On March 3, Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports broke the news that NCAA officials were investigating a $25,000 payment made in 2010 by the University of Oregon to a Houston man, Will Lyles, for providing recruiting services for the school’s football program.
After Robinson’s report, Ken Goe of the PORTLAND OREGONIAN reported, “Lyles has a mentoring relationship with Oregon running back Lache Seastrunk.” (From 2009-2010, Seastrunk was a heavily recruited high school football prospect from Texas.)
11 days after Robinson’s initial report, Thayer Evans of FOXSports.com reported that LSU had paid Lyles $6,000 in 2010 for providing recruiting services for the school’s football program.
During an interview on FOXSportsRadio.com’s Real Talk With Jason Whitlock podcast (full interview) last week, Lyles said he was also paid $5,000 by Cal for his recruiting services.
After noting that Lyles had told him he made $36,000 in 2010, Whitlock asked Lyles:
“You got a check for $25,000 from Oregon, where was the other $11,000?”
Lyles:
“The other $11,000 was $6,000 from LSU and the other $5,000 was from Cal-Berkeley.”
On Feb. 26, 2009, Greg Biggins of ESPN.com reported that then-Texas high school football prospect Lache Seastrunk took a recruiting visit to Cal the last week of February.
In the same piece about Cal’s “Junior Day” recruiting event, Biggins noted of then-Louisiana High School recruit Trovon Reed:
Trovon Reed (Thibodaux, La.) was expected to be on hand but won’t be able to make it. Reed is one of the elite receivers in the South and is holding offers from schools like Texas, Georgia, Ole Miss and Arkansas.
“I couldn’t get out there but I’m going to try and make it for their next Junior Day,” Reed said. “I like Cal and I liked how they used Desean Jackson. They want to use me in a similar way so I’m definitely interested in checking them out.
On April 1 I reported of Reed’s close association with Lyles and Seastrunk. Excerpt from that report:
On Feb. 16 I broke the news that NCAA officials had recently visited Thibodaux, Louisiana, to investigate the recruitment of a current Auburn football player, Trovon Reed, and a recent football signee to the school, Greg Robinson.
At the heart of that NCAA investigation was Thibodaux resident Sean Nelson. Nelson, who is an associate of Reed and Robinson, has been characterized as a street agent who exerted possible undue influence on the two recruits in their decision to choose Auburn. Nelson is also a known associate of the NCAA’s current public enemy #1, Will Lyles. Lyles’ one-man recruiting service was recently paid $25,000 by the University of Oregon for recruiting videos that the school has yet to produce to the public.
Oregon has, to this day, not produced any materials to the public that it received from Lyles for his recruiting services.
Speaking of Cal, on March 13, Thayer Evans reported on the relationship between Lyles and Houston-area high school football prospect Trevon Randle:
Randle said Lyles talked to him a lot about California and Miami. He said Lyles didn’t have to talk to him much about Oregon, because “I told him about Oregon.” But Randle said Lyles knew Ducks coach Chip Kelly well.
Just over a month after meeting Lyles, Randle committed to LSU at a Tigers junior day. Randle said he consulted with his parents before choosing LSU, but said his father is “pretty tight” with Lyles.
Having committed to LSU, Randle said he later spent time with Lyles while attending LSU summer camps. He said Lyles was particularly close with (LSU Assistant Coach Brick) Haley, who recruited him for the Tigers.
It was Haley who cut the $6,000 check to Lyles on behalf of LSU.
Despite that transaction, and LSU commit Randle saying Haley was “particularly close” with Lyles, Haley denied even knowing Lyles in the same FOXSports.com story:
A week later, (Trevon Randle’s Clear Springs (TX) High School Football Coach Clint) Hartman crossed paths with Lyles again. This time he was with LSU defensive line coach Brick Haley, who had come to see Randle. When Lyles tried to walk onto the field, Hartman told him to return to the parking lot.
Hartman later called Haley and told him that Lyles was never to return to Clear Springs High.
“I didn’t know the guy, Coach,” Hartman recalled Haley saying of Lyles. “He showed up and said he was helping the last guy here for LSU.”
