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By Gilbert Lowell
gibby@piedmontgazette.com
TUSCALOOSA - In the latest in a series of transgressions committed by NCAA coaches, Bo Davis, an assistant coach with the University of Alabama, has been disciplined by the university for providing illegal assistance to one of his players. The player in the case was senior wide receiver, Darwin Salaam who was drowning in a lake at the time, begging for help.
According to Associate Athletic Director for Compliance, Chris King, Mr. Davis “blatantly and knowingly” violated NCAA rules by offering and providing assistance to the drowning Salaam in the form of an inner tube.
The inner tube was worth a reported $19.95.
Said Salaam: “It was a hot day out, so I jumped right in even though I don’t swim too well. Then I swam out a little too far and got tired, and couldn’t swim back. I started flopping around and yelling and screaming. I really thought I was gonna die.
“Then Coach Davis threw me an inner tube and I was able to grab on and float to safety. Thank God for coach. He saved my life.”
Unfortunately for both Davis and Salaam, he also committed a major NCAA infraction. "Offering assistance to an athlete with amateur status under any circumstances is illegal under NCAA guidelines.
For that reason, Coach Davis has been disciplined by the University and we are awaiting the NCAA's verdict" said Chris King.
Mr. Davis received the Bronze Star of Bravery from the Tuscaloosa Fire Department. “It’s a real honor to be given this award from the city,” said Davis. “I’d do the same thing again, even though I’d probably get fired next time.”
Chris King says that although the coach was acting to save the life of a student, it doesn’t make him exempt from the rules.
“Look, we all have to follow the rules,” said Chris King. “No matter what. I realize Coach Davis was in a tough situation. If he helps the kid, he gets a fine. If he doesn’t, the kid dies. Nevertheless, these rules apply to everyone, and there is no special treatment here at Alabama.
“If we let this slip by, then how are we gonna justify punishing a booster who buys a player a new Lexus? The rules have to be enforced across the board.”
“I have the deepest respect for Coach Davis. What he did was very brave, especially when you consider saving an athlete’s life is technically an NCAA violation,” said Alabama Athletic Director Mal Moore.
“The situation is very clear. He is a coach. Salaam is a student. He is not supposed to assist in any way. If Salaam wasn’t a football player, would Davis have thrown him that inner tube? Of course not. He would’ve let him drown, as any of us would. So in that sense, Salaam received favorable treatment because of his status as a football player.”
Gilbert Lowell covers the University of Alabama for The Piedmont Gazette.
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