Alabama Scandals; Logan Young; textbooks

[BB73]

Perhaps this story is finally over. Although the NCAA description of Bama boosters is entertaining.

SI.com

Former Alabama booster loses bid for new slander trial


SCOTTSBORO, Ala. (AP) -- A former University of Alabama football booster has lost his bid for a new trial of his suit accusing the NCAA of slander.
Jackson County Circuit Judge John Graham sided with a fellow judge who ruled that Scottsboro businessman Ray Keller was not entitled to a new trial.

Jurors in Keller's hometown had awarded him $5 million at the conclusion of a trial in 2007. But retired Circuit Judge William Gordon, who took over the case near its end after the trial judge fell ill, threw out the verdict, ruling it was awarded "as a result of passion or prejudice."

Keller's lawyers appealed that decision to the Alabama Supreme Court, but later withdrew the appeal, instead seeking a new trial. His attorneys said a new trial could produce an even bigger verdict.

But Graham ruled Friday that Gordon's ruling did not entitle Keller to a new trial. The judge said only a reversal by the Alabama Supreme Court could lead to a new trial, and that option was eliminated when the appeal was withdrawn.

"It's a shame it ended up like this," Keller's attorney, Don Word, told The Daily Sentinel, which reported the ruling Monday. "We feel like Ray was vindicated by a jury of his peers. We feel like the 12 folks who sat for four weeks listening to the evidence got it right."

Word declined to comment on the case Monday. A spokesman for the NCAA did not immediately return a call for comment.

Keller sued the NCAA in 2004, arguing that the sanctioning organization slandered and libeled him in 2002 when it announced penalties against the Crimson Tide. The suit said he and other then-boosters were referred to as "parasites," "pariahs" and "rogue boosters."

The NCAA said it never publicly identified Keller.

 

[Gatorubet]

Keller's lawyers appealed that decision to the Alabama Supreme Court, but later withdrew the appeal, instead seeking a new trial. His attorneys said a new trial could produce an even bigger verdict.

But Graham ruled Friday that Gordon's ruling did not entitle Keller to a new trial. The judge said only a reversal by the Alabama Supreme Court could lead to a new trial, and that option was eliminated when the appeal was withdrawn.

Calll his malpractice insurer.

 

[jimotis4heisman]

The Columbus Dispatch - News

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) -- The NCAA placed Alabama's football program and 15 other of the school's athletic teams on three years' probation for major violations due to misuse of free textbooks.
The NCAA said 201 athletes in 16 sports obtained "impermissible benefits" by using their scholarships to obtain free textbooks for other students. Alabama identified 22 athletes, including seven football players, as "intentional wrongdoers" who knew they were receiving improper benefits.
As a result, the NCAA ruled the football team must vacate any wins in which any of those seven players took part during 2005-2007. Alabama did not say how many victories would be affected.
...

 

[BB73]

Dodd takes some shots at Bama. I'll confess to being glad the SEC won't be be able to declare themselves probation-free.

I do like his closing line.

CBS

'Bama offers textbook proof that rulebook no longer the rule

In the ongoing dinner theater known as Being Alabama only the actors change. The roles remain the same.

Bear's School went on NCAA probation Thursday for the fourth time in 14 years. Something about a textbook scandal. The details aren't really important. There are major violations, but only because Alabama is to the rulebook what Michael Vick is to pit bulls. A constant, menacing threat.

The question has become when aren't there major violations in Tuscaloosa? The latest penalties mean that 'Bama has been eligible to be an NCAA repeat offender since 1995. Alabama has been committing major violations while serving time for major violations.

One slip-up during the five-year repeat violator statute of limitations is considered serious. It makes a program eligible for the NCAA death penalty. At Alabama, they scoff. It's a Crimson and White Groundhog Day every day.

By the time Alabama's latest NCAA repeat offender clock stops ticking it will be 2014. That's 19 years of -- as one infractions committee chairman once put it -- "staring down the barrel of a gun" for the program. Nineteen years of being on death row.

