A former Texas A&M linebacker has alleged that Jimbo Fisher’s staff committed multiple NCAA violations early in its first offseason there.
Arizona linebacker Santino Marchiol, who spent his first collegiate season at Texas A&M in 2017 before recently leaving the program, told USA Today that he was given hundreds of dollars in cash by assistant coaches to host recruits on unofficial visits, the staff conducted offseason workouts that were longer than NCAA rules allow and that the training staff mishandled his own ankle injury.
Marchiol, who signed with Texas A&M under Kevin Sumlin’s staff in January 2017, alleged that current Texas A&M linebackers coach Bradley Dale Peveto on two occasions gave him hundreds of dollars in cash to entertain recruits who were on unofficial visits. He told USA Today that Peveto pulled him into a bathroom following the Aggies’ spring football game on April 14 and gave him $300. On a separate occasion he alleged that Peveto gave him $400. NCAA rules dictate that a school cannot pay for any of a recruits’ expenses on an unofficial visit except providing up to three free tickets to a home athletics event. NCAA rules allow student hosts $40 to entertain recruits who are on official visits.
Marchiol’s allegations were written as part of statement that he is attempting to use to be cleared to play for Arizona and coach Kevin Sumlin this year, rather than sit out the customary year after transferring.
In regards to offseason workouts, Marchiol said that A&M coaches required players to conduct conditioning drills as early as 5:30 a.m., which is prohibited by NCAA rules (bylaw 17.1.7.10.6.1 states that “required athletically related activities” aren’t allowed between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m.).
He also alleged that summer workouts, which are limited to eight hours per week by NCAA rules, went longer than allowed. He told USA Today that conditioning workouts that were scheduled for less than two hours sometimes lasted up to three hours.
Marchiol said that defensive coordinator Mike Elko told players of summer workouts, which are supposed to be voluntary, that “We’re going to have a lot of meetings and practices that aren’t technically required, but you guys have to be here because you’re way behind. We need to win,” according to USA Today.
In June, Marchiol said he suffered an ankle injury and that he was told by trainer Dan Jacobi to take four ibuprofen and continue practicing. Marchiol said he did and ran 100-yard sprints until he could no longer feel his ankle. He continued to practice the rest of the week and his leg continued to swell and began bruising.
Marchiol also alleged that the staff used vulgar and demeaning language when criticizing players.
In a statement provided to ESPN, the school said “Texas A&M Athletics takes these allegations seriously, and we are reviewing the situation with the NCAA and the SEC Office.”
These allegations come only a day after Texas A&M made news by rolling out a host of changes to its Title IX policies related to how it deals with sexual assault complaints. The school came under fire this summer after multiple current and former students took to social media to express frustration with how the school handled their cases. Texas A&M in response included many of those students in an extensive internal and external review process to come up with the Title IX policies that were unveiled Monday, promising to deliver tougher sanctions to those found responsible for sexual assault.
On Tuesday, Marchiol’s allegations brought scrutiny to the football program.
Fisher came to Texas A&M in December 2017 after signing a 10-year, $75 million contract that was fully guaranteed. The 2018 season has been one of the most anticipated in Texas A&M history because the Aggies were able to hire a coach who has won a national championship, something the football program hasn’t achieved since 1939.
Now Fisher’s first year may kick off with a cloud of uncertainty, given his former linebackers accusations.