9-News has confirmed that LSU strength coach, Travelle Gains, has been arrested for violation of sports agent laws. This is a felony in Louisiana. The charges are also violations of NCAA regulations. It's unclear at this point how this will affect the football team's status this year.
At this point it's only charges so let's go slowly here, but it still makes me numb. In this country there is supposed to be a presumption of innocence until proven guilty. Maybe in theory but not in actuallity- today when accusations/charges are brought forth people assume the defendant is guilty and must prove otherwise. If not, I'd like for someone to explain to me why an innoncent person has to hire an attorney, get dragged through the court system, no recouping of attorney/court fees..etc. I hope this isn't what it has the makens to be. It could be a sad day.
And so the unraveling has begun. Skippys camp deal, strength coach, and after all the hoopla with the law that was passed about agent shopping. I know i'm missing another questionable incident here... BUT IT HAS BEGUN. Keep watch for players in trouble next......
The principle of "innocent until proven guilty" is one of law and exists only in the court room - not public opinion, which as you stated is often the opposite. As far as recouping attorney fees, that is an expense that comes out of his pocket. It seems to me that if his attorney has gotten his client off with an acquittal, it was money well spent, and the state (the taxpayer) certainly has no responsibility to reimburse him.
This is not good at all. These types of distractions and the negative reputation can kill a program. Not to mention NCAA sanctions that could stem from this. I really hope this is an isolated incident.
I am a very optimistic person by nature so hear me out. We may get out of this without too much damage. Basically, this is an assistant strength coach who, hopefully, on his own went out and found this guy in Houston and told him he could sway some players to this guys new sports agency. They strike a deal and we now have a dirty coach. However, if this turns out to go higher up, we have serious problems. Unfortunately, either way, we will be under the microscope for quite a while.
Absurd statement. My father and sister are attorneys- I'm not bagging on them, but you tell me if someone has to dip into savings and spend $20,000.00 + to be acquitted of a charge they were never guilty of that's justified. The best defense atty in the State, from Alexandria, won't even touch a murder case without $100,000.00. How hard is that for an innocent person to swallow. Have you ever heard of a request for a "Change of venue"? There is a relation between the public and the jury.
If the guy is an athletic department employee, it doesn't matter a damn if he "did it on his own". All it takes is affiliation with the university to be a NCAA violation. If the charges are true, there will be damage. LSU's best recourse is self-disclosure of everything they know and quick dismissal and prosecution of violators to lighten any possible sanctions.
