Former assistants' attorney speaks out against NCAA, Tennessee boosters By Magen Hughes Senior Sports Reporter July 16, 2003
The attorney representing former Alabama assistant football coaches Ronnie Cottrell and Ivy Williams opened verbal warfare Tuesday against the NCAA, the University of Tennessee and Tennessee boosters.
"We are going to throw a little grenade today," attorney Thomas Gallion III said during a press conference outside Bryant-Denny Stadium. "I expect the bombs to hit later."
Gallion, a Montgomery-based lawyer, revealed some of the latest developments in the lawsuit against the NCAA and asserted there was a massive conspiracy at work on several different levels that brought down the Alabama football program and two of its former coaches.
"Call it what you want; the whole world is made up of conspiracies," Gallion said. "Ask Shakespeare. Well, you can't ask him; he's dead."
The former coaches claim they have been "publicly ridiculed" lives have been destroyed by the NCAA probe into the recruiting of standout Memphis, Tenn., high school football player Albert Means.
The University was never found guilty of paying Means, but both the Mike DuBose-era coaches claim they have been financially hurt as a result of the investigation.
Cottrell now sells cellular phones out of Brewton and claims football coaches will not return his telephone calls for job interviews. A grand jury investigation is still open in Memphis, and until it closes, Gallion said neither of his clients will find work. Williams, who is now coaching at a small Georgia university said a conspiracy has resulted in slander and libel against Cottrell and him.
"This has hurt me financially and hurt me professionally," Williams said.
"Win, lose or draw, my clients have been publicly humiliated and everything they had has been taken from them," Gallion said. "Ivy [Williams] doesn't even have a car. Ronnie Cottrell had to go all the way from Brewton to Savannah (Ga.) to go pick him up and bring him here."
The conspiracy developed, Gallion said, because of personal and professional relationships and the athletic rivalry between Alabama and Tennessee. More specifically, Gallion named Tennessee booster Roy Adams and several Memphis-based federal prosecutors.
"This matter has been largely concocted by Tennessee boosters," Gallion said. "A first-grader could put all of this together."
The coaches want to be able to face their accusers and have their names cleared so that they may move on with their lives. Gallion, a UA alumnus, wants something more.
"We are seeking money and justice," he said. "I want the NCAA exposed, and I want every dirty individual involved in this exposed. What does $60 million matter to the NCAA? They are sitting there raking it in.
"If I could bankrupt the NCAA, I would. I would drag all of the milk out of their refrigerators, too."
The case will enter the courtroom for the first time Thursday, when Circuit Judge Steve Wilson will likely plan the dates of the trial and put a gag order on Gallion.
"They are going to try to gag me, but they are probably going to have to put me in the slammer," Gallion said
http://www.cw.ua.edu/vnews/display.v/ART/2003/07/16/3f14ced579c99
Rick -- Yea, Alabama! Drown'em Tide!
______________________________________________________ RollTideFan - The University of Alabama Athletics Discussion List
"Welcome to RollTideFan! Wear a cup!"
To join or leave the list or to make changes to your subscription visit http://listinfo.rolltidefan.net
