Report: Fulmer turned "States evidence" on Alabama

[GrantDawg]

What a shock.

http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sp.../16fulmer.html

Attorney: Fulmer gave NCAA damaging claims against Alabama

Associated Press


Montgomery, Ala. -- A lawyer for two former Alabama football coaches suing the NCAA said newly released court documents show Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer secretly provided damaging information about the Crimson Tide to the NCAA.

The documents show Fulmer twice called NCAA staffer Rich Johanningmeier, who was probing alleged wrongdoing at Alabama in 2000, and gave him information implicating the Tide in rules violations, according to attorney Tommy Gallion.

Gallion, a Montgomery lawyer who represents former Alabama assistants Ronnie Cottrell and Ivy Williams, contends the NCAA ignored violations at Tennessee in exchange for Fulmer's help in the case against Alabama.

"They buried everything at Tennessee and they went after Alabama based on what Phillip Fulmer said," said Gallion.

The documents, which were reported by several newspapers Thursday, surfaced in federal court in Memphis, Tenn., where former Alabama booster Logan Young is awaiting trial in the recruiting scandal. A motion filed by Young's attorney cleared the way for the release of the records Monday, including notes by the NCAA investigator who asked that Fulmer's name be kept secret.

Young was indicted in October on conspiracy charges for allegedly paying $150,000 to have a promising recruit attend Alabama. That same allegation was a key part of the NCAA case that led to the Tide being placed on probation.

Fulmer declined comment on what he told the NCAA.

"This relates to an ongoing federal investigation in Memphis," Fulmer told The Knoxville (Tenn.) News-Sentinel. "It's not appropriate to discuss it.

Cottrell and Williams have filed a $60 million lawsuit against the NCAA and others claiming they were incorrectly accused of wrongdoing in the Alabama investigation.

Gallion said the court documents include notes taken by Johannignmeier indicating Fulmer telephoned him to discuss rules violations at Alabama. Copies of the documents were obtained by The Birmingham News and Mobile Register.

Fulmer said his information came from Tom Culpepper, a Birmingham recruiting analyst, the papers reported.

In the documents, Johanningmeier wrote in all capital letters: "Fulmer should be regarded as a confidential source of information and this memorandum should not be included in any custodial arrangements that could be made in the future with the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa."

Fulmer told Johanningmeier he had secretly recorded 90 minutes of an eight-hour talk he had with Culpepper in Chattanooga, Tenn., during the summer of 2000, with Culpepper detailing for Fulmer allegations against the Alabama program.

The NCAA two years ago placed Alabama on five years of probation, banned it from bowls for two years and imposed heavy scholarship reductions for recruiting violations.

The Crimson Tide contested charges that boosters made five-figure payments to lure two recruits to Tuscaloosa, but it admitted other violations and imposed penalties on itself.

Nothing in NCAA rules prohibits coaches from supplying information on rival schools on a confidential basis. But Gallion said he can prove that "85 percent" of the charges leveled against Alabama were fabricated.

The NCAA informed Alabama last week it would not face any more sanctions linked to the recruiting scandal. Both that letter and the claims by Gallion were made public at the height of recruiting season.

[Buzzbee]

Originally Posted by GrantDawg

Nothing in NCAA rules prohibits coaches from supplying information on rival schools on a confidential basis. But Gallion said he can prove that "85 percent" of the charges leveled against Alabama were fabricated.

Only 85%. So what he's saying is...yeah, we're cheaters, but we don't cheat THAT bad!!