I don't even visit the CUSA board. I have no interest...

I go from time to time I still like:

Memphis
Southern Miss
East Carolina
Houston

I guess Pitino has also paid off the West Virginia newspapers and convinced them to lie and say that NCAA Investigators will be visiting UCF's campus this Monday. That dastardly Pitino also paid off Depaul coach Oliver Purnell. Are there no limits to what this evil basketball coach will do to destroy UCF?

http://www.herald-dispatch.com/sports/ma...ng-scandal

Chuck Landon: Jones at middle of brewing scandal

April 30, 2011 @ 11:20 PM

The Herald-Dispatch

A major NCAA scandal is brewing.

And former Marshall head basketball coach Donnie Jones is right in the middle of it.

After a story in The New York Times' Friday editions detailed the involvement of Kenneth Caldwell with UCF recruiting, the Knights reportedly pulled Jones off the road from a UCF fund-raising event.

Caldwell, 42, is a two-time convicted felon from Chicago with alleged ties to a well-known sports agency.

Marshall coach Tom Herrion recalls seeing Caldwell at the MU-UCF game on Jan. 5 in Orlando wearing an all-access pass.

Sources indicate NCAA investigators will be at UCF on Monday.

Although Caldwell, who delights in his nickname "Financial," claims he is not employed by ASM Sports, a management firm located in New Jersey, all indications point to him being a middleman known as a "runner."

That's certainly what DePaul coach Oliver Purnell believes.

"The feeling I got is that he is what you'd call a runner," he told ESPN.com

Andy Miller, who owns the agency, also says Caldwell isn't an employee. But Darryl Woods, who is listed as an associate with ASM Sports, told the Times, "He works for us."

Caldwell and former Louisville high school basketball All-American Brandon Bender, who also appears to operate as a middleman, have ties to a pair of athletes who committed to UCF -- 6-foot-10 basketball center Michael Chandler and football quarterback DaMarcus Smith.

They also were involved with Atlanta prep basketball star Kevin Ware, a highly recruited shooting guard who recently was released from his commitment to Tennessee. Ware had given UCF a verbal commitment, but when his family learned of Caldwell's background Ware decommited from UCF on Thursday.

Ware's mother, Lisa Mack, was upset to learn from Caldwell last week that a telephone conversation actually had been a conference call with Jones and his staff listening in, which is an NCAA violation.

"I'm pretty much disgusted," she told the Times. "Who dreams of something that's supposed to be about the kids and the achievements he's received to this point to receive a scholarship? It has been made something dirty. I feel violated."

Jones says he inherited a relationship with Caldwell when he took the UCF job a year ago and has known Bender for several years. It was Caldwell who steered junior point guard A.J. Rompza to UCF. He refers to Rompza as his son.

Caldwell, whose real son also attends UCF, claims he is simply a UCF fan.

Yet, NCAA investigator Abigail Grantstein visited Lawrence North High School in Indianapolis last week to inquire about Chandler's recruitment to UCF.

Also, Smith's coach at Seneca High School in Louisville, Louis Dover, told the Times he is "halfway waiting" for NCAA investigators to pay him a visit.[/b]

Then, there's Bender, whom Caldwell calls a "very close friend." The 6-10 Bender has been very active on Twitter during the last month.

On April 17, Bender tweeted, "Jus cashed my first #UCF payday." Then, "Thanks Knights. Can't wait for the bank to open 2morow." Also on April 17, "KWare what u buy first lil Homie? I got more."

But, then, Bender's mood changed.

April 27: "Did all that runnin for Kentucky. Now they gon try act like dey don't no me. Fixin 2 tell everthang. We all go down 2gether."

April 29: "Not goin down alone. I got lot 2 say."

Bender's most recent tweet was addressed to UK coach John Calipari. It reads, "sorry. I don told evathang."

Yes, a scandal is brewing.

Like we said, not good at all. Try talking to NCAA investigators and pointing fingers at Louisville and USF instead of defending yourself, that's not going to fly I'll tell you that much.

(05-01-2011 10:28 AM)Wilkie01 Wrote:  I go from time to time I still like:

Memphis
Southern Miss
East Carolina
Houston

USM....

CC, could you quote the most interesting part of that article and just the link. Thx man.

