Scarbinsky with the Left Hook

[Townhallsavoy]

http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2011/07/when_do_college_football_fans.html

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama - Colin Wells seemed genuinely puzzled when he returned a voice mail message Thursday afternoon.

Why would a sports writer want to talk to him?

The 44-year-old may be originally from the United Kingdom, but he's not unlike countless born-and-bred Alabama football fans.

The owner of Bama Bandz and Tan at the Beach, who lives in Fayette, has met Alabama football players and had his picture taken with them, and he also has signed memorabilia from them.

"I'm just an Alabama fan, like most people in the state of Alabama," Wells said.

He's too modest. Some of his items and experiences would make fellow fans jealous.

Trent Richardson, Julio Jones and Terrence Cody have autographed the dashboard of his Cadillac Escalade. Wells has a photo of Jones sitting in the driver's seat while Richardson signs the dash.

That's something you don't see every day.

"It's good to be unique," Wells said.

He and his children have visited Mark Ingram's house, and Wells has a framed photo of himself with Ingram from that occasion. The caption on the frame reads, "Mark Ingram #22. Marks House. 11/30/10."

For reference, that was four days after last year's Iron Bowl.

"I've been lucky enough to bump into a few players," Wells said.

This could be just another story of just another superfan, but his relationship to some prominent Alabama players intersects with his friendship with Tom Albetar, the owner of T-Town Menswear.

Albetar has been in the news for the last week for his own relationship with prominent Alabama football players and his own collection of signed memorabilia and personal experiences that goes above and beyond that of the average fan.

Alabama said Sunday that it sent Albetar a cease-and-desist letter dated Dec. 22, 2010, accusing him of "selling or distributing, for commercial purposes, items depicting current University of Alabama student-athletes, specifically, items autographed by current student-athletes."

Alabama said Tuesday that it sent Albetar a letter dated March 31 of this year disassociating him from the program for a period of three years even though, as the letter said, the school did not conclude that he was a booster and did not accuse him of breaking any NCAA rules.

Wells said he got to know Albetar because Wells himself has done business in University Mall in Tuscaloosa, the location of T-Town Menswear.

"I know Tom very well," Wells said. "He's a friend."

Wells said that "some of the time" he's bumped into Alabama players, it's been with Albetar. One occasion was the day that Richardson and Jones signed the dash of Wells' Escalade in Tuscaloosa. That night, Wells said, he took his family to dinner and ran into Albetar, who was with a group of Alabama players that included Richardson and AJ McCarron.

Wells said Albetar invited him and his family to sit with Albetar and the players, and they did. "I paid for our meals, and they paid for theirs," Wells said.

The question of who did what for whom has to be raised when fans, supporters and boosters interact with college players. By NCAA rules, student-athletes aren't allowed to receive benefits, such as free or discounted meals or clothing, that aren't available to the normal college student.

The extensive collection of signed memorabilia Albetar owns, some of which he's displayed at his store, got the attention of the Alabama compliance department. An extensive collection of photos of Albetar with Alabama players, combined with his signed memorabilia collection, got the attention of the media.

Wells has seen Albetar thrown into the spotlight and, despite their friendship, draws a distinction between them.
"His business is his business," Wells said. "My business is my business."

Alabama's disassociation letter to Albetar said the school "has provided education to you on a number of occasions" on NCAA rules compliance. Wells declined to say whether Alabama has communicated with him personally on that subject or any other. No one has alleged that Wells has broken NCAA rules - and I'm not suggesting he has - and he stressed, more than once, that he hasn't stepped over the line.

"I have nothing to hide," he said. "I've never given an Alabama player one dime for anything. I've never given a player anything or paid a player for anything. I'd never do anything to jeopardize the players."

That last statement illustrates a larger point that must keep coaches, compliance directors and other major college officials across the country awake at night.

Every program has zealous fans, supporters and boosters who don't want to jeopardize their favorite teams but do want to get close to their favorite players. When does zealous become overzealous?

See Ohio State, which had football players trade signed swag for free tattoos, which was the seed of the current NCAA infractions case against the Buckeyes.

Any time fans and players get friendly beyond a quick postgame photo or a Fan Day autograph, it's natural to ask questions.

What are those fans willing to do for the players? What are the players willing to do in return? And why would the players, despite the extensive rules education they receive, put themselves and their programs at risk by getting too close to the fans?

Did Albetar and Wells, even without breaking the rules, get too close?

Wells took exception to the notion that having Richardson, Jones and Cody sign his dashboard and visiting Ingram's house suggested they had a relationship, let alone one that could be questioned.

"I don't understand how you have a relationship when you bump into players and ask them to sign your vehicle," Wells said. "Everybody I meet is a friend. Period."

Every football program needs friends, but as one major college official said, without singling out anyone, some friends of the program can love it too much.

If they're not careful, they can love it almost to death.

[Aubie16]

And he comes hard with that closing line. Love it.

[Xanusus]

It's one thing to "bump" into a player at a fan signing day, or after a game. I'll even give you that "bumping" into a player at a public location such as a business happens. BUT IT IS NOT "bumping" into a player when you show up at their friggin house! What is with Bama players and old rich white guys?

[The Prowler]

So, is Coach belittle using these guys to "Bump" into prospects too?

[Townhallsavoy]

Scarbo went on The OD and said another name will drop soon. 

Tom Albetar
Collin Wells
???????????

[The Prowler]

Scarbo went on The OD and said another name will drop soon. 

Tom Albetar
Collin Wells
???????????

Darren Woodruff is in that circle of friends, but that's probably not who he's talking about...the other name will probably dwarf Al-Betar and Wells....think car dealer, maybe.

[Townhallsavoy]

Ah yes.  The trifecta.

Sign with Alabama and you get the finest:

Cars
Clothes
Tans 

[JR4AU]

Scarbo went on The OD and said another name will drop soon. 

Tom Albetar
Collin Wells
???????????

Finebaum has a little snippet on to promote his show right now where he's saying: "Over the next few weeks before the season starts several more outlets will drop some bombs on programs."  I bet he wasn't expecting it to be on bammer.  Bammers are showing their typical bammerness over it all too.  Death threats to Clay Travis, idiotic tweets at Kody Bliss, hating on Scarbo.  Everybody that writes about them now is a hack, and gets compared to the wonderful, real, working journalists like Gayer Evans and Peter-eater Thamel.

[Buzz Killington]

Ah yes.  The trifecta.

Sign with Alabama and you get the finest:

Cars
Clothes
Tans

Does not compute.

[Townhallsavoy]

Does not compute.

Collin Wells owns a tanning company.  Something like that.

[Buzz Killington]

Collin Wells owns a tanning company.  Something like that.

nevermind...it's not funny if you have to explain it.

[AUChizad]

nevermind...it's not funny if you have to explain it.

Oh....Naggers....

[Townhallsavoy]

Scarbinsky definitely insinuated a new article being written about a new name. 

He gave a similar answer to Dan Wetzel.  "We don't talk about articles that we're currently working on because they may not pan out." 

[AUChizad]

By the way, here's some pictures from Collin's business's facebook.



Tom & Collin kickin it with some players.