If this is staring down the barrel of a gun, then 'Bama is Dirty Harry. Make the Tide's day. Alabama's romp through the rules and regs is a clear indicator that SMU's death penalty in 1987 will be the one and only such punishment ever handed down. The NCAA will never again drop the hammer because in the Yellowhammer State we've seen that nobody does it better. Or worse.

...

On Sept. 29, 2007 Florida State defeated Alabama in Jacksonville. In hindsight, the game might be the first in history that neither school had a chance to win. The NCAA is looking into whether both schools will vacate victories from that season.

 

[coastalbuck]

link

NCAA places Alabama football program on probation


TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) - The NCAA placed Alabama's football program and 15 other of the school's athletic teams on three years probation for major violations due to misuse of free textbooks.

The NCAA's Committee on Infractions said Thursday the football team must forfeit an unspecified number of wins in which any of seven players took part during 2005-2007. The university identified the seven as "intentional wrongdoers."

The NCAA said that 201 student-athletes in the 16 sports, including men's basketball, obtained "impermissible benefits" by using their scholarships to obtain free textbooks for other students. It also found the university guilty of "failure to monitor."

The university was ordered to pay a $43,900 fine, close to the total value of the books.

Alabama identified 22 of the student-athletes as "intentional wrongdoers" who knew they were receiving improper benefits. Fifteen were members of the women's track and field programs who acquired textbooks and materials of value greater than $100 for girlfriends, friends and other student-athletes. The four biggest offenders in dollar value were football players, who received from $2,714 to $3,947 in improper benefits.

Cont'd...

I'm sure they bought the textbooks too quickly, :)

 

[BB73]

It's not chicken-feed, if four football players got between $2,714 and $3,947 in cash from the books.

Here's Fiu's take on the matter.

CFN

Alabama, here's how you handle the situation with the NCAA, who's forcing you to vacate as many as 21 wins from 2005 to 2007 after you voluntarily reported violations regarding the improper selling of textbooks by a few players. Here's your official statement you release to the media. Use one simple word.

"Whatever."

...

The idea of the NCAA forcing programs like Alabama, Oklahoma, and Florida State to vacate wins is flawed at best, gutless at worst. First of all, the NCAA should have nothing to do with this in the first place. It's a school matter that should be handled by the University of Alabama. Period. Some of the players were suspended for a time and the school was able to properly find the violation itself and deal accordingly. For the NCAA to come in after the fact and dole out some extra punishment that's not really a punishment is the equivalent of threatening to take away a snotty kid's cupcake after he had already eaten it and spent an hour in time out.

Does 2007 Vanderbilt become bowl eligible now? Is Colorado awarded the 2007 Independence Bowl? And how about we redo the BCS rankings for 2006, because if the NCAA is going to force Alabama to vacate the wins, then the losses also can't count on the books, meaning Florida went 12-1 in 2006 and Michigan retroactively deserves the shot at Ohio State in the 2007 BCS Championship.

And while you're feeling strong, NCAA, and you're doling out after-the-fact punishment, why don't you really cook the books and use your version of justice on the rest of your record book that's full of lies and hypocrisies. You want to talk about violations, you can all but say goodbye to just about every national champion you choose to acknowledge in football. The basketball record book would be even more of a disaster to rewrite.

Textbooks?

You're nailing Alabama for self-reporting a violation of a few players selling textbooks?! Take a look at the history of the school and that's what you're going to take away wins for? Crack a history book about the sport you allegedly oversee and retroactively start forcing programs to start vacating wins based on everything that's become common knowledge ... good luck with that.

Don't just stop at Alabama's textbooks, NCAA, grow a pair and force UCLA to vacate the ten men's basketball national championships won under John Wooden thanks to the involvement of uber-booster Sam Gilbert. Force Michigan State to vacate wins for games that admitted steroid abuser Tony Mandarich played in. Do the same for any win Oklahoma came up with when Brian Bosworth was playing. And while you're at it, how about addressing these two words: Reggie Bush. And that would just cover your Friday morning.

Cont'd ...

 

[sandgk]

It's not chicken-feed, if four football players got between $2,714 and $3,947 in cash from the books.

Here's Fiu's take on the matter.