Hartman knew that wasn’t true. After all, LSU had never previously recruited at Clear Springs High.
Three weeks ago Dan Rubenstein and Ty Hildenbrandt of SolidVerbal.com interviewed Cal football coach Jeff Tedford. During the visit, Rubenstein asked Tedford:
“I want to call them characters in the nicest possible way that we’ve been seeing this offseason on the fringes of recruiting. How do you and your staff address those types of situations?”
Tedford:
“We haven’t run across that. We typically deal with the player, the coaches and their families so we really don’t get involved in any of the other stuff.
“Obviously everyone uses recruiting services but that’s just to gather data and not depend on what they have to say or what their opinions are or anything like that. It’s really solely collection the information that you need on where the prospects are so you can have a pretty good idea on where to go recruit.
“But as far as people being involved, we haven’t really run into that. We’re really just focused on what important to the kid and go through the school and his coaches.
” … You do have to keep your head on a swivel and you have to know what’s going on out there because you don’t want to bury your head in the sand but on the other hand you really need to keep everything close to us and try to communicate as much as you can just with the recruits, the student-athletes and their families to make sure the lines of communication are open and everyone is on the same page.”
The year before Cal and Tedford paid $5,000 to Lyles for his recruiting services - and three weeks before Lyles associate Lache Seastrunk made a recruiting visit to the Cal-Berkeley campus - Tedford said the following at Cal’s 2009 signing day press conference:
“It’s a little unsettling because sometimes they go underground and you can’t get hold of them. You don’t know what’s happening, so you just continue to try. With not being able to text now, now you just have to call and you get an answering machine. So you’re really at their mercy. It’s a helpless feeling when you don’t know the information. You can’t counterpoint something you don’t know about, so that’s some of it. But it’s so competitive. No one’s going to give up. Everybody is going to always continue to battle right down to the end. Obviously, the people we are recruiting against are very good programs and very competitive that way.”
Is it unreasonable to think that at least part of the reason Tedford’s Cal paid Lyles $5,000 was to ensure a unique level of access to Seastrunk and other Texas recruits associated with Lyles?
That isn’t to say that Tedford was directly involved in the recruitment of Seastrunk. That duty fell to Cal football recruiting coordinator Kenwick Thompson, who shares a hometown with Lyles: Houston.
There’s nothing wrong with Lyles tipping off schools to talent in his area. Nor is there his taking money for such services, regardless the amount. (Because the NCAA does not stipulate a limit.)
Though Lyles’ “Compete Scouting Services” does not come close to fulfilling the NCAA’s official definition of what constitutes a legitimate recruiting service, the NCAA rules regarding such activity are so vague that until the NCAA gets serious about governing them, it’s hard to hold even Lyles to any sort of NCAA-borne standard.
But Lyles did indisputably violate the NCAA booster rule as it pertained to Oregon’s recruitment of Seastrunk thanks to on-record comments from Oregon assistant coach Gary Campbell. What, if any, penalties Oregon will receive from the NCAA for that misstep remains to be seen.
During the same interview last week in which he confirmed receiving a $5,000 payment from Cal and a $6,000 payment from LSU, Lyles was asked by FOXSports.com columnist Whitlock:
“Do you ever steer kids to schools?”
Lyles:
“No I don’t steer kids to schools. What happens is the kids and the families make their own personal decisions and I am in no way shape or form making a decision for anybody or influencing their decision.”
When asked on the Real Talk With Jason Whitlock Podcast why he thought Seastrunk chose to attend Oregon, Lyles stated:
“He chose Oregon because he felt that Oregon was the best fit for him. He linked with the running backs coach Gary Campbell and felt that it was a good system and a good fit for him. And he enjoyed the campus when he went on his visit and enjoyed the people. He made the decision that was best for him.”
In an interview (full interview) with Rivals.com at the BCS National Championship Game bowl site on Jan. 7, 2011, Seastrunk indicated that he regretted his decision to choose Oregon over Auburn - though he did acknowledge that he was the one who chose his destination school. (There was much speculation throughout last season and this offseason that Seastrunk, who was unexpectedly redshirted last year by Oregon coach Chip Kelly, would transfer from Oregon to another school.)
