University of Alabama probes fishing trip

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Scarbinsky: University of Alabama probes fishing trip taken by Julio Jones, Mark Ingram - Scarblog - al.com

It's not a fish story. Close friends and University of Alabama football stars Julio Jones and Mark Ingram did go fishing together during the offseason. It was the involvement of a third party who paid for the trip -- Curtis Anderson of Athens -- that led the Alabama compliance department to investigate, as a precaution, for potential NCAA violations.
It's an example of how vigilant a high-profile football program must be.
Alabama officials said they've sent the results of their recently concluded investigation to the Southeastern Conference office, which in turn shares that information with the NCAA.
''The university is aware of Mr. Anderson and has taken appropriate steps," said a statement from Deborah Lane, Alabama's assistant to the president and assistant vice president for university relations.
''Mr. Anderson is not affiliated with UA. He is not a UA booster, fan or alumnus, and is not a UA season ticket-holder. In fact, Mr. Anderson told us that all of his family are fans of another SEC school."
Because Anderson isn't considered a representative of Alabama's athletics interests, it's not expected that the wideout Jones and the running back Ingram will be suspended from any games.
But no one can know for sure until the NCAA rules. Expect a decision before Alabama opens its season Sept. 5 against Virginia Tech.
Anderson can't believe it's gone this far.
''If they try to hurt those two guys," Anderson said. He didn't finish that sentence, but during a phone interview, he was clearly bothered by even the remote prospect that two young men he calls friends might be punished for helping him make a wish come true.
Anderson is the owner of Eagle Wholesale Supply in Athens. He paid for a fishing charter in the spring with Jones and Ingram from the Alabama Gulf Coast. Jones is from nearby Foley.
But there's so much more to the story.
''I didn't carry them fishing," Anderson said. ''They carried me fishing. I can't even stand up by myself."
Literally.
He said he has degenerative disk disease, among a long list of physical ailments, and has been through six major operations.
He said, before his physical problems began, he was an outdoorsman who hunted and fished throughout the United States and Canada.
''For seven years, I haven't been able to go fishing," Anderson said.
''I wanted to go one more time. I said, 'If I can get a hook in one fish, I'll be happy.'"
Anderson said the charter boat captain was reluctant to let him take the trip because of his physical condition. He said they were supposed to travel 28 miles out but made it only six miles because he couldn't go any farther.
He said the trip was possible only because Jones and Ingram physically carried him onto the boat and supported him while on-board.
Anderson, who lives in Athens but also has a condo in Gulf Shores, wouldn't discuss how they met. But he said he'd been friends with Jones, who is from Foley, and Ingram for ''a long time."
He said they became friends, in large part, because he didn't know they were football players when they met.
''When I was told, 'This is Julio Jones,' I said, 'Whoopty-do.' I had no idea who Julio Jones was. I've got my right hand on this Bible. I swear to Jesus Christ, I had no idea who Julio Jones and Mark Ingram were when I met them and they became friends of mine.
''I didn't know for weeks and months."
Anderson said he's simply not a football fan.
''I don't have nothing to do with football at all," he said. ''I don't give a dang if anybody wins or loses."
Nor have his conversations with the players involved football, he said.
''Every single time I've talked to them -- ask anybody that knows me that has heard the conversations -- I say, 'How many days did you spend in the library this week? What are your grades? You tell me the honest truth.'
''They're personal friends of mine. Julio and Mark don't mean nothing to me as football players."
Anderson said he used to talk to the players ''non-stop" but was told to stop communicating with them. He wouldn't say who told him that, but did say that he has spoken to an Alabama official about the situation and has not spoken to anyone from the NCAA.
Anderson asked and answered a natural question about his friendship with Jones and Ingram.
''How can a 19- or 20-year-old black person care about a 55-year-old white person so much?" he said. ''Did the Bible say there was black and white?
''I haven't seen that. The Bible says we're all created equal."
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The first "interesting" tidbit is the appearance of Curtis Anderson. Anderson owns Eagle Wholesale Supply http://eagle-al.com/. Other than that, can anyone explain who this person is and why he would take these two fishing in Gulf Shores, AL? According to Scarbinsky's article the unknown Anderson states that he has been friends with Jones and Ingram " a long time." Nothing shady about that except Ingram is from Michigan and moved to Alabama about 1.5 years ago. Also, Athens is at least two hours away from Tuscaloosa. Not so far in today's computer world but do you really think these two future NFLers are Facebooking with this 55 year old wholesale supplier from North Alabama? One who claims not to even be a football fan? In fact, this article is filled with what 1984 author, George Orwell, describes as doublethink. Claims like Anderson knew the two personally but never knew they played football. Or, Alabama officials asked Anderson not to contact the two players but he did so repeatedly and finally they all ended up on a fishing excursion together. How about this gem? Curtis Anderson has a degenerative disk disease but traveled well over 5 hours to the Gulf of Mexico for deep sea fishing, with two all SEC football players. Anderson claimed to be an "outdoorsman" and wanted to go "fishing one more time." I understand at that age it could be his last trip but facing such pain, misery, and maybe worse would you not choose a family member to attend the last hoorah instead of a stud WR and RB from Michigan? All illogical at the very least and hard to explain at the very best.

