to one of Andre's relatives negotiating on Andre's behalf with an agent.

The school has investigated this...and this is where we sit today.

 

[TidePride50]

As for Arenas turning pro......he is aware the arena league just folded isnt he :shock:

I would not be sad to see Arenas leave but I can't see the rationale in his departure. He's one of those guys that brings too much bad along with the good (talking "on the field" only). I'm expecting next year to be one where we reload at different positions to get ready for a big run in 2010, so getting a new guy in the defensive backfield in 09 is fine with me.

I would be very shocked if Arenas left early, Coffee wouldnt surprise me as much.

 

[Crimson Hawk]

Ok my question is is there any sanctions headed our way because of this? Obviously it effects us in the bowl game but will it effect our future as well?

I guess the comment about this being nothing like the Langham situation wasn't clear enough.

The way this has been handled by the staff at UA is exactly as it should have happened. It was basically perfect by any definition you can find for perfect.

I realize it is tempting to fear the NCAA may get involved in this. But, I can assure you, it will not result in any repercussions.

I can't tell you who told me this, but I can say that this person is...well, let's call it "very high up on the food chain" when it comes to things around the Ath. Dept. and school administration.

Actually it was borderline overreacting.....but better to be sure, especially considering the consequences.

I posted this on another thread & will re-post here:

First and foremost, maybe we shouldn't be so quick to start assessing blame before all the facts are in, or at least all we're ever going to know. Second, there's reason to believe the alleged Agent contact may not have been directly with Andre. Third, there just might be more to this than is readily apparent. Personally, I'm going to wait & see what develops. Hopefully there is nothing more damaging to the University than what has already been reported.

TIFWIW

 

[austexbama]

Bear Bryant suspended Joe Namath before a bowl game.

Wasn't that a Sugar Bowl game also?

Andre wasn't the first and won't be the last to be suspended

We will be ok,

Keep the faith baby,

Roll Tide Roll :!:

 

[Jseakin]

I guess the comment about this being nothing like the Langham situation wasn't clear enough.

The way this has been handled by the staff at UA is exactly as it should have happened. It was basically perfect by any definition you can find for perfect.

I realize it is tempting to fear the NCAA may get involved in this. But, I can assure you, it will not result in any repercussions.

I can't tell you who told me this, but I can say that this person is...well, let's call it "very high up on the food chain" when it comes to things around the Ath. Dept. and school administration.

Sorry Terry but as I just started really following last year I am not familiar with the Langham case nor the tendencies of the NCAA when it comes to sanctions. Glad to hear that there will be no repercussions for this for the team.

 

[steelmagnolia]

andre missed some games earlier in the season and we survived. i think we will be ok.

 

[bear facts]

Well the Barners are hoping A.S. made contact with an agent prior to the Iron Bowl . . . something to the effect of wanting to keep their streak intact. :roll:

 

[Guest]

QUESTION: Any chance that this draws national concern as a trend, or threat of a trend?

We all have "that crazy Uncle". Heck, Jimmy Carter had Billy right? What is to keep any team in America from losing their star player because some Gold Digging "rouge" gene-sharer is more committed to giving up his night-shift job become part of Golden Boy's posse than he is committed to the team?

This could happen to any team with an NFL caliber prospect.

QUESTION: If a family member is deemed to be negotiating on behalf of the player, doesn't mean that they have the blessing of the player, thus the player is just as guilty? If the player does not agree to this, or does not know of this, how can this be controlled by the player, thus how can they be guilty?

QUESTION: Could this be that A.S. hears that "Uncle Bob" met an agent in the elevator and was passed a business card with a simple "When its time, call me." A.S. finds out about it, and in good faith reports it to CNS. CNS, being a little busy and not having the time to do an investigation that the NCAA would consider thorough enough to show due-diligence (regardless of if it uncovers the truth or not) must suspend A.S.? So that we lose our Star, not because there was any wrong doing or that any party was not acting in good-faith, but because a regulation was written in such a way that it failed to accommodate such situations? --Lazy/Poor NCAA Lawyering degrades the sports that it is reigns over.

 

[TerryP]

QUESTION: Any chance that this draws national concern as a trend, or threat of a trend?

We all have "that crazy Uncle". Heck, Jimmy Carter had Billy right? What is to keep any team in America from losing their star player because some Gold Digging "rouge" gene-sharer is more committed to giving up his night-shift job become part of Golden Boy's posse than he is committed to the team?

This could happen to any team with an NFL caliber prospect.

With Tank Black and UF players, Reggie Bush and Ornstein...I don't know how much more attention this can get.

