Gene Chizik has said that HBO’s “Real Sports” investigation — that aired last night and included four ex-Tigers making allegations against Auburn — was “pure garbage.”  He has said that HBO didn’t run comments from numerous people who denied the former players’ charges.

Ah, but HBO says it did give Auburn officials a chance to talk.  A spokesperson for the network says producers called the sports information department at AU and “read to them in detail” the allegations of a pay-for-play set-up on The Plains.  The school, however, chose not to comment.

Chizik said “absolutely not” when asked if HBO had contacted him for a comment.

Obviously there was a disconnect between the HBO, AU’s sports information department, and Auburn’s top brass.

The NBA is investigating a visit into the Kentucky locker room by rapper Jay-Z after the Wildcats’ win over North Carolina on Sunday.

Jay-Z, who is a part-owner of the New Jersey Nets, celebrated with Kentucky players after they defeated North Carolina to advance to the Final Four.

This appears to be a rules violation because the NBA prohibits team personnel from having contact with players who are not yet eligible.

A similar incident occurred in 2007 when Boston Celtics general manager Danny Ainge sat during a game with the mother of then Texas Longhorns star Kevin Durant. Ainge was fined $30,000 for the excessive contact.

As for Kentucky, this will probably be another recruiting tool for coach John Calipari. Actress Ashley Judd is a fixture at Wildcats games, and NBA star LeBron James and rapper Drake have both attended Kentucky games to offer their support in the past.

Jay-Z’s appearance certainly got the Kentucky players excited.

“I said, ‘Oh, that’s Jay-Z!‘” freshman forward Terrence Jones said. “We all gave him a handshake and he came in the locker room, and we just kept screaming ‘Jay-Z in the locker room!’ He congratulated us, just said he was proud of us.”

Former LSU cornerback Patrick Peterson issued a statement on Thursday regarding allegations that “Texas-based football trainer” Willie Lyles offered to send Peterson to Texas A&M in exchange for cash in 2007.

“I have never had any type of relationship with Willie Lyles and he had no influence on my decision to attend LSU, or any other school for that matter,” Peterson said in his statement. “He had no involvement with my recruiting process and I resent the fact that my name has come up in these allegations. I chose LSU because it’s a great school with a great football program. I never received nor was I offered anything to go to LSU and anyone saying otherwise is being dishonest.”

The allegations were made by former Texas A&M cornerbacks coach Van Malone during an interview with ESPN.com.

“A few days after the kid’s visit (to College Station), Will calls and says, ‘If you want this kid, there are other schools that want this kid as well. They’re willing to pay a certain amount of money, around the $80,000 mark,’” Malone told ESPN.com. “He said that was something we were going to have to beat as a university to be able to obtain the services of this kid.”

Earlier today, ESPN.com reported that a former Texas A&M assistant coach claims that he was told by alleged street agent Willie Lyles that A&M would need to cough up $80,000 in order to sign prized recruit Patrick Peterson.  Peterson turned out to be one of the nation’s best cornerbacks and kick returners after signing with LSU.

Now former LSU aide Earl Lane — who was the lead recruiter in the Tigers’ chase for Peterson — tells ESPN that he had no dealings with Lyles.

“There’s a lot of rumor and innuendo,” Lane said.  “But I believe in doing things the right way and on the up and up.”  He also said that he has heard of Lyles, but “if the guy walked right in front of me right now I wouldn’t know who he is.”

Meanwhile, Peterson’s agent tells ESPN that the player and the father have told him they know nothing about Lyles’ request for cash.  “They are both shocked,” said Patrick Lawlor.

According to the website AndTheValleyShook.com, Peterson himself spoke with Jordy Culotta of WNXX-FM in Baton Rouge via text message.  Culotta had offered Peterson an opportunity to discuss the situation, but the former Tiger responded:


No I’m good.  Cause that’s all it is yu know, but thanks any way.


Later he added:


All baloney.


LSU officials have admitted to recently paying Lyles’ college recruiting firm $6,000 for a DVD.  (Must’ve been a helluva good DVD.)

1.  Florida’s young offensive line is adjusting to changes this spring.

2.  Billy Donovan assistant Larry Shyatt is the heavy favorite to land the head coaching job at Wyoming.

3.  Georgia officials are talking about a new contract for hoops coach Mark Fox.

4.  This writer says UGA would be wise to spend cash to keep Fox.

5.  For his part, Fox says he’s “not interested” in any other jobs.

6.  Kentucky’s Josh Harrellson found new life through “suicides.”

7.  Brandon Knight’s fearlessness has made him UK’s Mr. Clutch.

8.  This writer — who has been pretty hard on Billy Gillispee and Bruce Pearl in the past — wants folks to stop mentioning the word “vacated” in connection to John Calipari.

