AUBURN, AL (WSFA) -
An article published on Yahoo! Sports Wednesday afternoon says the NCAA has been working for weeks on investigating improprieties involving Auburn recruits, players, coaches, representatives of the school's athletic interests and third parties.
The article, published shortly before 2:30pm Wednesday, was written by Yahoo! Sports Expert Pat Forde.
In the piece Forde writes Assistant Coaches Trooper Taylor and Curtis Luper have been specifically scrutinized by the NCAA and that both were taken off of road recruiting several weeks ago amidst the NCAA probe.
Forde also stated that sources told Yahoo! Sports in September that the NCAA was investigating the recruitment of 2012 Auburn signee Jovon Robinson, whose Memphis Wooddale High School academic transcript was found to be forged. Robinson was declared ineligible to play this season back in August. Robinson is not currently enrolled at Auburn.
In addition to Robinson's academic issues, the article also states the NCAA is investigating Wooddale P.E. teacher Rhonda Wilkinson for allegedly providing impermissible benefits to Robinson that include transportation to the Auburn campus on at least one occasion. Wilkinson is an Auburn alumnus and fan.
Forde cites unnamed sources throughout his article.
When WSFA 12 News contacted Auburn University for reaction, university officials declined to comment. The Associated Press reports that head football coach Gene Chizik also declined to "comment on speculation". Attempted to contact coach Curtis Luper were unsuccessful.
Chizik, who won the 2010 BCS National Championship, has come under fire for the team's poor season and has avoided comment on growing speculation that his job is in jeopardy.
The Auburn Tigers, suffering from a 3-8 season, are preparing to play the defending BCS National Champion University of Alabama Crimson Tide on Saturday. The Tide is current No. 2 in the BCS standings.
Copyright 2012 WSFA. All rights reserved.
File Photo: Auburn head football coach Gene Chizik
