Former Player Accuses Texas A&M Football Program of Violating NCAA Rules

(WBAP/KLIF) – The football program at Texas A&M University is the latest to come under fire amid allegations by a former player.

First year Aggie Head Coach Jimbo Fisher and his staff are accused of breaking NCAA rules. Linebacker Santino Marchiol told USA Today that Fisher’s staff treated voluntary practices like standard ones and gave him hundreds of dollars in cash to show potential recruits a good time. Fisher told the publication that his circumstances should allow him to transfer to Arizona without taking a year off because they affected his well-being, as a new rule could allow.

The rule says players can get a waiver to play immediately if the transfer is due to documented mitigating circumstances that are outside the student-athlete’s control. The circumstances have to directly impact the health, safety and well-being of the student-athlete.

“I believe everybody is held to a certain standard,” said football fan Parish McKey. “If they don’t uphold their standard then it should be a void contract.”

Ohio State Coach Urban Myer and Maryland’s D.J. Durkin are both dealing with scandals of their own. Now, Jimbo Fisher is thrown into the mix.

“I think stuff like this is becoming acceptable,” said another football fan in Texas. “It’s just the culture.”

Texas A&M officials told USA Today that they are reviewing the situation with the NCAA.