They reported the bribe attempt AFTER they didn't get the player. This stuff sounds like Nevada Las Vegas when Tark the Shark was there...
There's that cynicism. They didn't get the player because they refused to go along with the kickback and they reported the infraction. What would Notre Dame have done in the same situation?
Hawaii moving to the Mtn West, but in football only, very odd. The rest of their sports will be in the Big West with all the Cal State Schools and Long Beach. Very Odd. I just wonder how the WAC will exist going forward.
Good question, kp. The reason I don't think it would happen at ND is that we don't have boosters or a boosters organization like other big-time programs. I know that the way the NCAA loosely defines "boosters" we have many people who fit the definition, but it is not the same thing as being organized for the purpose of raising money for the athletic programs. Our programs are funded directly by the university, which derives its funds from football, basketball, and merchandise sales. I'm sure there are some well-heeled alums like Gipper who make direct contributions, but they do so on their own and not as part of a boosters organization. Apart from an individual alum or fan writing a letter to the football coach suggesting they look at a kid, I've never heard of any non-university personnel being involved in the recruiting process, directly or indirectly. If somebody here has information to the contrary, please correct me.
KP, that was me.....no harm intended at all. Just trying to have some fun amidst all the speculation. My comments were directed at the "FBI investigation" of AU.....slot machine cards, unmarked ATM cards......you gotta admit, that's some pretty creative stuff!
JO'Co Actually I believe they reported it as soon as it occurred. I do believe they immediately stopped recruiting Newton. The bastards! :roll: Sid, You kind of dodged the question. My point was that Miss St. apparently did everything correctly. They did not pay the money and they reported the infraction. You don't have to have organized boosters to have an agent try to shake down the school. What else could "any" school do? Buckeye T, Creative no doubt. That does not equate to being recognized for "outstanding achievement". It's okay. We all know that none of this will ever happen in the Big 10 or at Notre Dame and even if it does it will be completely different since everyone will be appalled unlike the SEC which celebrates this. It's okay. :?
I see what you meant, kp. I responded with a completely unrelated commentary. I guess the correct answer would have been that ND would have done the same as MSU in the event of an attempted shakedown.
Sid, I think ND would have done that as well. The problem is that no one will remember that an SEC school did that. It's just not as much fun as saying all SEC schools relish cheating. I know that has to be tempting.
Mississippi State did not stop recruiting Cam Newton after they were propositioned to pay for his services. The coaches weren't happy about it, but they didn't stop recruiting him. There's also the matter of the alleged quote "I am sorry coach, but the money was just too much" I've never seen anything that's indicated Miss State dropped him. Even assuming what Miss State is saying is true.. They will still get hit with a major violation and they were hoping on a Newton commit till the deal was done with Auburn.. Anyway, it's pretty hard to admit you aren't guilty when a booster of your program is in the media talking publicly about the propositions and negotiations that Newton's dad was making... That, in and of itself, is inappropriate conduct and a major violation.. Now reports about Auburn players winning big at the Casino owned by the Auburn booster being investigated by the FBI. You might think that sounds crazy, but we had a Mayor winning a ton of money in the same casino owned by the same Auburn booster... This is just getting started...
kp, Unlike some of my non-SEC brethren, I have no issues with the integrity of the SEC member schools. I've learned over time that when you throw rocks, they just might bounce back at you.
When it comes to college football in general and the NCAA in particular that is the damned truth.... :wink:
I'd like it pointed out that any one of you are welcome to take a trip thru the archives to read that I very much objected to the Alabama investigation. It wasn't a matter of corrupt boosters (they were) or was a coach paid to deliver a kid (he was).. it was the manner in which the NCAA went about it that stepped outside the lines...redrew the lines and just made up rules (and evidence) to carry out a witch hunt... The school actually did all it could do to prevent the violation but was still hammered.. That was a dark day in the SEC. Now this... the reason I defended Alabama (and do to this day) was because 1) The school and program didn't cheat and 2) The NCAA drew up the rules and created evidence/witnesses as they went along... that isn't what is going on here at all.. either Mike Slive knows something we don't and considering how awful the SEC and Slive are looking right now, I doubt it...or this is going to wind up being a dark day for the SEC. Somehow Miss State is being attacked (not me making it up, last Friday Mike Slive put them on blast publicly) here for simply following the rules..or at least trying to.. Everyone wants to talk about 'did he take money to play at Auburn?' (which holy sh*t, that's starting to look possible) but the reality is... the second Dad pitched his kid for money to anyone, the kid is ineligible... Why doesn't anyone want to talk about that?
Corey, We can talk about that. The smoking gun is that Newton went to Auburn. Was that because they came up with the money? That is the $180,000 question. I truly believe that Auburn is thinking that whatever happens will happen so they are going to try to win as many games as they can until the hammer falls. After what happened to Alabama, they may have the best approach. My only problem in this is that the SEC member institutions are being depicted as awarding achievement prizes for this behavior and I don't think that is the situation. And Sid is correct, like you and I have been saying for years, the NCAA does what they want to do. You know last year Julio Jones had to sit out a game because an older gentleman, an Auburn fan actually, took Julio and another Alabama player out on a fishing trip. How many programs could stand that level of scrutiny? :?:
KP, Agreed, except that (to me) the issue has nothing to do with Auburn.. yet If the allegations surrounding Miss State are true (which it really appears they are) then he's ineligible at Auburn. It doesn't matter what Auburn did, or did not, do... the kid's not an amateur.