While a good deal of attention has been paid to the mud being flung by an Auburn Rivals.com website at archrival Alabama over the past few days, it’s been somewhat forgotten that Auburn was dodging its own muck late last month. Flung by former players, of course.
The NCAA, though, hasn’t forgotten.
Ex-Tiger offensive lineman Chaz Ramsey confirmed to the Birmingham News earlier today that he has agreed to speak with the NCAA about potential violations that may have occurred while he was a player at the school -- and before he sued his former school. Ramsey is scheduled to sit down for an interview with NCAA investigators at some point next week.
Stanley McClover, another former Tiger player, has already spoken to NCAA investigators regarding claims he made during a March 30 appearance on the HBO series Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel.
McClover and Ramsey, along with fellow former Tigers Troy Reddick and Raven Gray, claimed during the special that they were the recipients of, among other things, so-called “money handshakes” from people they identified as AU boosters. When asked to name names by the NCAA, McClover refused to finger any individual. Ramsey was asked by the News if he knew the names of boosters or coaches who provided him cash.
“I may,” Ramsey said, without elaborating on whether he will name names during his sitdown with the NCAA.
The claims made by McClover and Reddick would fall outside of the NCAA’s normal four-year statute of limitations. However, the claims made by Ramsey and Gray would not, and would be considered NCAA violations if proven. It could also open the door for the NCAA to consider the claims made by the other two players if “the enforcement staff can determine there’s a pattern of willful intent to violate the rules.”
At this point in time, it’s unclear whether either Reddick or Gray have spoken to, or have any plans to speak to, the NCAA.