ESPN update on Ole Miss-Clemson tampering, ‘early stages’ of investigation
A recent update in the Ole Miss-Clemson tampering situation over Luke Ferrelli recently got an update an it’s a bit ridiculous.
The NCAA somehow still being in the “early stages” of its Ole Miss tampering investigation is exactly why so many around college football have little confidence in the organization’s ability to police the sport. This wasn’t some vague accusation or minor complaint. Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney publicly accused Ole Miss and defensive coordinator Pete Golding of blatant tampering involving former Cal linebacker Luke Ferrelli earlier this year after Ferrelli had already enrolled at Clemson , signed his financial aid agreement and started participating in football activities with the Tigers.
According to Swinney, Golding texted Ferrelli while the linebacker was sitting in class at Clemson after previously telling Ferrelli during the transfer process that he would have a spot with the Rebels if one became available. That opening eventually came after LSU and Lane Kiffin pulled former Clemson linebacker TJ Dudley away from Ole Miss, leading to renewed contact with Ferrelli. Ferrelli initially informed Clemson staff about the communication before eventually re-entering the transfer portal ahead of its closing date and flipping to Ole Miss on Jan.
22. Now, thanks to an ESPN report from David Hale and Mark Schlabach published Friday, more details surrounding the NCAA’s response have become public. According to the report, the NCAA officially opened an investigation into Ole Miss on Jan.
23, the same day Swinney publicly detailed the tampering accusations during a lengthy press conference. Per ESPN, an NCAA associate director of enforcement emailed Ole Miss senior associate athletic director for compliance Taylor Hall requesting that multiple phones connected to the Rebels program be forensically imaged. That reportedly included both Golding’s university-issued and personal phones, along with devices used by Ole Miss general manager Austin Thomas, inside linebackers coach Jay Shoop, outside linebackers coach Matt Kitchens, director of player personnel Jai Choudhary and senior associate athletic director for strategy/cap management Matt McLaughlin.