Memphis - Jovon Robinson story (updated): "The Barn Burns"

[Chechem]

"De'Vinner speaks with NCAA investigators"

De'Vinner's association with Vanderbilt players is revealed.  He tried to steer them; at least one wouldn't take his advice (page 3).

Click here for link

“I’ve known Byron De'Vinner since I was a sophomore (in high school),” defensive end Caleb Azubike, a former McGavock standout now a freshman at Vanderbilt said last year. “I went to his camp in Murfreesboro. He helped me get my name out and he’s mentored me. When I’ve needed him, he’s been there.”

Brian Kimbrow, last year’s top-rated recruit in the state as a running back from Memphis East, signed with Vanderbilt despite advice from De’Vinner to look elsewhere.

“He told me to go with my heart,” Kimbrow said last year. “My relationship with Byron, we’re very close. We don’t just talk about recruiting, we talk about life. He came from the same environment I’m living in now.”

Said De’Vinner in 2011: “We were on the phone for two hours ...trying to convince him he needed to be in a spread offense, trying to convince him to take a look at other places. Brian got mad at me and said, ‘I’m going to Vanderbilt.’”

[Chechem]

Byron De'Vinner is being interviewed on 93.7 The Zone at 11:15 this morning.

[Chechem]

Summary of Byron De'Vinner interview on 93.7:

1.  Bkgd: played at Alabama State.  Worked undercover for FBI, DEA (left for his "safety") before starting a foundation to interact with football players.
2.  Trying to help underprivileged kids.
3.  Reviewed his statement that he witnessed $ changing hands (to Miss. State player).
4.  Question: Has NCAA gone big on this investigation, or is it a small investigation?
Answer:  NCAA interviewed De'Vinner back in January; NCAA knew much of it already (money changing hands); MSU was on the conference call with him.
Q: Where will the investigation go from here?
A: He rambled, but didn't answer.  He just reviewed what happened. 
Q: Other schools involved in NCAA investigation?
A: No, I haven't seen any benefits from other schools; no handshakes, no $$, etc.  Redmond maybe, but I didn't see it happen.
Q: Was the $60,000 involving Alabama or Auburn? 
A: No, not them.  (He didn't want to talk about it.)
Q: Was Auburn involved?
A: Not that I know; I wasn't asked about them either.
Q: What about Jovon Robinson?
A: I haven't seen him since he signed.
Q: Did you (De'Vinner) get benefits from MSU?
A: Yes, MSU compensated me with an honorarium and put me up in a luxury suite.
Q: Did booster from MSU ask you to guide players to MSU?
A: Yes, I came clean on that.  I didn't do it.  I refused to take his money, though. 
Q: Don't you think it odd to give $$ in front of you?
A: He didn't care that I was there.  It was a $$$ handshake (with Will Redmond).  Apparently Will didn't know the booster's name, and neither did De'Vinner until recently.  They exchanged tweets finally after De'Vinner's name was bashed.  That booster worked for Homeland Security.  Booster told De'Vinner to stay quiet.
Q: Why did you come out and talk?
A: Because they wanted me to take the fall for it.
Q: Did Mullens offer you a job?
A: Mullens told him about a job opening, but it wasn't offered.  He heard he was to be interviewed about the job later.  But he wanted to make sure the job wasn't tied to Will Redmond; they moved the interview for the job to before signing day.  He interviewed a week before signing day, it went 8 hours, including meeting with Mullen, then they interviewed others.  D was front runner, but a Northwestern guy got the job (recruiting coordinator).  Mullen called to tell him he was welcome to visit regularly anyhow.  Compliance people at MSU wanted to check him out.  At MSU spring game he chatted, but got no more offers.
Q: Did Mullen or other coaches know about $$$ handshake?
A: Some were, but not Mullen.  Angelo (fired coach) was the only one, he thinks ??).
Q: Is there more coming out of this NCAA investigation?
A: He thinks it's just the MSU stuff, not any other schools.
Q: Where do you work?
A:  At a high school, as a coach, but I don't want to say where.

Whew!  Good stuff, but no barn burner.

[2Stater]

Summary of Byron De'Vinner interview on 93.7:

