The System: The Glory and Scandal of Big-Time College Football (84 page)

One of the authors attended the Poinsettia Bowl and was given access to BYU’s locker room before and after the game. All scenes and dialogue from the bowl game were observed firsthand. One of the authors also shadowed Kyle Van Noy as he walked alone across the field following the game. Thoughts attributed to Van Noy came from a discussion between the author and Van Noy. Similarly, the thoughts attributed to Ezekiel Ansah, Kyle Van Noy and Bronco Mendenhall in the postgame locker room were told to the author. Interviews were also conducted with Tom Holmoe.

Thoughts attributed to Kyle Van Noy during his decision-making process on whether to remain at BYU for his senior year were told to one of the authors by Van Noy.

The Detroit Lions were helpful in providing background information and photography for the portion of the chapter that chronicles Ezekiel Ansah at the NFL draft.

This chapter was constructed in large measure over the weekend of the SEC Championship game in Atlanta. During that period the authors interviewed Lee Fitting, Chris
Fowler, Lee Corso and, briefly, Tom Rinaldi. In a supplemental interview, Fitting provided additional technical information about the production crew and broadcast.

ESPN’s securing the rights to the college football playoff was based upon an interview with Burke Magnus, who declined to comment on specific multimedia rights numbers. Those numbers were obtained from sources within the television industry and later confirmed by a high-ranking member of the BCS coalition.

An all-access spot inside the main production truck provided the real-time feel of the two-hour
GameDay
broadcast. That feel was enhanced by one of the authors watching a DVD copy of the entire two-hour show in order to create a sense of what the viewer was witnessing at home. None of this access or information would have been possible without the help of ESPN’s Mike Soltys, the approval of ESPN’s president, John Skipper, or, most directly, the assistance of Keri A. Potts, ESPN’s senior public relations director of college sports.

The information in this chapter came from a wide variety of sources: interviews with Nick Saban and members of his Alabama coaching staff, athletic department personnel and the late athletic director Mal M. Moore. Some of Saban’s comments and those of defensive coordinator Kirby Smart were from press conferences at the 2013 BCS national title game. In addition, Saban was observed by one of the authors at practice, before, during and after games and at public and private events, some for this book, some as part of reporting for
60 Minutes
, which featured Saban in a piece on college football in November 2012.

The financial data subsequent to Saban’s arrival in Tuscaloosa was the work of associate athletic director Douglas Walker.

It was with Saban’s approval that the authors were allowed access to Wesley Neighbors Jr., who was interviewed in person at Alabama on two separate occasions and also over the phone. His personal story was augmented with information from the Alabama football media guide and published reports.

The player interviews with Barrett Jones, Dee Milliner, Damion Square, Eddie Lacy, Cyrus Kouandjio and strength coach Scott Cochran were conducted by one of the authors.

The final scene of the book—Saban on the stage before exiting Sun Life Stadium with his index finger in the air—was observed from the field.

JEFF BENEDICT
is one of the country’s top investigative reporters. He is a special features contributor for
Sports Illustrated
and the author of ten critically acclaimed books, including
Pros and Cons
and
Out of Bounds
. His essays and articles have appeared in
The New York Times, Newsweek
, and the
Los Angeles Times
, among other publications, and have been the basis of segments on CBS’s
60 Minutes
, ABC’s
20/20
, NBC’s
Dateline
, HBO’s
Real Sports
and the Discovery Channel. He has a law degree and is a Distinguished Professor of Writing and Mass Media at Southern Virginia University.

ARMEN KETEYIAN
is a CBS News correspondent based in New York and the lead correspondent for
60 Minutes Sports
on Showtime. An eleven-time Emmy Award winner, he is widely regarded as one of the finest investigative journalists in the country. He is also the author or coauthor of nine previous books, including
Money Players, Raw Recruits
, and the autobiographies of Hall of Fame pitcher Catfish Hunter and Hall of Fame linebacker Mike Singletary.

For more information, please visit www.doubleday.com

In 2013–14, Alabama quarterback AJ McCarron will attempt to lead the Crimson Tide to its third national title in a row.
(Deanne Fitzmaurice)

“Wow”—the first night game in University of Michigan football history against Notre Dame on September 10, 2011, drew a record crowd of 114,804.
(Michigan Photography)

Together, athletic director Dave Brandon (left) and head coach Brady Hoke have revitalized Michigan football.
(Michigan Photography)

In the good old days, DFO Cleve Bryant (left) and Texas head coach Mack Brown communicated like an old married couple.
(Harry Cabluck/Associated Press)

Towson University head coach Rob Ambrose and his Tigers put up a great fight before bowing on the road at LSU.
(Courtesy of Towson University)

BYU head coach Bronco Mendenhall has compiled a 74-29 record and led the Cougars to a bowl game in each of his eight seasons. Above, he celebrates in the locker room with his team after defeating Georgia Tech on October 27, 2012.
(Mark A. Philbrick)

Kyle Van Noy was recruited by LSU, Oregon, Nebraska and UCLA. But after hearing Bronco Mendenhall speak at a Mormon church in Reno, Nevada, he chose to play for him at BYU. Van Noy chose not to enter the NFL draft in 2013 in order to complete his degree. He is projected to be a first-round selection in 2014.
(Deanne Fitzmaurice)

Billionaire T. Boone Pickens (center) at the Oklahoma State–Texas game in Stillwater, Oklahoma, on September 29, 2012. Pickens has given $248 million to OSU, which is not only the largest donation for athletics but the largest single donation to an institution of higher education in American history. Oklahoma State’s stadium is named after him.
(Jeff Benedict)

Left to right: Former Cleveland Browns star Reggie Rucker and Hall of Famer Jim Brown joined Bobby DiGeronimo at the record-setting 2013 Cornerstone of Hope gala.
(Courtesy of Cornerstone of Hope)

Washington State athletic director Bill Moos (right) hired Mike Leach three years after Texas Tech fired Leach over an incident involving wide receiver Adam James.
(Courtesy of Washington State Athletics)

Mike Leach led Texas Tech to the No. 2 ranking in the country in 2008 and was named college football Coach of the Year. Above, he leads the Washington State Cougars in prayer prior to facing BYU on August 30, 2012.
(Deanne Fitzmaurice)