Thanks guys. I just like to add facts to the issues.
I normally just sit back and read the forums. But sometimes I get a little ticked at the media bias and the constant negative tactics they use. The worst thing in the world for them is for Bama to return to their rightful place. They write that type of garbage with out substantiating any of it with facts. Look, this is the bottom line FACTS. Alabama can not be compared to any other institution. Why? Because we DO have tradition and history. We do not live in the past. We just happen to have one. And we should be proud of that past. The people who always (mostly cow college fans) say, "You live in the past" or "What have you done lately?". Well, my question is simple. What have they (Auburn) done lately? I will tell you what they have done.. Underachieved. And they know it. Alabama dominated them before all this crap took place. It took the NCAA, Tennessee (Fat Phil) and the SEC (who was being ran by a Tenn. Vile grad, Kramer) to bring Alabama down to their level. With Alabama out of the picture the cow college should have dominated. They didn't. Sure they beat us 5 times in a row, but that was because of various reasons. Bad coaching, lack of players (that is what probation does to you). They could not and will not compete with Alabama when Alabama is not under the oppression of the NCAA. But, who have been the 2 most dominating schools in the SEC? Alabama by far before 1992 and Alabama and Florida since the inception of the SEC Championship game. Alabama has been on probation for the better part of 13 years. I know it is hard to believe, but it is true. Think about it. They ended up having to forfeit all the games in 1993 and took scholarship reductions. Then it was the post season band, tv restrictions, etc... 5 total years worth of sanctions including the probationary period. Then we came out of it and immediately won the SEC in 1999. (Would have won it again when Franphonie was here, but we were not eligible, imagine that.)
A little history lesson here. During that debacle, Alabama's Dr. Jones was charged with Lack of institutional control. Dr. Jones fought that in court and won. The NCAA had to pay him millions for defamation of character. But it did not help Alabama at all. The damage had been done. The University complied completely with NCAA rules. But we were "Caught red handed". Yea, right. This is how it went down... When Stallins got wind something could possibly be amiss, he asked Antonio Langham if anything had transpired and A.L. said "No". What is Stallins supposed to do? When Langham went back to him the NEXT day and told him that he had excepted $500.00 but had given it back, Stallins immediately reported it to the compliance dept. which in turn self reported the violation (with self imposed penalties) to the NCAA. Minor issue. An athlete lied. Bottom line. He got scared and lied. How does that make Alabama (the university) guilty of anything? They followed the guidelines in self reporting. But they got hammered. The NCAA had been looking for a way to nail Alabama for sometime.
Another history lesson. The feud between Alabama and the NCAA runs all the way back to Coach Bryant's day. If he would have lived, the NCAA would no longer exist. And they know it. And they have had it out for Alabama ever since. Coach Bryant was going to create (I am not sure about the name) the CFA or something like that. He had the support of MANY big programs around the country. They felt like the NCAA was hurting the power house programs by trying to help the small non-competitive schools. And frankly, Coach Bryant did not like the way they handled business. He did not like being told what to do. Right, wrong or indifferent that was Coach Bryant. This move infuriated the NCAA and they had been lying in wait for years waiting for their chance. Well, they took it at the first opportunity. But they jumped the gun. After that incident, they got mud in their eye. They (NCAA) had to issue a public apology and compensate Dr. Jones for their attack on his character. Because of that court order, the NCAA retracted the LOIC charge and paid Dr. Jones millions, but the damage had been done. We were offically known as cheaters. Put on the "We'll be watching you" list. This made them (NCAA) extremely mad. So, what did we learn from this instance? Did the University of Alabama play a part in Antonio Langham's violation? No. But they were punished for it anyway. Guilt by association I guess.
