milesl
7/16/2014, 11:56 AM
http://www.statesman.com/weblogs/bevo-beat/2014/jul/15/agent-boasts-about-having-dinner-4-longhorns-twitt/
By Brian Davis
Texas officials have yet to confirm the names of two players who could face NCAA penalty for accepting meals from a sports agent. However, one St. Louis-based agent boasted on Twitter about having dinner with four Longhorns in late March.
Justin Bingman, who represents former Texas lineman Mason Walters, tweeted on four occasions that he had dinners with defensive end Cedric Reed (March 22), defensive tackle Desmond Jackson (March 23), linebackers Steve Edmond and Jordan Hicks (March 24).
The site Orangebloods.com found the tweets late Tuesday. The American-Statesman attempted to contact Bingman after 10 p.m. All the tweets involving Texas football players — including those four — appear to have been deleted sometime after 11 p.m.
Bingman did not return messages left by the American-Statesman.
“Just had a great dinner with @Ced_Reed88 He and his dad are great guys!” Bingman tweeted on March 22.
“Had dinner with @TexasBoy99tank and his Dad last night. They are both great guys and looking forward to the next time,” he tweeted about Jackson on March 23.
The next day, Bingman tweeted, “Had dinner with @SteveBigMoney33 last night, MLB for Texas. We all had a great time with many stories. #Longhorns”
Bingman’s next tweet read: “Just had dinner with a great young man that is going to do great this year for Texas @JHicks_3 #Longhorns #LonghornsNation”
All four players were underclassmen at the time, and all four returned for their senior seasons. It’s unclear who paid for the meals, but if the agent paid for the dinners, that’s considered a NCAA violation. All four players would appear to have their eligibility in jeopardy.
The American-Statesman first reported Tuesday that two unnamed players had accepted meals from an agent and that school officials reported the violation to the NCAA. A university spokesman said that Texas was working through the normal procedures.
In previous NCAA situations, players have been allowed to make restitution for small amounts, like a meal, and receive a minor penalty — perhaps a one-game suspension.
It’s also unclear how Texas coach Charlie Strong will handle the situation. He isn’t scheduled to meet with reporters until Tuesday at Big 12 media day.
By Brian Davis
Texas officials have yet to confirm the names of two players who could face NCAA penalty for accepting meals from a sports agent. However, one St. Louis-based agent boasted on Twitter about having dinner with four Longhorns in late March.
Justin Bingman, who represents former Texas lineman Mason Walters, tweeted on four occasions that he had dinners with defensive end Cedric Reed (March 22), defensive tackle Desmond Jackson (March 23), linebackers Steve Edmond and Jordan Hicks (March 24).
The site Orangebloods.com found the tweets late Tuesday. The American-Statesman attempted to contact Bingman after 10 p.m. All the tweets involving Texas football players — including those four — appear to have been deleted sometime after 11 p.m.
Bingman did not return messages left by the American-Statesman.
“Just had a great dinner with @Ced_Reed88 He and his dad are great guys!” Bingman tweeted on March 22.
“Had dinner with @TexasBoy99tank and his Dad last night. They are both great guys and looking forward to the next time,” he tweeted about Jackson on March 23.
The next day, Bingman tweeted, “Had dinner with @SteveBigMoney33 last night, MLB for Texas. We all had a great time with many stories. #Longhorns”
Bingman’s next tweet read: “Just had dinner with a great young man that is going to do great this year for Texas @JHicks_3 #Longhorns #LonghornsNation”
All four players were underclassmen at the time, and all four returned for their senior seasons. It’s unclear who paid for the meals, but if the agent paid for the dinners, that’s considered a NCAA violation. All four players would appear to have their eligibility in jeopardy.
The American-Statesman first reported Tuesday that two unnamed players had accepted meals from an agent and that school officials reported the violation to the NCAA. A university spokesman said that Texas was working through the normal procedures.
In previous NCAA situations, players have been allowed to make restitution for small amounts, like a meal, and receive a minor penalty — perhaps a one-game suspension.
It’s also unclear how Texas coach Charlie Strong will handle the situation. He isn’t scheduled to meet with reporters until Tuesday at Big 12 media day.