QUESTION: If a family member is deemed to be negotiating on behalf of the player, doesn't mean that they have the blessing of the player, thus the player is just as guilty? If the player does not agree to this, or does not know of this, how can this be controlled by the player, thus how can they be guilty?

The process runs along the lines of verifying contact between relatives and agents. If that is verified, then it's looking to see if there is any contact between the player and the relative.

In this case, they're checking into Andre's phone records, at least that's what I've been told...attempt, for a fact.

Now, whether or not Andre discussed this contact with the agent is something I don't know. It's something the University really can't determine as well.

Seriously, a player and a relative can say "we didn't talk about it" but is there any way to be absolutely sure?

Considering Andre's track record, I'd tend to believe him. But, as CrimsonHawk mentioned, the complaince department may have been proactive to the extreme in this situation. But, I can't say I would blame them if they were.

I'd much rather they avoid the appearance of impropriety at all cost.

QUESTION: Could this be that A.S. hears that "Uncle Bob" met an agent in the elevator and was passed a business card with a simple "When its time, call me." A.S. finds out about it, and in good faith reports it to CNS. CNS, being a little busy and not having the time to do an investigation that the NCAA would consider thorough enough to show due-diligence (regardless of if it uncovers the truth or not) must suspend A.S.? So that we lose our Star, not because there was any wrong doing or that any party was not acting in good-faith, but because a regulation was written in such a way that it failed to accommodate such situations? --Lazy/Poor NCAA Lawyering degrades the sports that it is reigns over.

It's my understanding the University did have time to investigate this...if they have gone to the point of looking at his phone records, I'd say that is pretty much a given.

You bring up some interesting questions here...I'd have to read the rules to found out how ambiguous they are.

 

[Chuck-E-Cheeze]

andre missed some games earlier in the season and we survived. i think we will be ok.

We played Tulane with that makeshift line. They held us to our worst offensive output of the season. Utah is way better than Tulane.

I just hope the team can turn this into a positive. We'll see soon enough.

 

[shipley00]

Maybe Im the only one but....im not suprised in the least.



As for Arenas turning pro......he is aware the arena league just folded isnt he :shock:

Actually, I'm with you on that. Some of his comments and his Dad's comments when he won the Outland Trophy revealed where some of his/his family's priorities lie.

When Corso asked his Dad when he knew Andre was going to be an outstanding player, his Dad said something to the effect of "When he asked me 'What is the highest paid position in the NFL?'".

I was a little disappointed by that answer.

As I mention earlier, contact with an agent isn't limited to just the player...it can include family, etc.

In this case all signs point to one of Andre's relatives negotiating on Andre's behalf with an agent.

The school has investigated this...and this is where we sit today.

OK, I have to ask the stupid, obvious question... IF Andre and/or family did indeed have contact with an agent recently... WHY? Did I miss the memo on the NFL moving the draft up to January? What in the hell's difference is an extra two weeks going to make???

 

[Guest]

I wasn't aware the University had the jurisdiction to check a player's cell phone records. Seems like violation of privacy to me, and a lawsuit if Andre wanted one. I'm not even sure they could ask him for such information. Seems highly illegal.
I KNOW that the NCAA cannot do things like this since it has no legal authority whatsoever. The NCAA has no more legal authority than a fraternity. All they can do is discipline you within the framework of their organization, and none of that supersedes the law.

 

[alagator]

I wasn't aware the University had the jurisdiction to check a player's cell phone records. Seems like violation of privacy to me, and a lawsuit if Andre wanted one. I'm not even sure they could ask him for such information. Seems highly illegal.
I KNOW that the NCAA cannot do things like this since it has no legal authority whatsoever. The NCAA has no more legal authority than a fraternity. All they can do is discipline you within the framework of their organization, and none of that supersedes the law.

No law prohibiting anyone from merely asking you to see your private records. As an employer I could ask to see the private phone records of anyone in our firm.

They do not have to give me that access. And in many instances I would be legally prohibited from taking any actions adversely impacting my employees based merely on their denial.

That said, if UA had serious and real and rational concerns that Smith had engaged in activity that put his eligibility at risk then they would not need to have his permission to examine his phone records to declare him ineligible. UA could just declare him ineligible based on conflicting information and keep him ineligible until that conflict was resolved.

Presumption here, but Smith, by granting the access probably thought he would be ensuring he would retain his eligibility rather than putting it at risk. Based on what I have been told, he 'thought' wrong.

 

[Guest]

Barnhart's take on the situation

It is always sad when a college football player or his family uses bad judgment and, as a result, that athlete has an embarrassing end to an otherwise brilliant career.

