Alabama accused of encouraging recruit to transfer to high school that would “take care of him”
One of Alabama’s top football recruits was allegedly encouraged by an Alabama assistant coach to transfer high schools to help with his academics, according to the Pensacola News Journal.
Defensive tackle Darius Paige transferred from Washington High School in Pensacola, Fla., to Alabama’s Foley High School this week. Washington assistant George Schellang charged that Paige was encouraged to transfer by Alabama assistant Jeremy Pruitt.
“Darius came in the office one day during the summer after (former head) coach (Mike) Smith left and sat down and told me coach Pruitt, who is the Alabama coach who was recruiting him, wanted him to go to Foley High School,” Schellang said. “Basically, he said (Foley High) could take care of him academically.
“My reaction was shock and dismay that a Division I coach would tell a high school athlete that he needed to transfer, that they had people there to help.”
In a Thursday story, Washington’s coaches stood by the allegations to the Pensacola News-Journal.
“When I talked to (Pruitt), he told me that he knew the coach at Foley (Todd Watson) really well and that he could take care of (Paige) academically,” Schellang said.
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322 comments Add your comment
The Voice of Reason
August 10th, 2012
8:38 am
O’Saban Bin Lyin’…what a crumb!
Hoovergate
August 10th, 2012
8:38 am
Jeremy Pruitt has a long and sordid history for this sort of thing. He was one of the major figures in the “Hoovergate” grade-fixing scandal of 2007.
Sports Illustrated
August 10th, 2012
8:41 am
Other coaches had this to say:
Mark Richt – God bless this young man!
Urban Meyer – I would suspend this coach for a 1/2 game
Steve Spurrier – What’s the big deal? The coach and the recruit were just having a beer.
James Franklin – Have you seen Coach Pruitt’s wife? She is hot!
kingdaddy
August 10th, 2012
8:41 am
I just want to say that cheating has nothing to do with winning a N.C. Move on, nothing to see here, move on…
Jimmy Crack
August 10th, 2012
8:42 am
Whoever said “Cheaters never prosper” never lived in Alabama.
Human trafficking is alive and well in these United States, and it can be found in the Alabama High School System.
JB
August 10th, 2012
8:42 am
For the guy who wrote about 6 not to much to celebrate in Athens. I would think having above SEC academic standards higher than the rest of the cow colleges since Jan Kemp would be a good start. I would think having the best football grad rates in the SEC would be a good start. Being a leader in Academic All Americans would be another good start. Never being on probation by the NCAA in the Richt era…or anytime I can remember would be a good start. Never firing a Head football coach for being in a Ti**y bar would be something to be proud of. Maybe it’s just me.
Another Bama Fan
August 10th, 2012
8:43 am
The other story –
After much consideration by him and his family, one of Alabama’s top football recruits has decided to transfer high schools to help with his academics.
Defensive tackle Darius Paige transferred from Washington High School in Pensacola, Fla., to Alabama’s Foley High School this week. Washington assistant and LSU superfan George Schellang was upset with the thought of losing one of his best footbal players and claims that Paige was encouraged to transfer by Alabama assistant Jeremy Pruitt.
After further research into the situation it appears that that Paige will be able to gain an additional two credits from Foley due to their use of the block system. Under the current system in Pensacola Paige would have only been able to gain six credits. It appeas that this High school student took a careful look at his situation and made the best decision he could to help his acedemics before applying to college.
This student and his family are being proactive in his future college career, as any high school student should be. I am sure that they are appreciative to the support and recommendations that have lead to this desicion. No one, especially a high school offical (even if he is an LUS supefan), should belittle or insuniate that a student is being dirty by making an acedimic decision on his future. Furthermore, it is not an NCAA violation for coaches to give advise to prospective student athelets.
