The Rashaan Evans Firestorm: Quotables

Have y'all lost your damn minds?

I'm not talking to all Auburn fans—I'm not even talking to most Auburn fans. But too many Auburn fans apparently need to have another talk about fan civility. So here it is: harassing athletes you don't like doesn't make you a better fan. It just makes you an asshole.

The local villain du jour in Auburn, Alabama is not a murderer, not a criminal of any sort, nor a man of deep moral turpitude. No, the target of local scorn is Rashaan Evans, a consensus five-star outside linebackerfrom Auburn High School who chose to go to the best football school in the nation, instead of to the closest. It was a surprise choice, but it was his choice.

For that grave insult, Evans reports that he and his family have been the subject of persistent harassment from some of the townspeople who wanted to see him in navy blue and burnt orange.

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"I understand that people in this state take football very seriously and that's part of what makes it exciting, but when you start trying to hurt other people because of this game, you need to take a step back and think about what's going on. I guess the thing I would ask most of the people writing these hurtful things is how would you feel if this were your child? Why do you feel the need to heap all this negativity onto a young man who is just beginning his life? I think if people asked themselves those questions, they might think twice before writing some of these things they've written. You can do a lot of harm with the words you put out there and I hope people think about that."

Evans said the silver lining of the situation has been the outpouring of support from the Alabama community.

"I'm so glad that where thousands of Auburn fans have thrown my family away and ridiculed and scandalized our name, called us everything but a child of God, thousands of Alabama fans have embraced us and welcomed us to the Capstone," he said. "They have called us and let us know personally that they stand behind Rashaan and his family and awaiting his arrival to the University of Alabama."

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"It's getting worse," Evans said on Monday evening. "Someone actually put out an article about my family's business telling all Auburn fans not to go there. We are going to eventually start losing money. People are telling restaurants in the town not to serve us.

"It's hard for me to go out and chill with my friends like I have always done because people keep coming up to me telling me I made a bad decision. It's grown men. They are asking me why I did this to them. I told them I had to do what is best for me.

"You know I knew this would happen. I knew people would be mad and say stuff. I didn't think it would be like this. It wasn't a complete shock to me, but I guess that's just how fans are.

"It's just crazy right now. What's getting crazy is people are going to the board at my school trying to get me in trouble. They are telling my teachers I am a bad kid and all this stuff. It's just bad right now.”  

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The recruitment of Evans was a hotly contested one up until signing day. Both Auburn and Alabama coaches were in attendance at his grandfather's 80th birthday, and to many, his commitment to the Tide was a coup for coach Nick Saban.

And the process Evans went through is another example of recruiting in 2014. The e-accessibility of recruits makes it incredibly easy to tweet dumb messages to those teenagers deciding on a future school. Add in the hometown angle in the football-crazed south and it's quite ridiculous.

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Taking aim specifically at the Wild West that is Internet message boards as well as social media in an interview with al.com, Alan Evans boiled down the treatment of his son specifically and his family in general to one simple question: “how would you feel if this were your child?” Of course, in a perfect world those responsible for such juvenile behavior toward Evans’ son would be incapable of procreating, but his overall point is understood.

The elder Evans also called it “shocking and hurtful” that some in the community in which he lives would encourage a boycott of his business, an act that threatens to have “a negative impact on our livelihood.”

While understanding “that people in this state take football very seriously and that’s part of what makes it exciting,” the level of backlash against his son’s decision and the viciousness involved has taken the father by surprise.

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Exit question: If the roles had been reversed, would the result have been similar?

Can we get some evidence that Ole Miss is “cheating” before we convict Freeze?

I hear the same rumors that all Southeastern Conference football and recruitniks hear. I know recruiting insiders have been told things that disturb them enough to make them break their usual silence and speak up. But just because Ole Miss is poised to haul in a historically great recruiting class does not automatically mean they’re cheating.

In the SEC, every fan base believes that their school is totally on the up-and-up and that everyone else is cheating like the Mayans were a year off in their apocalyptic predictions. In truth, everyone cuts corners to some degree. It’s when somebody exceeds the speed limit by a dime instead of a nickel that eyebrows get raised and questions get asked.

Questions are being asked. Let’s see what the answers are before we throw Hugh Freeze in the slammer.

In summer 2012, Ole Miss flung about 250 offers to prospects for the 2013 signing class, a class that officially puts ink to Letter of Intent paper on Wednesday. According to Mike Herndon, among the group were 13 quarterbacks, 31 receivers and 39 defensive ends. When he was hired, Freeze promised a 12-month recruiting cycle. He’s followed up on that promise and hasn’t slowed down.