That appears to be the case with Andre Smith, the Alabama offensive tackle and the Outland Trophy winner. Smith, a junior, was expected to declare early for the NFL Draft. And he probably should. He’s that good and is certainly ready to play at the next level. But according to many published reports Smith, or a family member representing Smith, decided not to wait until after Friday night’s Sugar Bowl to start the contacts with agents.

Alabama got wind of it, did enough investigating to confirm that some contact had taken place and then suspended Smith for the Sugar Bowl. You have to assume that Smith’s college career is over.

I’m sure it doesn’t feel that way today for Crimson Tide fans but trust me when I tell you that, in the long run, this decision will be good for Alabama.

Now Andre Smith is going to be fine. He will get enough guaranteed money in his first contract to take care of himself and his family for life. He won’t think about this now because he’s young. But there will come a day when he’ll remember the faces of his teammates when they heard the news. Smith, or somebody representing Smith, let them down. He’ll have to live with that.

Smith is one of the better offensive linemen who ever played for Alabama, where great players become immortals. But he won’t be remembered for that. He’ll be remembered as the guy who got suspended before the Sugar Bowl. He will be respected for his talent but he will probably never be embraced. He’ll have to live with that.

When all of the great Alabama players come back to campus and get standing ovations when introduced to the crowd at Bryant-Denny Stadium, Smith’s applause will be a bit muted. Or he may not get invited back at all. If you leave early after a 13-1 season everyone understands and wishes you well. This, no one understands. He’ll have to live with that.

So why is this good for Alabama? It’s good because when the school was faced with an issue it took quick and decisive action. Coach Nick Saban suspended his best player and in the process sent out the word: No one player is bigger than the team and what we are trying to build here.

The NCAA comes knocking on your door when they believe you don’t have control of your program and turn a blind eye when problems are right in your face. Remember that Alabama’s first-ever NCAA probation was a result of Antonio Langham signing with an agent and, in the opinion of the investigators, failing to report that and act upon it. Alabama had to forfeit most of the 1993 season because of it.

The point is that after two sets of major NCAA sanctions, Alabama has no margin for error in these kinds of issues. Nobody in Alabama’s position gets the benefit of the doubt. Is that fair? It doesn’t matter. Only actions matter and Alabama, to its credit, took action.

This is a free country. As a college athlete you have every right to talk to an agent and attempt to do what is best for your future. But you don’t have a right to keep playing college football. Choices have consequences. Bad choices have very bad consequences. That is the message that Saban sent.

And here’s another thing that helps Alabama. If fans were concerned about their team being focused for undefeated Utah on Friday, that concern can be put to rest. Saban will use this as a rallying point. Alabama will beat Utah and become only second team in school history to win 13 games.

Alabama’s players will celebrate on the floor of the Superdome and hold up the Sugar Bowl trophy. They will complete an incredible season where the only loss was to Florida, a team that I believe will win the national championship. People will look back on this season as the time when Alabama took a major step towards being a national power again.

Andre Smith will not be a part of that celebration. And he will have to live with that.

http://www.ajc.com/blogs/content/shared-blogs/ajc/cfb/entries/2008/12/30/smiths_suspensi.html

 

[fairhope4bama]

First off, Andre has been told about these pressures from the blood sucking agents. He should know better. If it is a family member who had the contact, that is out of the University's control and there should not be consequenses IMO. However, something needs to be done about these agents. There needs to be laws that protect the University and the players. The agents will say anything to lure a player for his own benefit. I am sure that in the past that careers have been ruined by these money hungry agents. And if I were a player I would dismiss any agent who knowing the rules tried to lure me in. This tells me that the agent will do anything regardless of my best interest to satisfy his. I say jail time for these predators.

 

[billfish]

Maybe Im the only one but....im not suprised in the least.



As for Arenas turning pro......he is aware the arena league just folded isnt he :shock:

Actually, I'm with you on that. Some of his comments and his Dad's comments when he won the Outland Trophy revealed where some of his/his family's priorities lie.

When Corso asked his Dad when he knew Andre was going to be an outstanding player, his Dad said something to the effect of "When he asked me 'What is the highest paid position in the NFL?'".

I was a little disappointed by that answer.

As I mention earlier, contact with an agent isn't limited to just the player...it can include family, etc.

In this case all signs point to one of Andre's relatives negotiating on Andre's behalf with an agent.

The school has investigated this...and this is where we sit today.

OK, I have to ask the stupid, obvious question... IF Andre and/or family did indeed have contact with an agent recently... WHY? Did I miss the memo on the NFL moving the draft up to January? What in the hell's difference is an extra two weeks going to make???

I don't think that is a stupid question but one everyone could be asking.

I'm going with "the crazy uncle" giving up his night job early theory. :?

Hate it happened but glad we have a captain of the ship paying attention to the details! That usually saves lives.