9.  Joker Phillips’ Cats will have a lively spring competition between seven different tight ends.

10.  Now Murphy Holloway says he might not leave South Carolina after all because he doesn’t want to sit out a year while transferring back to Ole Miss.  (You’ll need to pay for The State’s story here… but we’re glad to bring you the gist for free here.)

11.  Former Carolina tight end Weslye Saunders says he brought his past troubles upon himself.

12.  Cuonzo Martin is bringing at least one assistant with him from Missouri State to Knoxville.

13.  Former Vol coach Bruce Pearl has twice altered Martin’s plans in life.

14.  This writer sees a lot of things to like about Tennessee’s spring drills so far.

15.  Daniel Hood’s move to defensive tackle has been a win-win for the player and UT.

1.  Alabama’s Anthony Grant will likely receive a pay raise this offseason.

2.  Bama and Wichita State are both on hot streaks entering tonight’s NIT championship game.

3.  Here are some Alabama spring practice notes.

4.  The new allegations made last night have Auburn on the defensive again.

5.  And they’ll likely bring the NCAA to The Plains again.

6.  In fact, Auburn has already been in contact with the NCAA’s enforcement staff regarding the new accusations.

7.  Stanley McClover’s high school coach denies his former players’ charges.

8.  Here are some Arkansas spring practice notes.

9.  The Hogs want competition at cornerback.

10.  LSU is now being lumped in with Auburn when it comes to alleged pay-for-play scandals.

11.  Before the Patrick Peterson-Willie Lyles story broke on ESPN this morning, LSU AD Joe Alleva had already declined comment regarding a former Auburn player’s claim that someone representing the Bayou Bengals gave him $500.

12.  Redshirt freshman Vincent Sanders finds an open door at receiver in Oxford.

13.  DT Shackleford is trying to resurrect Ole Miss’ defense.

14.  The injury situation isn’t good in Starkville.

15.  Chris Relf still appears to be the man to beat in MSU’s quarterback competition.

Auburn pay-for-play scandal?  Check.

Tennessee drug testing scandal?  Check.

LSU pay-for-play scandal?  Hey, that’s new.

First things first, before some imbecile types, “You love this kind of story,” know that we started this site to talk about SEC sports… not off-field scandals, allegations, accusations, tree-poisonings, etc.  So, no, we don’t love this kind of story. 

And please remember what site has been saying for months that the SEC is in danger of becoming the old Southwest Conference.  (That’d be us.)


ESPN.com is reporting today that “Texas-based football trainer” Willie Lyles — who is already under investigation for $25,000 Oregon’s athletic department paid him — told Texas A&M that “it had to ‘beat’ $80,000 if it wanted to sign recruit Patrick Peterson in 2007.”  That according to a former Aggie coach. 

Wow.

We’re not talking about a radio host making claims, folks.  This is a former BCS-level assistant coach.

Peterson, of course, signed to play at LSU where he starred before leaving early for the NFL this spring.  He is currently the #1 player on Mel Kiper’s list of draft prospects.

“A few days after the kid’s visit (to College Station), Will calls and says, ‘If you want this kid, there are other schools that want this kid as well.  They’re willing to pay a certain amount of money, around the $80,000 mark,’” former A&M cornerbacks coach Van Malone said. 

“He said that was something we were going to have to beat as a university to be able to obtain the services of this kid.”

Peterson originally committed to Miami before signing with LSU.

Malone is now an assistant coach at Tulsa.  Lyles and Peterson would not give ESPN comments for their report.  But Peterson’s father did speak, telling ESPN: “This is my first time hearing this.  This is a shocker.  It could have happened.  It could have come out of (Lyles’) mouth, that’s what happens.  These guys try to make money on their own, they are kind of like escort services.  That’s what I call them, escort services.”

Malone claims that he told Lyles that A&M didn’t pay for players.  He also said that he told Peterson — the player, not the father — that Lyles was trying to sell his services.

Patrick Peterson Sr. says he has no connection to Lyles, though he does admit to having talked to him at various football camps.  “It’s like Cam Newton, same thing.  These guys — they are trying to get paid.  You have to be careful who you talk to, who you deal with it.  I just know him from the camps.”


