FBI and US Justice Dept. charge several college basketball coaches with corruption

[tornado]

"It is very telling that Pitino released his statement through his personal lawyer,
not the university. They are not working together on this"

I think Pitino's tenure at Louisville is nearing an end - they will hire Butler's coach and cut ties with Pitino and his entire staff,
then take a self imposed mini sanction - hoping the fed & NCAA don't penalize them too much

University of Louisville issues separate statement

https://www.cardchronicle.com/2017/9/26/16369216/u-of-l-interim-president-greg-postel-releases-statement-on-fbi-investigation

I am not happy to see this happening but if there's corruption and cheating at any level of amateur/college sports,
then I am GLAD that someone finally takes it seriously and pursues justice, even tho the NCAA is so sadly and pitifully lacking in that area.

[Da Coach]

It certainly is interesting that the NCAA has yet to release or make any statement of any kind about this investigation and the charges.

How the NCAA involves itself will determine how Louisville responds. So far, it is only a legal case, and probably much more will eventually be revealed. But once the NCAA finally realizes they cannot remain on the sideline, they may need to come out with strong penalties just to make it look like they are not the worthless and corrupt organization everyone knows they are. For everyone involved, this will turn into a CYA exercise.

Since Louisville is on probation for serious violations, they could face the death penalty. They will do anything to avoid that, but if evidence emerges that implicates Pitino, U of L will cut their losses and send him packing.

Auburn is in a somewhat similar position. Bruce Pearl has a history with NCAA penalties and cheating. If evidence starts to point to him being involved, watch for Auburn to send him packing, too.

[MacabreMob]

You guys all wonder why the NCAA hasn't done this themselves?

You guys all wonder why it has taken years for this to happen?

You guys all wonder why in the past the NCAA only slapped wrists of major programs when they did something wrong?

Guys!!!

Listen to your own questions!

MAYBE the NCAA has been IN on the deals all this time!

Hmmmmmmmmm.......

[Da Coach]

I do not believe the bribe money goes directly to the NCAA, but in a different way, I do believe "they are in on it". They have always known this stuff is happening, and they have looked the other way, refused to follow the obvious leads and tips they have received, made excuses for why they don't investigate, then do token sham investigations, and give slaps on the wrist to the big boys because they are what brings in all the money

For example, there was indisputable evidence of cheating at Kentucky under Eddie Sutton in the 1980's, including a bunch of hundred dollar bills that fell out of a package in an air freight office that Kentucky assistant coach Dwayne Casey had shipped to recruit Chris Mills. But the NCAA refused to investigate much of what was emerging regarding many of the other players on the team like Sam Bowie and Kenny Walker because they claimed they could not locate them to interview them. It is hard to under why they couldn't locate them, since they were playing in the NBA at the time the NCAA finally agreed to investigate years after the facts were known. Eventually, the NCAA levied some mild sanctions and a probation on Kentucky, but Eddie Sutton got off scot-free. They should have gotten the death penalty.

[Da Coach]

Just the tip of the iceberg-

https://sports.yahoo.com/fbi-brings-armageddon-college-basketball-just-tip-iceberg-184524346.html

[MacabreMob]

I do not believe the bribe money goes directly to the NCAA, but in a different way, I do believe "they are in on it". They have always known this stuff is happening, and they have looked the other way, refused to follow the obvious leads and tips they have received, made excuses for why they don't investigate, then do token sham investigations, and give slaps on the wrist to the big boys because they are what brings in all the money

For example, there was indisputable evidence of cheating at Kentucky under Eddie Sutton in the 1980's, including a bunch of hundred dollar bills that fell out of a package in an air freight office that Kentucky assistant coach Dwayne Casey had shipped to recruit Chris Mills. But the NCAA refused to investigate much of what was emerging regarding many of the other players on the team like Sam Bowie and Kenny Walker because they claimed they could not locate them to interview them. It is hard to under why they couldn't locate them, since they were playing in the NBA at the time the NCAA finally agreed to investigate years after the facts were known. Eventually, the NCAA levied some mild sanctions and a probation on Kentucky, but Eddie Sutton got off scot-free. They should have gotten the death penalty.

Bribe money doesn't go directly to NCAA.... but tv money does. They play along. It strokes them well to let the dogs play. And maybe side rewards to look the other way. Or side rewards to help some teams or conferences getting bids. Or side rewards to help some teams or conferences get better seeds. Or side rewards to hope to squash mid-majors with matchups that hurt mid-majors.

