Yet another Auburn allegation might again amount to little
Those waiting for someone to take the crystal from Nick Fairley shouldn't hold thy breath. (AP photo)
The SEC breaks down thusly: There’s Auburn, which is feeling good about itself, and there are fans of the 11 other schools who are convinced the Tigers’ BCS title was ill-gotten. For Auburn folks, shrugging off the latest report of wrongdoing has become standard operating procedure. For fans of those 11 other schools, any new nugget offers yet another reason to shout, “See? Told you!”
Fans of the other 11, here’s your latest cue.
SportsByBrooks reported Tuesday that former player Stanley McClover has told “HBO Real Sports” that he received money while enrolled at Auburn from a Tiger assistant coach. (SBB doesn’t name the assistant coach but says McClover will. SBB also notes the assistant coach no longer works at Auburn.)
This wouldn’t seem to endanger the 2010 BCS title, given that McClover left Auburn in January 2006. Cam Newton was in high school, and coach Gene Chizik had just helped Texas win the 2005 BCS title as defensive coordinator. And there’s ordinarily a four-year NCAA statute of limitations. But SBB believes a pay-for-play charge “may leave the door open for the NCAA to pursue an allegation made after the standard four-year period has expired.”
Then again, we were just given cause to see that the NCAA’s punitive power can be rather puny. Jim Calhoun, the winner of two national championships, was slapped by the NCAA for “failing to create an atmosphere of compliance.” Put more simply, the UConn Huskies broke various recruiting rules (regarding phone calls, text messages and inducements) and the Hall of Fame coach stood benignly by. This would seem a huge deal, would it not?
UConn’s penalty: Some lost scholarships, some recruiting restrictions, a three-game suspension for Calhoun in Big East play next season … but no ban on postseason play.
And get this: Calhoun was upset by the severity of the penalty.
Sometimes we regard the NCAA investigative crew as the Scotland Yard of sports, but something has to drop in its lap — the UConn investigation was spawned by a Yahoo! Sports report — for the hounds to be loosed. And even then the NCAA is often unable to find concrete evidence. (That’s because wrongdoers are pretty good at concealing their tracks, and the NCAA lacks subpoena power over private citizens.)
Bruce Pearl lied to NCAA investigators and is still coaching Tennessee basketball. Yes, he was suspended eight league games by the SEC — the conference-wide joke was that Mike Slive had to make somebody pay for Cecil Newton’s sins — but he’s still employed. Calhoun has to sit out three games, but he gets to keep coaching his program and taking it to NCAA tournaments.
For all the smoke in collegiate sports – has there ever been more smoke than there was surrounding Auburn in November? — the NCAA doesn’t often find a three-alarm fire. (Remember, Georgia received no postseason ban from the NCAA after its investigation into the Harricks and Tony Cole.) Even as they look forward to the day when something is made to stick against Auburn, fans of those 11 other schools need to know this:
There’s a chance nothing ever will stick. (There’s also the chance Auburn did nothing wrong.) There’s a chance — a pretty good one — that 2015 will arrive and the Tigers will still be 2010 national champs.
By Mark Bradley
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409 comments Add your comment
UGASlobberknocker
February 22nd, 2011
8:35 pm
Hey Mark, can you ban Vegas?. Hhe is an idiot and his last post is offensive, I am embarrassed that he calls himself a Dawg. He is obviously a trailer trash fan.
G'Vegas Dawg
February 22nd, 2011
8:35 pm
I simply making the point that you “heard” something on a radio show. I won’t stoop to name calling. I’ll just point out the foolishness of your goofy statement.
UGASlobberknocker
February 22nd, 2011
8:36 pm
I heard from Wyche you moron
G'Vegas Dawg
February 22nd, 2011
8:37 pm
You want to ban me bc I called you out on a silly post? How juvenile.
RTR22
February 22nd, 2011
8:37 pm
Auburn University, the MOST penalized school in the SEC. 7 different periods of probation from the NCAA. Fact, end of story.
