Meet the Bag Man: How to Buy Players from a man who claims to deliver the $

[jbcarol]

http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2014/4/10/5594348/college-football-bag-man-interview

The Bag Man excuses himself to make a call outside, on his "other phone," to arrange delivery of $500 in cash to a visiting recruit. The player is rated No. 1 at his position nationally and on his way into town. We're sitting in a popular restaurant near campus almost a week before National Signing Day, talking about how to arrange cash payments for amateur athletes.

"Nah, there's no way we're landing him, but you still have to do it," he says. "It looks good. It's good for down the road. Same reason my wife reads Yelp. These kids talk to each other. It's a waste of money, but they're doing the same thing to our guys right now in [rival school's town]. Cost of business."

...

When things are done correctly, there's no proof more substantial than one man's word over another...

[PowderedPig]

We have got to start playing the game better.

[Amityvillehogger]

How else can ole Nicky Satan keep a roster full of 5* players happy.

[Break & Run]

How else can ole Nicky Satan keep a roster full of 5* players happy.

Championships might have something to do with it.  SMH.

[VanilaGorila]

Only $500 for a #1 rated recruit at their position? Seems like most Prima Donna's these days would be insulted but such a low amount. 

[Inhogswetrust]

Only $500 for a #1 rated recruit at their position? Seems like most Prima Donna's these days would be insulted but such a low amount. 

In Memphis that's chump change.........................................

[ricepig]

Only $500 for a #1 rated recruit at their position? Seems like most Prima Donna's these days would be insulted but such a low amount. 

That wasn't for the signature on NSD, that was just a welcome to town gift.

[ricepig]

In Memphis that's chump change.........................................

Ain't everyone Albert Means' coach......

[Amityvillehogger]

Championships might have something to do with it.  SMH.

You must not spend much time around 18-22 year old kids now days then.

[Uncommon]

I'm glad an Auburn fan took time out of his busy schedule to do that interview.  Of course, it probably wasn't an Auburn fan because:
A. You need lots of money

B. You have to be intelligent not to get caught

[secneahog]

I had to quit reading half way through it. Talk about a low life, sleazy p.o.s.
Slime ball that is willing to cheat and corrupt the game so he can see his team win.

Reminds me of the movie Blue Chips.

[Break & Run]

You must not spend much time around 18-22 year old kids now days then.

I'm 24 years old.

[fortsmithokie]

So he took all this time to write a story without a single identified source to tell us about what we already know is going on. I smell Pulitzer Prize.

[MiHogsMi]

We have got to start playing the game better.

Who says we ain't?

[PowderedPig]

Who says we ain't?

I said better.

[redeye]

I had to quit reading half way through it. Talk about a low life, sleazy p.o.s.
Slime ball that is willing to cheat and corrupt the game so he can see his team win.

Reminds me of the movie Blue Chips.

Yea, I can never finish these things, either.

Universities are doing a fine job of teaching student-athletes how to cheat.

[HogFoo]

To Quote Charles barkley.  former aubbie alum.   "  If you ain't paying, you ain't trying!''


It's pretty obvious that this happens. Yeah, once you get your program established with a winning tradition you don't have to do it as much.  Then the winning brings the recruits in for the most part.  I just keep thinking of Ole Piss.  I could see them getting kids from that area or from one of the what, 52 jucos they have???  But, when they start getting the #1 players at their positions from around the nation in a coaches first year???  Something is fishy. 

So, apparently, we aren't paying enough!  hahaha

[Hogfaniam]

This should prove interesting....

http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2014/4/10/5594348/college-football-bag-man-interview

[lahawg1]

Wow, interesting to say the least....

[wstill3]

wow thats a very interesting read, from watching what has happened with people I know, I don't doubt this in the least.

[Albert Einswine]

Auburn...

[Uncommon]

Auburn...

[thebignasty]

Not surprising.

[JansterZ71]

Yes it's interesting that they say it happens at EVERY SEC school.

The author should have said every major program because that is the truth

[tophawg19]

and how does this guy just happen to know all these guys who are so willing to talk . especially knowing he could turn them in and damage their university ?

[JansterZ71]

and how does this guy just happen to know all these guys who are so willing to talk . especially knowing he could turn them in and damage their university ?

I'm sure the story has some sort of validity but it's obvious the dude stretched the truth just a tad.  No way he knows multiple people from multiple school that pay recruits and that would be open to telling him

[Fayettechill14]

I have a hard time believing that an SB Nation reporter got so much access to so many people willing to talk. I have no doubt there's a lot of truth there, but I'm guessing it's embellished a bit.

[OnTheHillHogFan]

Who says we ain't?

We are...just like the majority of schools in the BCS conferences.

[GalaHawg]

Ole Miss

[IBleedRazorbackRed]

I had to quit reading half way through it. Talk about a low life, sleazy p.o.s.
Slime ball that is willing to cheat and corrupt the game so he can see his team win.

Reminds me of the movie Blue Chips.

You wouldn't drop a couple grand for a couple more wins if you were financially able?

