Among the hottest topics this week at SEC spring meetings are the concerns over legalized gambling’s impact on competitive integrity and Alabama baseball’s had a role in that.
The May 4 firing of head coach Brad Bohannon amid an investigation into his alleged involvement into gambling-related violations kickstarted a debate that had long been lingering below the surface. Coaches and administrators took part in lively discussions each of the past two days in Destin as the Crimson Tide baseball season continues its rebound this week in NCAA regionals.
Alabama athletics director Greg Byrne was asked Wednesday about the status of internal investigations into the gambling matter.
“What we’ve done is we’ve reported to the proper people and anything we need to help cooperate and support those investigations, we’ve done,” Byrne said. “We’ll continue to do whatever we’re asked in the future.”
On the field, Alabama went 10-4 since Bohannon’s firing — playing their way into hosting its first NCAA regional since 2006 when play opens Friday.
The Tide (40-19) will face Nicholls State at 6 p.m. CT in Tuscaloosa after Troy and Boston College play the opener.
Interim coach Jason Jackson’s worked himself into position for consideration to stay in the role moving forward with the hot finish to the season.
“Jason Jackson’s done a great job,” Byrne said Wednesday. “Quite honestly I gave him about 20 minutes notice that he was going to be the interim head coach before I put him in front of the team. And he did a wonderful job from the very first meeting with the team and it’s continued.
“I’ve been around him a lot and I’ve been pleased with the job he’s done and I’ve been really pleased with the job the kids have done. They have stayed focused on the task at hand. We’ve had a lot of success at the end of the year. To host for the first time in 17 years means a lot to our baseball program and our athletics department.”
Michael Casagrande is a reporter for the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @ByCasagrande or on Facebook.