Well fast forward to the Albert Means issue. Let me first say this. I do not know if Logan Young was guilty or not. But if you look at the FACTS of the case, there was never anything proved. So, I say this; If the FBI, IRS and the TSBI could not find the money trail against Logan Young, where did it come from? They took the word of a LIAR (Lang) to convict him. They said he had proof he received that money. They never could tie that money to Logan Young with FACTS, but it did not matter in the end. Anyone could have given that money to him who wanted to hurt Alabama. Another question to ask yourself, what happened to all the OTHER schools who supposedly bid for Albert Means services? HMMM? I will tell you. Nothing. Why is that? Makes you wander doesn't it. They took the word of a felon (who by the way is coaching again) to convict Alabama and Logan Young , but that same evidence was not good enough to open investigations into the other institutions. Hmmmm. Very interesting. This is coming from the same people (NCAA) who stated, "Well this is not a court of law. We do not have to prove anything beyond a reasonable doubt. We just have to believe it happened. And we believe it did." That was Mr. Johanigmier (sp). In the end, we were "Looking down the barrel of a gun", another famous quote of his. For what? Even if Logan Young was guilty (I do not believe it), what did it prove against the University of ALabama? Nothing. But look at what the NCAA did to Alabama. Absolutely unprecedented penalties. Took every one by surprise. I will call a cheater a cheater. A crook a crook. I do not care who or where they come from. I stood in front of Governor Guy Hunt (He was a pastor), who I voted for, and told him I thought he had compromised his integrity while in office. I say that in proof that I will call a spade a spade. But I honestly do not believe this was handled fairly.
What about the T. Martin issue? He took money from an insurance person here in Mobile. That money was funneled to him through Dewayne Rowe (a Mobile Press register sports reporter) who was fired when the story broke. That was proven. But in the end, it was all good. She was not considered a booster even though she went to Tenn. And, what a coincidence that T. Martin was from Mobile and ended up going to Tenn. Weird isn't it? Hmmm. Isn't it funny though? Logan Young was in NO WAY what so ever connected to the University. Not a graduate. Not a known booster. Nothing. But again, he was considered a "Rogue Booster" and Alabama was hammered again. Hmmm.
Then look at all the weird stuff that has happened around this case. Logan Young's death was at first reported as a murder. Later that was changed. But belive me, the police department in Memphis know a murder scene when they see it. Why the sudden change? Just google his name and you will see. Articles were written about his MURDER.
Then there was Phillip Shanks (Cottrell's lawyer)who was beaten to inches of losing his life. His office was ransacked and the only info taken was the evidence he had collected against Phillip Fulmer, Culpepper, the NCAA and this dude, Tenn Stud. Some have claimed he (Shanks) staged it. What? He is mentally impaired today (brain damage) and is going to have to leave his practice because of it.
Then there is the whole Tommy Gallion thing. Winning in court only to have the judge over turn a juries ruling. What? That case, as we all know, is in the Supreme Court right now. I know that is one man who adamantly believes that the NCAA, Fat Phil and Culpepper were all in it together. I do too. Ask yourself this question. Why would he do all this if he could not prove it? Why risk his reputation and legal practice on this if it has no merit. I believe that Phillip Fulmer (along with Culpepper) and the SEC, with Kramer at the helm, worked in unison with the NCAA to hammer Alabama. I will never believe anything other than that.
So what does all this mean. Well, to me it means that the NCAA will do what ever it takes to protect itself. It means that they (NCAA) have or had alliances with certain people (fat Phil Fulmer, Culpepper, etc...) that they used to attack Alabama. But they left a trail. And they have tried to clean it up. Do not think for one second that college football is not corrupt. You are talking about millions of dollars at stake with these coaches salaries. They do not get paid if they do not win. So, I truly belive that it is possible that this was all fabricated. Call me nuts. I doubt we will ever know the truth. We know some of it. I.E.. Fulmer being a secret witness, Culpepper being given endimnity by the NCAA to gain his testimony (lies). That is paying for testimony by the way. That in itself screams conflict of interest. But I guess I do not understand the finer points of stupidity.
Well, in the end, Auburn has benefitted by default through our problems. They did not use the time wisely and instead like to beat their chest about 5 in a row. Wow. They beat a NCAA sanctioned, lack of scholarshipped ball players, football program. What an accomplishment. Well, that day is over. For now anyway. I know Alabama will soon be back on top. They (Cow College, Fat Phil) also believe they will, and they are scared.... RTR!!!!!! :wink: ;tr