Alabama football faces 3-year probation, forfeits

[Poundtherock]

Credit[s]: The Associated Press

Published: June 11, 2009

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The NCAA reportedly will place Alabama's football program on three years of probation and strip it of at least 10 wins for violations of textbook disbursement policy.

Several media outlets reported Thursday that the university will have to forfeit wins from the 2006 and 2007 football seasons that included players who obtained free textbooks for other students. They cited unnamed sources.

Spokesmen for the university and the NCAA did not immediately return calls, and no news conference has been announced.

The Tuscaloosa News, The Birmingham News and the Mobile Press-Register reported that Alabama would not lose any football scholarships.

The Birmingham News said other sports would face stiffer penalties.

Ouch! Ouch! Ouch!

[Senser81]

"that included players who obtained free textbooks for other students."

Of course, because what use would any SEC player have for a textbook?

[killgod]

"that included players who obtained free textbooks for other students."

Of course, because what use would any SEC player have for a textbook?

cue obvious joke number 1.

[packersfan4eva]

this is the 4th time in 14 years the ncaa has put sanctions on the alabama football program. uh oh......

[longhornfan]

If I got a free textbook I'd consider that a hook-up.

But these players were probably selling them for a lot of extra cash.

[Sportsbuck]

Nick Saban is finding out that karma is a real bitch, the hard way.

[Poundtherock]

Updated:

The university identified the seven as "intentional wrongdoers."
The NCAA said that 201 athletes in the 16 sports, including men's basketball, obtained "impermissible benefits" by using their scholarships to obtain free textbooks for other students. It also found the university guilty of "failure to monitor."

The university was ordered to pay a $43,900 fine, close to the total value of the books.

Alabama identified 22 of the athletes as "intentional wrongdoers" who knew they were receiving improper benefits. Fifteen were members of the women's track and field programs who acquired textbooks and materials of value greater than $100 for girlfriends, friends and other student-athletes. The four biggest offenders in dollar value were football players, who received from $2,714 to $3,947 in improper benefits.

The other sports hit with probation were softball, baseball, gymnastics, women's basketball, soccer, volleyball and both the men's and women's teams in golf, swimming, tennis and track and field.

The university is a repeat violator since the program was placed on five years probation in Feb. 2002, when it was also under the five-year window for basketball violations.

Forcing Alabama to vacate the wins, instead of forfeitures, means the opponents who lost those games won't be allowed to change their own records to reflect a victory.

The university uncovered the violations after an Alabama Supply Store employee realized that an athlete had more than $1,600 in charges for the fall semester of 2007 and alerted university officials. Athletes get free textbooks with their scholarship, but some were accused of getting additional textbooks for other students.

The university has said none of the textbooks or materials were used for profit or to get items not related to academics, and that the athletes involved who still have eligibility remaining have had to pay restitution.

Hell, they were just getting off one 5-year probation from 2002!

[DSpydr84]

Roll Tide baby.

[Sportsbuck]

Please, this won't hurt him one bit.

Forfeiting 10 games doesn't hurt Nick Saban, especially with his ego?

[padman59]

Serious question: Why do people hate Saban so much? I've never understood why people are so down on him.

[Prodigal Son]

Forfeiting 10 games doesn't hurt Nick Saban, especially with his ego?

How does losing wins before his tenure affect him?

[Senser81]

Serious question: Why do people hate Saban so much? I've never understood why people are so down on him.

Better question...why would anyone like Nick Saban?

[Sportsbuck]

He wasn't coaching the Tide at that time

How does losing wins before his tenure affect him?

Saban's first year as Alabama's coach was 2007, and if you look at the 1st post you can see they will have to forfeit wins from the 2007 season.

[padman59]

Better question...why would anyone like Nick Saban?

I don't mean to imply I like the guy (I'm ambivalent on the matter), but my question remains.

[Senser81]

I don't mean to imply I like the guy (I'm ambivalent on the matter), but my question remains.

I've never really been a fan of either LSU or Alabama, I think Saban's teams play ugly (but effective) football, I think Saban is a cheater who is completely devoid of personality, and I think he needs to have a significant edge in talent in order to win games. Those are my reasons for not liking the guy.