Did T-Town Menswear Cause an NCAA Violation For Alabama? (UA says no)

[TIDEnGA]

Here is what I don't like about all this, no matter if there are any violations in this mess or not, some of these pictures just don't look good IMO. What I don't understand is why are there these 40, 50+ year old fans out there who want to hang out with 20 year olds and have them sign things like there dashboard. Why can't these fans just watch the games and post on message boards like the rest of us and leave the players alone. Fans don't need to go to players houses or let them play in your car; it just makes no sense to me. Just get your autographs at official events and games, no need to try and hang out with these guys.

I trust our compliance department so until some real facts come out about rules being broken then I’ll say we are in the clear but, some of these pictures just drive me crazy. The signing the dashboard one especially because I just don’t get why the players would do that and why a fan would ask. If I ran into a few Bama players and asked them to sign my mini van’s dashboard they’d probably look at me like I’m crazy and keep walking.

To all you fanatics out there, it’s not all about you and how much crap you can get signed… just stay away from our players. I’m sorry but I hate these types of fans, they put their image ahead of the program and are the scum of fandom IMO. That may sound harsh but I’ve always felt this way, even before these pictures came to light.

I don't get it either 1017. I understand kids' fascination but adults??? I fly with the team sometimes and seeing some of these guys and then watching the worship... I just don't get it. That isn't to say our players aren't polite and well mannered. Most of them are very versed in how to behave either by parents or coaches.

Heck, my kids and I high five and say "Trent's the man!" when he scores and stuff like that. I make comments all throughout games about how awesome somebody like Rolando or Javy is. But to sit there and see them in person and realize they're just regular young men who happen who play a sport very well. I don't know, I'm then almost embarassed myself at how I behave in front of the TV or at BDS. But to freak out right in front of them....just not my style.

 

[C Earl]

Here is what I don't like about all this, no matter if there are any violations in this mess or not, some of these pictures just don't look good IMO. What I don't understand is why are there these 40, 50+ year old fans out there who want to hang out with 20 year olds and have them sign things like there dashboard. Why can't these fans just watch the games and post on message boards like the rest of us and leave the players alone. Fans don't need to go to players houses or let them play in your car; it just makes no sense to me. Just get your autographs at official events and games, no need to try and hang out with these guys.

I trust our compliance department so until some real facts come out about rules being broken then I’ll say we are in the clear but, some of these pictures just drive me crazy. The signing the dashboard one especially because I just don’t get why the players would do that and why a fan would ask. If I ran into a few Bama players and asked them to sign my mini van’s dashboard they’d probably look at me like I’m crazy and keep walking.

To all you fanatics out there, it’s not all about you and how much crap you can get signed… just stay away from our players. I’m sorry but I hate these types of fans, they put their image ahead of the program and are the scum of fandom IMO. That may sound harsh but I’ve always felt this way, even before these pictures came to light.

Thank you. I feel that all the jock sniffing men and women that derive a sense of belonging and or self worth from getting their photos made with the players or showing off those photos and autographs need to step back and get another hobby. I love Alabama football and spend probably too much money on it, in fact during the early 2000's I know I spent too much because I was not getting what I feel was a proper return on that investment. How upset will we all be if the program gets hurt because some middle aged guy just has to go out to eat with the starting tailback from the University of Alabama? By all means, enjoy the games people. Cheer loudly and support Alabama the right way but realize there are hundreds of thousands of people that love the program probably more than you do and you are taking a chance on messing it up for the rest of us just so you can get some self gratification from looking at your pictures on the wall and by claiming that x player is my friend.

 

[imauafan]

Here is what I don't like about all this, no matter if there are any violations in this mess or not, some of these pictures just don't look good IMO. What I don't understand is why are there these 40, 50+ year old fans out there who want to hang out with 20 year olds and have them sign things like there dashboard. Why can't these fans just watch the games and post on message boards like the rest of us and leave the players alone. Fans don't need to go to players houses or let them play in your car; it just makes no sense to me. Just get your autographs at official events and games, no need to try and hang out with these guys.

I trust our compliance department so until some real facts come out about rules being broken then I’ll say we are in the clear but, some of these pictures just drive me crazy. The signing the dashboard one especially because I just don’t get why the players would do that and why a fan would ask. If I ran into a few Bama players and asked them to sign my mini van’s dashboard they’d probably look at me like I’m crazy and keep walking.