JB
August 10th, 2012
8:49 am
The jealousy from us Dawg fans is you have a coach, who can back it up by the way, is totally committed to winning Championships at ALMOST any cost. He’ll push the envelope right to the edge. He gets what the is job is, and uses a crash and burn type system. There will be hurt feelings, families and a scorch the earth vapor trail left…………But he’ll get it done.
Rational One
August 10th, 2012
8:52 am
Well, it IS Alabama. Between Alabama and Auburn, both have equal amount of people within that state that are will to take a bullet to save their beloved school. They both will do anything to win and beat the other team. This is not surprising at all, but for Auburn fans to say ANYTHING, is completely hypocritical. #reubenfoster #camnewton
concern
August 10th, 2012
9:06 am
NCAA investigating?
perk
August 10th, 2012
9:09 am
a little stain on the white satin cloth of saban?
Art Vandalay
August 10th, 2012
9:11 am
this guy is a 3 Star recruit-Far from a top recruit. More Bama bashing in the tradition of Furman Bisher.
Hard Rain Gonna fall
August 10th, 2012
9:14 am
“That kid must be the dumbest suuumbbbiitch alive, but he SURE is fast!!!LOL LOL LOl”….Roll D Tide!
Bama Is Barry Bonds Of College Football
August 10th, 2012
9:14 am
Lets see….Pruitt was at Hoover when allegations surfaced over kerry murphy and Josh Chapman having grades changes. The FOley head coach was there as well.
DJ Fluker went to FOUR high schools in four years and ended up at Foley. Julio Jones and Robert Lester are from there as well….probably born and raised…not.
Winningwithout honor is what bama is all about. When you look at Bear and his staff (Charlie Pell, Danny Ford, Jackie Sherrill, Pat Dye, Howard Schnellenberger, Mike Dubose, gene Stallings all of which got sanctions majorlly handed to them while head coaches) you realize bama has is a bunch of cheaters insulated by the koolaid drinking media there who all went to UA journalism school.
Nick Saban has just turned the volume up on cheating since he has been there. Brent Calloway, Cyrus Kijanjo?, the kids spurning LSU and hios girlfriend getting a job at the athletic department. TTown, text book scandals.
The thing is NCAA will never look at it as his buddy is Emmert. Oh well, we all have to look in the mirror. I guess bama has had years of perfectinghow to look at oneself with no honor.
Whiskey Breath
August 10th, 2012
9:17 am
Mutts you have to tell me. I understand how you set up a patsy out of conference schedule,
( the AD and coach decide that) but how did you manipulate the SEC schedule?
You play the weakest teams in the entire league and avoid just about every decent team.
How did you do it? I will give you credit, good job. However, you guys will boast about beating Ms,
Vandy, and KY for at least 6 months. I wish at Bama we could be this sleezy.
Bama Is Barry Bonds Of College Football
August 10th, 2012
9:17 am
Rational One# I do beleive the NCAA went through Auburn for over a year and found nothing….they DID find an infraction at UGSA though (AJ Green).
If you are so naive to think that Auburn has the ability to cover up anything with the whole state of Alabma waiting to jump on something you are crazy.
Alabama media will do anything to get Auburn in trouble. As for Reuben, HE WAS COMMITTTED TO BAMA WHEN HE TRANSFERRED. He also is not a threat to have grade issue.
That BCS trophy just kills dawg fans. LOL!
gt4ever
August 10th, 2012
9:18 am
NCAA investigating what…. The coach didn’t do anything wrong… Hey, there is a mass exodus in high school every year… Nothing new…
Dawglasville
August 10th, 2012
9:19 am
I haven’t been this shocked since Ricky Martin came out of the closet.
Bama Is Barry Bonds Of College Football
August 10th, 2012
9:20 am
Poor butt hurt dawgs just want to know what a BCS title is like. That 1980 title is a joke. I mean your average opponent that year was 4-7…..UNREAL. This years schedule is harder then that one. LOL!
Bama Is Barry Bonds Of College Football
August 10th, 2012
9:22 am
The TTown mens warehouse had NCAA infractions shown on facebook and NCAA did nothing. As long as Saban’s buddy is there running the show Bama will be safe and Auburn will be under a microscope.
