Is former Pitt star and current agent Ralph Cindrich right about Alabama's Nick Saban being a cheater?

... Time for a major investigation from outside the NCAA 

Ralph Cindrich was a former linebacker at the University of Pittsburgh who later played five years in the NFL. During that NFL time, he also attended law school, earning a degree and becoming a well-known sports agent for NFL players.

Included in his group of clients are former Pitt stars Mark May and Bill Fralic, two of the best linemen in college football during their playing days.

May, a former NFL player with the Washington Redskins, is now a college football personality for ESPN. Fralic player for the Falcons, and both received huge contracts due to Cindrich's negotiating skills.

Allegations made in 2012

As an agent, Cindrich knows about the seedy, corrupt side of college athletics. In an interview on KDKA radio in 2012, Cindrich condemned the NCAA, and in the process, Alabama Coach Nick Saban.

The radio hosts, Larry Richert and John Shumway, asked Cindrich is Alabama players were being paid. Here is part of what he said:

"When you get these guys down and you get them under oath, they'll tell you that. Sure.

"The statute of limitations has probably run as far as any criminality was involved to what I was relating to Saban, but I was involved in it. I know what he tried to do. I know what he tried to cover up. If he wants to stand up and say something, I'll bring that up. If it's out of time, I'll go to the nearest agent I know, and I'll bring up about a dozen things that are in time, because that's the way he and most of the big-time schools, particularly in the SEC, operate."

Since that time, Saban has not responded to Cindrich's allegations. Questions continue to swirl around Alabama athletes as to where they find the money to buy things like cars. Allegations about fans and alums making payments have been common over the years.

Allegations need proof, investigation

However, no proof has been offered. Cindrich did offer evidence that many people know about this, and he indicated that he knew what was taking place in Tuscaloosa and throughout the SEC in general.

"Let me say this: If you go to a seedy group out there - let's call them the agents out there of professional football players - and you start bringing them in and give them immunity ... you would hear things that make your hair turn gray ...

"Like violations. Like payola. I mean, I testify in these things, guys. There's so much money - are you guys really serious? Are you that naive to think that there really isn't thousands of dollars in payola given to players to play each Saturday?"

Cindrich even went so far as to challenge Saban. "Everybody has something on Nick Saban, for God's sake. And if he has a problem with anything I say, come on after me, big guy."

NCAA allows this to take place

Cindrich alleged that the NCAA is well-aware of what is transpiring in college football, but plays ostrich. "It is not pure, lily white. It is not close to that. It is a professional sport, a billion-dollar industry. Everybody knows the underside of it. If they're out there, if they're around players, around campuses, they know what goes on. It's bad."

On the show, Cindrich was critical of the NCAA for the Penn State sanctions that were levied in the Jerry Sandusky child-abuse scandal. He was critical of its leader, Mark Emmert, a former college president. "When he starts talking about values and all the rest with student-athletes and college education and football, he's a hypocrite, and he knows he's a hypocrite. Coming down the way they have on Penn State, and even the statements that they're making, it's not at all about the institution. ... We should be looking at them. There's something that smells about this whole thing. It came down too quickly, in my opinion."

Conclusion

Big time college sports are evidently all about money, not about education or equity in sports. If Alabama faithful and those from other schools are indeed paying players under the table. it should be investigated and the schools suspended from play.

However, Cindrich offered no proof other than his word that this was taking place. I believe that this is taking place, but again, proof is essential when making charges of this kind.

My belief is that Alabama could not sustain a program that attracts the level of athletes that it does without some kinds of enticements. However, they are not alone. The SEC probably knows about this, just like the NCAA does.

Until a major scandal blows the lid off college athletics, it will continue, and it is not fair.

https://cbspittsburgh.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/ralphcindrich.mp3