Marcell Dareus/Eric Ramsey

[sAULTy71 0]

There's something really funky going on here.  Dareus takes a trip at the expense of an agent knowing doggone well that this is against the rules of the NCAA.  The cost of this trip has been estimated to be $1800.00.  Now we all know that he has been informed that this money must be paid back and he has been suspended for two (2) games.  We also know that when this money is paid back (to whom I have no idea), it will come from an alumnus and not Dareus.  Eric Ramsey and his "scheming wife" claimed they did not have enough money to pay for groceries and diapers for their kids, and they were helped out by someone associated with the athletic department.  There's no way that back then the total for groceries and diapers would have equaled $1800.00.  Would have been much less.  Did Ramsey get a 2 game suspension.  Nope!  But AU had to give up Coach Larry Blakeney, Coach Dye, TV rights to games, all bowl appearances, scholarships, and any chances for winning a National Championship. 

Sorry Mods and Members.  I know we have a big game on the horizon, but I had to vent.  The way AU is treated by the NCAA and SEC just absolutely pi**es me off.  We've become the Rodney Dangerfield of the SEC & NCAA.  And we deserve much, much, better.  So, I hope our coaches realize that this staff is absolutely what we would have chosen and not what we settled for.  And I hope our players know beyond a shadow of a doubt that they were chosen for this team and that we did not have to settle for second best anywhere.  There's no doubt that we will have a team this year that can set the standard for years to come.  All that remains is to do it on the field and leave no one second guessing.  WDE and JMO 

[AuburnEngineer 0]

Saulty....we  both know there is a major huge difference in dareus and Ramsey. Let's not kid ourselves

[sAULTy71 0]

Saulty....we  both know there is a major huge difference in dareus and Ramsey. Let's not kid ourselves

Jansterz, there is no kidding.  Breaking NCAA rules is breaking NCAA rules.  Your're right! Let's not kid ourselves. 

[Rickys Rants 0]

To the best of my knowledge, the agent has no affiliation with UNC, so how can the NCAA hammer them for his actions?

[sAULTy71 0]

To the best of my knowledge, the agent has no affiliation with UAT, so how can the NCAA hammer them for his actions?

Ricky, no agents have an affiliation with any team.  However, the team members know the rules and regulations set forth by the NCAA...they are versed in the rules when they join the team.  It is the teams responsibility to see that the players know and understand the rules.  Now, answer your own question.

[AU Counsel 64]

Not an apples to apples comparison.  Bigr difference in a player transgression and an athletic administrator/coach transgression.  Seems that what happened to Dareus is pretty fair to me.

[Rickys Rants 0]

To the best of my knowledge, the agent has no affiliation with UAT, so how can the NCAA hammer them for his actions?

Ricky, no agents have an affiliation with any team.  However, the team members know the rules and regulations set forth by the NCAA...they are versed in the rules when they join the team.  It is the teams responsibility to see that the players know and understand the rules.  Now, answer your own question.

I have no problem with the NCAA or the team suspending the PLAYER, but the Eric Ramsey situation was a problem WITHIN the coaching staff, not with an agent.

[RkyMtnTIger 0]

Not the same situation.  The AU athletic dept was giving money to a football player in the Ramsey situation.  That is not the same as Dareus taking money from an agent.  Athletic dept should not be punished because of a kids actions....unless they know about it.

[autiger221345162924 0]

I think it is interesting that the NCAA has made a ruling on the alabama player, but no ruling on all the other players involved from other schools.  The other schools (as did ala) are holding these players out, waiting for a decision, they are being held in limbo...but the NCAA has helped out alabama, they know when their player can play again. Even on ESPN, they made the statement the NCAA needs to let these schools know the decision.

The NCAA needs to treat all the schools the same....

[pauldingtiger 0]

sAULT,

  The entire Ramsey affair was never about the fact that they didn't have enough food. It was all driven by the mayor of B'ham and Ramsey crooked lawyer with some REC's in the background. Dye took the Iron Bowl out of B'ham and that ended up costing the city of B'ham and many other people alot of money. They found Ramsey and paid him off to cause all the problems.