Question: How many LSU fans have spent the past six months claiming that Auburn must’ve paid Newton because his father was asking for cash elsewhere?  In other words, if he wanted $180,000 from Mississippi State, why would he go to Auburn for free?

Now, irony of ironies, Auburn fans will likely use that same argument in regards to Peterson.  If someone was selling him to Texas A&M for $80,000, why would he go to LSU for free?

And that, my friends, is why we continually warn against pointing fingers at other schools’ programs.  Eventually what comes around goes around.

Especially in the seedy world of college football and basketball recruiting.

Earlier this week, former Tennessee quarterback Erik Ainge opened up to ESPN New York about his lengthy battle with drug addiction.  Ainge said that he became addicted to pain killers during his senior season in 2007.  He also said that at various times he has been hooked on cocaine and heroin.

Immediately after the Ainge story broke, questions arose regarding UT’s drug testing policy as well as what coaches might have known — and ignored — during Ainge’s tenure.

WNML-AM/FM in Knoxville spoke with Ainge yesterday.  First, the ex-Vol talked about his addictions and the fact that he never got caught doing drugs at UT.


Jimmy Hyams, show host: “You mentioned that you were a drug addict your last year at Tennessee, is that correct?”

Ainge: “Yeah, I got hooked on pain killers my senior year at Tennessee. … It was when I broke my pinkie finger my senior year, I chose to play through the pain and, you know, the doctors they wrote the prescriptions just as they should have, just like they would for a normal person, normal athlete, anything else.  And, um, you know, a one-week prescription would last me one day.  You know?  And it wasn’t their fault.  Erik was the problem, not anyone else.  And once they said, ‘Okay, we can’t give ‘em to you anymore,’ … I was already hooked on ‘em.  And… I knew I wasn’t gonna go to rehab in the middle of my senior season when we were playing good and winning games and things were going well.  So I just kept getting drugs on my own.”

Hyams: “Were you taking any other drugs besides pain killers while you were at Tennessee?”

Ainge: “Uh, yeah, man.  I mean I don’t like sharing it, I’m not proud of it, but I’ve done everything that you could do, basically”

Hyams: “How did you not get tested for positive drug tests at Tennessee… or did you have some?”

Ainge: “Uh, I don’t… I mean I think I would’ve known if I had any positive drug tests.  Uh, I don’t know, you know?  I didn’t get tested that much, I don’t know the facts of how they test.  It wasn’t like I was a drug addict so it wasn’t like I was doing it, you know, every day.  So I don’t know if I would have been passing the tests ’cause I would’ve had, you know, clean urine or what.  But, I don’t know.  I just never got in trouble.  I guarantee you they weren’t covering it up.  It’s nothing like that.  I just never got in trouble.”

Hyams: “Did that surprise you?”

Ainge: “Yeah, I kinda wish I would have.  That might have stopped this… might’ve nipped this in the bud a long time ago.”


Ainge then said that his use of cocaine and heroin came mainly after he “got some money and moved up North” as a member of the New York Jets.

Asked about his former position coach and offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe — now the head coach at Duke — Ainge said that his coach was good for him:


“He kept me… I was up early every morning watching film.  He told me to dress nicer.  He told me to do my interviews nicer.  Told me to get better grades.  He told me to live better.  And to an extent I did, but I still did my own thing, you know?  I was living a double life… the life that Coach Cutcliffe saw and then I lived a life when I went home to my apartment.” 


Ainge also said that during his addiction to pain killers at Tennessee, he was “a functioning addict” who was able to play some of his best football and make good grades.  Now, trying to stay clean, he’s living in Boston with his uncle, Celtics GM Danny Ainge.

As we stated when this story came out, we at MrSEC.com wish the best for Ainge in his ongoing recovery.  It takes some serious guts to admit a problem as large as Ainge’s.

But you can expect more questions to be asked about Tennessee’s drug testing policy and how Ainge might have avoided detection for so long.

Last night at MrSEC.com Headquarters, the ol’ TV was tuned in to watch the HBO “Real Sports” episode focusing on college athletes and their lack of pay last night.  Interesting work.  Better than I had expected when I first saw that both Billy Packer and Jason Whitlock would be joining Bryant Gumbel for an in-depth discussion of the college sports system.

