Alabama baseball scandal: More details emerge regarding Brad Bohannon
Alabama fired its head baseball coach, Brad Bohannon, on Thursday amid a widespread investigation into suspicious betting activity on the Crimson Tide’s game against LSU last Friday. In the aftermath of that decision, more details are starting to emerge regarding Bohannon’s activity.
Multiple reports on Thursday suggested that a large amount of money was wagered on the Alabama-LSU game, that sportsbook surveillance footage shows the person who placed the wager on the phone with Bohannon, and that this particular incident wasn’t the first time for Bohannon.
ESPN’s David Purdum reported that there have not been any allegations at this time that the game in question was manipulated. Red flags were raised, though, when starting pitcher Luke Holman — an ace for the Tide — was a late scratch and replaced with Hagan Banks. Banks hadn’t started a game since mid-March. According to the Tuscaloosa News, he learned he was taking the mound approximately 1 hour before the game began.
The alleged activity took place Friday at the sportsbook at the Great American Ball Park in Ohio. An investigation from the Ohio Casino Control Commission (OCCC) is reportedly centered on two bets placed on the Tigers to win from the same unidentified customer.
Multiple states have instructed sports books to halt bets on Alabama baseball as the investigation carries on.
And it sounds like that investigation might reveal a bit more going forward.
Ben Upton, host of the 11 Point 7 podcast, reported on Thursday that Bohannon’s phone records were searched and that is what led to his immediate dismissal. An unnamed source told Upton the LSU game was “not the only time it’s happened.”
SEC commissioner Greg Sankey said that the conference also was investigating the situation and commended Alabama for taking “swift action” in dismissing Bohannon.
Source: Saturday Down South
