When John Blake‘s name first surfaced in connection to the NCAA’s investigation into the North Carolina football program, South Carolina head coach Steve Spurrier labeled it as a case of the chickens coming home to roost.
“When you’ve been in coaching as long as I have, we know the reputation of almost all the coaches that have been around a long time,” Spurrier said back in August. “We all have a reputation, especially guys who’ve coached 20 years or so. It’s hard to hide whatever your reputation is.”
If the latest reports are accurate, the Tar Heels’ football program could pay dearly for Blake’s alleged actions that led to his gaining a negative reputation in coaching circles.
According to both Yahoo! Sports and ESPN.com, Alabama defensive lineman Marcell Dareus told NCAA investigators that Blake, who resigned his position as associate head coach because he was becoming a distraction to the UNC team, recommended agent Gary Wichard during a phone conversation this past summer. The Yahoo! report says that Blake made the same recommendation to to former South Carolina tight end Weslye Saunders, who was dismissed from the Gamecocks in the middle of last month.
The relationship between Blake and Wichard is reportedly at or near the center of the NCAA’s investigation. While Wichard has denied it, a previous Yahoo! report produced documentation that shows a financial connection between the agent and the now-former coach -- who have been long-time friends -- over the past three years.
The implication of the latest report, obviously, is Blake attempted to steer potential clients to the agent and was paid for doing such, essentially becoming a runner for Wichard. Wichard has vehemently denied that being the case; Blake’s attorney has also denied his client steered players to Wichard, as well as claiming that the money given to Blake was a loan from one friend to another to help out during tough financial times for the coach.
Dareus was suspended by the NCAA for the first two games of the season because it was determined he had received $1,787 in extra benefits.