Factor in the truth that former coach Houston Nutt left Freeze with a very poorly stocked talent cupboard and that he’s selling something that always tends to attract interest from top recruits—early playing time in the nation’s best football conference—and the result is usually fruitful.

Again, the rumors and circumstantial evidence are out there and there’s a growing consensus among some recruiting insiders that what Ole Miss is doing is too good, too fast, too soon. They are on the verge of signing most of the Top 5 prospects in the country, including Robert Nkemdiche, who might be the best football prospect since Jadaveon Clowney. Nkemdiche has a brother on the Ole Miss team. But what about all of the other four- and five-star prospects who have committed to the Rebels or considered to be strong leans towards Oxford?

Are they being bought, or are they simply following a budding star to a developing program that’s offering them the chance to build something special? Are they being steered by boosters and handlers, or are they just feeding on the frenzy of excitement and anticipation that Freeze has been pitching to recruits since the day he walked in the door?

Those are legitimate questions and they’re going to be answered, one way or the other.

Eventually, the promise of early playing time becomes an unsustainable selling point. Probably sooner rather than later, the cupboard is better stocked and the ability to sell instant gratification is muted. Also working against Freeze is the fact that Ole Miss is one of the smallest schools in the league. Their facilities are well south of the standards set by powerhouses Alabama, Florida, Georgia and LSU. There are high school stadiums in some parts of SEC country that rival Vaught – Hemingway in terms of capacity and Oxford is still in the middle of nowhere. How Freeze maintains this momentum should say a lot.

The truth is that Ole Miss is at least a year from challenging the top of the league. They’re not gonna make the SEC West turn on its head in 2013. 2014? We’ll see.

So, let’s see what happens, shall we? Can we see some evidence?

This is a Bama blog. Y’all know where I come from and you know what team I root for. I still want to see some evidence before I throw a good, young, aggressive coach in the NCAA slammer.

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Some Auburn fans plan to “help” their coaches in recruiting

It’s the last weekend before National Signing Day. Several schools are hosting some big time prospects this weekend for official and unofficial visits. Auburn is no different—they have a brand new staff and they’re trying to make up a  little ground.

Some Auburn fans are planning to provide a little help. Word has gotten out that the coaches and recruits are going to be at an area eatery (they even found out what time to be there) and there are plans to do something like a Game Day Tiger Walk.

Click the image to view the thread at The Bunker. Do you think some of these guys might be boosters?

Prized recruit decommits from Auburn, fans take to Twitter and blast him

Here we go again, sports fans. A bit more than a year after Daphne’s TJ Yeldon went “Benedict Arnold” on teh famby, top defensive line recruit Dee Liner has decommitted from Auburn and taken the school off of his list. Auburn fans reacted quite predictably, and delivered us some entertainment yesterday.

Enjoy.

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Auburn don't need know kid that will get in a female officer's face andscream at her like @liner_25 did.#no respect

— Josh (@wardamneagle316) January 15, 2013

I am glad my nightmare didn't come true. Now Auburn can us that money on someone who's not a p.o.s. instead of @liner_25. #Thug

— Derek Duran (@Galanski) January 15, 2013

@liner_25 Wtf? #WDE

— James David Reese (@jamesdavidreese) January 15, 2013

@liner_25 when you wake up your still a senior with the chance of not graduating #typical #correctionalofficer4life

— rhett cooper (@rhettcoop34) January 15, 2013

@liner_25 Don't be a bitch! Come to Auburn! You won't regret it! #WarDamnEagle

— Trenton Parker (@TrentonParker1) January 15, 2013

@liner_25 We knew you were a turncoat when you were arrested wearing bammer gear. #trolltide

— AU_GRAD2003 (@AU_GRAD2003) January 15, 2013

Really glad AU pulled @liner_25 's scholarship tonight! #dontfuckwithAU #WDE

— AUoutlaw (@AUoutlaw) January 15, 2013

@liner_25 I hate you

— Chandler Cotter (@chandlercotter) January 15, 2013

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Wait wut? Nick Saban is on Facebook?

We don’t do a lot of recruiting coverage here until it gets close to national signing day. Recruiting coverage is very nearly a 24/7 activity. But every now and then, a nugget comes along that’s just too shiny to pass up, and this is one of them. In a Q&A session with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the mother of highly coveted prospect Robert Nkemdiche opened up about her son’s recruitment and gave us this little WTF gem:

Why do you like Alabama? “Alabama has a good football team. And they’re solid. They have good academics. Right now, they are undefeated. And I’ve stayed in stayed in touch with their coach on Facebook. He is a good person. I like the school but again, I would prefer for Denzel and Robert to play together.”