[WDavE 332]

Things that bother me the most:

1. All along the story line was Dareus making one trip to Miami. We now know there was two!

2. We heard he did this to get away from his ill mother.

3. Originally, when he got to Miami and figured everything out. He reimbursed his friend for the ticket and got a receipt. He now has to pay back 1,800.

4. The original fairy tale had him never staying in the hotel. I refer you  back to the 1,800 dollar obligation.

Are there no reporters in Alabama?

[The SandMntTiger 9]

sAULT,

  The entire Ramsey affair was never about the fact that they didn't have enough food. It was all driven by the mayor of B'ham and Ramsey crooked lawyer with some REC's in the background. Dye took the Iron Bowl out of B'ham and that ended up costing the city of B'ham and many other people alot of money. They found Ramsey and paid him off to cause all the problems.

I posted some nice links about this stuff over in the CFB section Under the title "Why you should always hate bammer if your an Auburn fan." Anyone interested in the crookedness of uat, the backstabing that Auburn has had to endure, and how far is dates back should check it out. Its one of the many reasons I laugh in any bammers face when they try to whine about Tennessee's ex-coach Phil Fulmer.

[AUFan1 0]

Is there any reason that we need to dig up stuff from 20 years ago? The 2 situations are completely different. One is centered around who attended a couple of questionable parties. The other involved hours of tape, cash, food, and a whole host of other issues, including coaches being complicit in all of it. Time to move on....

[wiljam08 0]

I think the punishment for the Dareus infraction was consistent with what the rule is concerning the acceptance of gifts.  A somewhat similar situation occured with Mark Ingram and Julio Jones who went on a fishing trip and then had to pay back to cost of the trip.  The fact that the U of A was not tied to or represented by the gifting party either case keeps this from being a more serious infraction like in the Ramsey case.  However, the involvment of the athletic department in the textbook scandle leads me to beleive that the bammers got off lightly on that one.  They were charged with the second most serious infraction a program can be, next to total lack of institutional control.  The sanctions levied against USC were much more fitting.

[AuburnGrad97 37]

I think it is interesting that the NCAA has made a ruling on the alabama player, but no ruling on all the other players involved from other schools.  The other schools (as did ala) are holding these players out, waiting for a decision, they are being held in limbo...but the NCAA has helped out alabama, they know when their player can play again. Even on ESPN, they made the statement the NCAA needs to let these schools know the decision.

The NCAA needs to treat all the schools the same....

The most interesting, and telling, thing about this is how differently two top universities are handling this situation.  University of West Vance - Tuscaloosa sat back and waited on the NCAA (who I think is obviously thinking with their wallets and love of the Turds) to give a 2 game suspension, and call it a day.  Wow, he misses San Jose State and Penn State.

University of North Carolina, being a classy, top-notch institution, not unlike our beloved Auburn University, proactively suspends several players, on their own accord, stating that they are not the "type of players we want representing our university". 

I think this speaks volumes, and I have a very high level of respect for UNC.  University of West Vance - Tuscaloosa, however, continues to show that, as long as you help win games, you can do whatever you want with little to no repercussions.

[Lint 0]

How does a college kid who doesn't work pay back $1800?

[aucpe 0]

Actually, I'm pretty sure I heard that his family thought this might be part of the penalty and had already set aside money to pay it back just in case.

Whether that's true or not I don't know, but I'm willing to bet no one will question where the family got the money from.

[DyeCampAlum 335]

Two thoughts.  

1. There's no evidence Dareus received money. He received a flight, maybe a place to stay, and some food.  Those things are worth money but very different that receiving money or receiving something he could exchange for money.  He should have known better -- and maybe he did -- but very different deal.

2. Let's no go overboard in congratulating UNC.  Their stated reason for holding back the other players is that it's a violation to travel with ineligible players.  

[Tiger Growlin 0]

These two situations are totally different. Time to let it go guys. This was twenty years ago. Move on.

[Guest gkc81]

I agree the situations are different.  I also agree that the turds receive special treatment.  It doesn't tick me off because no matter what folks say, or what they do, media or otherwise, AU will always be AU, and the turds will always be the turds.  If the administration, coaches, and players take care of their business, nothing else matters.  That's one thing I love about the coaches, they emphasize focusing on what you control and your response to what you can't control.  The buck stops on responsibility and accountability.  WDE; let's dismantle the red wolves.