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SI Report Says Players From Alabama’s 2009 Title Got Paid For Autographs
by Larry LeoNovember 6, 2017

John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
Sports Illustrated’s Luke Winn has a new feature story called “Operation Stolen Base” that details a group of players from Alabama’s 2009 national title team, including Marquis Johnson and Terrence Cody, were paid for their autographs. Per SI...
Panezich says Johnson was paid roughly $200, but “not everyone took money. [Defensive tackle] Terrence Cody was probably the biggest. He got paid to sign all the team stuff—and then we heard he was interested in making some more money. So he came out and signed a bunch of mini helmets that he inscribed, like 2X ALL-AMERICAN, or 2 BLOCKED FGS AGAINST TENNESSEE, very specific stuff.” Panezich recalls that they paid Cody around $400 total. (SI obtained cellphone video from Panezich that shows Johnson, fellow cornerback Rod Woodson and tight end Colin Peek autographing items; Panezich says that Peek, as well as running back Ali Sharrief and QB Greg McElroy, signed but declined compensation in order to comply with NCAA rules. Cody, through his agent, declined to comment. Says Johnson: “I never got paid. I don’t know [Panezich].” Woodson could not be reached for comment. When asked if the school had knowledge of the signings, an Alabama spokesman said, in part, “As part of our comprehensive compliance and education program, we routinely review all situations of potential concern and address matters such as these with all of our student-athletes.”))]here[/link]. So what happens now?
(CollegeSpun)
quote:You can read the whole thing [link=(Panezich and Bollinger arrived in Tuscaloosa during winter break, when the football team wasn’t practicing, so finding players required improvisation. The first member of the Crimson Tide they say they encountered—and asked to sign, outside of a dorm—was cornerback Marquis Johnson. The two collectors had 40-odd white-paneled footballs, each emblazoned with Alabama’s logo, laid out in the rear bed of their SUV, and “[Johnson] signed a few,” Panezich says. “[He] talked about getting paid to do the rest.?.?.?.?We paid him up front and . . . he recruited everybody else to come and sign. He’d go into the dorm, grab a couple guys—$20, $30, $40, depending on who the player was—and they’d all come sign 40 team items.”
Panezich and Bollinger arrived in Tuscaloosa during winter break, when the football team wasn’t practicing, so finding players required improvisation. The first member of the Crimson Tide they say they encountered—and asked to sign, outside of a dorm—was cornerback Marquis Johnson. The two collectors had 40-odd white-paneled footballs, each emblazoned with Alabama’s logo, laid out in the rear bed of their SUV, and “[Johnson] signed a few,” Panezich says. “[He] talked about getting paid to do the rest.?.?.?.?We paid him up front and . . . he recruited everybody else to come and sign. He’d go into the dorm, grab a couple guys—$20, $30, $40, depending on who the player was—and they’d all come sign 40 team items.”
Panezich says Johnson was paid roughly $200, but “not everyone took money. [Defensive tackle] Terrence Cody was probably the biggest. He got paid to sign all the team stuff—and then we heard he was interested in making some more money. So he came out and signed a bunch of mini helmets that he inscribed, like 2X ALL-AMERICAN, or 2 BLOCKED FGS AGAINST TENNESSEE, very specific stuff.” Panezich recalls that they paid Cody around $400 total. (SI obtained cellphone video from Panezich that shows Johnson, fellow cornerback Rod Woodson and tight end Colin Peek autographing items; Panezich says that Peek, as well as running back Ali Sharrief and QB Greg McElroy, signed but declined compensation in order to comply with NCAA rules. Cody, through his agent, declined to comment. Says Johnson: “I never got paid. I don’t know [Panezich].” Woodson could not be reached for comment. When asked if the school had knowledge of the signings, an Alabama spokesman said, in part, “As part of our comprehensive compliance and education program, we routinely review all situations of potential concern and address matters such as these with all of our student-athletes.”)
Panezich says Johnson was paid roughly $200, but “not everyone took money. [Defensive tackle] Terrence Cody was probably the biggest. He got paid to sign all the team stuff—and then we heard he was interested in making some more money. So he came out and signed a bunch of mini helmets that he inscribed, like 2X ALL-AMERICAN, or 2 BLOCKED FGS AGAINST TENNESSEE, very specific stuff.” Panezich recalls that they paid Cody around $400 total. (SI obtained cellphone video from Panezich that shows Johnson, fellow cornerback Rod Woodson and tight end Colin Peek autographing items; Panezich says that Peek, as well as running back Ali Sharrief and QB Greg McElroy, signed but declined compensation in order to comply with NCAA rules. Cody, through his agent, declined to comment. Says Johnson: “I never got paid. I don’t know [Panezich].” Woodson could not be reached for comment. When asked if the school had knowledge of the signings, an Alabama spokesman said, in part, “As part of our comprehensive compliance and education program, we routinely review all situations of potential concern and address matters such as these with all of our student-athletes.”))]here[/link]. So what happens now?
(CollegeSpun)
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Whoa, and I know a guy that paid AJ McCarron $5 to take a picture with his family. The bama players that do this are total trash. The NCAA needs to come down hard on the entire Alabama football program for this, including vacate all of AJ McCarron's wins
Reply54 months


There used to be a suit store in the mall in Tuscaloosa that seemed to have a lot of signed personal memorabilia.. My question is, do people really think $20 is even close to what some of these players receive? Who gives af either way, CTE ain't cheap
Reply54 months

"Pawwwwl, theys a conspriracy aghinst the Tahd!! We ain't done nothin' wrong and innyways that ain't nothin' caws Cam Newton et AWBURN he took all dat muney Pawwwwl! frick them Awburn sumbitches, theys the ones thats behind this'un Pawwwl. You kin bet ohwn it Pawwwwl, or my kids names ain't "Bear", "Crimson" and "Saban"!!!
Reply54 months

I honestly don't give a shite. If outside sources are gonna pay a college kid 20$ or 30$ so that they or their kid can have a signed jersey or something, big deal.
How does this give a competitive advantage on the field?
21-0.
Reply54 months




So, let's get down to brass tacks... do they get to claim another national championship or not? 16!
Reply54 months


Please don't tell me you guys think this doesn't go on at every power 5 school.
Reply54 months

“And LSU still wouldn't have scored.’
Not Saban’s feeling; he felt their D-line was gassed and Charles Scott would not have been stopped.
Reply54 months

DJ Fluker received almost 60K from an agent and the NCAA ignored it. This is nothing
Reply54 months

Why in hell could this not have been in 2011 so we could have claimed the MNC
Reply54 months

Way to crack the case SI. There's only been visual evidence out there for everyone to see for like 7 or 8 years now.
Reply54 months

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