We all know that Coach Saban would sooner die that tweet (Hi, Staci!) but who knew that he had a Facebook account?

Inquiring minds want to know: Who’s friends with Saban?

NCAA investigators snooping in Pensacola

Remember the curious case of Darius Paige’s transfer to Foley High School? It had calmed down, but it looks like it’s heating up again, according to a story in the Pensacola News-Journal. But in a twist that should come as a disappointment to Alabama rivals’ fans, it’s a look-see into the activities of an LSU booster rather than an Alabama coach accused of orchestrating a shady move:

The Escambia County School District launched an investigation into possible Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) violations by Schellang and Washington High dean and athletic director Troy Faucheaux. That investigation now is complete.

According to documents obtained by the News Journal through the Florida Public Records Act, both Schellang and Faucheaux were issued official letters of reprimand. Both educators continue in their current roles and neither was suspended by the district.

The investigation was launched after Brad Lowery, who is identified in documents as Bud Lowery, contacted the Escambia County School District alleging Faucheaux violated FERPA while posting on the website secrant.com, using the alias “tigerbait65.”

NCAA rules don’t prevent a coach from a member institution recommending that a student transfer to a particular school for the purposes of attaining academic eligibility. In fact, in both the spirit and the letter of the NCAA by-laws and constitution, Alabama assistant Jeremy Pruitt should be seen as having done Paige a favor.

Had he stayed at his Pensacola high school, it’s unlikely that Paige would have made the grades necessary to enroll at a Division I institution. Because of the academic calendar and structure at his new school, all he has to do is keep his nose to the grindstone.

As long as Pruitt didn’t violate any other NCAA rules in the process of urging the transfer—and there’s no evidence that he did—Alabama did things right.

It’s the LSU fan and the young man’s former high school coach who are under scrutiny and if the NCAA wants to, it could rule “tigerbait65” as a “representative of the athletic interests” of LSU. If they find evidence that he was trying to steer Paige to LSU, look out.

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Law enforcement to probe honest services violation in Memphis?

State, local and possibly federal law enforcement may soon launch a probe into alleged grade changes made on the transcripts of at least two prospective student-athletes during their recruitment, legal analysts tell IBCR.

Of particular interest are potential violations of the “honest services” clause in the US mail and wire fraud statute. The “honest services” clause refers to a single sentence in the statute:

"For the purposes of this chapter, the term, scheme or artifice to defraud includes a scheme or artifice to deprive another of the intangible right of honest services."

The question is: Does a public school guidance counselor have a fiduciary duty to provide accurate and truthful transcripts and not take a bribe in exchange for changing transcripts?

Legal analysts say that may very well be the case, and that prosecutors and the courts have a fairly well defined construction of the statute. Once broadly applied, it’s now fairly limited in its scope.

Courts have recognized two areas of public-sector honest service fraud: bribery (direct or indirect), where a public official received something of value for a particular action, and failure to disclose a conflict of interest resulting in personal gain.

Clearly, the guidance counselor involved in the grade changing scandal that led to Jovon Robinson’s ineligibility to play football at Auburn was a public official. She has admitted to making changes to the transcripts of Robinson and one other unnamed student-athlete. Documents released by the school system show that it wasn’t a single grade change, either. There were multiple grade changes for more than one student-athlete.

When school officials confronted her with the evidence, she confessed to making the changes. But she then refused to say why she made them, and also refused to name the person(s) who convinced her to do so or why she complied with their request.

There’s enough circumstantial evidence here to suggest a quid pro quo deal where a palm got greased for a grade change, and certainly enough to begin a probe, according to the experts consulted for this entry.

We already know that the NCAA is investigating. Mississippi State has openly acknowledged an ongoing probe by the league’s enforcement staff. Also, it was the NCAA that alerted Memphis school officials about the fraudulent transcripts. However, the NCAA is notoriously tight lipped and hasn’t confirmed anything.

Federal law enforcement types are even more tight lipped.

So, we won’t know the results—or even the existence—of a law enforcement action until everyone gathers behind the mic at the presser.

UPDATE to add: No, I do not know if there is or will be an investigation. This is just exploring a different angle on a story of high interest in southern sports.

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Byron DeVinner Speaks

The man at the center of an ongoing recruiting investigation by the NCAA wants to get a few things off of his chest.

Frankly, I know some people who know this guy, and they tell me that if there’s a more honest man in the 7v7 game, they haven’t met him.

From other sources, it appears that Mr. DeVinner still has a lot more to tell.

Here ya go.

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I started this last night, and told Paul to remove it because I thought people would take jabs at me. I am not here to take jabs at anyone, but to clear the air of a lot of rumors that you have heard and most importantly clear my name with you good people.

