Birmingham News (AL)
COTTRELL, WILLIAMS CHARGES DROPPED
Date: November 4, 2001
Section: News
Page: 1-A
Article written by: STEVE KIRK, News staff writer
TUSCALOOSA - The NCAA has withdrawn allegations of unethical
conduct against
former University of Alabama assistant football coaches Ivy
Williams and Ronnie
Cottrell and has reduced a charge involving the recruitment of
2000 signee Albert
Means.
The university confirmed Saturday the removal of unethical
conduct charges from the NCAA’s original Sept. 5 official
inquiry letter, following the school’s Tuesday pre-hearing with
the NCAA enforcement staff in Indianapolis.
The NCAA originally charged the Crimson Tide football program
with 16 violations, 11 deemed major. All of the reductions
involved major charges, which would appear to help the
university going into its Nov. 17 hearing with the NCAA
Committee on Infractions.
Allegation No. 11 was dropped entirely. It had accused Williams
of lying to NCAA investigators when questioned whether Lynn
Lang, the former coach at Trezevant High School in Memphis, had
solicited cash payments or vehicles during Means’ recruitment.
Also withdrawn was a substantial part of allegation No. 5
accusing Cottrell of unethical conduct for failing to report
knowledge of an academic fraud violation concerning 1999 signee
Michael Gaines and misleading investigators about it.
Birmingham attorney Keith Belt, who represents Williams, said
that a portion of allegation No. 3 also was removed. It had
charged that Williams had full knowledge of Lang’s request for
money in the Means case.
“It’s very courageous of them to back off allegations they know
there’s no credible evidence to support - especially at this
late stage,” Belt said.
The most significant allegation in No. 3 remains. It alleges
that booster Logan Young offered $115,000 to Lang for Means to
sign with Alabama. This, and charges No. 1 and No. 2 involving
the 1995-96 recruitment of Stevenson’s Kenny Smith, are the most
potentially damaging.
Enforcement staff members Rich Johanningmeier and Mark Jones
conducted a pre-hearing with university officials Tuesday at
Indianapolis and by telephone Wednesday with Williams and
Cottrell.
Based on this, plus the university’s offer of self-imposed
sanctions that likely include scholarship cuts, recruiting
restrictions and possibly a fine, the enforcement staff will
submit a case summary to the infractions committee.
Belt said he has no information concerning how much the removal
of allegations against Williams helps Alabama’s case, but he
believed it would be positive.
Williams “was a coach at the University of Alabama - he was
their employee,” Belt said. “So, I would think withdrawing those
two allegations would be a positive for the university, as far
as their status with the committee.’
The only remaining charge against Williams is No. 12, a
self-reported secondary violation that Williams admitted to -
that he visited Memphis high schools more often than allowed
during the 1998-2000 recruiting seasons.
Cottrell is also accused in allegation No. 4 of receiving an
improper loan from Young. Efforts to reach Cottrell or his
attorney were unsuccessful.
Williams attended Belt’s announcement Saturday at the Bryant
Conference Center with his wife and son.
“I told everyone I haven’t done anything,” Williams said, “but
(my family) had to read and hear things about me that were
untrue. I was worried about my credibility and my great name.”
Williams said he dealt with Means during the recruiting process,
not with the two Trezevant coaches who subsequently have been
indicted by a grand jury for their role in Means’ recruitment .
Lang and former assistant Milton Kirk.
“I never knew anything about any money,” Williams said.
However, Williams said Lang insisted that Williams speak to
Means only when Lang was present.
“I knew Coach Lang did some strange things, but some other
coaches do strange things,” Williams said. “You can’t go to the
kid’s home and you can’t call the kid (at home), which I had no
problem with. You had to call the kid at his (Lang’s) office and
he had to be present. I had no problem with it. .
“It was the same with (Alabama sophomore running back) Santonio
Beard. His coach wanted to be present also (during his
recruitment). Nobody said anything about that. So I didn’t think
anything about this one.”
Kirk, who blew the whistle on Lang, has told investigators that
Williams heard Lang offer Means’ services for money. Kirk first
told the media that he was present when Lang made the offer to
Williams, then Kirk later retracted that claim.
Williams did not criticize Kirk on Saturday.
“You can’t blame Milton Kirk,” Williams said. “He was telling a
story to get himself off the hook and you guys (in the media)
took it and ran with it. So you can’t point the finger at
Milton. He said he was trying to help Albert.”
Kirk alleged that other college coaches had heard offers from
Lang, but those coaches have denied this, according to Belt.
Belt cited Auburn’s Noel Maz zone, Mississippi State’s Melvin
Smith, Georgia’s Leon Perry and Nebraska’s Ron Brown.
Belt acknowledged that some coaches heard an offer and were
forthright about it. Former Arkansas assistant Fitz Hill
testified before a grand jury about receiving an offer.
Wants to return Mites College had interviewed Williams for its
head coaching job during the summer but backed off when
published reports outlined the NCAA’s allegations against
Williams.
“I was close to a couple of jobs,” Williams said, “and they
couldn’t hire me because of the circumstances. The only thing I
don’t understand is, when I told people I had nothing to do with
it they didn’t believe me.
“I even went so far as to say, ‘Well, look, if it does come out
and they find something, I’ll resign.’ And they still wouldn’t
give me a chance.”
Williams, who spent this fall as a volunteer assistant coach at
Central-Tuscaloosa High School, said he wants to return to
college coaching.
He and Cottrell were fired last November, along with the rest of
former Alabama head coach Mike DuBose’s staff.
Williams also said he would not pursue any legal action.
“I’m feeling good about myself and I’m going on with my life,”
he said.
Ivy Williams, left, and Ronnie Cottrell were a part of the
NCAA’s original Sept. 5 official inquiry letter.
