re: Why can't Auburn be more like Alabama when it comes to athletics?

Not even close. UK had a player ruled ineligible for getting paid to play a game or two in an amateur league.

2 years later Andrew Wiggins (Kansas) did the same thing for 6 games, and was permitted to play after he paid the money back.

So don’t act like you’re scrutinized while you have the poorest mother frickers in the world driving their new chargers around tuscalooser, and Tom al betar on the sideline with pictures of players flashing stacks of bills in his store charging for autographs while the NCAA adamantly refuses to even look in your direction.