The past year has been tough on me regarding the investigation at Mississippi State. I had planned to be at the game this past weekend with a recruit, but I was afraid the weather was going to be bad and it was a very early kick off.

I want to let each of you know that I had nothing to do with the investigation at State as far as any wrongdoings were concerned. I was the one that was about to get the bad deal. Yes I coach 7v7, but every 7v7 coach is not dirty. There will be a story that comes out really soon that will clear my name altogether.

I am not going to say the booster, player, or coach name, but most of you know who it is. Did I speak to the NCAA and cooperate with them yes. Some of you might call me a snitch, but that is far from what I am. The truth is the coach and the booster wanted me to take the fall to what had taken place. They wanted me to say that I introduced the player to the booster and I refused to do so.

When contacted by the NCAA and Miss State's compliance department I agreed to do the interview because I have nothing to hide. I have seen my name slandered across the internet the past nine months and it's sad.

One thing I will tell you is I have the best interest for every kid that I have a relationship with. One of my players "Dez Harris" from Birmingham is currently committed to Miss State now. He will be a great addition to Miss State. I respect everything that Coach Mullen is trying to do here. Coach Mullen along with the entire compliance department has welcomed me back to Starkville with open arms. I do plan on being in Starkville for the Tennessee game ringing someones cowbell.

If any of you would like to speak to me in private or have any questions or concerns, you are more than welcome to send me a private message because I am not one of them that hide behind screen names like some people. Paul, thanks for allowing me to come on your site and make my post. I have been waiting to get this off my chest for a minute! HAILSTATE!!!

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DeVinner and several other individuals in the Memphis area are at the epicenter of an ongoing NCAA investigation into recruiting in eastern Tennessee. According to multiple media reports, several Southeastern Conference schools are alleged to be involved, with many major media outlets said to be looking into the case.

Included among those being investigated is Auburn 2012 signee Jovon Robinson, who allegedly had grades surreptitiously changed to make him eligible to play for the Tigers this season. Robinson was declared ineligible after the NCAA determined that the grade changes were improper.

At his weekly press conference, Auburn coach Gene Chizik refused to deny that there was an ongoing investigation into Robinson’s recruitment.

The Memphis Commercial-Appeal’s Geoff Calkins and Kyle Veazey have both confirmed that there is an active, vigorous and ongoing investigation into recruiting tactics in the Memphis area.

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This Jovon Robinson thing could be a really big deal

News broke yesterday that the NCAA was getting it’s nose inside the tent of Auburn freshman Jovon Robinson’s academic eligibility. A guidance counselor confessed to making up a fraudulent transcript for the coveted running back, and has resigned.

Allegations of improper benefits are in the news almost every other day, it seems. Someone sold a jersey. Someone got help buying a car. Someone was seen wearing a new suit. While the NCAA takes all potential rules violations seriously, allegations of academic impropriety get special attention because they go to the heart of the NCAA’s meme on the “student athlete.”

ByLawBlog’s John Infante has a keen analysis on the Memphis case.

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What Did Auburn Know?

What Auburn knew should not have too much impact on Robinson’s eligibility, unless Auburn was how Robinson knew his transcripts were being falsified. Rather, what Auburn knew or did will mostly impact Auburn.

Pressuring a high school guidance counselor would be a serious charge for the university. It would be almost guaranteed to result in individuals being fired and charged with ethical conduct violations, and would likely be a major violation for Auburn as well. Simply knowing it will happen and allowing it would be almost as bad. But those violations take time to process and are secondary to determining Robinson’s eligibility as soon as possible.

So What Should the NCAA Do?

Robinson’s eligibility is a complex question because there are two issues right now: whether he would have been a qualifier and whether he knew about the guidance counselor’s actions. If Robinson had knowledge of or participated in the academic fraud, that would be an ethical conduct violation with a normal penalty of a one-year suspension and losing a season of competition. If Robinson was also going to be a nonqualifier, that would mean he would need to go the junior college route, be starting with three seasons of eligibility, and maybe need to sit out for a year when he returns to Division I.

If the NCAA does not have evidence that Robinson knew what was going on and he was going to be a qualifier anyway, nothing should happen with his eligibility. If there is no clear evidence either way and Robinson was going to be a nonqualifier, he should just be declared a nonqualifier and would have to leave Auburn unless he can get a waiver.

However if Robinson can show clear evidence he did not know what was going on and was going to be a nonqualifier, that would be strong mitigation and he likely deserves a waiver. Even if he would have been very short, he should get a partial waiver to keep his scholarship and continue practicing with the team, just not be cleared to play this year.