Call me jaded, or call me a hated blogger(Thanks, Tim Brando) but this story and the ridiculous explanations make absolutely no sense. Too many questions linger. Also, recall the same party line of "trying to be on the same page with Indianapolis" or "wanting to get out in front of something damaging" from the likes of Cecil Hurt and other spinsters before the last investigation involving textbooks? The one that landed Alabama with probation until 2014. Officials allegedly just dropped by NCAA headquarters last time to appear before enforcement officials. The real truth was proven afterwards that UA staff members were summoned and that will probably reveal itself true once again. Seriously, does anyone just drop by to talk about tax issues with their local IRS office? More examples of Hurt and his cronies trying to calm the masses include this little nugget, "for benefits valued at 100.00 dollars or less, student-athletes can repay the value to charity and continue to compete." You can see all of this at http://www.tidesports.com/arti...s-Ingram-matter. But, what you will not see is this link http://www.gulfshoresfishing.com/Fishing-Rates.htm that basically blows that argument out of the water. Sure does seem to be a lot of spin and stories for what most fans think of just a friendly fishing trip.
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Here is the real kicker:
From the Mobile-Press Register, August 23, 2009:

Sources have said the relationship between Anderson and Jones dates back to Jones' time at Foley High, when he also held a job at Zeke's Landing Marina near Gulf Shores.
Jones signed with Alabama in Feb. 2008 and competed as a true freshman. Legally, Anderson's residence in Gulf Shores dates back to March 2005.


Then from Sports Illustrated, posted today:

The 56-year-old Anderson said he's not a football fan and denied initially even knowing that Jones and Ingram played football.
"When I was told, 'This is Julio Jones,' I said, 'Whoopty-do,"' Anderson told The Birmingham News. "I had no idea who Julio Jones was. I've got my right hand on this Bible. I swear to Jesus Christ, I had no idea who Julio Jones and Mark Ingram were when I met them and they became friends of mine.
____________________________________

"Julio and Ingram were just taking a handicapped guy out for a good time. It's all part of the REC's new "Make a Wish" foundation."

 

understatement of the year ..... :yelwink2:

 

JJ and MI get their eligibility restored for the contact they had with a non alabama fan or booster, Curtis Anderson. I mean they were just helping this guy go on his last fishing trip, something none of his sons apparently were interested in doing.... Just can't get my thoughts around why this non booster, non fan also had contact with yet another bammer player. I guess if you have a relationship with one player you get to know them all, except you don't know they are all football players. What am I missing?


UA awaiting ruling on Jerrell Harris' eligibility | TideSports.com | The Tuscaloosa News | Tuscaloosa, AL
UA awaiting ruling on Jerrell Harris' eligibility

By Cecil Hurt Sports Editor Published: Thursday, September 3, 2009 at 3:46 p.m.
Last Modified: Thursday, September 3, 2009 at 3:46 p.m.
TUSCALOOSA | University of Alabama officials, who received a favorable ruling on the status of football players Julio Jones and Mark Ingram on Wednesday night, continue to await NCAA ruling on a third player, sophomore linebacker Jerrell Harris.

Harris also had contact with Athens resident Curtis Anderson -- who provided a fishing trip and other impermissible benefits to Jones and Ingram, resulting in them being ruled ineligible until the NCAA rendered a decision on the matter -- and may have received an extra benefit, according to a source familiar with the case.
It is unknown why Harris’ situation has not been resolved, however NCAA by-laws require student-athletes to be forthcoming in any eligibility investigation. No timetable is known for a ruling on Harris’ eligibility, which could preclude his participation in Saturday’s season opener against Virginia Tech.
Harris, who is from Gadsden, is listed as a second-string weak inside linebacker on the UA depth chart. He played in 10 games last season and made three tackles.

 

All I see is a rug.

 

Maybe you can take anything as long as you donate it to charity or pay back the value on the NCAA installment plan.

Alabama now awaits NCAA's answer on case involving Jerrell Harris (Updated) - The Bama Beat - al.com

This will not impact Wednesday's ruling by the NCAA that Julio Jones and Mark Ingram were cleared to play. Harris' situation is a separate case from that of Jones and Ingram, though it is also thought to be connected to Curtis Anderson, a 56-year-old Athens man who paid for a fishing trip involving Jones and Ingram.
BamaOnline.com has now confirmed speculation that the investigaton is focused on a laptop computer given to Harris by Anderson. A source close to Harris told the Web site that Harris was not able to produce a receipt for the laptop and has since donated it to charity.
Anderson declined comment on Harris' situation when reached this afternoon.
"Talk to my attorney. No comment. This conversation is over," Anderson said before hanging up the phone.
During the Jones and Ingram investigation, Anderson was deemed by UA to not be a Crimson Tide booster, fan or alumnus. But the NCAA did ultimately determine there was a minor violation with benefits obtained by Jones and Ingram.
That means a violation of Bylaw 12.1.2.1.6 of the NCAA rulebook, which outlaws "Preferential treatment, benefits or services because of the individual's athletics reputation or skill or pay-back potential as a professional athlete. ... For violations of this bylaw in which the value of the benefit is $100 or less, the eligibility of the individual shall not be affected, conditioned on the individual repaying the value of the benefit to a charity of his or her choice."
If the NCAA determined Jones and Ingram's situation was tied to "athletics reputation," with regards to Anderson, it is likely that same view would extend to Harris.
A true sophomore from Gadsden, Harris was listed on Alabama's depth chart as the second-string "Will" linebacker behind starter Dont'a Hightower.
UA hopes for a resolution on Harris' situation before Saturday's game.

 

gee, what a surprise. /sarcasm

what im really surprised about is no jokes over both "alabama" and "probe" being in the thread title. cs is slippin.