ESPN reporter David Purdham revealed through his sources that surveillance footage shows the unnamed gambler was directly communicating with Bohannon when he was making the bet, which is in direct violation of NCAA Bylaws 10.3 and could face a lifetime ban from college athletics if found he shared information about his team with a gambler.
Alabama vs. LSU
According to sources, the OCCC is looking at two specific wagers made on LSU by the unnamed bettor before the start of the game.
As we reported yesterday here at OH Betting – LSU were -245 favorites before Alabama starting pitcher Luke Holman was scratched one hour before his scheduled start and replaced by a sophomore who hadn’t pitched since March 16.
US Integrity, a firm responsible for detecting suspicious betting activity, sent out an alert indicating suspicious gaming activity at Great American Ballpark and halted all wagers at the BetMGM sportsbook. Ohio Gaming Control Commission Executive Director Matthew Schuler ordered all Ohio bookmakers to stop taking wagers in the contest and ultimately banned Alabama baseball from Ohio betting catalogs. Since then, other jurisdictions have followed suit.
Alabama Begins Bohannon’s Termination Process
The school announced that athletic director Greg Byrne has “initiated the termination process” for Bohannon for “among other things, violating the standards, duties, and responsibilities expected of University employees.”
According to the school, Jason Jackson will serve as Alabama’s interim coach, which said it will not provide further comment due to an “ongoing review.”
It’s important to note that no other players or coaches other than Bohannon have been implicated in this situation and the Crimson Tide did battle back before losing 8-6.
Possible Punishments for Bohannon and Alabama Baseball
The NCAA declined further comment on the ongoing investigation except to say they are taking the matter “very seriously” and issued the following statement–
“The NCAA takes sports wagering very seriously and is committed to the protection of student-athlete well-being and the integrity of competition,” the spokesperson said. “We will work with our partners to protect student-athletes and the sports they play. The association is monitoring the situation. Due to confidentiality rules put in place by NCAA member schools, the NCAA does not comment on current, pending or potential investigations.”
NCAA Bylaws 10.3 specifically prohibits sports betting by players, coaches, team officials, and anyone else connected with the game must not wager on college or pro sports and could be subject to a lifetime ban and face possible imprisonment if they commit any of the following infractions
- NO wagers for any item (e.g., cash, shirt, dinner) on ANY professional or college sports event, even those that don’t involve your college.
- NO sports “pools,” even those run by your friends in the dorm.
- NO Internet gambling on sports events.
- NO fantasy leagues that award a prize and require a fee to participate.
- NO sports wagering using “800” numbers.
- NO exchange of information about your team with ANYONE who gambles. In other words, no information about injuries, new plays, team morale, discipline problems, or anything else.
While Bohannon may not actually physically placed the wager, he is alleged to have been in communication with a gambler and, if found guilty, could face a lifetime ban from college athletics.
Growing Concerns About Bohannon
Earlier this year, Bohannon was named along with pitching coach Jason Jackson and athletic trainer Sean Stryke in a lawsuit filed by former pitcher Johnny Blake Bennett. Bennett claims in the unresolved suit that Bohannon and his staff mishandled a rib injury that allegedly caused the former Crimson Tide pitcher to hurt his arm.