Finally, if Auburn was involved and Robinson was not, he should have the opportunity to leave Auburn. He should not be declared ineligible and forced to leave. Rather, he should be permitted to void his National Letter of Intent, transfer without restriction, and be immediately eligible if he decided to leave Auburn.

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As Infante notes, it’s hard to swallow another case where everyone’s fate rests on what the student-athlete knew and when he knew it but it does give Auburn an out—if Robinson and the school can show that this was strictly an action taken by a rogue guidance counselor—there’s no penalty to be enforced here aside from Robinson having to do some extra work in a JUCO somewhere.

But don’t dismiss the likelihood that the guidance counselor is the only perpetrator of foul deeds.

“You would not believe the dance some of these schools do to get kids in and keep them eligible. Marshall made a living off SEC caliber kids who could not meet the academic requirements of the SEC and Memphis was exposed in a recent Chronicle of Higher Ed article which showed the lengths they would go to keep kids eligible,” says Dr. David Ridpath, Associate Professor of Sports Administration at Ohio University and Co-Editor of the Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics.

Ridpath is speaking of mid-major programs that have feasted on talent that couldn’t meet the academic requirements of big-time football programs, but academic scandals like the one that forced Florida State to vacate a boatload of victories and the ongoing dumpster fire at North Carolina show that even major football programs break rules to get kids enrolled and on the field.

“There are lots of bylaws at play here and 10.1b will be the big one along with several other eligibility and likely financial aid bylaws if he signed an NLI. Since it was to seek a competitive advantage there might be some recruiting bylaws at play,” said Ridpath.

By-law 10.1 is one of the big ones, with the potential of carrying big-time sanctions:

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Unethical conduct by a prospective or enrolled student-athlete or a current or former institutional staff member (e.g., coach, professor, tutor, teaching assistant, student manager, student trainer) may include, but is not limited to, the following: (Revised: 1/10/90, 1/9/96, 2/22/01)
(a) Refusal to furnish information relevant to an investigation of a possible violation of an NCAA regulation when requested to do so by the NCAA or the individual’s institution;
(b) Knowing involvement in arranging for fraudulent academic credit or false transcripts for a prospective or an enrolled student-athlete;

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”Knowing involvement” is the key.

It all comes down to the question: “What did they know and when did they know it?”

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Memphis official admits creating transcript for “student-athlete”

We mentioned this story yesterday.

Now comes this piece from the Memphis Commercial-Appeal, wherein we learn that a guidance counselor at the heart of the matter is copping to generating a transcript:

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A Wooddale High guidance counselor admitted to creating a fraudulent transcript for a former student-athlete at the school and has resigned, according to a statement released Friday afternoon by Memphis City Schools.

The statement did not identify the player but was released to The Commercial Appeal in response to a question about former Wooddale and current Auburn University football player Jovon Robinson. The statement said the city was contacted by the NCAA on Tuesday afternoon regarding the allegation of a falsified transcript and that Supt. Kriner Cash assigned staff to investigate it.

The statement says the investigation continues.

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We mentioned yesterday that there were just too many independent voices telling a similar story for this not to be legitimate.

The story linked above goes on to note that Auburn University has not responded to a request for a statement.

What’s also notable is that the allegations swirling earlier this week—that NCAA officials were in town and actively investigating—have now been confirmed by boots on the ground.

Developing…

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Red Meat: NCAA is in Memphis, investigating an Auburn player’s eligibility

This was in SEC Football Rumor Central earlier, but enough information has come out to warrant a front page blog post.

Various sources confirm that the NCAA has been or is looking into the eligibility of Javon Robinson, a member of Auburn’s 2012 signee class who was a consensus four star recruit from Wooddale High in… wait for it… Memphis.

Roy Adams, aka “Tennstud,” who was a central figure in the Alabama recruiting scandal surrounding Memphis product Albert Means, has again been making noise about improper recruiting. Although this time, his rumblings point to Auburn.

Two separate issues have been raised.

The first deals with Robinson’s acquisition of a new vehicle. That one can likely be dismissed out of hand—no major school is going to be caught dealing new vehicles to players or recruits because stuff like that is just too easily documented and just too easily uncovered.

Auburn’s not that stupid and neither is the school’s booster community.

In fact, the “car story” was dismissed weeks ago.

The second issue could be more problematic. According to multiple independent sources with knowledge of the NCAA’s inquiry, Robinson’s initial academic eligibility may be in question. Discrepancies in transcripts for high school work have been noted, with Adams and others suggesting that grades were changed in order for Robinson to pass muster with the NCAA Clearinghouse.

