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Coles stunned by ASU probe
By Josh Moon
Montgomery Advertiser
Alabama State head football coach L.C. Cole and assistant coaches Johnnie Cole and Richard Freeman say they were stunned to learn evidence they say refutes allegations of NCAA violations wasn't included in the university's report to the NCAA.
L.C. Cole said that attorney Robert Clayton, who has been handling ASU's investigation for the past three months, told them Monday of specific violations included in the report.
But the coaches said they are certain they provided evidence that contradicts those claims.
"We've got documents and paperwork to back up everything we're saying," L.C. Cole said. "They didn't take any of the things that we showed them into consideration."
The NCAA confirmed earlier this week that it had received ASU's self report. If the charges are determined to have merit, a preliminary letter of inquiry will be issued.
From there, the NCAA's enforcement staff would begin its own investigation into the program.
In a faxed statement to the Associated Press earlier this week, ASU athletic director Richard Cosby said the report detailed a program "almost totally out of control."
Cosby has been unavailable for comment since Tuesday. President Joe Lee, the man who will make a decision on Cole's future at the school, has been out of town most of the week and isn't scheduled back into the office until Monday.
Meanwhile, the football season is fast approaching. Cole is scheduled to participate in the Southwestern Athletic Conference media day in Birmingham on Friday and practice is scheduled to start Aug. 5.
The school's football media guide is scheduled to be printed next week -- with Cole and his staff included.
"We want the ASU fans to know that we haven't done the things that Cosby put out there," L.C. Cole said. "None of that stuff was discussed with us in that meeting on Monday. The only thing Clayton accused us of was six or seven things. It wasn't any of this stuff (Cosby) is talking about. As a matter of fact, some of that stuff he's claiming we proved didn't happen to Clayton and he never brought it up again."
Since Cosby released his statement, L.C. Cole has been a prominent fixture in the media. He conducted interviews with two Montgomery TV stations on Thursday, has been questioned by numerous state newspapers and has been a guest on several talk radio shows in recent days.
Today, the dispute will turn more public. Fans and alumni who support Cole are holding a rally to protest the ASU administration's handling of the investigation.
The rally is planned to start at 9 a.m. Saturday and will be held at Hornet Stadium on the ASU campus.
"We've had a lot of people saying they were coming," said Cuvie Rae Hays, one of the rally's organizers. "Since all (of the media attention) we've had a lot more people say they're coming. I don't know how big this thing is going to be, but it may surprise a lot of people."
ASU started its internal investigation of the football department in December after former coach Dederick Bell sent a letter to university officials that outlined several NCAA violations he claimed to have witnessed in his time on the staff.
On Monday, Cole said Clayton accused him of four violations earlier this week -- misuse of funds, contact with a player at another university without obtaining a release, contact with two recruits during a dead period and knowingly practicing four ineligible players.
Johnnie Cole was accused of two violations -- illegal contact with a recruit and contact with a player at another university without obtaining a release.
Richard Freeman also was accused of two violations -- illegal contact with a recruit and knowledge of illegal booster activities.
The Coles attorney, Montgomery's Julian McPhillips, said the charges sounded much worse than what they are.
"(Clayton) has taken small little things that are very circumstantial and labeled them harshly," McPhillips said. "We're talking about small, minor incidents that could just as easily be looked at as no violation. They've taken those and blown them up to make them seem like these just terrible violations."
In his statement, Cosby also accused the football coaches of changing the grades of a stellar athlete, recruiting, practicing and playing ineligible players and producing "live strip shows" for recruits.
By Josh Moon
Montgomery Advertiser
Alabama State head football coach L.C. Cole and assistant coaches Johnnie Cole and Richard Freeman say they were stunned to learn evidence they say refutes allegations of NCAA violations wasn't included in the university's report to the NCAA.
L.C. Cole said that attorney Robert Clayton, who has been handling ASU's investigation for the past three months, told them Monday of specific violations included in the report.
But the coaches said they are certain they provided evidence that contradicts those claims.
"We've got documents and paperwork to back up everything we're saying," L.C. Cole said. "They didn't take any of the things that we showed them into consideration."
The NCAA confirmed earlier this week that it had received ASU's self report. If the charges are determined to have merit, a preliminary letter of inquiry will be issued.
From there, the NCAA's enforcement staff would begin its own investigation into the program.
In a faxed statement to the Associated Press earlier this week, ASU athletic director Richard Cosby said the report detailed a program "almost totally out of control."
Cosby has been unavailable for comment since Tuesday. President Joe Lee, the man who will make a decision on Cole's future at the school, has been out of town most of the week and isn't scheduled back into the office until Monday.
Meanwhile, the football season is fast approaching. Cole is scheduled to participate in the Southwestern Athletic Conference media day in Birmingham on Friday and practice is scheduled to start Aug. 5.
The school's football media guide is scheduled to be printed next week -- with Cole and his staff included.
"We want the ASU fans to know that we haven't done the things that Cosby put out there," L.C. Cole said. "None of that stuff was discussed with us in that meeting on Monday. The only thing Clayton accused us of was six or seven things. It wasn't any of this stuff (Cosby) is talking about. As a matter of fact, some of that stuff he's claiming we proved didn't happen to Clayton and he never brought it up again."
Since Cosby released his statement, L.C. Cole has been a prominent fixture in the media. He conducted interviews with two Montgomery TV stations on Thursday, has been questioned by numerous state newspapers and has been a guest on several talk radio shows in recent days.
Today, the dispute will turn more public. Fans and alumni who support Cole are holding a rally to protest the ASU administration's handling of the investigation.
The rally is planned to start at 9 a.m. Saturday and will be held at Hornet Stadium on the ASU campus.
"We've had a lot of people saying they were coming," said Cuvie Rae Hays, one of the rally's organizers. "Since all (of the media attention) we've had a lot more people say they're coming. I don't know how big this thing is going to be, but it may surprise a lot of people."
ASU started its internal investigation of the football department in December after former coach Dederick Bell sent a letter to university officials that outlined several NCAA violations he claimed to have witnessed in his time on the staff.
On Monday, Cole said Clayton accused him of four violations earlier this week -- misuse of funds, contact with a player at another university without obtaining a release, contact with two recruits during a dead period and knowingly practicing four ineligible players.
Johnnie Cole was accused of two violations -- illegal contact with a recruit and contact with a player at another university without obtaining a release.
Richard Freeman also was accused of two violations -- illegal contact with a recruit and knowledge of illegal booster activities.
The Coles attorney, Montgomery's Julian McPhillips, said the charges sounded much worse than what they are.
"(Clayton) has taken small little things that are very circumstantial and labeled them harshly," McPhillips said. "We're talking about small, minor incidents that could just as easily be looked at as no violation. They've taken those and blown them up to make them seem like these just terrible violations."
In his statement, Cosby also accused the football coaches of changing the grades of a stellar athlete, recruiting, practicing and playing ineligible players and producing "live strip shows" for recruits.