College Basketball - FBI investigation

[RDU Irish]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">THANK YOU LOUISVILLE <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/L1C4?src=hash">#L1C4</a> <a href="https://t.co/UQSRWa7OHK">pic.twitter.com/UQSRWa7OHK</a></p>— Anfernee Simons (@AnferneeSimons) <a href="https://twitter.com/AnferneeSimons/status/913098180081995777">September 27, 2017</a></blockquote>
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and so it begins...

Charge your phone Anfernee

 

[Ndaccountant]

In Alabama's case, Saban is making that program multi millions year after year.

Fire Saban and replace him with Charlie Weis and see how much money that costs the program.

The players come and go, it is the Coaches that are the constant, especially in the one and done world of the NCAA.

Coaches who are constants like Saban, Meyer, Paterno and even Bob Stoops earn every penny of their salary.

Now if the Alabama's women swim team coach was getting paid $11 million per....I would probably say..... WTF? But the payoff for the university from having a consistent top 5 Football program is huge....and it isn't the individual players who creates that, it is the Head Coach.

And if you think differently, then as Alabama's AD, you would fire Saban and his $11 million per and replace him with Autry Denson and pay him $110,000 per year. At which time you would be stoned to death by the tide faithful.

Let's take a step back here, I think you are missing the point.

The fact that Saban can be paid $11m this year and have people perceive that as a bargain, is a major problem. The fact that there is THAT much money to be made on "amateur" athletics, is a major problem. And that is only the school. Think about all of the other major "partners" that are making a KILLING on this.

The athletes, football especially, are being put into situations where it is nearly impossible for the collective group (across the country) to take advantage of the educational opportunity that is supposed to represent their "payment". Look at the schedule below.

That means the only way than can exploit the situation within NCAA rules is ball out on the field. Take a shit major that requires no effort, especially since you don't have the time, and train at state of the art facilities with the best trainers available.

I won't argue against Saban being the best or that the amount of time, energy and emotion he invests is "worth it". It's more about how these kids are shuffled in and out while the entire NCAA athletics machine makes Billions. It's not ethical.

 

[irishroo]

Yes, but in college football, as opposed to pro football (especially at a place like ND where jersey nameplates aren't used) how do you know where to draw the line. The replica "7" jersey you reference currently belongs to Wimbush...however, should Carlyle Holliday get a cut? Stephon Tuitt? TJ Jones? Joe Theismann? Steve Beuerlein? Andre Jones? Darrin Bragg? And that's just for number 7.

Seems like a convoluted mess, to me.

Pretty easy solution to this - sell the number of the year every season rather than the number(s) of that year's popular player(s). Eg. this year ND would sell 17, next year 18, etc. If you want some variety, pick a couple other constants that may or may not have some significance to the school (eg. ND could sell 42 to represent founding of the school in 1842) and sell that every year, regardless of the player wearing it on that particular squad.

 

[snoopdog]

Let's take a step back here, I think you are missing the point.

The fact that Saban can be paid $11m this year and have people perceive that as a bargain, is a major problem. The fact that there is THAT much money to be made on "amateur" athletics, is a major problem. And that is only the school. Think about all of the other major "partners" that are making a KILLING on this.

The athletes, football especially, are being put into situations where it is nearly impossible for the collective group (across the country) to take advantage of the educational opportunity that is supposed to represent their "payment". Look at the schedule below.

That means the only way than can exploit the situation within NCAA rules is ball out on the field. Take a shit major that requires no effort, especially since you don't have the time, and train at state of the art facilities with the best trainers available.

I won't argue against Saban being the best or that the amount of time, energy and emotion he invests is "worth it". It's more about how these kids are shuffled in and out while the entire NCAA athletics machine makes Billions. It's not ethical.

No I am not missing the point. Saban has options. He could coach in the NFL and get paid millions. Or he could build and maintain one of the most profitable sports organizations in the US and be paid for the value he brings.

Somehow you are getting hung on Saban. The guy you could realistically go after is Harbaugh. He got a raise to go from the NFL to the NCAA without winning anything.

But the scope of your focus is on .01% of the student athletes. The NCAA collectively loses money on all its programs. Just because Alabama is hugely profitable because of football, doesn't make South Alabama profitable. Yet there are hundreds of athletes getting a free education there.

College sports is far from perfect, but I enjoy watching it more than any other organization. And I am far from alone. It is extremely popular and thus guys like Saban get to earn (rightfully so) $11 million per.

 

[STLDomer]

Saban is the only football coach that could be come the center of a basketball thread. So he has that going for him.

 

[sharksamardzija8345]

These scandals and dirty antics will never stop until the amateurism label is stripped from college athletics and athletes are compensated on the free market.

 

[NDdomer2]

Pretty easy solution to this - sell the number of the year every season rather than the number(s) of that year's popular player(s). Eg. this year ND would sell 17, next year 18, etc. If you want some variety, pick a couple other constants that may or may not have some significance to the school (eg. ND could sell 42 to represent founding of the school in 1842) and sell that every year, regardless of the player wearing it on that particular squad.

Ain't nobody lining up for a number 92 jersey in 2092.

How many kids are going to be begging Mom and Dad for that #42 jersey that's work be there long snapper?

No school is going to cut its sales down like that.

 

[snoopdog]

These scandals and dirty antics will never stop until the amateurism label is stripped from college athletics and athletes are compensated on the free market.

These scandals and dirty antics will never stop until the NCAA does away with competition and just gives everyone who wants to participate a beautiful ribbon.

 

[irishroo]

Ain't nobody lining up for a number 92 jersey in 2092.

How many kids are going to be begging Mom and Dad for that #42 jersey that's work be there long snapper?

No school is going to cut its sales down like that.

Bet they will if the other option is to split profits with the player depicted.

 

[NDdomer2]

Bet they will if the other option is to split profits with the player depicted.

So what about in 2020, that's still a players number

 

[Ndaccountant]

No I am not missing the point. Saban has options. He could coach in the NFL and get paid millions. Or he could build and maintain one of the most profitable sports organizations in the US and be paid for the value he brings.

Somehow you are getting hung on Saban. The guy you could realistically go after is Harbaugh. He got a raise to go from the NFL to the NCAA without winning anything.

But the scope of your focus is on .01% of the student athletes. The NCAA collectively loses money on all its programs. Just because Alabama is hugely profitable because of football, doesn't make South Alabama profitable. Yet there are hundreds of athletes getting a free education there.

College sports is far from perfect, but I enjoy watching it more than any other organization. And I am far from alone. It is extremely popular and thus guys like Saban get to earn (rightfully so) $11 million per.

I love it too, but that doesn't mean it's ethical.

The fact of the matter is that you have obscene amounts of money that can either 1) be spread more ethically among athletes or 2) be spent more efficiently on the true role of higher education in the country.

The fact that Saban, or Jimmy H, or Urban, or freaking Jamie Dixon raking in $3m as TCU head coach can be "justified" or rationalized b/c of revenue, doesn't mean it should be spent that way. Especially in an era where students are often left footing the bill with higher "fees" and are struggling to repay loans or make tuition. It's obnoxious.

 

[Henges24]

Can't wait for the protests on paying student-athletes to begin

Half italics, really.

 

[snoopdog]

I love it too, but that doesn't mean it's ethical.

The fact of the matter is that you have obscene amounts of money that can either 1) be spread more ethically among athletes or 2) be spent more efficiently on the true role of higher education in the country.

The fact that Saban, or Jimmy H, or Urban, or freaking Jamie Dixon raking in $3m as TCU head coach can be "justified" or rationalized b/c of revenue, doesn't mean it should be spent that way. Especially in an era where students are often left footing the bill with higher "fees" and are struggling to repay loans or make tuition. It's obnoxious.

Yes, yes yes, 10000 times yes.

And that is where the profits go to. Some of the money is funnelled into all the other unprofitable sports programs and the remaining $$ going into the general operating revenue for the university.

Saban is a cash cow for the University....not the boosters. It is NOT shady money going into general revenue....it is as clean as it gets. Same with all the other major college football programs.

In 2016 Alabama Football earned the University $47 million in profits. That money goes directly into general operations.

But the FBI investigation was not about general revenue's...and I am completely onside with ending this shady stuff.

 

[mgriff]

Sources: FBI HQ heard chanting, "WE WANT BAMA!"

 

[STLDomer]

Miami officially under investigation.

Sources: FBI HQ heard chanting, "WE WANT BAMA!"

Ironic. Basketball administrator just resigned. Here comes programs “getting ahead” of it.

The updates will start rolling in!

 

[Henges24]

Sources: FBI HQ heard chanting, "WE WANT BAMA!"

ND would be National Champions in 2012.

Not really, but we could count it like Bama counts theirs.

 

[BobbyMac]

ND would be National Champions in 2012.

Not really, but we could count it like Bama counts theirs.

Don't think for one second that I won't be doing some updating if Bama gets hit with 2012 related sanctions. I've been stuck on 4 NC's since I was in college.