[MuskogeeHogFan]

I have a hard time believing that an SB Nation reporter got so much access to so many people willing to talk. I have no doubt there's a lot of truth there, but I'm guessing it's embellished a bit.

As with most things, the truth lies somewhere in between.

Writers need reads to make them able to continue to be writers.

Sensationalism sells, whether it serves the truth of the matter or not.

[Tusks]

its not the 'bag' man game the hogs have to play....its the whole system.  even duke got BB parents jobs in the research triangle.  why don't we offer walmart and tyson jobs.

LSU recruits dad owns a liquor store.  someone pulls up and buys out the whole store.  then a truck pulls up and restocks the store at no charge.  kids signs with LSU.

THAT is how you play the game.  Not with bags of cash.

[sowmonella]

Auburn lock!

[Laughing Hog]

Auburn...

That's what I was thinking while I was reading it.

[popcornhog]

Yes it's interesting that they say it happens at EVERY SEC school.

The author should have said every major program because that is the truth

Out of sheer curiosity, how do you know that?

[The_Hog_Father]

its not the 'bag' man game the hogs have to play....its the whole system.  even duke got BB parents jobs in the research triangle.  why don't we offer walmart and tyson jobs.

LSU recruits dad owns a liquor store.  someone pulls up and buys out the whole store.  then a truck pulls up and restocks the store at no charge.  kids signs with LSU.

THAT is how you play the game.  Not with bags of cash.

+1  #QTF

[redeye]

You wouldn't drop a couple grand for a couple more wins if you were financially able?

Would you provide your favorite MLB team with steroids, if you had the means?

[IBleedRazorbackRed]

Would you provide your favorite MLB team with steroids, if you had the means?

Totally different. Steroids affect the players physical state. If someone asked you, "give me a couple grand and it'll improve arkansas football" would you do it?

[Karma]

Couldn't be auburn based on the story of the coach that cussed on the plane. I bet it's Ole Miss

[Albert Einswine]

I assume you're implying Gus doesn't cuss?  Right... that's Nutt level mythology.

[Mike Irwin]

Alabama cheats the best. They try not to get caught but they do it so much that every 10 years or so they have to pay the price.

Auburn boosters have figured out that Mark Emert doesn't care about enforcing the rules these days so they're cheating with impunity.

Arkansas has wimpy cheaters. Guys that slip a kid a couple of twenty dollar bills and tell him to have a good time (with a wink).

In most cases SEC coaches don't get involved in this stuff. As long as they don't look hard enough they can honestly say they don't know about any cheating.

[Mike Irwin]

I assume you're implying Gus doesn't cuss?  Right... that's Nutt level mythology.

Ken Hatfield was known to occasionally cut loose. What's your point?

[popcornhog]

I assume you're implying Gus doesn't cuss?  Right... that's Nutt level mythology.

I'm pretty sure he was joking.

[Albert Einswine]

I'm just having fun with it. There were folks who thought Nutty so pious they couldn't fathom a cuss word parting his lips. I've never known, or known of a football coach who didn't cuss a blue streak on an occasional to regular basis.

[Pigsknuckles]

I have a hard time believing that an SB Nation reporter got so much access to so many people willing to talk. I have no doubt there's a lot of truth there, but I'm guessing it's embellished a bit.

Yeah, especially when one of the rules was to never interact with the media. I'm reminded of that TV show that claims to reveal the secrets behind magicians tricks. Gives just enough information to make the masses think they know how it is being done, but is really just another form of "misdirection". Fun read though.

[PorkRinds]

I promised Collins a kiddie pool full of Ranch dressing, and got him to come to Arkansas.  Some kids want money, some just like the cool refreshing taste of Hidden Valley Ranch dressing in a rubber swimming pool filled to the brim.  Just sayin...

[chitwnhog]

Alabama cheats the best. They try not to get caught but they do it so much that every 10 years or so they have to pay the price.

Auburn boosters have figured out that Mark Emert doesn't care about enforcing the rules these days so they're cheating with impunity.

Arkansas has wimpy cheaters. Guys that slip a kid a couple of twenty dollar bills and tell him to have a good time (with a wink).

In most cases SEC coaches don't get involved in this stuff. As long as they don't look hard enough they can honestly say they don't know about any cheating.

I think this is probably pretty close to reality. I was talking to a friend of mine who is a big LSU booster and he said everyone cheats. My response "Arkansas is doing it all wrong."

[Albert Einswine]

We need more dedicated bag men and heftier bags.

[Fatty McGee]

All you guys shooting the messenger remind me of Captain Renault:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjbPi00k_ME

All the billions flowing through college football and you can't believe there are people funneling a few hundred to some of the players?  And that the schools look the other way or are willfully ignorant?  You're fooling only yourselves.

[Großer Kriegschwein]

All you guys shooting the messenger remind me of Captain Renault:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjbPi00k_ME

All the billions flowing through college football and you can't believe there are people funneling a few hundred to some of the players?  And that the schools look the other way or are willfully ignorant?  You're fooling only yourselves.

Probably the reason half of em are broke is the same reason NFL and NBA players get broke. They think the money will always be there and don't try to conserve anything.