Looks like its getting uglier. i swear twiter is going to bring more NCAA investigators to schools because kids and others still dont realize that what they say or post via internet can come back to haunt them. Those "checks to be cashed" are not a good sign.

(05-01-2011 11:08 AM)Cubanbull Wrote:  Looks like its getting uglier. i swear twiter is going to bring more NCAA investigators to schools because kids and others still dont realize that what they say or post via internet can come back to haunt them. Those "checks to be cashed" are not a good sign.

From what I've read-even from UL fans- that that twitter page is a fake page.

(05-01-2011 11:11 AM)animus Wrote:  

(05-01-2011 11:08 AM)Cubanbull Wrote:  Looks like its getting uglier. i swear twiter is going to bring more NCAA investigators to schools because kids and others still dont realize that what they say or post via internet can come back to haunt them. Those "checks to be cashed" are not a good sign.

From what I've read-even from UL fans- that that twitter page is a fake page.

For UCF's sake they better hope that its fake

(05-01-2011 11:11 AM)animus Wrote:  

(05-01-2011 11:08 AM)Cubanbull Wrote:  Looks like its getting uglier. i swear twiter is going to bring more NCAA investigators to schools because kids and others still dont realize that what they say or post via internet can come back to haunt them. Those "checks to be cashed" are not a good sign.

From what I've read-even from UL fans- that that twitter page is a fake page.

Yeah, I can't imagine a guy doing what he was claimed to have been doing would put that up on Twitter.

Of course the NCAA is gonna come down here, and we'll see what facts, if any, they pull up. The thing about this type of violation is it's going to be hard to prove a connection between Caldwell and UCF, if there really is one. Unless someone in our school did something *REALLY* boneheaded, even if we are guilty it's going to be hard to prove it. And that's still in question, it could still be all circumstantial and just look worse than it is.

Sure animus, no prob. I've seen it stated that those tweets were fake and UCF better hope theyre fake. They better hope that the NCAA remarks are fake as well.

(05-01-2011 11:23 AM)CatsClaw Wrote:  Sure animus, no prob. I've seen it stated that those tweets were fake and UCF better hope theyre fake. They better hope that the NCAA remarks are fake as well.

thx my man

A lot of players have been caught bragging to other people about getting paid and driving expensive cars and wearing expensive clothes so it would be out of the realm of possibilities to see people bragging about it. One way they can figure it out, wasn't there an earlier article about how UCF officials were friends or followers of the players on Twitter? That's how you can find out if it's legit.

Here's the biggest problem with this whole issue. When the NCAA digs deeper, I'm almost sure that this is only the tip of the iceberg. Just from these few days-while UCF is the main suspect-these guys been linked to Kentucky, possibly Duke. If Cal was involved, then you almost have to dig as far back as his days at Memphis and possibly UMass. And the same with Jones at Marshall. This might be the NCAA's version of the steroids scandal with MLB, where everybody is involved. There is simply too much money from TV deals and whatnot for this stuff to not to happen. Even casual fans are guilty in a way. If you're a season ticket holder or donate in any fashion, do not friend recruits on facebook and other social media networks and encourage them to go to your school. The NCAA can nitpick those actions and say boosters are talking to recruits and penalize your school for it.

(05-01-2011 11:34 AM)animus Wrote:  And the same with Jones at Marshall.

I honestly don't think this happened while Jones was at Marshall, all of the players Jones got while he was here were either on our level or NQ or had the legitimate threat of not qualifying.

If it comes out that he actually did do this kind of stuff here, he's dumber than I thought.

(05-01-2011 10:13 AM)BJUnklFkr Wrote:  Mike I don't even visit UCF boards, so I have a hard time seeing where you're coming from

good move, i don't advise ever visiting their boards it can be hazardous to your health as most louisville fans are starting to find out. i do admit i go there once in a while to see their fanbase have a meltdown (like now) but trust me the posters you're defending over here aren't exactly cinci or the big east's biggest cheerleaders on their own board...

