NBC News: "The FBI Has Arrested Several NCAA Assistant Basketball Coaches"

[Aargh]

It is possible that the coaching staff, the athletic director, the athletic department, and the President of a University could all be totally innocent and unaware of what the shoe companies were doing. It's one of the better plans for influencing recruits ever devised. There is plausible deniability for any who would be negatively affected, a cash payout for the players, and a reasonably good advertising investment to have the latest "star" player wearing your shoes. Even the NCAA benefits when the most watched teams have the best players and go further in the tournament.

While it's possible for all those people to be uninvolved, unaware, and totally innocent, that doesn't seem likely - not by a LONG shot. Proving the parties claiming innocence are actually not innocent is another matter. That's going to require documentation, such as a paper trail a recorded telephone call, or a shoe rep with little choice but to name people. If those do not exist, then it's unlikely that any penalities or santions could be imposed.

[pinstripers]

It's possible, kinda like Nixon and Watergate, Hillary and Benghazi..............but yeah, possible

[60Shock]

Obviously there were mistakes made by the first four schools the FBI identified.

Most likely, if the FBI has their sights on other schools, I find it hardly unlikely that they would have prematurely released this information, prior to collecting all the documentation they needed on other offenders as well.

Time will only tell though.

[shockmonster]

It is possible that the coaching staff, the athletic director, the athletic department, and the President of a University could all be totally innocent and unaware of what the shoe companies were doing. It's one of the better plans for influencing recruits ever devised. There is plausible deniability for any who would be negatively affected, a cash payout for the players, and a reasonably good advertising investment to have the latest "star" player wearing your shoes. Even the NCAA benefits when the most watched teams have the best players and go further in the tournament.

While it's possible for all those people to be uninvolved, unaware, and totally innocent, that doesn't seem likely - not by a LONG shot. Proving the parties claiming innocence are actually not innocent is another matter. That's going to require documentation, such as a paper trail a recorded telephone call, or a shoe rep with little choice but to name people. If those do not exist, then it's unlikely that any penalities or santions could be imposed.

With the Asst. coaches and top shoe executives who have already been arrested, and the FBI report, it sounds like serious prison time hangs in the balance. When years in prison are a possible result, scandals often unravel and head coaches are left. Shoe executives and head coaches probably have the money to pay for an aggressive defense and may keep quiet. However the Asst. coaches are not as financially endowed, and they are the possibilities to "sing" accusations when isolated by the FBI authorities.

[ShockingButTrue]

I also suspect that the NCAA knew about this and the shoe companies knew that the NCAA knew. If that scenario is true, then everybody knew that no players were going to be declared ineligible for getting steered to the "right" schools.

All day

[WuShock Reaper]

"How Adidas, Nike and Under Armour Have Divvied Up Major College Basketball" - Sports Illustrated

https://www.si.com/college-basketball/2017/10/02/adidas-nike-under-armour-contracts-schools-conferences

Published: 10/02/17

"...Here’s a (major) conference-by-conference look at which schools are under contract with each of the three major apparel brands entering the 2017–18 season.

American

Cincinnati: Under Armour
Connecticut: Nike
East Carolina: Adidas
Houston: Nike
Memphis: Nike
SMU: Nike
South Florida: Under Armour
Temple: Under Armour
Tulane: Nike
Tulsa: Adidas
UCF: Nike
Wichita State: Under Armour..."

Of the 87 teams in the 7 major conferences, here is the percentage breakout by the three major apparel companies.

15% - Adidas
21% - Under Armour
64% - Nike

[shock]

In the complaints, sports agent Christian Dawkins said a current Arizona player has already been paid and is quoted saying he is “friends” with UA coaches and can attend practice “like I’m on the team.”

http://tucson.com/sports/arizonawildcats/basketball/different-than-the-handshake-fbi-investigation-into-book-richardson-could/article_3f62197f-59a0-5029-8455-fe36a1c8fa29.html

Arizona could be in as much trouble as U of L

[pinstripers]

http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/20898350/roy-williams-basketball-coach-north-carolina-says-nike-never-helped-program

I think he's a lying SOB

[rrshock]

http://www.espn.com/mens-college-bas...helped-program

I think he's a lying SOB

Its only a matter of time

[im4wsu]

http://tucson.com/sports/arizonawild...6a1c8fa29.html

Arizona could be in as much trouble as U of L

From the article

If a school believes it has a potentially ineligible player, such as the UA player Dawkins said was paid already, it may want to determine as quickly as possible if that player should be held out. If he isn’t held out, and later found to be ineligible, that player’s team could be forced to vacate games or given other sanctions.

If the school doesn't play the player and then it is determined that the player was not involved or not guilty or however one says it, the player then might have grounds to sue the coach/university for harming his livelihood.

[another shocker]

a two year investigation by the fbi only nets louisville, arizona, okie state, alabama, usc ? no top tier blue bloods.. the schools that habitually recruit/sign one-and-done prospects?

[Kel Varnsen]

a two year investigation by the fbi only nets louisville, arizona, okie state, alabama, usc ? no top tier blue bloods.. the schools that habitually recruit/sign one-and-done prospects?

Agreed. Those schools are habitual line-steppers.

[OregonShocker]

From the article

If the school doesn't play the player and then it is determined that the player was not involved or not guilty or however one says it, the player then might have grounds to sue the coach/university for harming his livelihood.

Well, I guess you can sue for anything. I'd be surprised to hear a school declared at fault for holding back a player while under active investigation.

[1979Shocker]

If the school doesn't play the player and then it is determined that the player was not involved or not guilty or however one says it, the player then might have grounds to sue the coach/university for harming his livelihood.

Or the coach can just say he was redshirting him.

[1972Shocker]

Coach K weighs in with his thoughts on the state of college basketball.