The attorney representing Eric Bledsoe’s coach at Parker High School said Friday that he’s not optimistic that the Birmingham City Schools investigation will find no fault with Bledsoe’s transcript. That report is scheduled to be made public later Friday.
“I would be surprised if it came out positive,” said Birmingham-based attorney Reginald McDaniel, who is representing former Parker High Coach Maurice Ford. “I don’t see any indication of that.”
McDaniel cited the length of time needed to complete the investigation as a bad sign. He said he expected the investigation not to contradict reports earlier this year in The New York Times and The Birmingham News.
From his knowledge of the facts, McDaniel said that a finding of wrongdoing by investigators would be inaccurate.
McDaniel said he believed Birmingham City Schools investigators focused on the grade change in Algebra 3 on Bledsoe’s transcript.
According to The Birmingham News, Bledsoe had an “A” in Algebra 3 on his four-year transcript shows. He made an A in Algebra 3 in night school as a senior by receiving a 90 during each of the two sessions.
But a grade report from those night sessions showed Bledsoe was recorded as making a C average, with a low C recorded in the first session and a low B recorded in the second, The Birmingham News reported.
By receiving an A in Algebra 3, Bledsoe barely qualified for initial eligibility in college.
If the Birmingham City Schools investigation supports the newspaper stories, Kentucky could face repercussions. The NCAA would have the basis for ruling Bledsoe ineligible, meaning UK might be ordered to vacate the 34 victories last season in which Bledsoe participated.
Such a ruling would remove the distinction of UK being the first program to reach 2,000 all-time victories. Such an order would leave UK with 1,989 victories. North Carolina would be the first program with 2,000 victories.
Jerry Tipton of the Lexington Herald- Leader has covered Kentucky basketball since the 1981-82 season. That time includes five coaches, five Final Fours, four athletic directors, two interim athletic directors and many memories. Before coming to Lexington, Tipton worked eight years for the Huntington (W.Va.) Herald-Dispatch. He covered Marshall’s basketball team for two seasons before coming to the Herald-Leader.
15 comments ↓
This will certainly be interesting to watch. I just wonder how UK can get into trouble for something that happened before we even got involved in Bledsoe’s recruitment? In any event, I’m glad we gave Bledsoe the chance to play here. He was a great kid during his time here, and I know we’ll all miss him.
You keep wishing, Jerry.
And contining not to give the other side of the story. Like the statement from the night-school teacher, who says the printout the Birmingham News had was incorrect, that the newspaper had the wrong grade. He said he explained this to the investigating law firm.
But you don’t care to share that with us. You’re interested in presenting only part of the story, the negative part.
Jerry is a TAR HEEL in disquise
I’m praying for you to have ‘The Big One” Jerry so I can urinate on your memorial site.
Jerry stop fantasizing. We all know the situation and we all know that this is absolutely ridiculous situation.
Wheatgerm,
You better hope you are correct. I sure do, but personally I am not comfortable with the situation to be put in after a season to potentially lose all the victories.
I will sit back and see what happens, but will be angry if Kentucky goes loses victories. Its not how you run a good program.
Seriously, can you not ever write an objective article. This is so one sided you look like a complete joke. You have to report the teacher says the grade was an A. The teacher has final say in grading so what is the issue. I’m so sick of these writers that skew the story to fit their agenda at the expense of kids. You all are hurting people and you don’t care.
Jerry Tipton is a laughable JACKAZZ
Should the report indicate that Bledsoe was ineligible, let’s hope the NCAA honors the fact that schools are only liable for the transcripts it receives. Having schools plunder into every report for all of its athletes in every sport would be absurd and a waste of time and money.
We’ll see…The Rose situation demonstrated the NCAA’s short-sightedness and ridiculous tendencies to retroactively declare student athletes ineligible.
Another important point is that it appears that only high profile athletes at premier schools in revenue-generating sports like basketball are subject to these investigations. This, too, indicates a bias and renders these pronouncements of questionable ethical standards.
I’m sure the UK haters will have a hate-fest on this issue, but rest assured…The celebration of 2000 victories has passed. Any subsequent celebration of 2000 wins would be met with little fanfare.
This would make Titpton’s day after Cal has shut him up during his usual negative questioning.
It’s just a matter of time before Cal sinks the UK ship. We better enjoy our wins now…long term will be costly, and Cal just keeps piling up the money.
If this turns out the way it appears to be heading, Coach Cal will set a new record – the first coach to have three seasons voided due to ineligible players. IF that happens, it is just too bad for the Commonwealth. In former times UK stood for class, but with sleaze balls like Calipari in the mix, UK is ending up like just another school what will do anything to ensure that its sports teams win. To hell with morals and ethics. It is not setting a good example for our youth. Frankly, I will be ashamed to admit I’m a UK grad if Cal gets his trifecta.
….I would NOT be happy….sorry
verdict is in. grades r good. UK haters can move on.
Here you go and have a nice weekend!
Darrell Cartwright of Scout.com is in Birmingham and is reporting these facts:
1. Eric Bledsoe earned his grade according to the Superintendent of the Birmingham Schools and his Algebra III teacher.
2. The difference in the report and his final grade was due to some makeup work done by Bledsoe that led to a grade change.
3. The teacher said the makeup work warranted the grade change that was given.
4. The report goes further to say they have no evidence to the contrary to show that the makeup work was not done.
5. Report said that there may have been issues with documentation and support showing work, but Superintendent was firm in belief that the grade was deserved.
6. The report does raise questions about the school board’s policy in terms of how long people have for makeup work, but the Superintendent did say that Bledsoe earned his grade.
Mark Liptak