05-27-2003, 05:40 PM
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#8
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MVP
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Re: Incoming Freshman
Quote:
dh2k3,
Jefferson is a nice get for the terps, tough luck losing Abiamiri the way they did. Was there any financial incentive for Jefferson to attend Maryland that we didn't hear about?
No, there wasn't . Although the Abiamiri situation was unfortunate, (1) it was done by a single assistant coach acting on his own, and (2) it was handled in the best possible way by the Maryland athletic department. The coach in question, former ILB's coach Ron Sharpless (who only recruited Abiamiri and DE Omar Savage, who did commit to Maryland and later denied that he was offered money) was having dinner with Victor A.'s family, and Victor brought up to his parents that he wanted an X-Box for Christmas. They said no, because it was too expensive and might hurt his grades. After dinner, Sharpless snuck Victor $300, and told him to buy the X-Box. If you can somehow spin that into a situation where Friedgen was involved, then I'd love to hear it. When the whole incident broke in late January, Fridge was in Florida coaching an All-Star Game. When he found out about it, he immediately dropped out of the recruiting of Victor Abiamiri and had Sharpless resign. Within days, a law firm was brought in to investigate, and send its report to the NCAA. Considering the fact that Maryland was 100% forthright and prompt in reporting this lone infraction, the penalties will most likely be very light, if there is a penalty at all. Don't expect any lost scholarships.
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