Loss of eligibility

[UA DJ]

http://www.rolltide.com/Mens%20Basketball/6781.asp

What do you think? Pretty vague explanation so far, so it's hard for me to judge. Williams has been with the team a LONG time, so why is this just coming out now? Fourteen games seems like a lot, depending on the situation.

I guess we have to wait and see what comes out of the Winston investigation.

[This message has been edited by UA DJ (edited October 30, 2002).]

 

[RTRinNC]

The Lucky Williams situation is a story that reads like a "whodoneit" novel, most particularly how he ended up in the US to begin with. I can tell you that it was not because he was a tourist, and decided to stay. Last Spring, I became curious as how a player from Nigeria came to Bama (as most of you know, I follow bball recruiting fairly closely). To my knowledge, Lucky is the first foreign born player to come to Bama. I did a good bit of research, and ended up talking, by phone, to an investigative reporter in NJ, who originally broke the story about Lucky and other foreign players. I submitted an article about Lucky to TideFans in August. I doubted it would be published then, and definitely don't think it will be now. I certainly have no problem with that decision.

Now, in the midst of recent events, I will offer my opinion, based on a good deal of digging: UA did NOT violate any NCAA rule, or even moral standard, concerning Williams. I believed six months ago, and I do today, that Lucky was a victim of opportunists who sought to gain financially from his talent as a foreign basketball player. Mark and Bama gave Lucky a chance to fulfill a dream...live in a free country, without civil war and genocide, and play the game he loves. IMO, there is no coach in the country who plays more by the rules than Mark.

RTR!!!

 

[UA DJ]

Check out this article that explains Lucky's situation as well as other Nigerian players.


http://apse.dallasnews.com/contest/2001/writing/over250.enterprise.second2.asp

 

[RTRinNC]

DJ, that's part of it, not all, by a long shot. But it does hit the "theme". I spent two hours on the phone with a reporter in NJ...mostly saying "you gotta be kiddin'".

RTR!!!

 

[RTRinNC]

KW's academics were in doubt from day one, no matter where he went. Just have to see what happens with this one.

RTR!!!

 

[72tide]

Guys,

Is this another NCAA up the rear deal? I was looking to basketball to be my "antibowlban."
Besides, the only sport I like better than BAMA football is BAMA basketball. Should I be worried?

 

[SCrammerjammer]

This sounds like, "OK, let's wait and see. What will be will be."

On TI, they are splitting a gut over this issue saying he was rooked last year over a bogus clearance and now this.

This does seem a little late coming. What gives?

 

[RTRinNC]

When it comes to the NCAA, absolutely nothing would surprise me anymore.

If you haven't seen it, Cecil weighed in on the situations in this morning's "Tuscaloosa News".

http://www.tidesports.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?Site=TL&Date=20021031&Category=NEWS&ArtNo=210310337&Ref=AR&Profile=1011

Hopefully come next April when we are in the Superdome, this will be no more than a little bump in the road.

RTR!!!