G'Vegas Dawg
February 22nd, 2011
8:38 pm
Wyche or Wycher? Did I catch a niner in there…
Saban laughs at the leghumper nation
February 22nd, 2011
8:38 pm
Allbarn & UGA fans joining hands in unison… how sweet.
G'Vegas Dawg
February 22nd, 2011
8:40 pm
Excellent post RTR.
AU...NCAA Chumps
February 22nd, 2011
8:40 pm
Asterisks
UGASlobberKnocker
February 22nd, 2011
8:44 pm
Warning! If you don’t like what I say I’ll call you names and try to have you banned. I’m not capable of having an adult conversation when someone disagrees with me.
Uhoh
February 22nd, 2011
8:48 pm
2006? Really? Straws near grasp.
You’re all Al from Dadeville.
Withabrain
February 22nd, 2011
8:59 pm
Anyone who posts “FIRST!!!!” is a retarded loser.
toolkit
February 22nd, 2011
9:02 pm
Wow Mark You are at it again. You are showing your true colors again. Still mad that none of your predictions came true. We get it u dont like Auburn!
Name Withheld
February 22nd, 2011
9:03 pm
The facts:
Cam Newton was arrested while on scholarship at Florida.
Cam Newton was cited over 17 times while driving on campus and in Gainesville.
Cam Newton was shopped to Ms. St by his father and a street Agent.
Cam Newton signed with Auburn.
Cam Newton stated he had no knowledge of his fathers activities.
Nick Fairley had grades changed on his transcripts after committing to Auburn.
Nick Fairley’s grades were detected to be changed by the Mobile schools Superintendent.
Nick Fairley was not allowed to enroll at Auburn
Nick Fairley attends JC
Nick Fairley resigns with Auburn.
Auburn wins SEC/ BCS titles.
Auburn’s only previous recognized National Title was deemed to be earned while using ineligible players in 1957.
Auburn was placed on probation for paying players as recorded by Eric Ramsey.
Pat Dye, Wayne Hall were both “fired” by Auburn but both remained on salary still today.
Auburn was found to be graduating players who did not attend classes and were functionally illiterate.
Auburn was reported by professors for placing players in independent study courses and earning grades without doing any work.
Auburn was placed on probation by SACS for failures in multiple areas of fraud.
Auburn’s BOT Chairman’s Bank was taken over by the Feds after failing.
Employees of Auburn’s BOT Chairman Former bank are suing the BOT Chairman.
Auburn’s BOT Chairman has been interviewed multiple occasions by SEC/ Justice Department and The FDIC Regulators.
Auburn’s BOT’s bank board also consisted of 3 of the largest Auburn Boosters as well as former head coach Pat Dye who was fired for giving extra benefits to football players.
Auburn has turned over financial records for transferring of funds through a non profit organization.
Auburn is currently under initial investigation into offering inducements to 2011 football signees.
Auburn football players posted twitter comments requesting players to write papers for payment.
Add to the list that 4 out of the top 10 boosters of Auburn are now under indictment in vote buying schemes, and 3 are currently being held in federal custody as 2 plead guilty and another was attempting to bribe another defendent to keep his mouth shut.
HBO is going to report a former player was given extra benefits while attending Auburn and his Defensive Coordinator was named Gene Chizik.
We all expect more to come in the next months and it has become a daily exercise of seeing what legal documents are going to released by the feds related to Bingo Gate.
The NCAA has stated on Numerous occasions that the investigation into Auburn, Miss. St and Cam Newton is not complete and there is currently two investigators who have been on campus during the past 3 months reviewing documents and watching the proceedings surrounding Bingo Gate.
Ted Striker
February 22nd, 2011
9:04 pm
1) Don’t really believe Cam took a penny to play ball at Auburn.
2) Really do believe Cam knew his dad was trying to get him paid at Missy State.
3) Really do believe that when it didn’t happen at Missy State the Newtons’ wised up and quit that approach. They learned on the job and figured out they’d get busted if they kept it up.
4) Sorta semi believe that Auburn acted honorably to a point. However when the school declared Newton ineligible yet didn’t immediately release the announcement, they tarnished their reputation.
5) Don’t sweat any of this stuff because what goes around comes around. It’s how the universe works.
