Crimson Red Sports

McNeil, along with a handful of his former teammates, tells Roberts a story in which the Auburn football program and the community surrounding it sound just as odious as such places are so often believed to be. Among the claims alleged in Roberts's story: then-defensive coordinator Will Mushcamp, now the head coach at Florida, once tried to give McNeil $400; black players were targeted by police and drug tested by the team more often than their white teammates; grades were altered so that players who were academically ineligible could participate in the 2011 BCS championship game; receiver Darvin Adams was offered thousands of dollars by the coaching staff to return for his senior season and went undrafted after refusing to take the bribe, due in part to negative reports Auburn gave NFL scouts about him.

To this day, no one from the university has talked to the family. After Mike McNeil posted a $511,000 bond, Police Chief Tommy Dawson told McNeil’s then-attorney that even though he was innocent until proven guilty, Mike would be arrested for trespassing if he set foot on campus. “In my 22 years,” [his attorney] said, “I’d never heard of anything like that happening to a student.” In a team meeting, players were told by coaches not to contact any of the accused or risk losing their scholarship. “Mike was like a brother,” says Nieko Thorpe, a former Auburn defensive back who plays for the Kansas City Chiefs. “I wanted to talk to my brother. I’m sure, with all that was going on, he felt betrayed.”

Not sure what to believe from an obviously unhappy ex-player. Plus, Selena Roberts, the "reporter" is damaged goods. She was one of the out-of-control reporters on the Duke Lacrosse case which blew up in her face because of her accusations against the players. She used to work for the New York Times and Sports Illustrated, now she blogs. I wonder why?


 ???

Selena Roberts is also an Auburn Grad.

I remember barn fans being worried about players being ruled ineligible for the 2010 BCS game and then everyone made their grades. This may explain how that happened.

McNeil is damaged goods. He lost all credibility when he committed armed robbery. Like I said in the OP this is Deadspin so take it for what it is worth. Even if this is true the NCAA will not investigate. Apparently they do not do that anymore.  

I think the NCAA will want more than this to start an investigation. If 3 or 4 players from that team came forward, not those arrested, and backed up his claims, then that would be a story. there's probably a lot of truth to the story, but there has to be better and more credible sources.


 :dunno:

Selena Roberts is also an Auburn Grad.

I remember barn fans being worried about players being ruled ineligible for the 2010 BCS game and then everyone made their grades. This may explain how that happened.

McNeil is damaged goods. He lost all credibility when he committed armed robbery. Like I said in the OP this is Deadspin so take it for what it is worth. Even if this is true the NCAA will not investigate. Apparently they do not do that anymore. 

I hate to bring this up, but this is old news. I remember Roberts' report stirred up a hornet's nest about this. These players were interviewed after the report, but they all denied it, according to Auburn officials. If you look at the date of the article, it is from April of last year. The NZAA apparently took Auburn at it's word and would not investigate.

I'm committing this to memory, but I'm pretty sure that's how it went down.

It's all good. It never hurts to bring back up fond memories of barner misery.  :D

... and it's prolly true again this year!