UofL and Pitino might be in a steaming pile of trouble

[Joneslab]

The NCAA is beginning to interview former UofL recruits, including Oregon player JaQuan Lyle and former UK recruit Antonio Blakeney (now at LSU).

Will be hard to get much out of these kids, IMO, because they can just say that everything was set up for them. If McGee were running things, then he likely handled the money. The girls for all they knew could have just been friends of the program, which may be unethical but wouldn't be a violation.

http://collegebasketball.nbcsports.com/2015/10/07/report-ncaa-interviews-former-louisville-recruit/

[Joneslab]

Also, Tim Sullivan of the CJ looks at the book Raw Recruits--a book that is mostly about the UK/Eddie Sutton scandal--and says that Pitino was once accused of taking his Boston University team to a strip club and giving them dollar bills. Pitino, through the UofL spokesman, denies the claim.

(I read Raw Recruits not long ago, actually. Picked it up in a used bookstore. Fascinating book.)

http://www.courier-journal.com/story/sports/tim-sullivan/2015/10/07/sullivan-distant-past-poses-pitino-new-problem/73540598/

[CATHYnKY]

UL seems to always come out on the good end of stuff as far as the NCAA is concerned.. Pitino did look unusually bad Friday at the press conference. He is either tired of it all or is worried something might come down that is unfavorable. My "birdie" hubby is not saying anything which speaks volumes to me. Hasn't even said to me that UK is behind it all. Am sure this will be a long, drawn out process.

[George]

Also, Tim Sullivan of the CJ looks at the book Raw Recruits--a book that is mostly about the UK/Eddie Sutton scandal--and says that Pitino was once accused of taking his Boston University team to a strip club and giving them dollar bills. Pitino, through the UofL spokesman, denies the claim.

(I read Raw Recruits not long ago, actually. Picked it up in a used bookstore. Fascinating book.)

http://www.courier-journal.com/story...blem/73540598/

Strangely, it wasn't a complete denial. He says they stopped at the strip club thinking it was a restaurant, went in, then left once they realized what kind of establishment it actually was. Riiiiiiiight.

[KevinHall]

Strangely, it wasn't a complete denial. He says they stopped at the strip club thinking it was a restaurant, went in, then left once they realized what kind of establishment it actually was. Riiiiiiiight.

They just didn't notice the flashing neon sign that said "Dancing Girls".

[George]

Matt Jones is speaking with Dick Cady on the radio at this very moment. Jones just said that CBS is reporting that during an interview with the NCAA, JaQuan Lyle confirmed "the gist" of what is being reported.

Here we go, folks.

[Joneslab]

Jaquan Lyle told the NCAA the truth, which seems to suggest that the allegations were confirmed. Not good for UofL.

http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/eye-on-college-basketball/25331355/ex-louisville-recruit-jaquan-lyle-confirms-escort-allegations-for-ncaa

[TrueblueCATfan]

OUCH....this should be the nail in the coffin

[KevinHall]

According to some tweets the UL President is supposed to make a statement about all of this at 1 pm, just about now. Its about time a high authority said something. You would think this would hugely embarassing to the University as a whole.

[KCKUKFan]

It's been awhile since I posted, but count on the Dirty Birds to pull me out of the lurch.

Jaquan Lyle will open the floodgates on kids who talk. Add that up with the money trail and find proof that Andre McGee's phone was the source of the texts, and UofL is toast.

Absolute toast. And I'm going to love every second of it.

[Joneslab]

It's all falling apart for Pitino. This is the fourth sex scandal under his watch at UofL if you count the Cleveland Clinic thing. Just too many to overcome or to chalk up as errors in judgment.

At first I thought he'd probably try to hold on as the legal wrangling ensued. But things have moved a little quicker than I thought and I wouldn't be surprised if there wasn't a resignation in the near future. This is a huge deal.

[DA#23]

From KSR, here is the statement UL's President has issued:

As we stated last week, when we learned of the allegations toward our men’s basketball team, we immediately hired Chuck Smrt of the Compliance Group to undertake a complete and thorough investigation of the alleged misconduct. Chuck advised us that we should also report these allegations to the NCAA so they could join our investigation.
For the past 18 years, Tom Jurich has served as Athletic Director of an exemplary program at UofL. I fully support Tom as we work to identify the facts in this situation, and that is what we are doing. Tom and I are committed to the values that are fundamental to the success of Cardinal athletics.

As I stated in the recent State of the University address, it is important that the university–all of us–stay focused on our day-to-day work of providing our outstanding student with a world-class education. The investigation of the allegations may take time and we must, as one university, continue doing the work we do to move our university and our community forward.

[DA#23]

Sounds like Rick isn't going down easy......

Furious Rick Pitino Adamant Media Trying To Tarnish Name Of Great Escort Service

[ATTACH=CONFIG]n44573[/ATTACH]

LOUISVILLE, KY—Following the publication of a book alleging that a member of the school’s basketball department paid women to perform sex acts for recruits, furious University of Louisville head coach Rick Pitino told reporters Wednesday that the media was trying to tarnish the name of a great escort service. “No one, I repeat no one, in the Cardinals community has anything but good things to say about these ladies, and it’s absolutely shameful to see their names get dragged through the mud,” said an enraged Pitino, blasting news outlets for maliciously attacking the reputation of a highly regarded, hardworking escort service. “To say I’m disgusted and disappointed with the way the press has recklessly tried to cast aspersions on this escort service would be an understatement. Say what you will about me, I’m the coach of this team, but I won’t stand for the media smearing these women and the outstanding services they provide.” Pitino added that he was confident the university’s independent investigation would find grounds for legal action against members of the press for defamation of the escort service’s character.

LINK

[Wonderstruck]

Ah, The Onion...

[KevinHall]

From KSR, here is the statement UL's President has issued:

Could be telling that the Prez didn't say a word about Pitner.