To all you fanatics out there, it’s not all about you and how much crap you can get signed… just stay away from our players. I’m sorry but I hate these types of fans, they put their image ahead of the program and are the scum of fandom IMO. That may sound harsh but I’ve always felt this way, even before these pictures came to light.

I agree with you 100%. This type of behaviour bothers me for both the players and the fans. A 20 year old kid normally does not want to hang around with grown men that are their parents age. Grown men usually do not want to hang around with 20 year olds that are not their own children. When these two different groups of people suddenly start hanging around together, it doesn't look right. I'm not saying anything was done wrong but no one can say (with a straight face) that this is normal behaviour. I posted this almost exact sentiment last year when the Ingram/Julio gulf fishing trip story first broke.

 

[bamaman07]

Bama did its part. They dissociated the guy and the University did its part. Cased close in my book. Let's move on.

 

[CrimsonMapper]

Josh Moon is getting owned by Donald Jackson on his show today. Moon is asking DJ a hundred questions about this situation and every question begins with "don't you think it's strange." DJ is answering every question with "no, sounds like Alabama did everything correctly."

 

[TideEngineer08]

Josh Moon is getting owned by Donald Jackson on his show today. Moon is asking DJ a hundred questions about this situation and every question begins with "don't you think it's strange." DJ is answering every question with "no, sounds like Alabama did everything correctly."

Isn't that the guy Finebaum has on all the time as an "ncaa expert"?

 

[Hoot30]

Josh Moon is getting owned by Donald Jackson on his show today. Moon is asking DJ a hundred questions about this situation and every question begins with "don't you think it's strange." DJ is answering every question with "no, sounds like Alabama did everything correctly."

^^^^^This^^^^

Listening online. The comedic value is priceless.

 

[CrimsonNagus]

I don't know if NCAA expert is the right term but yes, it is the same guy. To Jackson's credit, he has represent players during NCAA investigations and eligibility issues before, I think. Meaning, he is familiar with the NCAA process. It is fun listening to Josh Moon get owned, all week he has been acting like Bama will get hammer back to oblivion because of this; all while thinking Auburn is squeaky clean since there issues broke last year.

 

[TideEngineer08]

I don't know if NCAA expert is the right term but yes, it is the same guy. To Jackson's credit, he has represent players during NCAA investigations and eligibility issues before, I think. Meaning, he is familiar with the NCAA process. It is fun listening to Josh Moon get owned, all week he has been acting like Bama will get hammer back to oblivion because of this; all while thinking Auburn is squeaky clean since there issues broke last year.

That's why I put ncaa expert in quotations. I knew the guy on Finebaum seemed to dismiss everything no matter what, wrt Auburn's troubles.

 

[Seabass]

Here is what I don't like about all this, no matter if there are any violations in this mess or not, some of these pictures just don't look good IMO. What I don't understand is why are there these 40, 50+ year old fans out there who want to hang out with 20 year olds and have them sign things like there dashboard. Why can't these fans just watch the games and post on message boards like the rest of us and leave the players alone. Fans don't need to go to players houses or let them play in your car; it just makes no sense to me. Just get your autographs at official events and games, no need to try and hang out with these guys.

I trust our compliance department so until some real facts come out about rules being broken then I’ll say we are in the clear but, some of these pictures just drive me crazy. The signing the dashboard one especially because I just don’t get why the players would do that and why a fan would ask. If I ran into a few Bama players and asked them to sign my mini van’s dashboard they’d probably look at me like I’m crazy and keep walking.

To all you fanatics out there, it’s not all about you and how much crap you can get signed… just stay away from our players. I’m sorry but I hate these types of fans, they put their image ahead of the program and are the scum of fandom IMO. That may sound harsh but I’ve always felt this way, even before these pictures came to light.

Great post. I don't get this mentality where grown men feel the need to get all buddy-buddy with 18 year old kids. By all accounts my uncle could be considered a "booster." He played at Bama, has zone tickets at BDS, donates an arm and a leg to the University each year, and owns a large chain of convenience stores in and around the Tuscaloosa and Birmingham areas. He played with Shula, and they were close enough that he was in Shula's wedding. So untile CMS was fired he had tons of access to the program. But he never once tried to take players fishing, or buy them anything, or go to their houses. I realize this was before it was considered cool to take pictures of everything you see and post them to facebook, but it's still not something that would have crossed his mind. I just don't see why these guys think this is acceptable behavior. Just enjoy the games, get your autographs, and go home. You can't get away with anything these days so just stop trying to walk so close the the ledge.