Here are just a few thoughts on the show… including why Auburn folks should be worried:


1.  The four former Tigers who claim that money had changed hands at Auburn — Stanley McClover, Troy Reddick, Chaz Ramsey and Raven Gray — seemed credible.  That doesn’t necessarily mean they were telling the truth, but they did seem believeable.  With many sports fans across the nation already thinking AU cheats (because of the Cam Newton story), the credibility of these players doesn’t help the Tigers’ cause.

But that’s the court of public opinion we’re talking about and that court has no real bearing on the Tiger football program.  The NCAA court is the only one that matters. 


2.  Hundred-dollar handshakes go on in every major college town in the country.  I have several friends who played ball in the Southeastern Conference.  The majority of those guys say that, yes, they knew which boosters to turn to if they needed some meal money, some cash for a date, or even a vehicle.  And we’re not necessarily talking Lexuses here, either.  When a player is given the keys to a booster’s used truck, it’s still a violation.  And that type of thing goes on all… the… time.   There are restaurants where athletes get free meals.  Bars where athletes get free admission.  Heck, one former SEC footballer told me that in his naivete, he once reported himself to his coach for getting a free tanning bed session. 

There’s no way to stop freebies or hundred-dollar handshakes.  There’s also no easy way for the NCAA to track down the culprits and punish their schools.  Boosters don’t often give receipts with their cash advances.  For that reason, the bulk of the accusations made against Auburn — and other schools — will likely result in any real trouble.  (On a sidenote, paying players wouldn’t wipe out this issue either.  Someone will always try to do a little something extra for their gridiron and hoops heroes.)


3.  The major concern for Auburn stems from one accusation and one accusation alone.  Reddick claims that when he “started complaining and insinuating that I was ready to leave any day,” Auburn coaches sprung into action.  One coach allegedly told Reddick that he had “some mail for you up in my office.” 

Reddick says he “followed him up to his office and he gave me an envelope.  I didn’t open it there, I walked out to my truck, took off. … It was about 500 dollars.”

Worse, Reddick claims he received cash-filled envelopes “two or three more times” that season and “it happened about six or seven times my senior year.”

And that’s the area of concern — if true — for Auburn.  The NCAA will have a hard time proving hundred-dollar handshakes.  But if an AU coach actually handed cash to a player once (or eight to 10 more times), then the school could really land in hot water.  If Reddick tells NCAA investigators — who are sure to ask — which coach gave him money, then a full-scale investigation is likely to follow.  That would suggest a systematic payment plan and that would override any statute of limitations defense Auburn might be hoping to hide behind.  At that point, it would be Reddick’s word versus the claims of the coach.  And the NCAA would then start digging to find other former Tigers who’ll say that they were paid by AU coaches, too.

Auburn fans can pooh-pooh HBO’s story, claim the chatty players have axes to grind, claim the players were paid for their stories (highly, highly doubtful, by the way) or even suggest this kind of thing goes on everywhere.  But if a coach really handed cash to Reddick, this story isn’t going to have a happy ending.


5.  While some sites are harping on the claim by Ramsey and Gray that one Auburn coach told his players to put football ahead of academics, we have a hard time believing that that practice exists only at Auburn.  Does it help the Tigers’ reputation?  No.  But we don’t see that as a major issue.  Many, many coaches would prefer their stars study their playbooks over their chemistry books.  That goes all the way down to the high school level.


6.  Never thought I’d say this, but Packer was the voice of reason on the show.  While Gumbel and Whitlock talked about paying players and tearing down the system, Packer came armed with facts — most schools lose money on sports, two sports pay for all the other little sports, there would likely be no women’s sports at all if not for football/basketball revenue from the men, and not every athlete can be paid the same because of those aforementioned facts.

Everyone agrees the NCAA system isn’t perfect, but finding a new system isn’t as easy as tearing the old one down.  Kudos to Packer.


7.  Bernard Goldberg’s piece on paying players suffered one fatal flaw.  For hypothetical purposes he proposed paying players 57% of the revenue made by their schools off of their sport (which is the percentage of revenue NFL and NBA players receive).  Sounds good.  Only not all schools make the same amount of money.  Alabama and Texas make more money off of football, for example, than Boise State and Iowa State.  In the current scholarship set-up, the folks at Boise State and Iowa State can at least compete with the Bamas and the Texases of the world.  In a 57% pay model, just how many recruits would choose to sign with a smaller-revenue school?  Players would be fighting to get into the biggest-revenue schools in order to drive up their own paydays.