ColumbiaDawg
February 22nd, 2011
9:16 pm
If Georgia hadn’t pulled out of the 2003 post season tournaments, the NCAA would have imposed a ban for the 2004 season and ordered Georgia to return any proceeds that it would have received from being in any tournament that it did participate in.
Adams and Dooley received a lot of criticism for doing this, but it was the best decision that they could have made.
john
February 22nd, 2011
9:19 pm
Its pretty clear Auburn and its ADept. have a serious problem, imagine all the crap that does not get out that goes on. Sure its at all schools, I know, all schools do this stuff. That is a 100% fact. But the fact that its so “out in the open” and all over the place makes it seem as Auburn has doubled down with the devil, will be interesting to see the future. Fact-Auburn is most penalized Atheltic dept in the country-FACT! Look it up.
MEGATHREAD: NCAA looking at Cam Newton for possibly receiving extra benefits.
February 22nd, 2011
9:20 pm
[...] article from today – "Yet Another Auburn Allegation Might Again Amount to Little" Yet another Auburn allegation might again amount to little | Mark Bradley Reply With Quote + Reply to [...]
Name Withheld
February 22nd, 2011
9:20 pm
If you want to read what is coming next on the Auburn front and indictment parade please immediately go to
ibleedcrimsonred.com
It sounds like the noose around Bobby Lowders neck is getting tighter and tighter and Pat Dye and Yeller Wood may want to visit those trees at Toomers Corner for one last time before they sit in a 8 by 8 cell.
It's so Sad
February 22nd, 2011
9:20 pm
beast from the east
After I get thru laughing at your misnomer of a name, I pity that you feel the need to lie to strangers on an AJC blog.
It is possible you never frequent any sports msg boards other than AJC which is beyond pathetic. If you do you have seen comments from college football fans from every conference who slam the barn for allegedly cheating.
Rof someone who is only cocerned with your schools program, you spend a lot of time on AJC bad mouthing UGA.
That makes you not only a liar but a moronic joke as well.
SEC Homer
February 22nd, 2011
9:21 pm
The HBO piece is not just about Auburn, they have players from all over the SEC/country talk about what goes on behind the scenes. There is a player from LSU and Bama that talks about being offered money during their playing times as well. It mentions several teams in the conference and some other National Powers…The only school that doesn’t bend these rules in the SEC is VANDY…The thing is, if Cam/AU would have gone 9-3, there would be no stories like this….The bad from this is, it will never stop..every school has ammo about their rival and it is all about to start an ugly war…Trent Richardon from bama could be next…..Caleb King and his recruitment after that..nobody is 100% clean
Name Withheld
February 22nd, 2011
9:22 pm
“All in” will take on a whole new meaing in the weeks and months coming.
The trees at Toomers Corner looks like they are not the only “Tainted” items in Lee County.
Trooper Taylor
February 22nd, 2011
9:24 pm
We aint done nothing wrong here at Auburn. Look at me I’m cool. I wear my hat backwards.
Name Withheld
February 22nd, 2011
9:25 pm
The player from Alabama that is being reported in the piece is Chris Keys who was kicked off the team in 2006 for fighting and flunking out of school.
The LSU player left after Les Miles punished him for failure to maintain grades and not reporting to Study Hall and punishment runs.
I do not get why the Auburn kid is so upset.
ack
February 22nd, 2011
9:26 pm
wait wait wait…. so you’re comparing UConn’s “inappropriate text messages and phone calls” to dumping a 6 figure payout at the Right Reverend Newton’s alcove?
Wow, just…. wow.
Name Withheld
February 22nd, 2011
9:27 pm
If anyone thinks their school is clean you need to get out of the basement. The system is in place that allows overzeolous boosters and street agents to give players what they want while being recruited and while in school.
Name Withheld
February 22nd, 2011
9:29 pm
ack…
There was alot more involved with UCONN and Calhoun than text messages and phone calls. The camps being run off campus and benefits to prospective future players were also part of the issues at UCONN.