During the interview Seastrunk was asked, “If you had to pick the school to be playing for (in) the national championship (game), would it be Auburn?”
Seastrunk: “Yes sir.”
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3:18 pm on May 3rd, 2011
Auburn is the SMU of the 21st Century. They make Oklahoma under Switzer look like an honest, model, program.
3:46 pm on May 3rd, 2011
Leandro-
Just curious what recently has Auburn been found guilty of? (Can’t use the idiots who were involved in robbing someone, it was not directly a product of the business practices of the football program. They were dumb kids who were kicked off the team immediately by the coaching staff) There’s no denying that Auburn was involved in a pay for pay scheme i.e. Eric Ramsey and Pat Dye but that was in the early 90s. (Still can’t believe he is allowed to be anywhere near the program or that Auburn named the field after him). The punishment for that fiasco wasn’t strict enough in my opinion. But since then nothing else has been pinned on Auburn. Sure, there has been several allegations but thus far no NCAA letter of inquiry or punishment handed down.
Please don’t get me wrong, I know the NCAA is stlll investigating everything surrounding Newton and if Auburn is found guilty I hope they do get hammered. We all know they won’t get the death penalty due to the fact that they are not on any sort of probation. Again I ask, where is the proof that Auburn is guilty of anything at this time?
My question is not meant as a dig on you or anyone else down on Auburn just looking for some clarification.
3:56 pm on May 3rd, 2011
Amazing reporting. Amazing.
I’d love to see what Cal, LSU and Oregon actually have on hand from Lyles’ “services”
6:24 pm on May 3rd, 2011
These guys are street pimps. Making a living as a pimp is hard work. Oregon paid him 25k and not 5k or 6k since the kid chose Oregon. The 5k or 6k package is to get visits or for lesser athletes. The “Pimp Game” is being exposed here this year. Going to be hard to operate without people taking notice going forward.
6:37 pm on May 3rd, 2011
@buckeyebob
I know this will sound weird, but the $5k paid to Lyles by Cal allowed all players to get 3 tattoos from Lyles at his new Berkeley tattoo parlor. Go figure.
6:47 pm on May 3rd, 2011
When asked what the school received for it’s $25,000 Oregon coach Chip Kelly said, “Names and phone numbers.” The invoice from Lyles said “tapes of recruits from 22 states.” So, where are the tapes? Get your stories straight.
8:02 pm on May 3rd, 2011
David,
I’ll answer the question that Leandro didn’t…Auburn’s football program has not been on probation since the Pat Dye/Eric Ramsey scandal. In fact, several SEC schools have been on probation since Auburn. That doesn’t seem to stop people like Leandro from saying what they say.
Something else interesting to me is that no accusations or negative words were written about The University of Alabama in the wake of their undefeated national championship season last year, despite the fact that they are still on probation from the textbook scandal from a couple of years back.
This level of accusation, suspicion, and condemnation without any NCAA sanctions seems to be limited to Auburn. Not sure why…maybe someone can enlighten me in a somewhat reasonable manner.
10:15 pm on May 3rd, 2011
being a USC fan i can say that the the NZAA has one set of rules for some and another for others. NZAA has lied and cheated for SEC schools without a doubt. I am assuming the Ducks pay off who they need to too get away with all they do. Example Lamichael james has a $13,000.00 bank account he received from a inheritance. Only problem is they can’t prove it because of no paper trail. A inheritance without a paper trail? I’ll let you do the math. But what caught everyones attention is his brand new range rover. Someone just gave it to him. And the NCAA is ok with that. I like how Nike can put game day on the payroll. Fowler, Coach, herbie all have signed contracts with the duck oh i mean Nike.
The SEC is special. NZAA lied and broke rules by allowing Cam to play period. You have someone admitting to it and they assisted Auburn to play an ineligible player. Alabama has had on average 1 to 2 players a year accepting improper benefits. While on probation! That should get them the death penalty correct. Fvck no… The NZAA says what good kids they are and praises Alabama’s compliance offices. New and recent cases getting a whole day 1 whole day of investigating and or declaring someone ineligible to eligible. Another example Kiffen gets a failure to promote on secondary violations while the school has 2 programs under it’s belt with violations.
