A former Parade All-America football player from Memphis, Tn. says he was offered
$25,000 to make allegations of illegal recruiting tactics by the University of Alabama.
David Paine, who signed with Alabama in 1999 but never played because of academic
problems, said former Trezevant High School assistant football coach Milton Kirk made
the offer and asked him to lie about his recruitment by UA.
Paine told The Tuscaloosa News that Milton Kirk first approached him in November 98
with an offer of a car and made the cash offer to him and his mother about two
weeks ago.
David Paine, who attended Melrose High School in Memphis and now is enrolled at the
University of Memphis, also claimed that Milton Kirk told him he could help David Paine
gain another year of eligibility to play college football.
David Paine said Milton Kirk never indicated where the money would come from or how
he could help Paine gain another year of eligibility.
"He told me he knew people in high places," Paine said.
Paine said Kirk first approached him in November at a high school basketball game in
Memphis and offered to get Paine an automobile.
"He told me he was just trying to help," Paine said. "He told me getting a car would be
no problem."
Paine said Kirk approached him and his mother again about two weeks ago with the
offer of cash.
"He told my mom that she could sue Melrose High School and Tim Thompson for a million
dollars," Paine said.
Thompson is the former football coach for Melrose High School and was fired from his job
after an investigation determined he was part of recruiting violations involving high school
players and the University of Kentucky.
Paine said he did not take Kirk up on the offer. Nor, he said, did he ever approach Kirk for
money.
"It kind of shocked me at first," Paine said of Kirk's offer. "I couldn't believe he would just
come up to me and ask me to say that."
NCAA investigators questioned Paine about Alabama's recruitment of him. Paine has said
repeatedly that Alabama used no improper tactics during his recruitment.
Roy Adams, a flamboyant University of Tennessee booster suspected by some people of
being behind allegations of recruiting violations in Memphis, said Paine's story is ridiculous.
"I think it's just a bunch of bull," Adams said. "Hell, Kirk doesn't have any money."
(
geocities.com/the_fall_of_the_tide)