Report details how Brad Bohannon triggered Alabama baseball gambling scandal

Report details how Brad Bohannon triggered Alabama baseball gambling scandal

New details have emerged in the betting scandal which impacted multiple college baseball teams this spring.

According to Sports Illustrated senior writer Pat Forde, it “seems plausible” that former Alabama baseball coach Brad Bohannon can be sanctioned with a show-cause penalty by an NCAA committee due to his role in a now highly-scrutinized gamble on a Tide road game on April 28.

In a story published Monday afternoon, Forde broke new details including Bohannon’s relationship with Bert Eugene Neff Jr., the Indiana travel ball coach and former collegiate pitcher that placed a $100,000 wager on LSU to beat the Tide. While it’s unclear per Forde’s unnamed sources if Bohannon was using Neff as an avatar for a bet, there’s no doubt Bohannon had knowledge of the wager.

The Ohio Casino Control Commission, the NCAA, the Southeastern Conference Alabama and LSU were among the entities that launched an investigation into the matter. In the NCAA’s dealings, Forde was less sure if the University of Alabama will be punished for Bohannon’s actions as well.

Neff reportedly was texting with Bohannon as he entered the BetMGM Sportsbook at Great American Ballpark. Security cameras could make out Bohannon’s name on Neff’s phone. Neff also plead his case to employees at the sportsbook unsure of the atypical bet on a college baseball game by stating he had inside information. Hours before the Tide played No. 1 LSU, Alabama starter Luke Holman was scratched.

“It couldn’t have been any more reckless,” one of Forde’s sources said. Other cited written affidavits filed by BetMGM ticket writers.

Forde also revealed that Xavier has been roped into the scandal, according to two of his sources, with the NCAA supposedly opening an inquiry. Neff — a former athlete with brief stints at Louisville and Indiana 30 years ago — had multiple gambling associates on a text chain with Bohannon, per Forde.

Bohannon was fired on May 4, setting off a whirlwind for the program. Multiple members of the old regime, including current associate head coach Jason Jackson, were sued by a former player for injury negligence. UA had been paying attorney’s fees for Bohannon, Jackson and team trainer Sean Stryker at the time, but court filings show Bohannon changed his representation following his firing.

The Tide would go on to have a historic season, finishing 43-21 with a super-regional effort and two wins away from the Men’s College World Series. Former Maryland coach Rob Vaughn was introduced on June 13 as the program’s latest head coach.

Since then, the Tide have undergone more turnover with home run leader Colby Shelton transferring to Florida and a set of contributors being selected in this week’s MLB Draft, including outfielder Andrew Pinckney.