Hypocrisy is fun to watch

[RutherfordBHayes]

There was an NCAA investigation into a football team that had experienced an unprecedented surge in recruiting success which led to success on the field not seen in decades. This team wasn’t one of the “elites”, and the recruiting success was deemed suspicious by rivals. An in-state rival got heavily involved. They commiserated with the NCAA investigators. They fed the NCAA information. Gave testimony.
Sure enough, there were some infractions discovered which brought the NCAA to town. The NCAA rolled into town. And stayed. They spared no expense. They left no stone unturned. This excruciating process led to rumors, rival schools capitalized on these rumors, and recruiting suffered. A year went by and a recruiting class was bad, then another and another. Nearly five years of investigation.
Finally, the verdict came. There were several violations. Fans deemed them all minor. None of the major infractions surfaced from the rumors. But coaches were named. Boosters disassociated. Penalties assessed. Fans were outraged that the penalties were severe. Rivals were incensed that the penalties were light. Ultimately, through indirect problems, the coach was let go. The program had to start over. The new coach said they were glad they could put this all behind them, and move forward. But fans were angry. A lawsuit was filed.

That school is State. Jackie Sherrill was the coach. Rich Johanningmeier was the NCAA investigator. Ole Miss was the rival school whose fans hired private investigators to uncover violations. I think the NCAA charged us with 8 infractions. Hypocrisy is fun to watch.

 

[PBRME]

And they had players testify against us.

 

[coach66]

What goes around comes around and the shoe isn't fitting too well.

nm

 

[Xenomorph]

One of our major infractions was Doug Buckles claiming he was handed a $20 bill in a bar on his recruiting visit.

Long live Twenty Buckles!

 

[RutherfordBHayes]

I believe the most money uncovered was a coach rented grandmama a car for a Saturday to come watch a game in Starkville.

 

[Dawgzilla]

I think the most money was that Accountant in Hattiesburg who was over-paying Hattiesburg High School players for menial jobs at his office. That infraction was kind of funny, because the accountant told the NCAA that he was giving those guys jobs because he was a supporter of the high school team, and not as an attempt to steer them to MSU. The guy was technically a booster, because he had given $200 to the Bulldog Club over the years, but he was a bigger supporter of USM. He did all the tax returns for the USM coaches for free, and considered that his donation to the program.

 

[patdog]

That one pissed me off. They guy was good friends with Jeff Bower and I'm still convinced Bower pushed him to set us up.

 

[13thEagle]

That one pissed me off. They guy was good friends with Jeff Bower and I'm still convinced Bower pushed him to set us up.

think you guys are way off base with this one. The firm your speaking of actually had 3 state grads as partners. Not sure how much they may have given to the bulldog club over the years but they pretty much controlled the makeup of this area's alumni group. One of them still makes the rounds to high schools on awards day to give scholarships.
That firm did the compliance audits for the athletic dept for years. Rotated on to do the alumni assn and foundation audits.
The main guy who im sure the reference was to married (2nd wife, 1st wife died of cancer) to a girl who was a cheerleader here.
Most of what was mentioned in association by them was done by a younger staff member who kinda looked after the (2 that i know of) kids who had jobs there. That guy was actually named by the ncaa for getting a kid a job at sears.
No way can any of that group be considered more usm boosters than state. I good friend of mine worked there in the mid 80's and was told he attended to wrong school to be elevated to partner.
Also in fairness one of the kids supposedly over paid did receive a accounting degree from state, (never passed the cpa exam) but did work at that firm until about a year ago.

 

[PineGroveBully]

Sorry for slight hijack but the name Bower reminded me of an old joke I hadn't told in a while.

Back many coaches ago there was one of the highest touted instate recruits anyone could remember and being that all 3 MS school's were top 25 teams they thought he would get them to the top.

He takes his first visit to Southern and after touring the facilities Jeff Bower invites him to his office. He was listening intently but couldn't help but notice this bright red phone behind his desk. He finally asked what the deal with red phone was. Bower replied that was his direct line to God if he ever needed any help. The recruit was blown away. "And you can use it any time you want?" Bower replied, "yes but it's long distance so it costs me $50 a call."

Next he visits Oxford and makes the rounds. Cutcliffe also invites him to his office and sure enough there's a red phone. Same conversation plays out ending with "long distance so it's $50."

Finally he makes his visit to Starkville. Jackie makes the rounds with him then brings him to his office. While listening to JWS's spill he couldn't take his eye off the red phone. Jackie says, "you noticed my phone I see." Recruit replies, " let me guess, direct line to God but costs you $50?" Jackie replies, " No sir, here it's a local call."

Kid looked good in maroon.

 

[Dawgzilla]

I remember reading the MSU response online (this was the first time I knew of NCAA infractions info being available online). Obviously, I was just reading MSU's spin on things, and didn't see all of the NCAA facts. The guy named in the NOA was my nextdoor neighbor in the Freshman dorm, so he graduated State in 1986. I don't know where that places him in the pecking order of the firm.

MSU was the one arguing that, while he was technically a booster because he had donated to the Bulldog Club in the past, he should at worst be considered a booster of both schools. He had twice sent checks of $100 to the Bulldog Club in connection with buying tickets (either basketball or football), and a copy of his second $100 check was included in the response. In the memo line he had written "Not for Football or Coach JWS." I guess Jackie had mistreated a player from Hattiesburg or something. He told the NCAA he had attended "about 1 and a half" MSU football games since graduating college. The "half" was an Egg Bowl in Starkville he had left at halftime for some reason. He regularly attended USM games, and was a huge supporter of Hattiesburg High School.

I thought he was cited for actually giving High School players jobs moving boxes and things like that. Maybe I'm wrong. I do remember it was more than one player, and he claimed everything he did was just to support the High School, and not an attempt to steer any players to MSU or any other University.