🏈 NCAA looking further into textbook scandal

[MDBtrumpet04]

http://blog.al.com/bamabeat/2009/03/ncaa_continues_to_investigate.html

 

[BigAl]

They just cant stand it can they.

 

[TerryP]

UA's Media Relations Release:

The University of Alabama appeared before the NCAA's Committee on Infractions on Friday, February 20, 2009, regarding fall 2007 violations of the NCAA's policies regarding textbooks for student-athletes. The University discovered the violations, investigated them promptly and in detail, and immediately took corrective action to fix its textbook distribution system. After self-reporting the violations, UA has appropriately kept the NCAA and SEC apprised of its internal investigation, findings and corrective actions. The University's appearance before the committee is part of the NCAA's normal investigative and review process.

Federal privacy laws limit the information the University can release about the student-athletes involved.

Dr. Witt's statement
"Compliance with NCAA and SEC rules is of the utmost importance to The University of Alabama and our Athletics Department, and I am pleased with the way our compliance officers handled this situation. UA works diligently to ensure that integrity and a commitment to excellence are the hallmarks of our athletics program, and we appreciate the support we received from Commissioner Slive and the SEC, and officials at the NCAA."

If you want more specific details on all of this, here's UA's response the evidence presented, etc., to the NCAA.

LINK

 

[Portside]

Considering.....

our self imposed sanctions in this matter, and the fact the guys were cleared to play by the NCAA, just how bad could it get? The bullets just keep coming don't they!!

 

[ghice]

They are reinvestigating us, but USC hasn't been investigated yet for Bush?

Yeah, East coast bias my crimson and white butt.

 

[TerryP]

They are reinvestigating us, but USC hasn't been investigated yet for Bush?

Yeah, East coast bias my crimson and white butt.

This is not a re-investigation. It's just another step in the process.

 

[ghice]

They are reinvestigating us, but USC hasn't been investigated yet for Bush?

Yeah, East coast bias my crimson and white butt.

This is not a re-investigation. It's just another step in the process.

Thanks for clearing that up, I misinterpreted

Sorry for showing my crimson and white butt.

 

[ORANGEADDICT]

This is ridiculous.....You would think that the NCAA would have better things to do ..

 

[alagator]

This is not a re-investigation. It's just another step in the process.

Beginning to sound like a pretty shoddy and stacked 'process' then.

I am famous, as you know, for 'reading between words' - much less 'the lines,' and I detect some pretty aggressive words coming from our camp on this. Sounds like the people in charge at UA are sending at least one, and in my opinion two, pretty strong messages.

First, a message to the general public - read rival spinmeisters, that our INSTITUTION and its POLICIES first detected an effort originating solely with a few individuals (read 'no institutional involvement in the planning or execution of said fraud), our INSTITUTION immediately reported the facts and declared all involved ineligible, and our INSTITUTION has been active in contemporaneously reporting to the NCAA. Thus, do not try to lie that this latest meeting is an unsuspected event brought on by some attempt to cover-up the problem.

Second, a message to the NCAA itself that we will not play the role of stoogie this time around. We have been open and honest with you at all points and we will not stand idly by if you try to 'make a statement' by coming down on us. Do so, and expect a pretty strong fight this time.

All that, I did get a real chuckle by the comments about Mal Moore being impressed with the veracity of our compliance response - something like he 'has never seen such a complete and swift response.' Given his role in the Nashville hotel room and his 'non-existent' and 'delayed' reporting of the events he saw first hand, I guess ANYTHING our compliance people did would be impressive to him.

 

[Guest]

Mal Moore has more Teflon than Gotti

 

[Rolling Tide]

So USC can have a RB and family stay in a million dollar home for free and seems to get swept under the rug. However we have some players sell a few books and they are still looking into the matter as a major violation. Interesting!

 

[UAgrad93]

The NCAA justs like to make it look like they are working hard. It looks from the University's response that our side handled quite thoroughly and should be commended. It wouldn't shock me if the NCAA didn't put another program on probation instead of the football program. I read in the response that the pronoun she was used to describe someone that benefitted from the textbook deal.

 

[TerryP]

This is not a re-investigation. It's just another step in the process.

Beginning to sound like a pretty shoddy and stacked 'process' then.

I am famous, as you know, for 'reading between words' - much less 'the lines,' and I detect some pretty aggressive words coming from our camp on this. Sounds like the people in charge at UA are sending at least one, and in my opinion two, pretty strong messages.

I say just as well known is I tend to look at the forest instead of the tree in front of me.

So, this one what I see when I look at this entire picture.

The PLOI that was issued came in May. Dave Hart was brought in very soon after.