Compliance experts indicate that issues of academic eligibility and suggestions of potential academic fraud obtain much more scrutiny from the governing body because they go to the heart of the NCAA’s meme of the “student athlete.”

Witness the toxic waste dump fire in North Carolina.

You can synopsize Auburn message boards with the following generic post: “Alabama is cheating; we are clean.”

You can synopsize Alabama message boards with the following generic post: “Auburn is cheating, we are clean.”

That stuff goes on from January to September and from September through December.

Long time readers of this blog know that we don’t deal in rumors. However, when multiple sources are independently corroborating each other’s information, it’s worth putting out there.

Another part of today’s Rumor Central entry addressed rumblings of improper activities in South Florida. We’re unable to confirm anything regarding those waves, so we’ll leave that where it is.

For now.

The NCAA does not publicly comment on any ongoing investigations.

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Quotable: Darius Paige transfer to Foley is “on the up-and-up”

The controversy that wasn’t: Alabama football commitment Darius Page of Pensacola, Florida is transferring to nearby Foley High School, located no more than 30 miles as the crow flies from his original panhandle home.

The controversy? His former coach and former athletic director accused Alabama coach Jeremy Pruitt of steering him to Foley for nefarious purposes like improving his chances of academically qualifying to play.

Them cheatin’ Bammers, PAWWWLLL!!!

Pruitt and Alabama can’t defend themselves against allegations like this because NCAA by-laws expressly forbid them from discussing prospective student-athletes that they may or may not be recruiting.

So, allow me.

Hell Yeah, Pruitt steered Paige to Foley and there’s not a damned thing anyone can do about it, because there’s absolutely nothing wrong with it. There are no NCAA by-laws forbidding him or anyone else from answering an inquiry about steps a kid can take to become eligible to play college football. That includes advice on which schools are better suited to getting him where he needs to be.

So screw all y’all raising the ruckus over Paige’s midnight move across the state line. Whatcha gonna do about it?

Instead, go look into Reuben Foster’s transfer to Auburn High School and subsequent commitment switch from Alabama to Auburn. Want to know why Foster transferred? Because he needs help to qualify academically and he was leaving a program that just lost its coach. Sounds a lot like the Paige deal, doesn’t it?

It’s all on the up-and-up, folks. Don’t ask me. Ask John Infante, author of the only blog dedicated to coverage and discussion of NCAA compliance rules.

“Not only does this transfer appear to be on the up-and-up, but the explanation given is even commendable. If a kid needs to play catch-up with the eligibility requirements, you’d much rather he do it in a regular classroom,” Infante said today on Twitter.

“Regular classroom” means during the normal fall semester setting rather than summer school, which is much less structured. It also means in a “block system” that allows a player to take additional courses (eight rather than six) and improve his academic performance. His old school didn’t offer that. His new one does.

So, Hell Yeah. Pruitt not only (probably) did steer Paige to Foley, he did the kid a great favor in the process and does so with the blessing of the NCAA.

Exit Question: When was the last time a Nick Saban led football program was placed on probation for recruiting violations? I’ll hang up and listen.

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TIFWIW: John Copeland says Reuben Foster switched because he was paid

Take this for what it’s worth and consider the source, but Crimson Cover co-host John Copeland is pretty adamant: Reuben Foster switched his commitment from Alabama to Auburn because he was paid.

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Early in the segment, co-host Mike Parker says “there’s my thoughts and there’s what I can say,” which indicates that Parker—a former Alabama staff member under both Shula and Saban—knows more than he is willing to go on the record with.

Chase Goodbread later tweeted that Copeland’s comments were “tongue in cheek.”

Again, no comment on the veracity of these allegations. They fly around anytime a big-name recruit commits with a school.

When Daphne’s TJ Yeldon committed to Alabama on the eve of a dead period last December, allegations flew. When Brent Calloway switched his commitment and signed with Alabama, not only did the allegations fly but the BAMBI™ crowd went into high gear.

Helmet tap to Bradley Carver for the video.

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Remember Landon Collins’ mom? She’s a Bama fan, now…

Ch-ch-ch-changes.

Remember the lady who caused such a stir last season over her son’s commitment to Alabama? April Justin, who famously objected to his spurning of hometown favorite LSU, has had something of a change of heart. Her youngest son is Gerald Willis—a 2014 defensive end prospect who is already drawing the interest from Alabama, Florida, LSU, Oregon and others.

This time, when he puts the hat on to signify where he's going to school, he might want to hope for a better reaction from his mom. Although she caught a lot of flack for what happened, Justin is ready to do it all over again with Willis. And this time, she's pulling for the Crimson Tide.