 

[bamagump]

BTW none of these pictures could be photoshoped

 

[TIDE-HSV]

BTW none of these pictures could be photoshoped

Of course not...

 

[Skeeterpop]

I guess there is no such thing as Photoshop... Nice suit there.!

 

[Just Win]

I guess there is no such thing as Photoshop... Nice suit there.!

Actually, it's a pretty ugly suit.

 

[RazedRite]

To all you fanatics out there, it’s not all about you and how much crap you can get signed… just stay away from our players. I’m sorry but I hate these types of fans, they put their image ahead of the program and are the scum of fandom IMO. That may sound harsh but I’ve always felt this way, even before these pictures came to light.

Let's not be overly naive either. For some of these guys it's a business ploy or a status symbol. They use these autographs and photos to show how important they are and/or why you should do business with them.

 

[TrampLineman]

Friend of mine bought like 2 or 3 suits from there for under $400 for them all together. These are not $1000+ suits by any means. I needed a shirt for my graduation and went by there and the shirt was like $50 or somethin like that, can't remember exactly. Wasn't that great either.

I got my suit for $100 fully stocked (jacket, tie, undershirt, socks, pants, shoes) and it looks like a good suit and has held up VERY well. Like others have said you can get them even cheaper these days and Travis thinks just because Julio is seen in different suits in crappy pics that he knows he must have gotten a "sweet deal". It makes me laugh that he and the barners are getting their jollies by thinking that alone has us nailed.

Just get your autographs at official events and games, no need to try and hang out with these guys.

I agree, why try to get buddy-buddy with them unless you have something up your sleeve? I admit if I get a chance I'll get an autograph but I make sure they "personalize" it with my name or my nephews names so they know I'm not putting this on eBay once I get home to make money off them. I remember after we finally won in auBARN under Mark Gottfried we went down to the dressing rooms to take a few pics with the team and there were two guys down there with deflated basketballs just waiting to get the team to sign them (we had Steele, Winston, Chuck Davis, Shelton, and Davidson) just so they could sell them. I'm sure that ticked them off more than anything as we took our pics and got out of the way to let our buddy's son get his basketball signed that was dribbled all the way to the car.....lol.

 

[BamaNky37]

I was just thinking the same thing..Alot of professional athletes personalize their autographs now so that they cant be sold...maybe college athletes should accept the same practice.

 

[TrampLineman]

I was just thinking the same thing..Alot of professional athletes personalize their autographs now so that they cant be sold...maybe college athletes should accept the same practice.

Yep I do it out of respect to them as I know they should be making money and I'm sure it "can" get to them when they see their stuff on eBay going for big bucks. I generally dont get them to sign something expensive unless I really make sure they personalize it. I would rather burn all my stuff that says "To Josh, such and such player" than to sell it off and feel guilty later (I wouldnt have a reason to burn though...lol).

To me it just lets them know you feel their pain and dont want to make money off them. They do notice it. We got a good reception just asking for pictures as we couldnt re-sell them anyways. We just posed for 2 seconds and were out of their hair and parted with a Roll Tide.

I'm with you on the players should ask for their name and sign it just so it cant be sold. There are still ways around it but chances are most folks would actually "quit" going to Fan Day, etc. because they know they cant make money off of a free signing that they dont even have to do for us!!! They'll eventually find a way to ruin it for all of us..

 

[theBIGyowski]

My buddy who told me about the 3 suits for $99 deal said that it happens at Christmas and Easter every year...or at least did a year or two ago.

So...you could get 3 Easter suits or Christmas suits for $99. I assume this deal does not include any alterations and you are limited to whatever is on the rack.

He also said Albetar isn't really a football fan or sports fan in general...he just loves the attention that Alabama football gives his store. The reason all of this happened is because his store used to be near the spot where Kip Tyner did his local TV show. Albetar would see the football players and the fanfare around them and he wanted that to help his business. So, he really cares nothing about Alabama football or any of the players, he cares about his business and being popular, and Alabama football helps him in that.

 

[radrobot]

So, he really cares nothing about Alabama football or any of the players, he cares about his business and being popular, and Alabama football helps him in that.

I guess this would be why the University disassociated itself from Albetar. I'm assuming this could be the possible NCAA violation - using current players or likeness to promote your business.

Again as with all of you, I really hope there is nothing to this.