Mike Price
February 22nd, 2011
9:33 pm
The Teflon Tigers will have the last laugh in the end! Georgia can’t keep their players out of jail and is on the verge of firing their coach. bammer has been on probation for the last 20 years(have been cheating since they started playing football and claim phantom titles) and is behind most of the lies told about Auburn. Mark is butthurt that his Dawgs are irrelevant in the SEC East. Not one thing that has been alleged has been proven! IT IS GREAT TO BE NATIONAL CHAMPIONS!
shankit
February 22nd, 2011
9:33 pm
Birmingham News
Report that an Auburn fan has poisoned 17, 80 year old trees
surrounding Bryant Stadium in Tuscaloosa.
Alabama Power reports the trees purported poisoned are actually
telegraph poles, and they will be replaced with updated telephone poles.
Steve
February 22nd, 2011
9:38 pm
I Just wish A.J. would have claimed his mom had sold that jersey. He would have been cleared of any wrong doing.
Tide Rising
February 22nd, 2011
9:38 pm
“And there’s ordinarily a four-year NCAA statute of limitations”-MB
Mark,
When Bama was hit with 3 major violations in the early 2000s we self reported one of the 3 major violations. At that point the NCAA had a year to respond to the allegation in order to charge us with it according to their own rules and bylaws.
The NCAA responded in 18 months- 6 months past when the statute of limitations had expired and proceeded to bash us with the violation.
We pointed this out in the appeals process- that the NCAA violated its own rules and regs in its investigatin. The NCAA acknowledged this and basically said so what. They still used the violation against us.
This is an organization that routinely ignores its own rules and bylaws and if they want to go after AU over McClover then they can simply ignore their own rules which they routinely do.
My question is what good is an governing body that ignores its own rules and bylaws? In the words of Danny Sheridian who writes for USA Today and sets the lines for several major Vegas casinos- “This is politicized, corrupt organization that could not stand up to public nor congressional scrutiny.”
SEC Homer
February 22nd, 2011
9:40 pm
Stanley McClover is mad because he basically flunked out of school and left early for the pros only to play 3 years and now has no money…
Tide Rising
February 22nd, 2011
9:46 pm
Not to put the spot light on AU but the NCAA has also been in LA. last week investigating the recruitment of 2 LA players that were thought to be locks for LSU but ended up signing with AU- Greg Robinson and Trovon Reed. The NCAA has interviewed 4 people so far in the probe. Schultz reported on this last week in case any of you haven’t seen it yet. The onus for the investigation was when both recruits returned from unofficial visits from AU with new I-phones and one was flashing a lot of cash at school- and again a questionable street agent was involved.
NCAA Cheating leaders
February 22nd, 2011
9:49 pm
CHEATING HALL OF FAME THE TOP 29 NCAA DIVISION I TEAMS IN TERMS OF ALL-TIME MAJOR INFRACTIONS CASES.
Source is NCAA.ORG (ncaa legistlative database of major infractions cases)
1. Arizona state 8
2. SMU 8
3. Auburn, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Texas A&M, Whichita State, and Wisconsin all with 7 each.
4. Georgia, Cal, FSU, Illinois, Kansas, Kansas State, Kentucky, Memphis, and UCLA with 6 major cases each.
5. Baylor, Cincinatti, Colorado, Miami, Fl., Michigan State, Mississippi State, NC State, Texas-Pan American, USC, UTEP, Washington, and West Virginia all with 5 major infractions cases each.
Big Momma
February 22nd, 2011
9:54 pm
Me son is sidering skolarships frum a bunch of
collages, it seems hiz interesz iz in fuutbal, and
luukin at all thez blogs frum Alabamy, and ther
cuches, I thunk he wud fit rit in wid eder Oburn
or alabamy, wherever he can git the best offer.
Hiz sat is 4.3 in the 40, an iz 6 fet, 6 inchez
an 300 punds. I thunk he wud qalfy fer ether
program. Kall me fur my wire transfur numbur.
Patrick Romano WAR DAMN EAGLE
February 22nd, 2011
9:59 pm
Hey Roll Tide, AU didn’t suck when they beat that ass how many years in s row-Shut Up, They DID NOT SUCK-
Hey WDE, Not too fast-I was right here the last couple of lean years and I’ll be here for the remainder of my lifetime-Good Lord willing.