CFN

Let's be clear about this $4k buys a lot of pizza and beer.

and, Reggie Bush, also, too

 

[MililaniBuckeye]

SI.com's Andy Staples brings up some good points in his article about big name programs really not having to fear the death penalty, simply because they are "too valuable". Even if the NCAA discovers that all the allegations about the Bush?USC scandal are true, they won't do jack shit to them...

 

[Oh8ch]

SI.com's Andy Staples brings up some good points in his article about big name programs really not having to fear the death penalty, simply because they are "too valuable". Even if the NCAA discovers that all the allegations about the Bush?USC scandal are true, they won't do jack shit to them...

Exactly. And keep in mind that the NCAA IS the schools - not some independent body as many think (the President of the NCAA is no more "independent" than the commissioner of baseball). So why would they penalize themselves financially?

The conundrum is that if you don't drop the hammer and the prize money gets larger and larger schools will get bolder and bolder in their efforts to win. At what point do the rules become absurdities.

Uh, let me fix that one myself -

At what point did the rules become absurdities.

 

[BigWoof31]

Boy this Saban character sounds like a real big prick...

 

[NFBuck]

Boy this Saban character sounds like a real big prick...

Never trust a man that wears this type of hat:

Unless:

 

[BB73]

CBS

Alabama to appeal NCAA sanctions over textbook scandal

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Alabama plans to appeal a ruling by the NCAA Committee on Infractions that forced the football program to vacate 21 wins.

University President Robert Witt, who announced the decision on
Wednesday, said the penalties were excessive.

Alabama's football program and 15 other sports were placed on three years probation after 201 athletes were found to have used their scholarships to get free textbooks or other materials they weren't entitled to, including 22 who obtained more than $100 in supplies for other students. The NCAA labeled those 22 "intentional wrongdoers."

"We appreciate that the committee recognized the isolated nature of this violation as well as UA's immediate and aggressive actions to correct the situation as soon as we discovered the problem," Witt said in a statement. "However, we are disappointed with the excessiveness of the sanctions in view of the facts of this case and the penalties in other textbook infractions cases.

"There is no evidence or allegations of other NCAA violations; no coaches or administrators were involved; no players obtained books and sold them for cash, and all the books were returned or charged to the student's account as required by the UA textbook policy in effect at that time."

The football program sustained the biggest blow from the sanctions. The team had to vacate 21 wins from 2005, 2006 and 2007 involving any of seven players who were involved in the violations, including the 2006 Cotton Bowl victory over Texas Tech.

The university has until June 26 to file the appeal to the Infractions Appeals Committee. The NCAA cited Alabama for failure to monitor in imposing the penalties.

Cont'd ...

 

[BB73]

CBS

Alabama files appeal to NCAA over 21 vacated wins

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Alabama has taken the first step toward appealing a ruling by the NCAA that forced the Crimson Tide football program to vacate 21 wins.

Alabama, in announcing it had sent a notice of appeal, said it will also contest penalties vacating the individual records of 15 athletes in men's tennis and men's and women's track.

The university said it won't appeal other sanctions, including three years of probation for football and 15 other sports.

The NCAA sanctioned the teams after 201 athletes were found to have used their scholarships to get free textbooks or other materials they weren't entitled to. That group included 22 "intentional wrongdoers" -- among them seven football players -- who obtained more than $100 in supplies for other students.

The university has 30 days from its notice of appeal to file a written appeal. The committee then has 30 days to respond, and Alabama would have 14 days to rebut.

The NCAA also ordered Alabama to pay a $43,900 fine to the NCAA.

The penalties included vacating the football wins from 2005, 2006 and 2007 that any of the seven players who were involved in the violations participated in, including the 2006 Cotton Bowl victory over Texas Tech.
The men's tennis team had to vacate an NCAA first-round win over Duke from 2007.

Neither the football team nor any other sport lost postseason eligibility or scholarships.

When University President Robert Witt said last week that Alabama would appeal, he called the penalties excessive and noted and that no coaches or administrators were involved.

 

[AuburnBuckeye]

Never trust a man that wears this type of hat:

Unless:

Or this kind:

 

[Fungo Squiggly]

Or this kind:

Or this one: