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October 12, 2011

You mean...other than their confessions?

My favorite part of the news that Auburn has been cleared of any wrong doing is the part where the NCAA says the allegations against Auburn didn't meet "the burden of proof."

To clarify...that means a confession isn't enough enough proof.
More allegations surfaced in March when the four former Auburn players raised additional claims of wrongdoing in the program.

Raven Gray, Stanley McClover, Chaz Ramsey and Troy Reddick told HBO's "Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel" that they received thousands of dollars while being recruited by or playing for the Tigers.

They said the cash was delivered in book bags, envelopes and even handshakes. Ramsey played at Auburn most recently, in the 2007 season

And by confession...I mean four confessions.

Auburn is running circles around the NCAA. We are truly in the Golden Age of NCAA Rule Violations. Bear Bryant tips his cap to the Aubies. We all stand in awe.

PWD

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

How can a player be eligible to play college football when the player's father asked one of the schools recruiting the player for $180,000 in return for getting the player to sign with the school?

There may be an explanation for this but I haven't heard or seen it yet. Thanks to anyone who can answer.

And I'm looking for a technical, rulebook answer here, not an opinion trying to justify why he SHOULD be eligible.

Tony Waller said...

The official technical answer is that the NCAA couldn't prove Auburn had anything to do with the money (burden of proof), the athlete didn't know there was money involved (burden of proof, fairness/fear of being sued), and they felt they couldn't prove either in actual court.

The practical answer is Auburn has their house in order. Absent legal process, there is no way to track the money, as the bag men are quieter than any Tom Clancy fantasy character. You add that to the underlying fear the NCAA has over the next lawsuit being the one that destroys the organization, you have yesterday's result.

FisheriesDawg said...

I wonder if the NCAA ignored/discounted their confessions because they considered them to be disgruntled former players with an axe to grind.

If that's the case, can we please have another shot at the 2003 NCAA basketball tournament?

Dawgnoxious said...

Tyler's got it right. It was a terrible off-season for NCAA violations, and I think the NCAA didn't WANT to find any violations because it didn't want to have to strip another school of its championship. The NCAA is a voluntary organization that is just barely holding itself upright. And ascendant conferences might decide to band together in some other voluntary organization.

To be clear, I'll believe Auburn bought Cam Newton with his full participation and knowledge as long as I walk this earth. I don't know any Auburn fans who say they didn't cheat, but they all say no one can prove it.

Anonymous said...

So your father can shop you around and as long as the NCAA can't prove that you or the school where you matriculate knew about the shopping, then you're still eligible to play? Really?

Anonymous said...

So Auburn is cleared... but does that mean that they can still investigate the Newton family?

Now the best we can hope for is some Reggie Bush kind of situation where he gets effectively no punishment years after the fact.

Tony Waller said...

It will be interesting if the IRS looks into the tax status of the church. The NCAA might be a paper tiger. The IRS is less forgiving of those that forget or don't remember.

HahiraDawg said...

Why would the IRS care if someone with Auburn ties donated to the church?
What collusion would the IRS and the NCAA have?

Tony Waller said...

Churches are tax exempt entities. The IRS won't care where the money came from, but it likely would find out where it came from. That is if they get involved.

 
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