(05-01-2011 11:34 AM)animus Wrote:  Here's the biggest problem with this whole issue. When the NCAA digs deeper, I'm almost sure that this is only the tip of the iceberg. Just from these few days-while UCF is the main suspect-these guys been linked to Kentucky, possibly Duke. If Cal was involved, then you almost have to dig as far back as his days at Memphis and possibly UMass. And the same with Jones at Marshall. This might be the NCAA's version of the steroids scandal with MLB, where everybody is involved. There is simply too much money from TV deals and whatnot for this stuff to not to happen. Even casual fans are guilty in a way. If you're a season ticket holder or donate in any fashion, do not friend recruits on facebook and other social media networks and encourage them to go to your school. The NCAA can nitpick those actions and say boosters are talking to recruits and penalize your school for it.

Which is ridiculous. I love my school and think it would be a great fit for any athlete. I loved my time there, and I think given our academic success in regards to our athletes, I think we would do any student athlete well who decides to come play here. Why is it that I can't say that or risk putting my school in jeopardy?

Quote:A lot of players have been caught bragging to other people about getting paid and driving expensive cars and wearing expensive clothes so it would be out of the realm of possibilities to see people bragging about it. One way they can figure it out, wasn't there an earlier article about how UCF officials were friends or followers of the players on Twitter? That's how you can find out if it's legit.

The twitter 'connection' is that Donnie Jones and Tribble both apparently follow Caldwell on twitter, which shows a connection in the writers mind. I dunno, I would hope that if either, *ESPECIALLY TRIBBLE*, was involved in any sort of shenanigans with this guy that they wouldn't be so stupid as to make a public knowledge that they know him at all (although following someone on twitter is admittedly a tenuous connection at best).

(05-01-2011 12:02 PM)UCF08 Wrote:  

(05-01-2011 11:34 AM)animus Wrote:   Even casual fans are guilty in a way. If you're a season ticket holder or donate in any fashion, do not friend recruits on facebook and other social media networks and encourage them to go to your school. The NCAA can nitpick those actions and say boosters are talking to recruits and penalize your school for it.

Which is ridiculous. I love my school and think it would be a great fit for any athlete. I loved my time there, and I think given our academic success in regards to our athletes, I think we would do any student athlete well who decides to come play here. Why is it that I can't say that or risk putting my school in jeopardy?

Its really an unenforceable rule to tell you the truth. And it is what it is. Every school is guilty of having fans doing this. A classic example would be say Apopka is playing Edgewater in basketball and each team has a UCF football recruit on their teams. If you're a season ticket holder, and you talk up UCF and encouraging them to go to UCF, its a recruiting violation. The thing is, its nearly impossible to enforce because you can't have NCAA people at every HS function hoping this doesn't happen. So while it is ridiculous and unenforceable, I'd do my best to stay clear of recruits, if you're a season ticket holder and donates for better seats and parking.

(05-01-2011 11:52 AM)mufanatehc Wrote:  

(05-01-2011 11:34 AM)animus Wrote:  And the same with Jones at Marshall.

I honestly don't think this happened while Jones was at Marshall, all of the players Jones got while he was here were either on our level or NQ or had the legitimate threat of not qualifying.

If it comes out that he actually did do this kind of stuff here, he's dumber than I thought.

I don't think Jones was doing that at Marshall either. But this does make you wonder why Hassan Whiteside chose to come to Huntington, when he was clearly superior to anyone else in CUSA during his days with the Herd...

If the NCAA starts looking at Jones, you can bet they'll look into his time at Marshall as well. The NCAA came to Morgantown after allegations surfaced about RR, which is why WVU is currently waiting for the NCAA's summary disposition. You can bet Marshall will be in for the same, if Jones role in this becomes part of an NCAA investigation...

(05-01-2011 11:52 AM)mufanatehc Wrote:  

(05-01-2011 11:34 AM)animus Wrote:  And the same with Jones at Marshall.

I honestly don't think this happened while Jones was at Marshall, all of the players Jones got while he was here were either on our level or NQ or had the legitimate threat of not qualifying.

If it comes out that he actually did do this kind of stuff here, he's dumber than I thought.

I don't think Jones did that kind of stuff there too. I'm just saying that the NCAA will probably have to dig into Jones past at Marshall, whether something happened or not.

That twitter account is fake but UCF has the NCAA investigating them. I guess Pitino ordered the NCAA to do that since he runs the world.