The NCAA is part of it. Won't be able to point finger at them or link them to the garbage that goes on. But they are part of it.

And maybe this is the beginning of the end.

Maybe this will push for the "BCS Schools" breaking from the NCAA and becoming basically "semi-pro" teams for the pro leagues in all sports. And they can then have their OWN playoffs and tournaments of only their teams.

Maybe this forces separation.

[tornado]

In just 12 hours the whole world - even people who don't follow college sports -
readily sees how corrupt college basketball is and how ineffective, how weak, and how WORTHLESS the NCAA as the parent organization is.

Surely there will be calls for the NCAA to simply disband since they aren't doing a danged thing to oversee and control college sports....
Just fold, disband, and allow the schools and conferences to regulate themselves ---

It would be a nightmare but can't see how it would be any worse than it is now...

Or better yet - just fold the NCAA and let NAIA swallow up the schools that are NOT cheating.... I cannot recall a single example of a major cheating scandal at an NAIA school -

[Da Coach]

There are rumors that Louisville is so deep into this corruption that has been uncovered by the FBI, that the University leaders are meeting to decide what actions to take. It is rumored to be a strong possibility that Rick Pitino will be fired, maybe as soon as today, so Louisville can appear to be self-policing (where have they been the last few years?), and hope to avoid the institutional death penalty from the NCAA.

Btw, Rick Pitino is still owed another $37,704,125 (not including bonuses) on his current contract-

https://twitter.com/darrenrovell/status/913031092768268288

There are a number of other schools holding similar high-level meetings to decide what to do.

[tornado]

...- which recruits will reopen their recruitment?
....
Auburn: five-star prospect E.J. Montgomery..

Auburn's Montgomery is the first to withdraw his commitment and reopen his recruitment
Maybe Illinois can grab one of these guys??

https://twitter.com/EvanDaniels/status/913037890598383619

and if a coach is fired FOR CAUSE then it is he who is considered to have violated his agreement and he is not owed a cent...
Pitino will have to negotiate a buyout since I am sure Louisville won't want this dragged into courts any further than necessary...


University of Illinois doing some preemptive damage control since head coach Brad Underwood had employed one of the arrested coaches at Oklahoma State
They released this statement but there are reports that people at Illinois are nervous - per CBS in Chicago - LINK
This is NOT the first Brad Underwood assistant tied to serious scandal - remember Antigua...

[bradleyfan124]

Bribe money doesn't go directly to NCAA.... but tv money does. They play along. It strokes them well to let the dogs play. And maybe side rewards to look the other way. Or side rewards to help some teams or conferences getting bids. Or side rewards to help some teams or conferences get better seeds. Or side rewards to hope to squash mid-majors with matchups that hurt mid-majors.

The NCAA is part of it. Won't be able to point finger at them or link them to the garbage that goes on. But they are part of it.

And maybe this is the beginning of the end.

Maybe this will push for the "BCS Schools" breaking from the NCAA and becoming basically "semi-pro" teams for the pro leagues in all sports. And they can then have their OWN playoffs and tournaments of only their teams.

Maybe this forces separation.

Or maybe this has the opposite effect of Power schools separating themselves. Maybe people will finally look at them and say " you don't represent college basketball. You cheat" Lets stay with keeping College sports amateur. I say give the Death Penalty to some of those schools involved especially Louisville. This is what the NCAA is supposed to keep from happening. So stop it!!! now!!!

[KillerB]

Official on recruit backing out on Louisville

http://scout.com/college/basketball/recruiting/Article/Five-star-point-guard-Courtney-Ramey-decommits-from-Louisville-108070851

[64NIT]

There are rumors that Louisville is so deep into this corruption that has been uncovered by the FBI, that the University leaders are meeting to decide what actions to take. It is rumored to be a strong possibility that Rick Pitino will be fired, maybe as soon as today, so Louisville can appear to be self-policing (where have they been the last few years?), and hope to avoid the institutional death penalty from the NCAA.

Btw, Rick Pitino is still owed another $37,704,125 (not including bonuses) on his current contract-

https://twitter.com/darrenrovell/status/913031092768268288

There are a number of other schools holding similar high-level meetings to decide what to do.

"Deep" doesn't begin to describe this. Read the following:

Rick Pitino, Tom Jurich Put on Unpaid Leave by Louisville Amid FBI Investigation

The University of Louisville placed head basketball coach Rick Pitino and athletic director Tom Jurich on unpaid administrative leave Wednesday following an FBI investigation into a wide-ranging college basketball corruption scandal.