As for Dawg fans throwing stones….Rodney Garner anyone?
Satan Sabin
August 10th, 2012
9:25 am
Well what do you expect from Satans crew? He is just doing what he does best. Also remember that ole Bear Bryant, rest his soul, was the best cheating recruiter in football history. He paid well also.
Bama Fan#2
August 10th, 2012
9:28 am
To the ALABAMA haters!!!
Get a life and remember DON’T LET THE DOOR HIT YOU ON
THE WAY OUT!!! RTR
URnotUA
August 10th, 2012
9:28 am
Roll Tide
Bama Is Barry Bonds Of College Football
August 10th, 2012
9:32 am
How many national titles is a soul worth?
How about the kid from Vigor last year that decommitted from Auburn and went to bama and was dropped on signing day.
Stay classy bama!
Who Cares
August 10th, 2012
9:33 am
So his parents can afford to just pick up and move so that he can get two more credits in high school????????? Hope they can find a job on such short notice…………….This whole situation is shady at best. It is not like they are moving across the street. They will be moving completely out of state and it is difficult at best to find a good job right now. Did they already have one lined up?????? Does his family already have money????? Does he have family from that area?????
If so then more power to them. If not then something stinks………………………………
Saban's Daughter
August 10th, 2012
9:34 am
Ya’ll better shut up or someone is gonna get knocked out!
Gump Runner
August 10th, 2012
9:35 am
I met Saban at fan day and he is a fine Christian man! I’ll hang up and listen.
Alphare
August 10th, 2012
9:40 am
wow, “take care of him academically” is something bad. No wonder the south is bad academically.
D man
August 10th, 2012
9:42 am
I wonder what I typed that wouldn’t allow my previous post? Really?
Bama Is Barry Bonds Of College Football
August 10th, 2012
9:42 am
Who Cares….apparently the Florida panhandle has a worse job market then bama hotbeads like Mobile and North Alabama. Trent Richardson’s mom had decided she had enough made a career move to North ALabama.
Dre Kilpatricks mom was able to have her son get fine learnin’ (and a Dodge Charger) and she could stay in Gadsen and buy a new Nissan SUV.
Dave
August 10th, 2012
9:43 am
I’ll be glad when the season starts and we can stop pi$$ing and moaning about trivial stuff, calling each other “cheaters” and all the other stuff that school kids do. This small potato stuff and things like it are just as common place across the college football landscape and gnats to crap. I want to see Murray in the pocket, Gurley and Boo hitting the holes and our defense swallowing up USC’s backfield. It’s conversations like this that just make me shake my head and give the old Buford T. Justice line “What de hayell is da world comin’ to when all we have to to talk about is dis?”
KC DAWG
August 10th, 2012
9:44 am
I love these Alabama fans, they jump out of the wood work to support their school but complain and name calling when it is another school. The true School of Obama. Do as I say and not as I do lol
I thin Saban and Spurrier went to the same school on coaching and being a man lol Bunch of turds.
Bama Is Barry Bonds Of College Football
August 10th, 2012
9:44 am
Dave….when one school has a MASSIVE competitive advantage because they can recruit at all cost and be insulated by state media, school system and even the NCAA then I think its more then a petty matter.
shankit
August 10th, 2012
9:45 am
Let’s face it, the Alabama schools have made the SEC a slimy conference.
Throw in MIssissippi State with them.
Send Florida State and Clemson to the SEC, and let UGA and Florida
go to the ACC The money will follow UGA and Florida and the ACC.
