Though I've been guilty of it lately, this is not an intended flame.

Higgins: More than just a bump for Saban
Ron Higgins, The Commercial Appeal
Originally published 07:24 p.m., February 15, 2009
Updated 07:24 p.m., February 15, 2009

Just wondering when an SEC football coach is going to turn in Alabama coach Nick Saban on an apparent recruiting violation.

Saban obtained a commitment from Memphis Mitchell receiver Keiwone Malone, a high school junior.

The only problem is that other than a "bump" - which is an accidental "hello, how are ya?"- a coach can't have direct contact with a junior at the time that Saban did (before signing day for seniors on Feb. 4). That's a dead period (no contact) according to NCAA rules.

Judging from the quotes given by Malone to the Commerial Appeal's Jason Smith, there was a face-to-face meeting and a selling job by Saban.

Mitchell High didn't have any seniors that were being recruited by Saban, so his visit wasn't for that purpose.

And it had to be more than a bump. When's the last time you heard a kid receive a scholarship offer and commit on a bump?

The SEC office had no comment on the matter, other than to explain the bump rule. This wasn't a bump by the Sabanator. This was full-contact recruiting.

LOLZ!! He signed on the 6th, not the 4th (2 days after signing day). Try harder.

Are you laughing at me or Ron Higgins? At any rate, the concern is NOT when the kid committed. The problem is the date that Saban was at the school and the degree of contact that occurred. Under the "bump rule," coaches are only allowed to say hello and keep on going. The problem is that the kid is quoted in the newspaper talking about how he and Saban "bonded" over the fact that Malone was wearing a Dolphins cap. Bump and bond might go well together in other facets of life, but in recruiting, it's not a good thing.
Oh, again, I'm not trying to flame the Tide. If I was I'd surely admit it to you.

The bump was prior to the commitment during the dead period. Not to mention you can't have an off campus contact with a junior anyway.

Either way, Alabama will likely quietly write up a report and there won't be anymore to it.

Not laughing at anyone in particular, just laughing at such a lame attempt at going after Saban.

Timeline

Feb 4 Bump, "nice dolphins hat".
Feb 6 Commit

Works for me, Im sure Saban knows what he's doing when it comes to recruiting. (Unlike Kiffin, obviously)

Hey Mike, Higgins wouldnt happen to be from Tennessee would he?

So is Cianne out to get Bammers too?
At any rate, the kid's coach said that Saban's visit was proper. I'd start there if I were you.
Still, you can't get past the quotes from the kid which clearly point to improper contact.

Did I say anybody was out to get the "bammers"? Why so defensive Mike? Sorry you dont have Memphis locked down like your douchebag coaches thought you did, just because Saban made a fool of them is outta my control (even though I think it's effin hilarious). If the kid's coach said it was "proper" and they had small talk about his dolphins hat, something tells me Saban wont be losing any sleep tonight.

Hell, Kiffin's probably commited 3 violations just since you started this thread, I would think you should have better things to worry about, like how he cost you any shot at signing Brown. "Id start there if I was you".

I'm not really defensive. We've discussed the Kiffin snafus ad nauseum. I'm not all that concerned about locking down Memphis and I'm not particularly concerned about Kiffin's secondary violations either. If I were you, I wouldn't be all that concerned with this Saban thing. It seems pretty minor to me, but it also seems that something did occur. That's why I posted it. As WDave said, the SEC office is about to be overflowing with self-reports of secondary violations. That's just the way it is. It's not simply a UT or a Kiffin thing. If it can be said that I have some kind of agenda here, then the italicized part would be it.

We've been hammering you over Kiffin, we stole a recruit out of your backyard the day after your coach said he had it locked down and you're a UT fan. Nah, you dont have an agenda.

" Im sure Saban knows what he's doing when it comes to recruiting. (Unlike Kiffin, obviously)"

Amazing how brainwashed many bama fans are. Not all, but I guess that's why ambulance chasers like slimebaum have an audience.

You dont think he knows how to recruit? How did your coach do last year? How about the year before that?

Still doesn't compare to ole Kiffykins recent blunders.

We'll find out if there is truth to it when/if we self report. To be honest, sometimes the self-reporting doesn't get out.

BTW, I dont care what Cianne says...he's an Ole Miss fan for God's sake.

Damn this is good. I hope we have some gun play over this in hur. My money's on fernandomike. He's a kid from the hood and he's not past bustin a cap off in a crackers ass. Go get em Mike.

Aint nobody scared of NandoMike.