"It's going to be crazy," Justin said. "I'm not looking forward to it, but I am looking forward to it in a sense, so [Willis] can move on. But I'm hoping that everything works out with him to be on the same team as his brother. I really would love to see them play together.

"That'd be once in a lifetime, like winning the lottery, to see them on the same team. That'd be awesome, but it's where he's going to be happy."

National signing day for 2014 is a long way away. Anything can happen. But if Landon didn’t make momma happy with his decision, maybe Gerald can?

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South Florida recruit is Stompin’ the Chomp

If Florida was a Muslim state, I believe this would lead to jihad. You don’t just go around putting your dirty shoes on sacred items like the Gator logo. In much the same way European cartoonists shouldn’t draw pictures of Mohammed.

Allah Akbar, and all that.

Via College Football Section, who hilariously points out that the stomper--Asiantii Woulard—is a 3 star dual threat quarterback who has yet to receive a scholarship offer from Imam Will al-Muschampi.

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Robert Nkemdiche recruiting: What does this guy know that we don’t?

From Saturday morning’s Mobile Press-Register Sound Off section comes this little nugget:

Wait for second part on Nkemdiche

I think you're going to find in the Robert Nkemdiche commitment that Mickey Conn, his high school coach, will also be getting a position at Clemson. This was a packaged deal, and we will see it in a few days.

NCAA by-laws appear to frown on this kind of activity:

13.8.2 Material Benefits. Arrangements by an institution that involve a material benefit for a high school, preparatory school or two-year college coach, or for any other individual responsible for teaching or directing an activity in which a prospective student-athlete is involved, (e.g., the provision of a gift such as a tangible item bearing the institution’s insignia, the offer to pay a portion of the coach’s or other individual’s personal expenses, compensation based on the number of campers sent to an institution’s camp, or an arrangement to provide transportation for the coach or other individual) are prohibited.

and:

13.8.3.5 Employment in Same Sport. A high school, preparatory school or two-year college coach who remains associated with the high school, preparatory school or two-year college in a coaching capacity in the same sport shall not be employed as a member of an institution’s coaching staff.

13.8.3.5.1 Contract for Future Employment. A member institution is permitted to enter into a contractual agreement with a high school, preparatory school or two-year college coach for an employment opportunity that begins with the next academic year, provided the employment contract with the member institution is not contingent upon the enrollment of a prospective student-athlete and the coach does not begin any coaching duties (e.g., recruiting, selection of coaching staff) for the member institution while remaining associated with the high school, preparatory school or two-year college.

There are some instances where a high school coach gets a job with the school that a player of his enrolls in. Gus Malzahn and Mitch Mustain were a much covered “package deal” to Arkansas six years ago. Houston Nutt, Malzahn and Mustain obviously convinced authorities that it really wasn’t a package deal and no NCAA violations were alleged.

If the Sound Off caller is correct and Conn does end up with a job at Clemson, he’ll have to leave his current position and swear an oath in blood that his new job had nothing to do with Nkemdiche’s eventual enrollment at Clemson.

If that enrollment occurs, that is.

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ESPN interview with 2013 Bama QB commitment Cooper Bateman

At 2:39 total length, this is a short but impressive interview with the quarterback that Nick Saban and Doug Nussmeier hope to have leading the Alabama offense in a few years.

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Video: Bama commit Rueben Foster talks about recruitment, commitment and chances of flipping

Foster is the country’s second-rated player in the 2013 signing class. He’s currently committed to Alabama, but talks candidly about the pressure he’s receiving from other schools and says there’s a chance he might flip his commitment.

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Not surprisingly, he also explains that he has some work to do in the classroom to get qualified. He recently transferred to Auburn High and may have fallen a bit behind his new classmates.

Foster’s recruitment will be one of the most watched and hotly contested in the 2013 class.

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This drives Auburn fans CRAZY

Alabama head football coach Nick Saban has his mug on the front page of the Mobile Press-Register’s Sports section. Saban was in Mobile as part of the Crimson Caravan tour, a series of seated dinner events scheduled around the southeast.

Saban was just in Mobile as a featured speaker for Team Focus’ Benefit Banquet on April 23, scarcely more than a week ago. The morning after, the Press-Register was splashed with a big assed headline and another big assed picture.

When Saban stopped in Mobile to check in on Senior Bowl practices last January, a similar chain of events happened.

This drives Auburn fans nuts, especially in the Mobile area. Despite the fact that the second largest metro area in the state is solidly Crimson, it wasn’t that long ago that Auburn got whoever they wanted when recruiting on the Gulf Coast.

Saban turned that around.