Louisville interim president Greg Postel announced the decision at a press conference after Steve Pence, Pitino's attorney, told Phillip M. Bailey of the Courier-Journal of the move, noting Pitino is "effectively fired."

Mark Schlabach of ESPN first reported the Cardinals' decision to let Pitino and Jurich go.

Evan Daniels of Scout.com later reported David Padgett is in charge of the program "for the time being."

On Tuesday, Shachar Peled of CNN reported four college assistant coaches—Chuck Person (Auburn), Lamont Evans (Oklahoma State), Tony Bland (USC) and Emanuel Richardson (Arizona)—were among 10 people arrested by the FBI on "complaints that allege fraud and corruption."

"All of those charged today contributed to a pay-to-play culture that has no business in college basketball," Bill Sweeney, assistant director in charge of the FBI's New York division, said.

Meanwhile, Myron Medcalf of ESPN.com noted Louisville was identified as "University-6" listed within investigation documents, which claim there was an agreement between an unnamed Cardinals staffer, Adidas official James Gatto and others to pay $100,000 to a committed recruit's family.

Postel said one athlete was notified he is being held out of NCAA activities after the investigation.

"These allegations come as a complete shock to me," Pitino said in a statement. "If true, I agree with the U.S. Attorneys Office that these third-party schemes, initiated by a few bad actors, operated to commit a fraud on the impacted universities and their basketball programs, including the University of Louisville. Our fans and supporters deserve better and I am committed to taking whatever steps are needed to ensure those responsible are held accountable. But the FBI and the United States Department of Justice have come to clean up the sport and the mess made by Louisville and other programs."

The 65-year-old New York City native took over the Louisville program in 2001. He led the Cardinals to a 416-143 record across 16 seasons, highlighted by an NCAA tournament title in 2013.

Pitino also dealt with multiple scandals during his tenure.

In 2009, he detailed an extortion plot following a 2003 encounter with Karen Cunagin Sypher during which they engaged in brief consensual sex. He confirmed he gave her $3,000 for "counseling and medical needs" but was later told the money was used for an abortion. He said the woman demanded "millions" to remain quiet about the situation six years later, which led to her seven-year prison sentence.

In June, Pitino received a five-game suspension from the NCAA for a "failure to monitor" as part of the program's escort scandal, which came to light in a 2015 book by Katina Powell. He was set to sit out the first five conference games of the 2017-18 season, pending appeal.

Pitino, a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame, previously served as head coach at Boston University, Providence, Kentucky and on an interim basis at Hawaii. He also spent time as the head coach of the New York Knicks and Boston Celtics.

Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reported Pitino had "probed NBA teams on a return as a head coach in recent years," but noted there has been no interest and that it's "unlikely to change."

Louisville hired Jurich in October 1997. The former football kicker, who the Pittsburgh Steelers selected in the 1978 NFL draft, had filled the role of athletic director at both Northern Arizona and Colorado State before joining the Cardinals.

He oversaw the school's move through several conferences across the past two decades, most recently joining the ACC in 2014.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2735458-rick-pitino-tom-jurich-fired-by-louisville-following-fbi-investigation?utm_source=cnn.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=editorial

Note the link has the word "fired" in it. It's truncated here but, when you click on it, the full link will appear in your address bar.

[Da Coach]

Two 5-star recruits have already decommitted from Louisville because of this scandal-
Louisville has two ESPN 100 prospects decommit

http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/20837972/louisville-recruits-courtney-ramey-anfernee-simons-decommit-school

Pitino is put on administrative leave without pay, while the Louisville AD Tom Jurich is placed on administrative leave with pay. It is likely Louisville will soon sever all ties with Pitino.

http://www.courier-journal.com/story/sports/college/louisville/2017/09/27/rick-pitino-fired-louisville-basketball/705193001/

[Da Coach]

An Alabama basketball administrator, Kobie Baker, resigns in response to the FBI case announced yesterday.

https://twitter.com/darrenrovell/status/913191031881060353

Ironically, Kobie Baker's previous job was NCAA Assistant Director of Enforcement-

https://twitter.com/JeffEisenberg/status/913187197720829952

And University of Miami has been officially notified that they are under investigation by the FBI. The papers released by the FBI yesterday described a Florida University that was involved in the bribing of players, but did not name them. Now we know it was Miami.

[tornado]

Official on recruit backing out on Louisville
http://scout.com/college/basketball/...ille-108070851

Courtney Ramey (#13) is familiar to at least one of the guys on our team