The North Carolina Agent Fiasco The John Blake Stain

Damn. Switzer. Sherrill. Did he do any work with Idi Amin?

I’ll never understand how Skip and Rick Bayless came from the same parents.

I imagine that Blake, Orgeron, and Calipari are part of some secret society that gets together for dinner the first wednesday of every month to talk about the 100% choice grade-A beef they’ve got lined up.

If you ever want to write a book, ST, holler at me. I’m amazed at your ability to tell a tale.

Sailer -
 
Thanks for the intro quote. It tells the tale.
 
Nero -
 
Orgeron serves the master he has. When he was the head coach at Ole Miss, they were clean. At Tennessee/USC, there’s no doubt in my mind that he turned a blind eye to impropriety. Put him in a clean program and read him his marching orders and he’ll obey them.
 
Blake and Calipari – well, they always have an angle, don’t they?
 
Old Time -
 
Thanks, my friend. If you like it, link it up and send it to friends. And we are writing a book.

Thanks for this history on Blake. I had only heard rumors, so it was useful to see his history so clearly laid out.

UNC has definitely made their bed.

John Blake was always my favorite head corch at OU.

“Thanks, my friend. If you like it, link it up and send it to friends. And we are writing a book.”

I will be handling the captions under the pictures, if anyone cares. Isn’t that right Scipio?

Nord-If anybody’s qualified….

The misspelling of Sailor Rupley’s name never gets old.

The first name that popped in my head when I heard about UNC violations was Marvin Austin. Funny how that works.

I hadn’t heard that about Blake screwing up the Cowboys lockerroom. Anything that helped derail that dynasty is fine by me, right Trips?

This needs a Black Santa tag, or at the very least a Kwanzaa Timmy one.

How can you write things like that and be sincere Scip? There is supposedly documented proof that coach John had absolutely nothing to do with the entire LaPorte backfield returning home from a recruiting weekend at OU wearing sparkling new leather jackets they obviously must have found by the side of the road. There might a couple or a few or several stories that we can’t quite hide the real truth but that’s no reason to mention so many bad things about coach John since that’s the only one I saw first-hand.

Quit believing your lying eyes and take listen to someone that’s been exposed to way more than you are crediting the coach for—-it’s much more detailed in real life. Still remember a coaching clinic in Norman where coach John invited Bill Bates (#40 was a special teams sponser in ‘96) to talk on the Cowboy punt game/rules for our entertainment. Funny ain’t even in it. The best part was coach John attempting to save the abortion Bates put up on the eraser board and then explanation of rules/assignments—-both of them held fast to their ace in the hole (Darren Woodson had everyone turned loose regardless of where he came from) everytime a question stumped the dazzling duo.

Amazing is all coach John was/is. Thanks for the humor.

TexasFootball -
 
That is funny, funny stuff. No one ever accused John Blake of being an X and O guy, that’s for certain.
 
Love your contributions as always.

ST,

Sounds like you’re lined up, which is good cuz my contacts would need WD-40 by this time. Main thing: don’t be shy about pub date reminders here on BC.

“Did he do any work with Idi Amin?”

You know what they said about that guy, don’t you?

Uganda win ’em all.

Thanks for the education.

Makes me think of my trip to Chapel Hill a few years back when the Horns were there. That whole town, program & fanbase reeked of sour grapes & desperation.

Odds that Norv knew what he was hiring? There is no overlap in Dallas between the two, I guess.

“Odds that Norv knew what he was hiring?”

Blake’s in San Diego? (AKA Whale’s Vagina?)

Norv is German for Butch. I’m surprised you didn’t know that.

“Uganda win ‘em all.”

Reminds me of the ol’ “Pick Lamumba from one to ten” which preceded it.

If what is rumored is true. The agents are just the tip of the iceburg in Chapel Hill. I hope they bust them good.

Patron, The translation was lost hundreds of years ago – so we’ll have to agree to disagree. You’re a smelly pirate whore.

I ma proud of what we accomplished, old John and me.

Thank you for reminding me once again why I cordially detest skip bayless. I would like to set him on fire but it’s a waste of good gasoline and a match.

kevwun,

Ever since the movie “Twins” with Arnold and Devito? Just consider the Bayless brothers as a personification of that movie.

I hope UNC gets nailed to the wall. They deserve it for hiring a scumbag like John Blake. I have no doubt but that there is plenty of dirt to be found. The only question in my mind is if the NCAA will stop after it feels it’s uncovered all of the improper interactions between UNC players and would-be agents or if they will elect to open a second detailed investigation into UNC’s recruiting practices under Blake’s direction. If they do, then UNC is gonna get the U$C treatment for sure, and deservedly so.