Recently they released news that he was taking over day-to-day operations. I'd have to check, but how closely does this coincide with the meeting they had with the Committee on Infractions?

No need to mention when Chris King was moved from his position. The ball was in his court and he missed it completely on this one especially considering what department oversees book vouchers.

First, a message to the general public - read rival spinmeisters, that our INSTITUTION and its POLICIES first detected an effort originating solely with a few individuals (read 'no institutional involvement in the planning or execution of said fraud), our INSTITUTION immediately reported the facts and declared all involved ineligible, and our INSTITUTION has been active in contemporaneously reporting to the NCAA. Thus, do not try to lie that this latest meeting is an unsuspected event brought on by some attempt to cover-up the problem.

Second, a message to the NCAA itself that we will not play the role of stoogie this time around. We have been open and honest with you at all points and we will not stand idly by if you try to 'make a statement' by coming down on us. Do so, and expect a pretty strong fight this time.

All that, I did get a real chuckle by the comments about Mal Moore being impressed with the veracity of our compliance response - something like he 'has never seen such a complete and swift response.' Given his role in the Nashville hotel room and his 'non-existent' and 'delayed' reporting of the events he saw first hand, I guess ANYTHING our compliance people did would be impressive to him.

I agree with you on the message being clear. But, I would expect that considering the firm hired.

Coach Moore?

Here's where I haven't made up my mind yet on how I feel about this.

There have been numerous request from media members for information on this the last few months. The response was "it's ongoing."

Details weren't released due to "privacy laws." At least, that's their explanation.

I sort of question that...names could have been redacted.

Then, there is the issue of the University receiving the letter, but not releasing the news they had received a letter.

I know how other rival coaches would have used this in recruiting. So, if it wasn't released b/c of that I can understand why.

My question is "who made the decision not to release the fact the letter was received in the first place?"

Heck, just a few thoughts that crossed my mind when I was hitting a small bucket of balls in the last hour...

Other than that...I'm withholding my "opinion" until I reach one. :twisted:

 

[Guest]

Saban is the answer to it not being released...no doubt in my mind

 

[bamabarney]

So will they slam us for this, or take what Bama officials imposed?, esp. since it occured during our repeat violations window.

 

[Guest]

So they make us fly cross-country to meet with them in person vs. a summary disposition while USC's athletic director and president sit comfortably down the road about an hour or so?! This is truly the stuff that is maddening about the NCAA.

Call me a worrier (and when it comes to Alabama I am), but this phrase has me concerned - Allegation 2 states "It is alleged...that the institution failed to monitor the student-athlete textbook distribution system and failed to ensure compliance..."

Oh boy, this makes my head hurt. Not so much that it happened but how it seems to be blown way out of proportion when compared to the USC's and Ohio State's of the world. Thing is pretty much all they have to use is the repeat-offender status, and we are hammered. :?

 

[TerryP]

Just to put this in another perspective since it's "news" today.

You can expect to see the NCAA looking further into the Andre Smith situation as well. Even though that's been reported, sent to all the proper places, etc., they'll likely look deeper into that as well.

After all, you report something to them they are going to look at it in further detail.

 

[BigAl]

Just to put this in another perspective since it's "news" today.

You can expect to see the NCAA looking further into the Andre Smith situation as well. Even though that's been reported, sent to all the proper places, etc., they'll likely look deeper into that as well.

After all, you report something to them they are going to look at it in further detail.

So are you saying their not going to stop until they see us hang with a rope around our necks?

 

[TerryP]

No, I'm saying we'll see the same type article and report in the future with Andre as well.

There is no getting around the fact all of these athletes knew what they were doing and knew it was wrong.

There is no getting around the fact that there were no controls in place to keep it from happening.

I'm not saying Dever's office dropped the ball. I'm saying it wasn't picked up. The same goes for the system in place at the Supe Store.

 

[Crimson Jangles]

I think everyone is looking at this wrong. I don't think this is the NCAA coming after Alabama football. The problem is that UA had a system in place that could be exploited by students in multiple sports. I think that's why the NCAA has their panties in a wad, if it was just one sport, and Bama had self-reported and immediately suspended the involved players, then that would have likely been the end of it.

But because it involves multiple sports, the NCAA is upset. Now having said that, the football program seems to have done about all they could. Assuming the other sports did the same, it means the NCAA has little choice than to either move on, or slam the school and affect multiple programs.

No idea what will happen, I wouldn't put anything past the NCAA. But I will say this, if we get hammered again by the NCAA (especially over this), then I would expect UA will fight back with everything they have. Bama saw what biting their lips got them back in 2002, if the NCAA comes in and tries to kneecap the football (and other) programs again now that we have got it rolling again, and over something this ticky-tack, then I think all bets are off for what Bama's response would be.