Alabama's troubles might not be over

By Jay Reeves
Associated Press

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — A recruiting scandal that landed Alabama's football program on probation could go before the NCAA again based on new information made public in court last week.

Tom Yeager, chairman of the infractions committee, said yesterday the NCAA is evaluating claims revealed during a hearing in which a former high school coach pleaded guilty to accepting $150,000 to steer a prized recruit to Alabama. The plea directly implicated two former Alabama coaches.

Yeager declined comment on whether additional penalties were possible against Alabama, which in February was hit with scholarship limitations, a two-year bowl ban and five years of probation.

The disclosures appeared to be at odds with the NCAA's previous decision in the Alabama case since the sanctioning body did not directly implicate the Alabama coaching staff in any major recruiting violations.

Alabama was not cited for lack of institutional control, a violation that could have brought more severe sanctions, possibly even the "death penalty," which shuts down a program for at least one season.

Alabama is to play Hawai'i at Aloha Stadium Nov. 30, and also is on the Warriors' 2003 schedule.

The NCAA cleared former assistant Ivy Williams of lying to an NCAA investigator about the scandal after initially accusing him of providing false information about the case. Williams has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.

Former recruiter Ronnie Cottrell, who also has denied wrongdoing, was accused of taking a home loan from Logan Young, a wealthy Memphis businessman and longtime Alabama booster, to steer defensive lineman Albert Means toward Alabama

Williams and Cottrell are both out of coaching. Means transferred from Alabama to Memphis.