“Interesting aside: some Sooners allege that Blake destroyed all Sooner football recruiting records before leaving Norman.”

Scip, that one’s a fact. He basically stumbled his way onto Roy Williams and Rocky Calmus. Calmus grew up dreaming of being a Sooner. Williams was brought to the attention of Boo Blake by his mother, an OU employee. You left out my personal favorite story: the twister mat. Or have you never heard that story?

Back in the 80’s, Kenneth Davis of TCU went to his position coach, Tom Perry, and told him that despite Coach Wacker’s edict Kenneth and three other players were taking payments from three alumni that were started under F.A.Dry Perry struggled with the the decision and has since said if he would have to do it over again he would bury the story. Instead, he told Wacker, who trusted the NCAA and TCU got hammered. Additionally, Perry was not able to land another college coaching position. In effect black-balled for doing the right thing.

John Blake has worked for two of the biggest pieces of crap in college football history, has a history of cheating, and continues to get hired.

Now each time the idea the of a play-off system comes up the presidents tell us that college football is about the amateur athlete, that how a program is run is more important that wins, and that they will not stand for integrity to be swept aside for profit. Then somehow a guy like Blake and Cal for that matter keep getting hired. Good thing the presidents are looking out for the integrity of college athletics or goodness knows who might get hired.

Speaking of agents, I just heard on SportsCenter that Florida may have to forfeit their Sugar bowl win because a lineman allegedly received $100,000 from an agent between the end of the season and the bowl game.

Nate -
 
I’d heard about the Blake recruiting records shredding from a number of Sooners, but couldn’t document it with anything ironclad. That’s crazy.
 
Yes, I would like to hear about Twister mat.

Wow, kevwun, I was not aware of that.

I am SHOCKED, Mortermer Duke, that John Blake is involved in this debacle.

Kenan Stadium used to be surrounded by gorgeous pine trees, which the original benefactors (Kenan family) required to be maintained as part of the grant of land. The stadium seated 65,000 people, and you could hardly see it until you walked through the gates. Perhaps the most beautiful place in the country to watch some ugly football.

The football has improved somewhat, but not enough to justify the massive expansions that are ripping out the trees one stand at a time. Now this. I admit that I never connected the name John Blake with THAT John Blake. I can tell you this about UNC — if this goes where it appears to be heading, everyone connected to the football program, including the AD, will be gone.

I’d rather UNC remain a women’s soccer university than become home to the John Blakes of the world.

Scip,

Huggy Bear Blake was inept, but this little exploit is known almost exclusively to Sooner fans. Mainly because we were almost never on TV unless we were getting Baylored by someone more relevant.

You see, Kringle X could never get the right number of guys on the field for kickoffs and kickoff returns. It was either 12 or 10. So he had a mat made with 11 pairs of feet on it so he could make sure only 11 guys were going out. For kickoffs and returns, he would have the players each stand on a separate pair of feet so he could count them. He did this during actual games, man. Not during practice. Not during scrimmages. But during games in front of hundreds of morose motherfuckers who couldn’t stop watching the train wreck in Norman.

Jay-zus, Nate, that is a hell of a thing. Wow.

Nate -
 
The image of that made me bust out laughing and now I’ve got water on my keyboard.

I cannot thank you enough for that image.

The NCAA has grown some teeth recently. Why? The only two spurs I can think of are the death of NCAA president Miles Brand (and the interim appointment to replace him), or the recent conference realignment (and resulting shakeup of the power structure), or both.

It’s very telling that USC hasn’t fired Mike Garrett. It means they have no intention of admitting fault and cleaning up. If UNC doesn’t cut Blake loose, we are seeing a new trend- schools going outlaw overtly.

You left out recent Blake cheating rumors-

1. Tennessee defensive end Corey Miller accused Blake of trying to pay him:
"UNC tried to bribe me."

"and since we on this lets talk about how ya under tha table DL coach wanted to pay me to come to school…..?? No answer? and how he showed me to diff chicks he put on my homie??? OOhhh UNC is so much better! U a lame yung gunna"

http://www.statefansnation.com/index.php/archives/2010/07/15/feb-10-black-santa-accused-of-paying-recruits-in-chapel-hill/

2. Arthur Brown took money from Blake and still went to Miami.

3. No details, but UNC appeared out of no where to sign Marvin Austin at the last minute. We’ve seen what kind of character Austin has. Not hard to connect the dots there.