Bradley-really you are reporting from this reliable, well-respected program-SportsByBrooks NEVER HEARD OF EM YOU HACK .
Bitter Dawg Fans, Your mother & father weren’t married you dumbass moron-crawl back in your dumbass hole.
Bradley, really relaible source from a player from 2006-My daddy & Vince Dooley got paid to come to Auburn too, get real…
Come on man!
Patrick Romano, WAR DAMN EAGLE, Going nowhere!
Jimmy Rane
February 22nd, 2011
10:03 pm
Yella Wood for sale at Toomer’s Corner.
James
February 22nd, 2011
10:06 pm
Why is these stories are always told in blogs instead of as an actual article in the news section?
Big Momma
February 22nd, 2011
10:06 pm
After reeding Patrick Romano, WAR DAM EAGLE,
I thunk I will have my sun sider Alabamy ifn youze
reprzent Ouburn. My Sun haz two much clazz to
even sider Ouburn ifn youz reprizent thiz scull.
James
February 22nd, 2011
10:09 pm
@NCAA Cheating leaders, what I see in that database is that Auburn hasn’t had a major infraction for a couple of decades, which is practically a century in SEC years.
shankit
February 22nd, 2011
10:10 pm
Patrick Romano – You need to call me, I think
we can do a deal together. I have a bridge for
sale, and I think you would be the perfect partner.
kral
February 22nd, 2011
10:14 pm
makes you wonder..doesn’t James…maybe everybody is corrupt…even the investigators..or some bloggers report stuff…whether it is true or not
James
February 22nd, 2011
10:15 pm
@Name Withheld, if Auburn had to go on probation for a dozen years in exchange for being forever rid of Bobby Lowder and Jimmy Rane, there’d be quite a few who would think it a bargain. Auburn aside, why is the man who oversaw one of the largest bank failures in the history of the United States still walking around free?
kral
February 22nd, 2011
10:19 pm
tide rising…blame the ones who bent the rules to penalize you for breaking the rules…the world today no responsibility…just always someone elses fault
Austin
February 22nd, 2011
10:21 pm
well this sucks but if anyone should be punished it should be tubs himself who was the head coach
In The Know
February 22nd, 2011
10:23 pm
James – Only in Alabama, you think the Mafia is corrupt?
Alabama wrote the book, attornies, politicians, governors, senators,
universities, architects, contractors, sub contractors, I
could go on and on. From the voice of experience. Remember the
journalist that went to Alabama to do an article on an Alabama
and NFL quarterback, that got arrested cause the local police
found Mariquana “planted’ in his car, typical, I could go on and on.
You don’t mess around with the “Good Ol Boys”. Buy Yellawood.
kral
February 22nd, 2011
10:26 pm
because life ain’t fair James
Name Withheld
February 22nd, 2011
10:27 pm
James,
I have a nephew who plays golf at Auburn currentlty and he stated the exact same thing over the christmas holidays. I know many many folks who are just tired of the way Lowder has powerbrokered everything at Auburn into a football first issue.
I have an associate whose is from Auburn, he graduated from Auburn, his father was a professor(now deceased) at Auburn, his wife’s parents are both Department Heads at Auburn and they are ready for this current administration to move on.
The fall guy in all this is going to be Jay Jacobs. Lowder has placed him in some jobs that will put the bullseye on his back from fundraising to education for athletes and now the AD’s office.
As a SEC fan I personally know the ‘WHACK” we will hear soon will be the conferences from around the country slapping us around for allowing many many bad actions to have takenn place in our conference.
Denver Dog
February 22nd, 2011
10:27 pm
It is done, let ir rest! If rules were bent, so be it. Look at what Saban does every year with the signings. If there is anyone out there that thinks the schools that they cheer are pure as the falling Rocky Mountain Snow, then you need to get a new pair of glasses.
Harvey Updyke
February 22nd, 2011
10:28 pm
Auburn’s dirty. Nobody needs the NCAA to prove it. Auburn knows it, and so do they’re fans. That’s good enough for me.