The key government witness in the FBI's college basketball corruption trial began his testimony Tuesday by turning the conversation to football, and discussing multiple payments he had made to players at major programs, including at least once at a coach's direction.
Former financial advisor Marty Blazer said that from 2000 to 2013-14, he made payments to college football players in order to secure them as clients when they turned pro and needed the services of a financial advisor.
Blazer said he made payments to players at Pittsburgh, Michigan, Notre Dame, Northwestern, North Carolina, Alabama and Penn State, where he said he gave $10,000 to the family of a player who would wind up the 11th pick in the 2009 NFL draft.