Is the probation pendulum swinging back the other way?
We all know about what happened to USC. We all found it hilarious. It’s the first major poll and bowl ban since Alabama early in the previous decade. And it as such, the anomalous nature of the punishment made it all the more awesome.
But in the past couple of weeks? A few more schools have been popping up on the radar. North Carolina’s professional level defensive anchor Marvin Austin was the most major player interviewed by NCAA investigators. And reports on that are that we could be looking at a major investigation for the Tar Heels.
And on Sunday? Reports came out that South Carolina Tight End, Marvin Austin friend, and key Stephen Garcia target Weslye Saunders is the subject of another investigation, and may have cost himself his senior season because of it. Spurrier says that this may be Saunders acting a fool, and I’m inclined to believe him.
But Dr. Saturday linked to a College Football Talk post that talked about the investigations of UNC and Saunders as a part of a larger investigation.
- According to a source, there’s the possibility that the names of at least two more prominent Div. 1-A schools could be made public over the next few days/weeks in relation to an NCAA investigation that has the potential to reach much, much further than its limited public scope right now.
It was a conspiracy theory as of yesterday, at least until the reports came out that former Florida Center Maurkice Pouncey received a 100k bonus from an Agent and was ineligible for the Sugar Bowl. And whereas the purported student-athletes of North Carolina and South Carolina may be the only victims of the net that the NCAA is casting, the Gators seemed to have turned a blind eye to it.
That’s what earned USC it’s punishment. And Florida’s one of those programs that has had the benefit of Tim Tebow being the face of the program the past four years. A good public face covers up a lot of private sins.
And there could very well be other SEC programs that will fall in this trap before this is over. Or not. But if Nick Saban takes a pro job, Bama fan?
I would worry about some other shoe dropping tootsweet.
UPDATE: And by 4 PM central daylight time? Suddenly Alabama Defensive End and 2009 National Championship clincher Marcel Dareus has been caught in this net.
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — University of Alabama officials are investigating whether junior defensive lineman Marcel Dareus broke NCAA rules by attending an agent’s party in Miami’s South Beach earlier this summer, multiple sources told ESPN.com.
Dareus, ranked as the No. 7 prospect for the 2011 NFL draft by ESPN analyst Mel Kiper, is the latest prominent college football player to be entangled in an evolving NCAA investigation into illegal contact and conduct by sports agents.
Now this is like Saunders and Austin’s case. The event happened in May at the Fountinbleu in Miami. So the National Championship is safe. But in terms of the defense? The defense may be without one of their few experienced players for a while.
Yes, this may just be a whole lot of hullabaloo. But I tell you what? If you’re a fan with a team that has a marketable prospect. I would be worried.
Looking at you @summerofmallett, looking at you.










