Former recruiting analyst got $150,000 from NCAA

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- The NCAA has paid $150,000 to end its financial obligations with a key witness in its most recent infractions case against the Alabama football program.

The Birmingham News reported Wednesday that recruiting analyst Tom Culpepper received the money in May in return for his agreement not to make any further financial claims on the NCAA to help with his legal bills.

Culpepper was a secret witness in the NCAA's investigation into Alabama football recruiting, and the NCAA signed a confidential agreement to pay his legal fees and protect him from any possible court judgments.

In 2005, a Tuscaloosa County jury awarded former Alabama assistant football coach Ronnie Cottrell $30 million in a defamation suit against Culpepper for his role in the NCAA probe. The judgment was later thrown out.

Culpepper gave a deposition in July as part of his divorce proceedings saying that the NCAA paid his attorney's fees and expenses related to litigation stemming from the NCAA investigation, in addition to the money he received in May.

Delaine Mountain, one of Cottrell's attorneys, said his side knew about the indemnity agreement early on but had to go through the trial without it because the judge would not order its release.

Robert Rutherford, a Birmingham attorney who represented the NCAA, declined comment on the organization's dealings with Culpepper.

``There was an agreement at one time between the NCAA and Culpepper,'' he said. ``However, I can't really divulge the contents.''

Culpepper was a witness in the NCAA's investigation into the recruiting of Memphis prospect Albert Means, which led to scholarship losses and five years of probation against the Crimson Tide.

While Alabama officials knew of Culpepper's interview with the NCAA, they did not expect the NCAA Committee on Infractions to use his information against the school the way it did during a 2001 hearing.

Mountain said Cottrell's legal team is still considering whether to seek a new trial against Culpepper.

John Scott, Culpepper's attorney, said a new lawsuit would be fruitless.
``Based on Tom's financial condition, it's a waste of time for them to pursue this,'' he said.