1.  Bkgd: played at Alabama State.  Worked undercover for FBI, DEA (left for his "safety") before starting a foundation to interact with football players.
2.  Trying to help underprivileged kids.
3.  Reviewed his statement that he witnessed $ changing hands (to Miss. State player).
4.  Question: Has NCAA gone big on this investigation, or is it a small investigation?
Answer:  NCAA interviewed De'Vinner back in January; NCAA knew much of it already (money changing hands); MSU was on the conference call with him.
Q: Where will the investigation go from here?
A: He rambled, but didn't answer.  He just reviewed what happened. 
Q: Other schools involved in NCAA investigation?
A: No, I haven't seen any benefits from other schools; no handshakes, no $$, etc.  Redmond maybe, but I didn't see it happen.
Q: Was the $60,000 involving Alabama or Auburn? 
A: No, not them.  (He didn't want to talk about it.)
Q: Was Auburn involved?
A: Not that I know; I wasn't asked about them either.
Q: What about Jovon Robinson?
A: I haven't seen him since he signed.
Q: Did you (De'Vinner) get benefits from MSU?
A: Yes, MSU compensated me with an honorarium and put me up in a luxury suite.
Q: Did booster from MSU ask you to guide players to MSU?
A: Yes, I came clean on that.  I didn't do it.  I refused to take his money, though. 
Q: Don't you think it odd to give $$ in front of you?
A: He didn't care that I was there.  It was a $$$ handshake (with Will Redmond).  Apparently Will didn't know the booster's name, and neither did De'Vinner until recently.  They exchanged tweets finally after De'Vinner's name was bashed.  That booster worked for Homeland Security.  Booster told De'Vinner to stay quiet.
Q: Why did you come out and talk?
A: Because they wanted me to take the fall for it.
Q: Did Mullens offer you a job?
A: Mullens told him about a job opening, but it wasn't offered.  He heard he was to be interviewed about the job later.  But he wanted to make sure the job wasn't tied to Will Redmond; they moved the interview for the job to before signing day.  He interviewed a week before signing day, it went 8 hours, including meeting with Mullen, then they interviewed others.  D was front runner, but a Northwestern guy got the job (recruiting coordinator).  Mullen called to tell him he was welcome to visit regularly anyhow.  Compliance people at MSU wanted to check him out.  At MSU spring game he chatted, but got no more offers.
Q: Did Mullen or other coaches know about $$$ handshake?
A: Some were, but not Mullen.  Angelo (fired coach) was the only one, he thinks ??).
Q: Is there more coming out of this NCAA investigation?
A: He thinks it's just the MSU stuff, not any other schools.
Q: Where do you work?
A:  At a high school, as a coach, but I don't want to say where.

Whew!  Good stuff, but no barn burner.

Or Bama, thank goodness.

[Chechem]

**********    Breaking ********

ESPNU:  "De'Vinner reports that 5 or 6 Mississippi State players received illegal benefits, including a junior DL, Denico Autry.

Click here for link

[Chechem]

"This is the Trusted Face of a Recruiting Scandal"

Click here for link


Byron De'Vinner

[BAMADCHAMPSHIPS]

**********    Breaking ********

ESPNU:  "De'Vinner reports that 5 or 6 Mississippi State players received illegal benefits, including a junior DL, Denico Autry.

Click here for link

I hope they didn't play in the game last week.....

[Chechem]

**********    Breaking ********

ESPNU:  "De'Vinner reports that 5 or 6 Mississippi State players received illegal benefits, including a junior DL, Denico Autry.
Click here for link

I hope they didn't play in the game last week.....

  Good point.

[2Stater]

**********    Breaking ********

ESPNU:  "De'Vinner reports that 5 or 6 Mississippi State players received illegal benefits, including a junior DL, Denico Autry.

Click here for link

I hope they didn't play in the game last week.....

How ironic would it be for MSU to vacate a win against the barn for what would amount to likely less than $1000, when Cam, who would not be bought by MSU, but was by the barn, was paid at least $180K and they become rollerbarn for skating through all of this? 

[Chechem]

**********    Breaking ********

ESPNU:  "De'Vinner reports that 5 or 6 Mississippi State players received illegal benefits, including a junior DL, Denico Autry.

Click here for link

I hope they didn't play in the game last week.....

How ironic would it be for MSU to vacate a win against the barn for what would amount to likely less than $1000, when Cam, who would not be bought by MSU, but was by the barn, was paid at least $180K and they become rollerbarn for skating through all of this? 

VERY, VERY IRONIC.  ... and very, very, very irritating. 

[Chechem]

Friday morning update

According to 93.7 THE ZONE:

"De'Vinner is saying things off the air about Auburn's involvement."  Reportedly De'Vinner told a Tennessee hs coach yesterday that Aubs were involved.

[Chechem]

Click here for link


Mullen won't comment about allegations.

[Chechem]

MSU freshman Will Redmond was offered $6,000 by Robert Denton Herring - who was disassociated by MSU in July for impermissible contact with a prospect - to "shut down" his recruitment and sign with the Bulldogs.  De'Vinner told the Journal he was unsure whether Redmond accepted Herring's $6,000 offer.

   

Click here for link

[2Stater]

Friday morning update

According to 93.7 THE ZONE:

"De'Vinner is saying things off the air about Auburn's involvement."  Reportedly De'Vinner told a Tennessee hs coach yesterday that Aubs were involved.

Good, that'll get us an update on the trees.

[ALTideUp]

Scarbinski's story in AL.com this morning takes a step back and looks at all the stuff this De Vinner guy has alleged and the many good reasons to question his credibility. Not sure what the guy's angle is, maybe just to be a playah, but I honestly don't think he's got much of anything on anyone. I'm calingl "move along now, nothing to see here" on this whole drama. Like it or not, it aint dirty unless the NCAA says it's dirty. We await their take.

[Guest]

Username:
Password:
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever

Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.

There aren't any users online.

Loading Tweet...