Testimony in the ongoing series of trials and hearings regarding corruption in NCAA basketball continued on Tuesday, and took a significantly different path, with key FBI witness Marty Blazer, a Pittsburgh-area financial advisor at the center of the case, testifying that not only did he participate in schemes to pay prospective college basketball players, but to football players, as well.
Blazer testified that from 2000-14, he paid different amounts, from several hundred to several thousand dollars to players at Alabama, Michigan, North Carolina, Northwestern, Notre Dame, Pitt and Penn State.
According to Matt Norlander of CBS Sports, Blazer’s payments were typically to secure his services as the players’ financial advisor after their professional careers began, though he did specifically admit to paying the father of Penn State defensive end Aaron Maybin $10,000 to attempt to get him to remain in college instead of declaring for the NFL Draft in 2009.
Blazer did not give any specifics as to the individual player or players at Pitt that he gave compensation to.
The Tribune-Review reported in May of 2016 that former Pitt running back Kevan Barlow filed a complaint against Blazer, seeking damages of $16 million, that was settled in 2012. Blazer, through his Blazer Capital firm, was representing Barlow’s financial interests as an NFL player. Barlow played at Pitt from 1997 to 2000.
Pitt had several head coaches from 2000 to 2014, including the end of Walt Harris’ tenure and all of Dave Wannstedt’s, Todd Graham’s and Paul Chryst’s time in Pittsburgh. Pat Narduzzi took over as head coach at the end of December 2014.
A Pitt athletics spokesperson declined to comment on the issue. Blazer’s testimony is expected to continue Wednesday.
This story has been updated.
.
Elijah Fields def took money in 2010 based on his old social media accounts.
Yea right, because ppl don’t lie on those accounts. And Fields was a real honorable type.
He literally posted pictures of stacks of cash and said something to the effect of “who knew i’d be getting all this money to play college football?”.
Thanks Zagoria for listing us first. Creep.
I know for a fact that Johnathan Baldwin had a questionable recruiting process to say the least. A relative of his worked in the same building as me and we got to know each other. He mentioned Baldwin’s days with the chiefs and obviously Pitt. I’m not going to say what my source said because it wouldn’t help Pitt in anyway but they certainly aren’t angels,
Elijah Fields was part of a Clairton burglary ring and posted goodies stolen I work in law enforcement -old news though.
I think we can rule out Nard as 3 stars aren’t paid for. Seriously as to Pitt I suspect this is old news ala harris or wanny. then again this guy is snitching to save his skin – take it with a grain of salt.