The 2011 BCS National Champions featured safety Mark Barron—an eventual first round pick in last week’s NFL Draft—and quarterback AJ McCarron. Both are native Mobilians. The 2012 edition of the Crimson Tide will include tailback sensation TJ Yeldon, a Daphne product who Saban famously flipped from Auburn in the last signing class.

By the way, Auburn coach Gene Chizik also had an interview with the media yesterday. He spoke with Birmingham’s 97.3 The Zone and spoke about quarterback expectations and recruiting linebackers. That story also made the front page.

It was below the fold, accompanied by a photo roughly half the size of the one you see above.

If recent history is any indication, the next few days of Sound Off will be chock full of calls from irate Auburn fans, wailing and gnashing their teeth over perceived Bama bias on the part of the Press-Register.

The truth is that a Saban visit is BIG news in Mobile. Both the Team Focus and Crimson Caravan events were sold out. The Mobile Press-Register has the best (and oldest) sports section in the state. Coverage of both Alabama and Auburn news is about as unbiased as you’ll find anywhere and Sports Editor Randy Kennedy is a certifiable newshound. Go pick up a copy. It’s the best $1.00 you’ll spend all day. Better yet, call 251-219-5343 and subscribe.

You don’t want to miss the next time Saban’s mug dominates the front page, do you?

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Alabama stud running back Kenyan Drake dishes about Nick Saban

By: @LivingCrimson

The Atlanta-Journal Constitution is at it again. Alabama pulled another top player out of Georgia and the Atlanta paper doesn’t like it. In a Q&A session with the AJC Super 11 running back, Michael Carvell uses leading questions in an attempt to create controversy.

However, the Alabama signee turns the tables and gives positive reviews about Alabama recruiting, then blames turmoil at Georgia for his going out of state. To spare everyone a frustrating click, here are highlights from the article.

• Even though Drake was a lifelong Georgia fan, UGA was not an option for him because of the program’s instability.

“With everything going [on] at Georgia and all the speculation about Coach Richt, and then realizing the stability at Alabama — it wasn’t a hard decision, at that point.”

• Nick Saban visited his school, which really impressed Drake. Even more importantly, Alabama was the only school to make a home visit.

“Coach Saban … really wanted to come over and talk football, and explain his expectations both on and off the field. It wasn’t like any big family gathering but more like a business meeting.”

• Drake really enjoys being around Kirby Smart.

“[He] is the funniest coach I’ve ever been around. He’s real laid back and down to Earth. You can talk to him about anything, whether it be school, football, or your girlfriend. He will have a conversation with you because he’s that cool and that’s type of person.”

• When questioned about which school’s coach is the “nicest,” of course it wasn’t Saban. Drake goes on to clarify that Saban is more businesslike than buddy-buddy.

“Well, I wouldn’t say not the nicest, but I would have to say Coach Saban. But I’m not saying he was not the nicest. He’s really straight forward. You know what I mean? I’m not saying he’s mean but I’m not saying he’s ‘buddy buddy’ with you either. He’s very businesslike. … And he gives it to you like this, and if it’s not like this, then there’s no other way.”

“At first, he can be intimidating because of the things you read or hear about him. And with his personality, he’s very straight forward. He tells you like it is. But once you get to really know him, it’s different. The chance I got to spend with Coach Saban and his wife during my visit … we got to joke around and have a couple of laughs. You know, people that aren’t really that close to him, or haven’t been in those type of situations, they wouldn’t really understand because they see him as being straight forward. Once you get to see the man, the husband Coach Saban is and the father Coach Saban is, you really get to see what type of person he is.”

• What do you think it will be like to play for a guy that many consider to be college football’s best coach?

“It’s like you really don’t want to disappoint him. You see how hard he works and how prepared he is, day in and day out, to be the best at what he’s doing. He’s a very good role model. Once you see everything he’s accomplished and trying to accomplish, it’s almost like all that success is going to rub off on you. Because Coach Saban is your coach, you’re definitely going to strive to be the best you can be, regardless.”

Chalk up another good get for Coach Saban and the Alabama recruiting staff. In his senior season, Drake rushed for 1,610 yards on 173 carries and scored 18 rushing touchdowns. He was also effective in the receiving game — hauling in 24 passes for 315 yards and five touchdowns — and special teams where he returned 10 kickoffs for 355 yards and two touchdowns. A grand total of 2,280 total yards and 25 touchdowns, which earned him the 2011 Gatorade Player of the Year for the state of Georgia. Hillgrove High School won a regional title and finished 10-0 in the regular season for the first time.

Kenyan Drake will arrive on the Alabama campus on May 27th, after his high school graduation. It will be interesting to see the 6-1 204 pound Drake compete for playing time against 6-2 210 pound T.J. Yeldon in Fall camp.

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