UA, NCAA meet about textbook scandal

TUSCALOOSA | A contingent from the University of Alabama, including Director of Athletics Mal Moore and Compliance Director Chris King, met with National Collegiate Athletic Association officials Wednesday in Indianapolis to update them on the status of the school’s investigation into textbook disbursement.

The school did not file a report with the governing body, and all indications are that five football players ­— junior center Antoine Caldwell, sophomore running back Glen Coffee, junior guard Marlon Davis, and sophomore defensive backs Marquis Johnson and Carlos Rogers — will not play Saturday’s game against No. 3 LSU.

“What we went up there for had nothing to do with Saturday’s game,” Moore said after returning from the one-day trip.

Alabama’s investigation, which includes looking into every athlete in every sport from the past two years, in addition to the current academic year, will continue. No timetable exists for its completion, and no other athletes have been implicated.

“I don’t know anything,” said football coach Nick Saban, who also celebrated his 56th birthday Wednesday. “We’re not trying to keep anything from anybody.

“You know, guys, that’s not something I’m good at. I don’t think I should be the spokesperson for that stuff anyway. I think our administration is handling it, working through it, trying to do it the right way. If they tell me, I’ll tell you, but I think they’ll tell you when they know, or we’ll tell you when we know.”

The five players were suspended prior to the Oct. 20 Tennessee game for violating “institutional policy involving impermissible receipt of books.”

All have been allowed to practice but have been working with the scout teams.

“If you don’t know if a guy can play, it’s like he’s injured,” said Saban, later adding, “We have to hope for the best and prepare for the worst, if that makes sense.”

Sophomore Evan Cardwell is expected to start again at center, with junior B.J. Stabler continuing to replace Davis at guard. Freshmen offensive linemen Taylor Pharr and David Ross, among others, have been getting extra reps with the second unit.

Saban indicated that either Jimmy Johns or Jonathan Lowe, who is coming off an ankle injury, would probably move up to third on the depth chart at running back.

Alabama’s probation and repeat-violator status with the NCAA expired on Feb. 1.

Its most recent sanctions stemmed from a high-profile recruiting scandal that resulted in 22 penalties (12 of them self-imposed), and allegations that booster Logan Young, a wealthy Memphis businessman, paid approximately $150,000 to a high school football coach to influence star defensive tackle Albert Means to accept a scholarship to play for the Crimson Tide.

The NCAA sentenced the football program to a two-year bowl ban, five years probation and the loss of 21 scholarships over a three-year period, but later added that the penalties would have been more severe had school officials not fully cooperated.

In other football news, Saban said that junior linebacker Ezekial Knight and Lowe, who are both recovering from ankle injuries, continued to practice and should play “to some degree” Saturday. True freshman linebacker Rolando McClain has taken snaps at Knight’s position as an emergency precaution.

Reach Christopher Walsh at christopher.walsh@tuscaloosanews.com or at 205-722-0196.