Did LSU Assistant Pay A Player?

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No offense to student newspapers, but I usually don’t link to them here.  The folks doing the reporting are — obviously — just learning the ropes and might not realize the implications that go along with what they write.  Therefore, student publications have been known to jump the proverbial gun at times.

That said, there was a jaw-dropper in the The Daily Reveile on the LSU campus today.

“LSU junior defensive lineman Akiem Hicks allegedly received money from wide receivers coach DJ McCarthy to transfer to LSU from Sacramento City Community College in California, The Daily Reveille learned on Thursday.”

Oh, boy.

Earlier this week, LSU athletic director Joe Alleva announced that the university was looking into possible NCAA rules violations within the Tiger program.

It was also reported that only one coach (believed to be McCarthy) and one player were involved.  Several sources had said that the issue stemmed from the coach spending too much time with the player during the recruiting process.

The player, it was believed, did not play this year.  LSU fans breathed a sigh of relief, happy to avoid any possible game forfeitures.

Hicks?  He didn’t play this year.

So McCarthy fits, Hicks fits, no forfeitures fits.  But paying a player doesn’t fit.  That’s far from minor.

According to The Daily Reveille’s source (who used to play on the Tiger football team), “It was one of those things they try to avoid bringing up, but everybody knows who’s involved.  That right there is a big deal.  Minor violations don’t even break the news.”

It is also rumored that McCarthy will likely join Larry Porter’s staff at Memphis.

Well, if this story has legs he might want to back off on buying a house in the Bluff City just yet.

More as it develops.