The Wiz of Odds

Saban Joins Crusade Against Recruiting Fan Sites

Nick Saban, Ron Zook and Steve Spurrier have something in common. They all have a problem with recruiting fan sites.

The Alabama coach says some "reporters" for the sites have been passing along incorrect and potentially damaging information to 2010 recruits about the impact of NCAA sanctions on the Crimson Tide program.

"That should be addressed by somebody and should be brought to bear," Saban said. "If people are just covering recruiting with honesty and integrity, [there's no problem]. But all those guys that work out there for [recruiting sites] are for the school. Everybody roots for a team. And they get information for a team."

Saban did not name names, but as Ian Rapoport of the Birmingham News writes, reporters for Rivals and Scout must sign a code of ethics when they are hired as a way of ensuring integrity in reporting.

"If reporters appear to be assisting a school in recruiting, there is a possibility they may be classified as boosters [or 'representatives of athletic interests'] by the NCAA. If that happens, they would be prohibited by NCAA bylaws from calling a prospective recruit or members of his family."

Rolled Tide

A look at coverage surrounding Alabama's lastest run-in with the NCAA that resulted in 16 Crimson Tide teams being put on probation for three years:

NCAA Throws the (Text)Book at Alabama

Alabama must vacate all football victories in 2005-2007 that included players involved in violations of textbook disbursement policy, Ian R. Rapoport of the Birmingham News reports.

University officials were informed of the NCAA ruling Wednesday and a public announcement will be made today. The number of victories will be at least 10 but will not include the Crimson Tide's 2007 victory over Tennessee or its victory over Colorado in the Independence Bowl.

Alabama's New Promotional Commercial

The Crimson Tide unveiled a new commercial during Saturday's spring scrimmage. "At some places they play football. At Alabama, we live it."

And at some places, the coach cashes in with commercials for the failing auto industry. After the jump.

Maybe Logan Young Wasn't Such a Bad Guy

It has been three years since the death of Logan Young, the Alabama booster who — before his untimely death — was found guilty in federal court of "conspiracy to commit racketeering" and "crossing state lines to commit racketeering," both felonies. He was facing six months in prison.

But did Young actually commit a crime, or merely violate the recruiting rules of the NCAA?

William Anderson and Candice Jackson raise the question in a lengthy piece at Reason.com.

They write: "The conviction of Logan Young as 'the first college sports booster sentenced to prison essentially for busting NCAA rules' [in the words of ESPN.com’s Mike Fish] is just one example of a disturbing trend: the federal criminalization of private rule breaking in the world of sports. Prosecutors are taking advantage of the drastic post-1970 expansion of the federal criminal code to conduct legal shaming exercises against notorious sporting figures, often using charges that are tangential at best to the behavior that sparked investigative interest in the first place.

"The results are a sobering reminder of just how little restraint remains on federal power when investigators set their sights on popular celebrity targets accused of unpopular rule breaking."

Cheaters

Getting caught up after a virus slowed our progress over the weekend. ...

We appear to have a winner in the Joe Paterno-Bobby Bowden sweepstakes for most victories by a Division I-A coach. The NCAA says Florida State must vacate up to 14 victories that occurred during a massive academic-fraud scandal that involved everyone this side of Myron Rolle. For those keeping score at home, Bowden trails Paterno, 383-382. Bowden is 79 and Paterno 82, and taking 14 victories from Bowden would seemingly clinch it for Paterno.