Scout ban nothing to do with agents: Saban

Nick Saban just finished his news conference in which he tried to head off the story that he’s banned NFL scouts from practice.

He has, but not for the reasons speculated.

“I know there’s been a lot made of this whole sort of NFL scout thing and really I don’t think it’s fair to our players for people to come in here and evaluate our players when it’s 110 degrees outside and we’re going through two-a-days,” Saban said. “So, I don’t really want the guys here when we’re going through two-a-days. It’s especially hot this year and what I told people is we’ll put out a schedule some time after Aug. 25th. So we didn’t close this to the NFL for any particular reason.”

Read more later about a teleconference Saban said he organized that involved everyone from college coaches to the NFLPA and the NFL commissioner. Interesting stuff in this, the 900th post in Bama Blog history.

UPDATE: On the topic of agents, Saban said everyone needs to be held accountable when rules are broken. That includes players and not just while they’re still in school.

“Is it not conduct detrimental if a player does the wrong thing in college and gets suspended for his senior season just so he can play in the NFL? It hurts the NFL,” Saban said. “It hurts the college. It hurts the player. It hurts everybody. So why shouldn’t he get suspended for conduct detrimental just like Roethlisberger or some of the other guys that doesn’t do the right thing?

“Now I like Ben Roethlisberger. I have respect for him and I don’t mean that in a negative way, but he’s being suspended right now for not doing the right thing in a particular circumstance.”

3:29 p.m. update: An Ohio State spokesperson confirmed to The Bama Blog that Jim Tressel participated in the call but doesn’t expect the Buckeye coach to comment on it.

4:45 update: A spokesman from Oklahoma confirmed the The Blog that Bob Stoops also participated in the call. 

Rod Woodson leaves team, other nuggets

Nick Saban just wrapped his first news conference of the preseason, prepractice period. There was a little bit of news. Here is the run down:

• Sophomore-to-be defensive back Rod Woodson left the team in a move Saban said was a mutual decision. Coming out of Olive Branch (Miss.) High School, Woodson was rated one of the top defensive backs in the country by recruiting services.
• On a related matter, Saban said junior college transfer Dequan Menzie is recovering quite nicely from the torn Achilles tendon he suffered in the spring. He’s participated in voluntary off-season drills including 7-on-7 drills and could be ready to go by the Sept. 4 opener against San Jose State. That would be huge for the depleted secondary since Menzie was one of the top JUCO defensive backs in the country last fall.
• Eligibility questions remain for freshmen Blake Sims and Tuscumbia’s Deion Belue. Neither have been cleared academically and are awaiting word on their status.
• Two freshmen are definitely out for this fall. Ronald Carswell qualified, Saban said but will defer enrollment until the spring, and Wilson Love did not pass his physical due to a pre-existing ankle injury. Both will join the team in January and will not count against scholarship limits.
• On the Marcell Dareus front, there is nothing new to report. Saban said the NCAA has the case in its hands and will issue a decision eventually. If you need the background on that situation, see the archives.
• Saban was mic’ed up and ESPNU cameras intently followed his every move at the newer for the one-hour “Alabama All-Access” set to air later this month.

Read more on these topics and a few more later on or in tomorrow’s paper. Also expect some new photos of the almost-complete south end zone expansion at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

A few links to go with Sunday’s agent story

As promised, here are a few more resources for you to inspect to learn more about the certification of sports agents and the laws that govern them. For a look at the story in Sunday’s paper click here or here.

The Alabama state agent/athlete law (pdf)

The federal agent/athlete law 

Sports Agents Responsibility and Trust Act (federal)

Agents certified by the University of Alabama

University of Alabama compliance/agent regulations

Agents certified to operate in the state of Alabama

A news story from about the EU’s attempt to regulate agents in Europe

TMZ story about Ingram, agent not true says UA

Celebrity gossip site TMZ.com produced the latest chapter in the college athlete/agent scandal, but Alabama officials are saying there is little truth to the story that went up today.

The story beneath the headline “NCAA probes party with 2009 Heisman winner” claims Mark Ingram might be in hot water over a trip he took back in May.

UA spokesman Doug Walker said that any NCAA-related concerns were dealt with before the trip. Ingram provided the necessary receipts to prove he paid for all expenses.

“We are not aware with any issues with the visit,” Walker said by email Thursday.

UA denies reports of Dareus’ ineligibilty

Is he eligible or not? That’s the question floating around SEC Media Days surrounding Alabama defensive end Marcell Dareus.

A story on the Tuscaloosa News website cited a source who said Dareus had been ruled ineligible because of alleged dealings with a sports agent.

Not true, says a UA spokesman who couldn’t comment further than to say the story was not accurate.

Read more tomorrow and possibly later today as this story continues to evolve.

SEC MEDIA DAYS: So it begins

It’s a madhouse already in Hoover as Nick Saban and his players have arrived at SEC Media Days.

As expected, dealings with agents is the No. 1 topic.

SEC commissioner Mike Slive said it is time for the NCAA to change rules on the issue while not condoning any kind of improper contact. He also said schools should be able to help student-athletes who want to pursue a job in professional sports just as it does with those choosing medicine.

Stay tuned for more. We are experiencing wireless issues here in the media compound. When they improve, I’ll load videos of the mob scene in the lobby as well as a video tour of all the places you’re used to seeing on TV.

Go to the Twitter home of the blog for more updates. http://twitter.com/DailyBamaBlog 

UPDATE: Internet issues continue here at the Wynfrey Hotel. Videos, I promise, are coming eventually.