So does anything suprise me when it comes to schools violations and the enforcement of them. Not at all. File this as “business as usual”.
10:51 pm on May 3rd, 2011
ian
Please explain how the NCAA lied and broke rules by allowing Cam to play.
Cam’s father discussed money with a booster from MSU, no money changed hands.
There was on rule when cam was being recruited stating it was illegal to ask for money, Parents do it every day at every University.. It is only when money change hands it becomes a violation.
Cams Father did not ask for money at Auburn and no money was given. The NCAA could not find a reason to not allow Cam to play.
I am 18 year old and Auburn has not been on probation in my lifetime. Wish I could say the same for my Beloved Crimson Tide.
12:46 am on May 4th, 2011
not going to listen to an hour interview of this dude, but did whitlock ask lyles what extra services in particular oregon received for $25k that Cal and LSU didn’t get for $5k and $6k?
If he didn’t ask that, the interview is a sham.
7:16 am on May 4th, 2011
Smc-
Thank you for responding. It’s nice to read a rational response to a question. The same can be said for BRtide’s response as well (thank you). I agree with you, it is curious why Auburn has taken such heat since winning the title. It does appear that no other school has had to endure such slanderous comments which only serve to hurt the University when no one has presented proof of their allegations; Brooks included. Everything has been innuendo or comments taken out of context. I think BRtide’s explanation of the Cam situation was succinct and factual from what we know so far. I applaud you BRtide for not getting caught up in the whole Auburn/Alabama rivalry and allowing your disgust for everything Auburn blind you to facts when they are presented. Again I thank you both for your response.
10:12 am on May 4th, 2011
I may be mistaken but I am almost positive that it IS most certainly a violation to ask for money even if none actually changes hands.
Anyone have clarification?
11:05 am on May 4th, 2011
Not sure but from what I understand if Cecil Newton requested money from Miss State then Newton would not be able to play for State. Thus far, there has been no proof that anything was requested from Auburn thus the NCAA allowed him to play. But I could be wrong.
7:45 pm on May 4th, 2011
So it just so happened that in a SI article interviewing Cam and Cecil Newton that Cam said he wanted to go to MSU to play for his old coach(Dan Mullen) but Cecil thought it was best for him to go to AU. Months later Cecil Newton admits to soliciting money for Cam’s college decision and Cam says that he(Cam) was the one that chose AU. It just doesn’t add up that AU didn’t at least agree to pay for Cam’s services judging by what I just mentioned. I have my doubts that the full 180-200k was paid out since AU was aware shortly after Cam signed that MSU had reported Cecil Newton to the NCAA. To think that AU is completely innocent in all of this is just ignorant
2:16 am on May 5th, 2011
I knew AU was cheating when, during Chizik’s first recruiting season, only a month after being hired, Auburn started getting commits like Tyric Rollison, Demond Washington, and other highly sought after players, even though AU was coming off a losing year, Chizik had a 5-19 record as a coach and none were from an adjoining state or had previously followed Auburn. Friends it is tough for ANY school to get players to come from far away. Particularly to a school like AU with no great academic traditions or history for greatness in any particular area (other than fielding a professional football team and giving out free grades to jocks). Not even Football. Uh HUH! Cash invovled.
Then, this was confirmed that same summer, when the top 3 RBs in the entire country put Auburn at the top of their list,their favorite. None were from Alabama, none were even from Florida, Tenn, Miss nor Georgia. Not one of the three was from nearby. Then all summer and fall they flew back and forth from places like Arkansas, Texas, and South Carolina. Where did they get the cash to do that every week? What HS kid can afford to do that?
Finally, the next recruiting season, with AU having only an 7-6 year, with Alabama as National Champions, AU outrecruited UA. They continued to get recruits from places where it is usually difficult for the established, great, schools like Notre Dame, OSU, UA, OU and Texas to recruit - that is, in non-adjoining states.
