The ncaa has recently handed down a 2 game suspension to Univeristy of Alabama WR Brandon Gibson. While this story seems to be a "non-story" from the article posted below it is interesting to note the facts that are being white washed from the official story.
Below is the article which you can find here. Our editorial comments are posted in BOLD.
University of Alabama receiver Brandon Gibson suspended two games due to inadvertent NCAA violation
Posted by Gentry Estes August 28, 2008 8:46 PM
Categories: Sports
TUSCALOOSA -- Redshirt freshman receiver Brandon Gibson of Mobile won't be available to play in Alabama's first two games as a result of an inadvertent secondary NCAA rules violation. The university's compliance department discovered that Gibson, who signed with the Crimson Tide out of UMS-Wright in 2007, unknowingly committed a violation while still in high school by accepting transportation to an Alabama sporting event (this should say "accepted a flight in a private jet) from a friend whose father was a UA booster (read as U of A Board of Trustee member) and could be viewed as "a representative of the institution's athletic interest." ("Could be viewed? You don't say) "UA officials self-reported Gibson's trip last year to the NCAA.
"Our recommendation for a two-game suspension was approved by the NCAA," UA associate athletics director for compliance Mike Ward said in a statement to the Press-Register. "The student-athlete and his friend have been friends since the ninth grade and, despite having a pre-existing relationship, unintentionally committed this infraction." (How do you unintentionally accept a flight on a private jet?) Technically, the incident violated NCAA rules because Gibson's pre-existing relationship with the friend did not exist before his ninth-grade year. University officials did not impose Gibson's penalty last season, since it would have burned his redshirt year. (How convenient) Gibson is eligible to play Sept. 13 against Western Kentucky after missing opening dates against Clemson and Tulane. He was listed fourth on the depth chart at the primary "X" receiver position behind freshman Julio Jones, sophomore Earl Alexander and freshman Chris Jackson. "If he keeps working like he has," Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban said last week, "I would think he'll make a contribution some time during the season."
Posted by Gentry Estes August 28, 2008 8:46 PM
Categories: Sports
TUSCALOOSA -- Redshirt freshman receiver Brandon Gibson of Mobile won't be available to play in Alabama's first two games as a result of an inadvertent secondary NCAA rules violation. The university's compliance department discovered that Gibson, who signed with the Crimson Tide out of UMS-Wright in 2007, unknowingly committed a violation while still in high school by accepting transportation to an Alabama sporting event (this should say "accepted a flight in a private jet) from a friend whose father was a UA booster (read as U of A Board of Trustee member) and could be viewed as "a representative of the institution's athletic interest." ("Could be viewed? You don't say) "UA officials self-reported Gibson's trip last year to the NCAA.
"Our recommendation for a two-game suspension was approved by the NCAA," UA associate athletics director for compliance Mike Ward said in a statement to the Press-Register. "The student-athlete and his friend have been friends since the ninth grade and, despite having a pre-existing relationship, unintentionally committed this infraction." (How do you unintentionally accept a flight on a private jet?) Technically, the incident violated NCAA rules because Gibson's pre-existing relationship with the friend did not exist before his ninth-grade year. University officials did not impose Gibson's penalty last season, since it would have burned his redshirt year. (How convenient) Gibson is eligible to play Sept. 13 against Western Kentucky after missing opening dates against Clemson and Tulane. He was listed fourth on the depth chart at the primary "X" receiver position behind freshman Julio Jones, sophomore Earl Alexander and freshman Chris Jackson. "If he keeps working like he has," Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban said last week, "I would think he'll make a contribution some time during the season."
The unfortunate part of this incident is that Gibson has to pay the price for the actions of adults. What 17 year old kid wouldn't accept the opportunity to fly in a private jet to a basketball game?
