Facing inevitable questioning about a criminal FBI investigation into college basketball recruiting, Alabama head coach Avery Johnson shook his head repeatedly before offering a non-comment.
Johnson, who is entering his third season at Alabama, has found his team caught in the FBI’s crosshairs. Shortly after four basketball assistant coaches – Auburn's Chuck Person, Oklahoma State's Lamont Evans, Arizona's Emanuel “Book” Richardson and USC's Tony Bland – were arrested on felony corruption and fraud charges, Alabama revealed that administrative assistant Kobie Baker resigned from his post in relation to an internal review regarding the same investigation.
Baker was alleged to have received money in return for his influence over the future decisions of Alabama players who may have professional potential.