UNC hired Butch Davis. What were they thinking? About the same thing Butch was thinking when he hired John Blake.

I am so pleased to see UNC’s football life “chocked out” in front of my eyes before it even gets a chance to rise from medocracy! Yes, they have some talent and “D” and are returning a high number of starters…albeit, from a 8 – 5 team, who lost their bowl game in their own backyard (again)….when it comes to Carolina being a major player in college football, I’ll “believe it when I see it”…oh, yes, I know, Michael Jordan went to Carolina – so, the media will constantly provide them with loads of hype, no matter how average they really are…….hahahahah

Never knew Blake recruited Suh, that completely changes my opinion of Suh.

Very nice write-up, quality stuff!

Nate, OU isn’t the only school that had/has that mat. Only issue would be whether Blake thought of it first….

It’s not like Switzer and Sherrill weren’t cheaters before Boo Blake arrived on scene. If I’m not mistaken Miami went on probation shortly after Butch Davis left. So maybe Blake just seems to prosper in that environment. Nebraska has always been a clean program as far as I know and stayed that way despite Blake’s presence.

My point is that Blake did not and is not act(ing) alone.

You see, it’s this mat …

Bob, aside from OU, name one other major D1 college football power guilty of using that mat.

I’ll wait.

well, i know he turned down the jets last year to coach their d line.. and they are the favs to win the super bowl.. so if he keeps getting hired by all of these historical institutions.. im a carolina fan and season ticket holder, and i know i wouldn’t trade him for any other recruiter in the country.. wow marvin drove someones car, what a crime, he tweeted in miami, so we should regret hiring blake because of this here-say.. i know i haven’t seen players of this caliber on the heels EVER, not to mention he is probably the best d-line coach in the country as well, so i could care less what happened in oklahoma in the freakin eighties…

First, I can’t believe that I bookmarked a Texas site. So long as the “Your team sucks” crowd stays off my butt, I’ll keep coming back for the great topics and viewpoints. I’ll attempt to show you that most Husker fans posting on opponents’ sites are not the jacka**es that some want to believe that we all are.

Second, If the NCAA, or Congress for that matter, was worried about student athletes, they would conspire with the NFL to come up with rules/laws to ban coaches for life instead of laying all of the penalties on the schools. The schools deserve their fair share but these guys are masters of Scortched Earth ethics.

GBR!

Bob

So, if I understand the gist of what is being said here. Blake should be tar and feathered – no questions asked? No evidence, just rumor, no charges. Just hang the black bastard. Right?

Only a foolish Tarheel fan would come out defending his program by talking about the “pretty pine trees” around Kenan.

Jeff,

Why are you attempting to incite irrational discussion into a thread that is witty, rational, and thoughtful? His professional behavior, which almost destroyed my beloved Cowboys, Nate’s Sooners, and gave an unfair recruiting advantage to UNC is the issue, nothing else. Grow up or log off.

FAIL.

Hook ’em!

Java, what recruiting advantage did Blake provide UNC? The same one Mack Brown gave them? You have an agenda, so drop it or log off.

You sir, are sorely mistaken on each and every point you allege and, as such, weave and create a vitriolic story that is simply defamatory in nature. In fact, you are so confused in your haste to spew your baseless venom against a fine man, that you contradict yourself. To wit:

First, the recent article you cite about UNC does not even mention Blake much less accuse him of anything. Yet, you proffer this as an indictment of him. Incredible.

Second, you state that he was on the OU staff from 1985-1988. Yet the cover of the Sports Illustrated demonstrates that the trouble at OU happened when John was at Tulsa, i.e., the cover says 1989 (he was at Tulsa 88-89). He was brought back to OU by Gibbs in 1990 because of his talents and Gibbs’ recognition of his ability to keep his thumb on the pulse of the program and that his wisdom and demeanor would prevent such horrible things. Gibbs said as much at the time. He was with Gibbs while he ran what you admit was a “clean program”.

Third, he did not join Barry Switzer in Dallas. Rather, Jimmy Johnson, at the time the “Coach” coming off a Super Bowl victory with the Cowboys, recruited John-and Johnson could have had his pick of coaches anywhere. Moreover, his d-line was some of the best in the NFL every year he was there. Switzer, rather, “joined” John after Johnson was ran out of town for his insubordination.