8.  The revelation that a number of NCAA officials make salaries of $300,000 or more was eye-opening.  We hear a lot about the NCAA’s small enforcement staff (little more than 40 people total).  That small staff requires the NCAA to use an “example” type system of discipline.  If a school is ratted out and caught, they will be made an example of.  If a coach lies or tampers with an investigation, he will be made an example of.  The NCAA has no way to get ahead of the curve because it lacks an enforcement staff.  There only means of prevention is to really make examples of those people they catch red-handed. 

But someone on HBO’s show should have proposed this realistic plan: Cut the salaries of some of those highly-paid NCAA officials and use that money to increase the enforcement staff by 50-100%. 


So who were the losers following HBO’s broadcast?

* Auburn University.  The Tigers didn’t need more accusations and yet another scandal.  Whether the claims of McClover, Reddick, et al are true or not, millions of people heard them last night.  The NCAA heard them last night, too.  And millions more people will read about them today.

* Tommy Tuberville.  The issues discussed last night trace back to the Tuberville era on The Plains.  He’ll be fielding a lot more questions about HBO’s report than he will Texas Tech’s spring drills in the coming days.

* Gene Chizik.  Chizik was on Tuberville’s staff at the time of some of these alleged events.  The NCAA might ask him a few questions about his first stop in Auburn.  And if the NCAA can find proof that an assistant once gave Reddick cash, Chizik’s program could be spanked for crimes committed on his predecessor’s watch.

Auburn’s coach was angered by the report and called it “pathetic and pure garbage.”  “That’s not who we are,” he said.  “That’s not how our program is going to be run.”

Chizik also said: “It’s very sad to me that HBO is going to air something that, admittedly, they have no proof on anything.  What is disturbing to me… they interviewed other former players that said the opposite, and they didn’t air (them).”

“When I was the defensive coordinator from 2002-04, all the allegations that are there are on this particular show, I can assure you I had no knowledge of any of that stuff.”

* The NCAA.  No one likes the NCAA to begin with, so a report trumpeting the destruction of it will naturally be met with cheers.  Of course, few people realize that the NCAA is made up of college administrators.  The NCAA is college football and basketball.  If they are the enemy, they’re appointed by the people they rule over. 

It’s easy to see the impact of standout defensive tackles on the SEC in recent years.

It’s hard to believe Auburn would have finished the 2010 season undefeated without Nick Fairley. The same can be said for Terrence Cody and Alabama in 2009.

Who will be the difference makers at defensive tackle from the 2011 class? See below.


1. Anthony Johnson – LSU

Johnson looked like an NFL player when he was a junior in high school. Yes, there will be a learning curve for Johnson going from high school to college, but he has the potential to be a future first round pick in the NFL draft. LSU has produced several All-SEC defensive tackles in recent years. Remember Glenn Dorsey and Drake Nevis? Johnson should be next line.


2. Kelcy Quarles – South Carolina

The Gamecocks hope this fella was worth the wait. Quarles signed with South Carolina in 2009 but failed to qualify academically. He spent the fall at Fork Union Military Academy before enrolling in South Carolina in January. Quarles could make a difference right away and should also help lead an impressive Gamecocks defensive line class, which includes Phillip Dukes and national standout Jadeveon Clowney.


3. Phillip Dukes – South Carolina

Speaking of, Dukes was an important signee for Carolina’s class. Some people believe his decision was instrumental in Clowney deciding to stay in state and play for the Gamecocks, too. Dukes (6-2, 295) has a nice frame entering college, and he has the athleticism to make plays on the interior of the defensive line. South Carolina made a splash last year by signing tailback Marcus Lattimore, but the Gamecocks might have made a bigger difference this year with its haul of D-linemen.


4. Gabe Wright – Auburn

His recruitment brought plenty of scrutiny as he kept Auburn fans wondering if he might bolt for Tennessee at the last minute. Wright stuck to his word and chose Auburn, putting on a “Nick Who?” cap on signing day to stir up even more conversation. Wright was a big priority for Auburn for a reason – he can play. Asking Wright to come in and duplicate the production of Fairley from a year ago is unreasonable, but Wright might be in that position in a few years. That’s obviously his plan.


5. Lonnie Gosha – Arkansas

Gosha will probably take some time to contribute at defensive tackle for Arkansas. He (6-2, 270) needs to add weight to be a more effective interior defensive lineman, but he’s a good athlete who should be able to make plays. The Razorbacks might be able to use him as an outside rusher before he makes a full-time move to defensive tackle. Arkansas also signed defensive tackle Demarcus Hodge, who could help create a nice tandem for the Hogs in the future.