Jon Solomon right on time again...

[Buzz Killington]

The day before the young team's first road game, here we go again.

http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2011/09/jay_jacobs_ncaa_investigation.html

Jay Jacobs: NCAA investigation is reviewing Auburn's institutional control as normal procedure
Published: Friday, September 16, 2011, 5:30 AM

HOOVER, Alabama -- The NCAA has been reviewing areas throughout Auburn's athletics department to ensure there is institutional control, a normal procedure during investigations, Auburn Athletics Director Jay Jacobs said Thursday.

In an interview after speaking at the Hoover Area Chamber of Commerce luncheon, Jacobs said Auburn has not received a notice of inquiry. He expressed confidence Auburn has proper institutional control and said he knows of nothing new in the Cam Newton investigation within "the last month or so."

When asked how many issues related to Auburn football are being examined, Jacobs said the NCAA wants to make sure nothing gets missed.

"The Cam one is the one that started this entire thing," Jacobs said. "But the way the process works is once they begin to look at one thing, they look at everything around your program, whether it's a coach in another sport having too many text messages and you filed a secondary report. They look at all of that.

"They're making sure we have institutional control, and there's been nothing to indicate to me or to them otherwise. So when you say how many facets, it's basically everything that may come up in a normal operation of a year -- this year, last year or two years from now. They take a look just to make sure they're not missing anything."

Jacobs said Auburn has not complied with open-records requests from The Birmingham News out of respect for the NCAA's process. Over several months, The News has requested documents related to Newton's recruitment and all of Auburn's recent NCAA secondary violations.

"Generally, when the NCAA says it isn't over with, we don't release them," Jacobs said. "They'll even look at things we may or may not have gotten a reply from the NCAA yet just to see if there's any history there, anything that jumps out to them because they've looked into things. I would think in the near future we'll be able to share everything you need. But we're not going to do that until they tell us it's OK to do that."

Jacobs said the NCAA has not communicated with him about the Newton investigation, but may be talking to Auburn's attorneys.

"The thing I've learned about the NCAA is, I have a lot more respect for them today than I did a year ago," Jacobs said. "They're very thorough. They're professional people. With all these things going on at other institutions, they just want to make sure they get it right. That's what we want to do. There's no question that doesn't justify being asked."

Auburn President Jay Gogue said last week he is uncertain the status of the NCAA investigation.

"I've never heard anything about it other than what I read in the newspapers," Gogue said. "I have not a clue what's going on. I haven't heard anything. I just see it's a constant story."

Jacobs said Auburn's image has been hurt by the length of the investigation, but doesn't fault the NCAA. The NCAA has communicated to schools across the country that it is trying to be more effective and efficient, Jacobs said.

"But when you're dealing with third parties, often times trying to get a phone record or whatever, it may be it takes time to do that," he said. "But I will tell you this, too. Some people say lack of subpoena power slows them down. That hasn't been the case with us. They've been able to get everything they want. It's frustrating to some people that it's taking so long. I'd like for it to be over in 24 hours. But that's just not the way it works."

In other news, Jacobs said the contract for men's basketball coach Tony Barbee still has not been signed as he enters his second season. Jacobs said the hangup is over one piece of wording, which he did not specify.

"When attorneys get involved, sometimes we'll use our words, not your words," Jacobs said. "There's no real big issues there."

The Birmingham News reported last November that Barbee disputed a clause Auburn wanted -- and removed -- that would have significantly reduced his salary during an NCAA investigation of his program if there was one. Barbee is working under his original 11-paragraph letter of agreement from March 2010 that pays him $1.5 million a year for six years.

Heading into a second year without a contract "does seem unusual," Jacobs acknowledged. "Fortunately, we have a great letter of agreement from the beginning that really covers all the basics of employment."

Jacobs said he does not know when the contract will be finalized. "It's really up to the attorneys," he said. "I'd like for it to get done. But I'm perfectly fine working with the letter of agreement."

During his speech at the Hoover Area Chamber of Commerce luncheon, Jacobs called for more respect by fans in the Auburn-Alabama rivalry and said one person's actions don't represent everyone. Alabama fan Harvey Updyke is accused of poisoning Auburn's famous oak trees.

"If we can get the fans to have the mutual respect for one another as the guys playing the games do, we will have made Alabama a better place to live," Jacobs said. "What we're doing is not eternal. It makes no sense to lose friendships or have cross words with family and friends over how an 18- or 22-year-old plays a ballgame. So I just encourage you, when you win, enjoy it; when you lose, have some humility. Just know it's a game."

[Kaos]

Basically I see nothing to worry about.  Jacobs is trying to say "there's nothing to see here, move along."  He just (as he always does when speaking in public) did it badly.

He would have been better served saying "fuck you, no comment, you bama sucking douche bitch."

[Saniflush]

Basically I see nothing to worry about.  Jacobs is trying to say "there's nothing to see here, move along."  He just (as he always does when speaking in public) did it badly.

He would have been better served saying "fuck you, no comment, you bama sucking douche bitch."

You have speechwriter written all over you.

[Kaos]

You have speechwriter written all over you.

Dammit.  I tried to wash that shit off.   

[JR4AU]

Agree on the timing here, but Gouge's comments sound like he's asleep at the wheel.

[Snaggletiger]

Agree on the timing here, but Gouge's comments sound like he's asleep at the wheel.

Totally agree.  I read that and went, "The biggest money maker on your campus and you have no clue what's going on with an NCAA investigation?"

[Kaos]

Totally agree.  I read that and went, "The biggest money maker on your campus and you have no clue what's going on with an NCAA investigation?"

Because there isn't one. 

[JR4AU]

Because there isn't one.

Try convincing a bammer of that