Fourth, John then becomes head coach at OU and runs it without even an allegation of a violation. At the time, numbers of Cowboys, including Emmitt Smith and Michael Irvin, among others, publicly stated what a fine man and coach he was and how he would be great for OU. He took over a program in complete dissary from the Schnellenberger era. And, importantly, actually about 18 of the players on the 2000 National Championship team were John’s recruits. Look it up instead of just popping off.

Fifth, there was not one allegation that he did anything wrong in any way whatsoever at Mississippi State.

Sixth, Bill Callahan, when he was deemed one of the hottest offensive minds in the country and could have chosen anyone, recruited John to Nebraska due to his talents. Remember, he was going to revolutionize the Nebraska offense. They were thrilled to get him. Nebraska was also in dissary at the time and he was wildly successful at his job while there.

Finally, a perennial 3-8 North Carolina program hires him via Butch Davis who he worked with in Dallas. Butch was being courted by virtually every program in the country with an open coaching job and he chose UNC…and then selected John because of his talent. UNC has been on the upswing ever since.

There has never been an allegation that he has ever offered a dime for any player.

I have known John, on a personal and professional level, for almost 30 years. He is one of the finest men you will ever meet and his former players love him and stay in contact with him years after their tenure is over with John.

Your story is fraught with inaccuracies…think you would care to revise it?

well stated mr. beaver.. in doesn’t take a genius to figure out he must be a hell of a coach and recruiter if everyone keeps wanting to hire him.. it really is amazing how bitter and petty some fans can be..im a huge tarheel fan, and i appreciate everything john has done for our program.. the next time you talk to him, tell him to please stick around chapel hill as long as he wants. i wouldnt trade him for any other d-line coach in the country..

Wow, how dumb are all of you going to look when the NCAA completes its investigation and finds that John Blake did absolutely nothing wrong? You won’t be able to protest that someone needs to investigate “Black Santa” because the NCAA will have done that and given him a clean bill of health. Then, when the Heels have a great season and kick the rears of your teams you won’t be able to say it was due to the cheating John Blake, because he will have been cleared of all wrongdoing by that time. You miserable screws are going to be even more miserable then, because no one will be listening to your crying and whining about UNC cheating any more. Think about all of that before you go posting more of this drivel, for which there is absolutely no proof.

Losers.

Who could forget John “Tits” Blake?

Excellent piece of fiction! If you continue working on your creative writing, I’m sure a book deal is right around the corner. I give it a B: could use a few more details, contains many baseless allegations, and is mostly just bullshit, but great otherwise!

Scipio—Pathetic. Your lack of a response demonstrates the baseless nature of your original post and further reveals that you have some agenda. Sincerely, I feel sorry for you.

“Pooooooooooor John BLAKE.”

As innocent as OJ.

Corey Miller, a Tennessee football signee and a player pursued by UNC, recently tweeted something interesting. He apparently is alleging that Black Santa, aka John Blake, is offering to pay players to attend UNC.

“and since we o n this lets talk about how ya under tha table DL coach wanted to pay me to come to school…..?? No answer? and how he showed me to diff chicks he put o n my homie??? OOhhh unc is so much better! U a lame yung gunna”

nothing to see here, move along…don’t talk about OUR john blake that way? give it a rest heels, we’ve seen his “behavior” for 20+ years down here…..

Wow, nice speculation and innuendo. And what is your real name? Hiding behind a tag on a blog that offers no facts, only speculation, is oh so tough.

No wonder no real media outlet will hire you.

Cut. Print. Fail.

Sam: Undoubtedly, the rambling, unverified and unquestioned “tweet” from a twit (who is attending a rival school) constitutes a “valid” refutation and indictment of (1) a spotless 30 professional track record, (2) the empirical data and evidence I provided above, and also (3) my personal relationship with the man—which includes candidly observing him apply his morals and ethical decision making in various private contexts. (In case you applied the same analytical skills to this last statement that you have, apparently, applied to this situation, that is called sarcasim). Point is, to borrow from Uncle Anthony "A big mouth and a bunch of bad names and proof of nuthin’ ".

Seriously, You are just barking up the wrong tree here. He is a good person and, unlike the undoubtedly morally corrupt who viciously assail him without even one scintilla of legitimate evidence and, importantly in the situation at hand, NOT EVEN AN ALLEGATION FROM THE INSTITUTION/GOVERNING BODY CONDUCTING THE INVESTIGATION, i.e., the NCAA, THAT HE HAS DONE ANYTHING WRONG, he conducts himself in an honorable manner. His accusers epitomize the words of John Clarke-“It is not uncommon for grand and corrupt men to falsely charge others with doing what they imagine that they themselves, their narrow minds and experience, would have done under the circumstances….”.