Go Figure
August 10th, 2012
9:46 am
Sounds like Auburn fans need to be worried too… will be interesting to see what the NCAA digs up this week while in Memphis investigating the recruitment of Jovon Robinson. Sounds like his transcripts appear to have been altered, and he’s conveniently driving around in a $30k+ car suddenly. Will be interesting to watch these two situations play out…
The Ols
August 10th, 2012
9:46 am
Columbus, you’re just not getting it…The transfer is so the at he can attain enough credits to graduate on time, which due to the curriculum at his current school he could not. No back door deals, no BS. Get your facts straight before you write the longest essay of your life which would be given a big fat “F” in any high school for not knowing the facts before you spewed all of your non-informed venom.
Lowcountry Bulldawg
August 10th, 2012
9:51 am
The Hoover relationship the recruiter and Foley coach have does make this seem a little shady but it can easily be covered up by the block schedule excuse. Whats going to be funny is if the kids parents are to stupid to establish residency in the Baldwin school district. Kid may not even get a shot at playing if not,
Buckhead floosy
August 10th, 2012
9:51 am
Anyone seen my red panties?
shankit
August 10th, 2012
9:54 am
Lowcountry – I’m sure, as adept as the Alabama schools are at cheating,
they have already established a job and residency in L. A.
Bitter cheat-in bamma turd
August 10th, 2012
9:55 am
Where did —FOSTER—- get the MONEY for the LARGE TATTO????
I believe he is supporting a 5 year old???
———-Bamma and All-BARN———-lairs, cheats, thiefs
G-Dawg
August 10th, 2012
10:01 am
Let em cheat…they all get caught eventually.
And to say this is a nonstory just shows you’re an idiot.
globeflyer
August 10th, 2012
10:01 am
Mobile Press-Register asked a mom of a player from Foley about how they “take care of their players”. Her answer? The coaches check the players grades every week to make sure they are on track with their studies. Sounds pretty cut and dried to me.
jon
August 10th, 2012
10:02 am
i like pickles
G-Dawg
August 10th, 2012
10:03 am
“The transfer is so the at he can attain enough credits to graduate on time, which due to the curriculum at his current school he could not.”
where in the heck did you get all that from this article?? LOL funny how ppl make up crap to cover their arses!!
Seems he was asked to transfer to take cupcake classes in order to qualify, cause the kid has slacked off during his high school years. Clearinghouse will be all over this one!!!
globeflyer
August 10th, 2012
10:05 am
I forgot, the Bama-jealousy here is palpable.
Devil's Advocate
August 10th, 2012
10:07 am
Something negative reported about UGA: Richt recruits thugs and doesn’t discipline players.
Something negative reported about any other program: All much ado about nothing! Everyone is doing it or it’s not a big deal.
Devil's Advocate
August 10th, 2012
10:08 am
And remember, Alabama has NEVER been caught cheating before. They are the Penn State of the South when it comes to high virtue.
Roll Tide and God Bless!
OldFan
August 10th, 2012
10:10 am
Shocked! Shocked, I say! Come on now, the only thing about this that ticks off non-Bama fans is that our coaches didn’t come up with it first—and the fact of the matter is they may have, but just haven’t been called out, yet. We’ve all encouraged this kind of behavior by rating our programs on how well they can figure out how far to go too far. Is this too far? We’ll see if the NCAA even bothers to track down another internet rumor on an elite program that pumps big money into the system. What you want to bet that even if this is true, the line from acceptable to unacceptable just slid a little farther away?
shankit
August 10th, 2012
10:10 am
Foley takes care of their own.
Isn’t Foley the town the SI reporter went into to dig
up an article on Stabler, and wound up having
Marijuana planted in his car and arrested by the
local sheriff?
1eyedJack
August 10th, 2012
10:11 am
Whatever the deal, it couldn’t happen to a better bunch than those folks to our immediate west. Unless of course it was Florida, Tennessee, or S. Car.
What we don’t realize, because we are civilized, is that college football is professional football, baseball, and basketball all rolled into one to those folks.
Half of the people in Alabama think that Bear Bryant was a god and when they die they’re going to Tuscaloosa, and the other half worship trees and toilet paper.
Of course they would cheat to win. Why not?