So AU outrecruited the National Champions with kids actually willing to go to school a long way from home to play for a so so program with a so-so record, and a for coach with a losing record. What does that tell you? Players like Cam Newton switching instantaneously from his favorite to a school he just heard of a week before.
A school already known as the Notre Dame of Cheating leading the SEC with 7 major probations and one short of the national record. Now with the revelations coming out of Miss State, we know that they are indeed paying players. We know that he cost more than a scholarship. We know he went to Auburn. His dad admitted to shopping him. Has the NCAA gone nuts. AU belongs in the NFL not college football.
——————————————————
Ex-Auburn players say they received thousands in payments
http://aol.sportingnews.com/ncaa-football/story/2011-03-29/ex-auburn-players-say-they-received-thousands-in-payments#ixzz1I3rEmrQJ
3:01 pm on May 6th, 2011
@Debbie Watts -
Your ignorance to what actually happens at Auburn is appalling. Alleging that Auburn has no great academic traditions or history for greatness is a plain ignorant statement. Auburn is not Ivy League by any stretch. Using US News and World Report’s rankings, Auburn ranks 5th in the SEC. They are ranked in this order: Vanderbilt, Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Auburn, Tennessee, South Carolina, LSU, Kentucky, Arkansas, Ole Miss, and Miss State. Not bad that 2 other schools (3 National Championships) rank lower than Auburn.
As for your comment about running backs, it helps when your school had Bo Jackson win a Heisman there and plenty of good backs (Williams, Brown, Johnson) find success in the NFL after playing at Auburn. As to why a 5-19 loser like Chizick can get recruits is 2 fold: they offer playing time and they treat their players with respect (like a family). They are not overbearing and harsh and that appeals to 18-22 year olds.
Lastly, yes there are 7 major NCAA violations in Auburn’s past. There have been 0 in the last 18 years or so in the football program. Why not focus on the school across the state whose football program has been on probation ALL but 2 years in the same span and whose players year in and out have to repay extra benefits. There are no “revelations” coming out of Mississippi State. Cecil Newton NEVER publically admitted that he was “shopping” his son. Bill Bell and Kenny Rogers both (on the record) told ESPN that Cecil never once asked for money. It’s their story that Rogers asked Bell for the money at the behest of Newton. It would serve you well to read facts instead of coming to conclusions based off allegations and your own prejudices.
Start here: http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=5822232
7:31 pm on July 1st, 2011
Brooks:
You used this quote by Tedford to suggest that Cal was trying to get an inside track on recruits through Lyles:
“It’s a little unsettling because sometimes they go underground and you can’t get hold of them. …Everybody is going to always continue to battle right down to the end. Obviously, the people we are recruiting against are very good programs and very competitive that way.”
That quote was specifically about Stan Hasiak, who had been a Cal commit for some time, but for reasons Tedford did not understand at the time had disappeared and been impossible to get in touch with for days…and on LOI day, surprised everyone and picked UCLA. (As it turned out, a soon-to-be-hired new UCLA assistant coach had been spending some quality time with Hasiak, talking him into switching his commitment). Tedford was talking specifically about Hasiak. That comment had absolutely nothing to do with Lyles or anything else that your article is about.
I am going to take the high road here and assume this was an innocent mistake on your part, rather than a blatant lie. But when you are questioning the integrity of one of the few college football coaches who actually plays this game the right way, you might want to make an effort to get your facts straight.
Cal paid for and received scouting reports from Lyles, at the going rate of $5K. (Cal got the same scouting reports Oregon got, except when Cal got them they related to recruits who were actually coming out that year, whereas when Oregon got them they were old news). That is all Cal got from Lyles. None of the guys connected with Lyles ever signed with Cal. Unlike Oregon, Cal did not pay five times the market value for the information. And unlike Oregon, Cal was not a repeat customer. After that $5K payment, Cal saw what “services” Lyles had to offer, and wasn’t interested in anything further.
Jeff Tedford runs a clean program. He graduates players. He recruits fairly and within the rules, and he conducts himself with class. And, more often than not, he wins. There are few college football coaches these days who you can say all of those things about. Tedford is one of them.
Next time you write a hit piece, do a little homework first.