Late Friday night, ESPN.com‘s Joe Schad reported true freshman running back Dillon Baxter alleged – by way of USC’s compliance department – that five schools had illegally contacted him on June 10, the day the NCAA released its report on sanctions that slammed into the midsection-and-further-south-regions of the Trojan football program.
Of the five schools – Florida, Alabama, Oregon, Washington and Fresno State (???) – named by USC in a letter to the Pac-10, two of them — the Gators and Huskies — almost immediately issued swift denials of any type of recruiting shenanigans.
This morning, we awake not so unexpectedly to two additional schools casting doubt on the claims.
According to Gentry Estes of the Mobile Press-Register, “UA spokesman Jeff Purinton refuted the report Friday night and said no one from the Crimson Tide had contacted Baxter.”
In keeping with the lather-rinse-repeat motif of this situation, Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times writes that, in a release, “the University of Washington denies any accusation of attempting to contact any current USC football player.”
Don’t know about you, but there’s something really stank/skanky about all of this. Can’t determine yet, though, whether the stench is coming from the denials or the initial accusations. A well-timed and conveniently-lost cell phone might be enough to tip the scales for some people, however.
Unprecedented conference chaos. Historic sanctions. Alleged recruiting violations involving major football programs.
Ladies and gentlemen, your 2010 college football “offseason”!
When, again, does the actual season start? Kinda hard to see it through all of the carnage.
This smells like Lane Kiffin again. LIke he did with the Tenn recruit!!
So, how would a school that is accused know that Baxter lost his phone unless they were in contact with him?
Well, this is getting interesting at USC isn’t it?
Can Baxter tell us the names of the people that contacted him? How convenient that he has lost his phone – BUT, phone records can be obtained easily enough.
What’s the chances someone from USC called him and said they were calling on behalf of “X” university?
Why would Alabama call him when they are loaded with running backs and really scrambling to get down to 85 scholarships? The same for Florida.
Why would Alabama all of a sudden want him when they previously never offered the punk a scholarship?
I hope the press really pushes on this report to get the details. Lets hear who contacted this kid. And if he made it up, he needs to be held accountable.
A lost cellphone means nothing!
The phone company still has the call log records.
Either the calls were made or they weren’t.
I would be skeptical of the person that used the lost cell phone as an excuse, since it is meaningless.
(maybe I should tell my cellphone provider that I lost my phone this month and see if they don’t send me a bill anyway with the call activity)
It lends credibility to Alabama that Saban and the majority of the coaching and support staff were at Saban’s charity golf tournament at the time the alleged calls were made. Smells more like Kiffin. If they find out that he is behind it or it is DB, himself, lying then I hope the NCAA slaps them with additional sanctions. Lying to the NCAA is what got Dez Bryant his 1 year suspension.
Interesting that the schools supposedly clammoring for this true freshman are three West Coast institutions … and two of Kiffin’s SEC nemeses: Florida, considered to have had the best recruiting season in the NCAA; and Alabama, coming off the NC and also considered to have had a great recruiting season.
Yes, I’m sure Saban and Meyer would chance bending rules in dealing with … Lane Kiffin. After all, they’re novices at this recruiting business. And they know Lanie is a swell guy who’d NEVER give them any problems if they were caught in a compromising situation. Of course, this true freshman was worth the risk … especially since they had every right to contact him and only needed to inform the SC staff.
Yep, this story rings all kinds of true. Uh-huh.
@John Taylor
How about a follow up on this story? I’ve never seen a story drop so fast as this one, sets off all sort of red flags that Kiffin or Orgeron set this in motion.