 

[connor_in]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Omg who made this!? <a href="https://t.co/Atxz4L4uTt">pic.twitter.com/Atxz4L4uTt</a></p>— &#55356;&#57114; (@blk_tray) <a href="https://twitter.com/blk_tray/status/913162201489326080?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 27, 2017</a></blockquote>
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[mgriff]

Miami officially under investigation.



Ironic. Basketball administrator just resigned. Here comes programs “getting ahead” of it.

The updates will start rolling in!

Forde tweeted he's hearing Bama is next.

 

[johnnycando]

Forde tweeted he's hearing Bama is next.

Tenorman's tears are delicious.

 

[Crazy Balki]

Odd to me the FBI is doing the NCAA's job. How is this anything more than tax evasion in the eyes of the feds? At the same point, somebody needs to do the NCAA's job b/c they sure as hell won't (cough, UNC, cough).

10 small fish taken in with deals to fry bigger fish on the table in front of them. Some serious puckering is going on in some HC offices right now. Fed = jail time, not a cute fine and early retirement or move to another school or something to miss the mess you left behind.

To be fair, in the feds' eyes, tax evasion pretty much equates to committing mass genocide.

 

[ab2cmiller]

If Jurich is indeed fired, Petrino's buyout drops from 8.5 million down to 4.25 million. Finebaum thinks Petrino will bail.

Paul Finebaum: I believe Louisville coach Bobby Petrino will bail from football program

 

[loomis41973]

Would be a great fit at LSU.

 

[MNIrishman]

Forde tweeted he's hearing Bama is next.

gimme gimme gimme

 

[SouthSideChiDomer]

The staffer at alabama that just resigned was in the NCAA's rules enforcement office before being at bama. If anyone knows about all the rules that bama broke and could be convinced to flip, this seems like the person.

 

[NorthDakota]

define just resigned... like today?

 

[ND NYC]

yeah, Kobie Baker is the associate AD at Bama and is "Staff Member 1" in the FBI complaint per Cecil Hurt (bama beat writer).
FBI has at least one of the meetings with Michel and Baker both on audio and videotape.
Baker resigned (before his ass was fired.)

 

[STLDomer]

Collin Sexton had no business going to Bama.

Some of these are so easy to identify.

 

[BGIF]

Alabama basketball staffer resigns as internal investigation of program begins | AL.com

By Michael Casagrande mcasagrande@al.com

The web of the growing college basketball scandal has reached Tuscaloosa.

Alabama announced an internal review of its basketball program. Athletics director Greg Byrne also announced the resignation of basketball staffer Kobie Baker.

"Our review has not identified any NCAA or SEC rules violations nor the involvement of any other coach or staff member," Byrne said in a news release distributed Wednesday evening. "We have notified both of the governing bodies of the actions we have taken. As always, we will continue to be proactive in our compliance efforts."

The statement also said the internal investigation was launched after news broke Tuesday of the FBI investigation of college basketball recruiting practices.

Baker was an associate athletics director who oversaw "all areas of men's basketball administration," according to his profile on the Alabama athletics website. His responsibilities included "salaries and benefits, operating expenses, team travel, donor relations, fundraising and scheduling non-conference opponents."

Baker, a Tuscaloosa native, also previously worked with the NCAA as assistant director of enforcement. His job included processing information in cases of amateurism violations.

Baker was also the program's liaison to the SEC for compliance. He also spent nine seasons as an assistant coach with a previous stop at Alabama from 2006-09. Other stops included North Texas (2003-05), Nicholls State (2002-03) and Troy (2001-02).

Alabama head basketball coach Avery Johnson on Tuesday was asked about the bombshell news of the FBI investigation.

"When I saw that news ... obviously, man," Johnson said. It's pretty interesting. But I don't have any comments about it. I don't know the details or the ins or outs of it or what happened. It's not my place to make a comment on it. But obviously when I saw the news, I was taken aback."

The FBI announced it had opened a wide-ranging investigation that led to the arrests of four college basketball assistants. Auburn's Chuck Person was among those charged in the probe.

The investigation dates back to 2015 and includes payments between shoe companies and coaches to help lure players to specific schools.

This probe, which figures to change the face of college basketball, already claimed the career of Louisville's Rick Pitino. Less than 48 hours after it made news, the FBI investigation's tentacles have reached Tuscaloosa.

This story will be updated.

 

[Henges24]

I love how the internal search started AFTER the investigation started. So you're telling me it took you about a day to figure out WTF was going on inside your program?