Article about the gumps trying to get Auburn on probation

Here is an interesting article about the gumps trying to get Auburn on probation back in the 1950's. Bammers like North Alabama turd fan cry about Auburn fans spreading rumors about their school cheating, but the gumps were actually hiring private detectives to get Auburn on probation as far back as the 1950's






St. Petersburg Times

Wednesday, April 23, 1958



Angry Auburn Hits NCAA Conviction

Blames Sister School ‘bama For Latest Ban



By Donald F. Martin (United Press Sports Writer)



Auburn, Ala. ? Auburn charged yesterday the NCAA “convicted” it of giving illegal aid to a quarterback although the Southeastern Conference exonerated the school and three alleged witnesses refuted their evidence.

In a bitter letting down of their hair, two top officials of the nation’s major undefeated football power of 1957 also said rival Alabama initiated a new action against Auburn . It resulted in a second NCAA probation that will run to a record six-year bowl banishment for the proud Plainsmen.

And more trouble could still be in store for Auburn . SEC Commissioner Bernie Moore said the Conference Executive Committee would consider Auburn ’s status “in light of evidence presented in New Orleans .” This evidence has not been made public by the NCAA itself. Moore said in a meeting of the committee would be called as soon as it can be arranged to hear the evidence and “we’ll go from there.” Auburn also urged an early meeting of the committee to present its side.

Quarterback Speaks

The central figure of the case, 19-year old sophomore quarterback for 1958, Don Fuell, said other schools had offered him several thousand dollars but Auburn offered him only “a college education if I passed my grades, didn’t get into any trouble and tried real hard.”

Auburn President Ralph Draughon and Athletic Director Jeff beard talked with reporters and “let the ball bounce” by releasing reams of documents on the controversial case of Don Fuell, who will be a sophomore quarterback next fall. Auburn head Coach Ralph (Shug) Jordan was not present.

The statements and documents purported to show:

1.) That then Alabama head Coach J.B. (Ears) Whitworth asked SEC Commissioner Bernie Moore to investigate Auburn ’s recruiting of Fuell in December, 1956.

2.) That Moore in a letter to the NCAA gave Auburn a clean bill and accused a former Alabama assistant and an alumnus of Oklahoma A&M ? where Whitworth was former coach ? of making unsubstantiated charges against Auburn with “ulterior” motives.

3.) That the two men named by Moore, plus a third alleged “informant” ? Fuell’s father-in-law, advised the NCAA just before this week’s disciplinarian meeting in New Orleans that they were misquoted and misconstrued and wanted no part in the case.

4.) That Fuell, a widely sought prospect from Guntersville , Ala , was interviewed by a mysterious private detective who asked him how much “under the table” money it would take to induce him to switch to another school.

5.) That the same detective, masquerading as a salesman, gained entrance to Fuell’s apartment to investigate his standard of living.

6.) That the NCAA accused Auburn of giving Fuell a contract that called for providing him with an air conditioner for his home, a $1,700 motorboat and a new car or $2,200 cash his sophomore year.

7.) That Fuell has an air conditioner and did have a motorboat but that the financing was arranged by his father. The motorboat was sold at a loss because Fuell was unable to keep up the payments out of his savings from a summer job and an allowance from his father. An operation made necessary on his son by a malformation at birth was a financial factor, the documents showed.

“We are deeply hurt and deeply concerned by the action fo the National Collegiate Athletic Association,” said President Draughon. It is inconceivable that the NCAA convicted us on the evidence we presented. If there is any other evidence neither Beard nor I know about it.”

Beard said that Auburn does not plan an appeal. “An appeal must be accompanied by additional evidence and we do not see that any more is needed or that we possibly could get any more.” Beard added.

Deny Involvement

Other Southern colleges drawn into the boiling controversy quickly denied any involvement.

Dr. Frank A. Rose, president of the University of Alabama , “deplores the fact that its name has been dragged into the present controversy with the athletics of Alabama Polytechnic Institute ( Auburn ’s formal name).” “The University has taken no initiative in the investigation of this case.”

Beard presented a letter from SEC Commissioner Moore to the NCAA saying that Howard (Moose) Johnson, ex-Alabama assistant, and C.V. Richardson, alumnus of Oklahoma A&M touched off the case by alleging that Auburn gave Fuell a luxury contract.

There was “not enough evidence to substantiate the allegations against the boy or Auburn .” Moore wrote. “I am definitely of the opinion that Richardson and Johnson’s actions stem from ulterior motives and not from their interest in the good of intercollegiate athletics. Both men are guilty of violating rules and ethics by offering visits and bribes.”

Moore in Birmingham acknowledged he wrote the letter.

The gumshoeing with counter spy overtones was allegedly done by Dayton C. Hahs of Memphis , a detective hired through the Pinkerton agency. Fuell said in a statement issued through Auburn that Hahs visited him at Guntersville lat summer and asked him what he would need to switch to another school. Auburn officials said they identified Hahs by hiring detectives of their own who took a statement from him at the Memphis police station. In this statement Hahs was said to have admitted he offered Fuell $350 a month to switch schools.

Then, the detective was quoted, he went back to Memphis to report on the Pinkertons and later went to Tuscaloosa , site of the Univeristy, to report to then Alabama Assistant Coach James (Bubber) Nisbet. Still later, the statement said, Hahs went to Auburn to take pictures in Fuell’s apartment.

“No Comment”

In Memphis , Hahs said he had been hired as an investigator in the Auburn case but “I have no comment to make on my past job.” He added he just “happened” to be in the Memphis Police Station when he was reached to give a statement.

Nisbet, former Alabama backfield star who works for the University Extension Service but is no longer in the Athletic Department, said he didn’t know Hahs. He denied that Alabama had ever contacted a detective agency.

Beard said “I cannot and will not offer an opinion as to whether Alabama hired the detective. But he said Fuell received threatening phone calls before he enrolled at Auburn and for that reason was advised to come to the campus early last fall.

The third person said to have seen the air conditioner ? motor boat ? auto contract was identified by Auburn as Carl H (Cotton) Lay, Fuell’s father-in-law. Presented was a sworn, notarized statement by Lay saying he had been the victim of “rumors” connecting him with the case.

According to Auburn , the NCAA’s charges which were not detailed at this week’s New Orleans meeting alleged Richardson and Johnson said they saw the contract on July 27. 1957.