If all the personal agendas, pejorative overtones and hyperbole are obviated, there exist no legitimate accusations and the only thing left standing is a man whose character will keep him firmly ensconced at the top of his profession. In all sincerity, if I had a son qualified to play Division I football, he would attend the University of North Carolina…because of one man…John Blake.

I can’t stop laughing at that last paragraph. “If I had a son qualified to play Division 1 football…..” You don’t understand, he doesn’t have to qualify, Blake will take care of that, he has to be good enough.

“Personal agenda, pejorative overtones and hyberbole are obviated…” Nice lawyer speak Jackie Childs. You realize that these “allegations have already been allegated” numerous times? When the shit hits the fan for reals, you guys will be the only ones “shocked and chagrined, chagrined and shocked.”

Btw, I typed that with a tore up UNC shirt on, fwiw. Workout clothes, imo.

Shut the fuck up, HICK.

You’re just a jealous Texas hick talking shit about a OU person.

If you want to play hardball, UNC’s deep pockets can find big oil and big ranchers in Texas that pay your athletes for insider access.

The NCAA isn’t even bothering Blake during this agent scandel, so maybe that should give you a clue about this dumb fucking op-ed.

Great write up. BTW at least 16 starters on OU’s 2000 team were Blake recruits, I personally researched it.

Great article.

@william beaver… I understand that you would like to defend a person who is a personal friend of yours, but using the defense of knowing him on a personal level holds little water on a site where no one even knows you. As far as we know you could be the devil defending Hitler because you “know him on a personal level”.

This entire article is hogwash. Blake is an honorable man and a fine football coach. He had zero to do with all the cheating. He is just one unlucky bastard because wherever he has been he has been the victim of other coaches that cheat Once it is proven that Butch Davis is the problem here at Chapel Hill I am hopeful that Blake becomes our next head coach. He is the best recruiter on the East Coast bar none. Just look at the Star ratings he is collecting for what has otherwise been an underperforming team. It isn’t his fault that the offense sucks. He has built one hell of a defense and once the bogus charges about Austin are dropped I predict we will win the ACC championship and be one of the top 3 BCS schools. With a little luck we’ll win our first of many football national championships. It all started with Blake so give the main some respect.

Funny…the same Tar Heel fans on here defending Blake are the same ones that frequent the national recruiting boards to call out Calipari every chance they get. The same arguments that you use to vilify Cal are the same arguments the rest of the nation use to call out Blake. Truth is, both of em are dirty as hell, and the only ones that want to deny it are the ones that blindly defend their programs, regardless of the body of evidence that points to the contrary. There’s a reason the sanctions, NCAA investigations, forfeiture of wins, etc.. follow these two, and it ain’t because they’re poor victims of circumstance.

Dear Austin Sachs, William Beaver, Colorado Tar Heel, Blue on the Hill, et al.

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/news?slug=ys-agentcoach080910

Have a nice day. :)

XOXO,
Everyone Else

It’s cute watching Tar Heel fans learn….
 
http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/news?slug=ys-agentcoach080910
  
The link above is worth your time. Assuming you want some understanding of what I knew a month ago.
 
Which many of you don’t.
 
Don’t worry – I come not bury John Blake, but to praise him. For he is an honorable man.

Had to stop back by and share the Yahoo info with the Tarholes, but alas, I’m too late again. You boys here at BC (and recruitocosm) keep an ear to the ground. It’s much appreciated..

But that article does not support ANYTHING written here. Zero.

The word recruiting occurs in the article once, and it is the agent saying he was not recruiting Austin. It is allowed for Austin to talk to agents as long as no agreements are signed or verbalized.

So if you connect the dots as you will, Blake steered a handful of players to an agent out of the hudreds he has coached. I hope you NCAA rules scholars realize that recommending agents isn’t against the rules.

Blake knows the agent and did some work at his training facility 12 years ago. Wow, lock him up now. Wichard isn’t even Blake’s agent.

And just to add:

Butch Davis got to Miami when they were on probation. He rebuilt the program and never had the NCAA ever come close to investigating him. Your memory has the order of events wrong.

And John Blake “resigns.”
 
Exactly six weeks after my original article.
 
Thanks for playing, UNC fans. It was entertaining.

Why do you hate his freedom?

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