CoachHal.com

UA: Mark Ingram was cleared for trip, not being investigated
Published: Thursday, July 22, 2010, 2:18 PM
Updated: Thursday, July 22, 2010, 2:38 PM
Gentry Estes, Mobile Press-Register

A University of Alabama athletics spokesman has denied a report today by TMZ saying the NCAA wants to speak with Crimson Tide tailback Mark Ingram about attending a May 12 party in Washington, D.C., involving recent NFL draft picks like Florida standout Joe Haden.

UA's response, through a spokesman, is that the NCAA cleared the trip in advance and is not investigating Ingram's involvement now.

Read more! »

Sources: Dareus says he's only Alabama player who attended Miami party
Published: Wednesday, July 21, 2010, 3:59 PM
Updated: Wednesday, July 21, 2010, 4:04 PM
Kevin Scarbinsky -- The Birmingham News

Marcell Dareus has told Alabama officials that he was the only Crimson Tide football player who attended a Miami Beach party that's under NCAA investigation and that he was unaware the party allegedly was thrown by a sports agent, according to sources familiar with the school's internal investigation.

The junior defensive lineman from Huffman High School, the defensive MVP of the BCS Championship Game victory over Texas, has acknowledged to Alabama officials that he attended the party in May, the sources told The Birmingham News.

Share ESPN.com first reported that the NCAA is investigating the party because it may have been thrown by an agent and may have been attended by a number of college football players from different schools. The NCAA would be interested in who paid for the players' transportation to Miami and for their meals and lodging there, which could mean violations of the NCAA's rules against extra benefits.

Alabama coach Nick Saban addressed "this whole Marcell Dareus thing" Wednesday at SEC Media Days.

Read more! »

Dareus may have attended agent's party

By Ivan Maisel and Mark Schlabach
ESPN.com

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- University of Alabama officials are investigating whether junior defensive lineman Marcel Dareus broke NCAA rules by attending an agent's party in Miami's South Beach earlier this summer, multiple sources told ESPN.com.

Dareus, ranked as the No. 7 prospect for the 2011 NFL draft by ESPN analyst Mel Kiper, is the latest prominent college football player to be entangled in an evolving NCAA investigation into illegal contact and conduct by sports agents.

"Our [university] compliance people are looking into it," Alabama coach Nick Saban said.

Sources told ESPN last week that NCAA investigators have interviewed North Carolina players, including defensive end Marvin Austin, about attending the party. South Carolina tight end Weslye Saunders also confirmed to ESPN on Sunday that he recently spoke with NCAA investigators about the same party.

The NCAA is trying to determine who paid for the players' transportation to Miami and lodging, food and entertainment while they were there.

Read more! »

Penn State Football: Breaking News - No White House In 2010
July 18, 2010 2:50 PM
by Greg Cohen

After dropping the 2009 White House game to Iowa, Penn State will have to wait for 2011 to seek redemption before 110,000 white-clad fans, Paternoville President Alex Cohen said.

Cohen, citing a high-ranking official within the athletic department, confirmed in a text message that the next White House game will be Sept. 10, 2011, against Alabama.

“The White House is a tradition that everyone can agree should be saved for only certain games and certain opponents,” Cohen wrote in a text.

Read more! »