As of today, neither Auburn nor anyone at Auburn has been accused of wrongdoing in the apparent falsifying of a student-athlete's transcript at Wooddale High School in Memphis.
But I stress that is as of today.
Things could change. I have no evidence to suggest things will change or that anyone at Auburn was involved, but it is far too early to say with certainty that things will stay that way or that they won't.
Sometime after Wednesday's scrimmage, Auburn officials got a call from the NCAA informing them that a guidance counselor at the school had resigned and admitted creating a false transcript for true freshman running back Jovon Robinson.
Robinson was held out of Friday's two practices.
The Memphis Commercial-Appeal broke the story Friday afternoon. The story did not name the student-athlete involved, but we have confirmed beyond any question it is Robinson. He was recruited by assistant coach Trooper Taylor and signed with Auburn in February.
The newspaper also did not name the counselor who resigned. But on Aug. 1 the school's web site listed three guidance counselors. Today, it lists two. The one that has been removed is 12th-grade guidance counselor Yvette Lynch.
The NCAA, clearly, will diligently investigate the situation. That investigation is virtually certain, at some point. to lead investigators to ask questions of Auburn and Taylor.
There are two ways Auburn could have serious problems:
1. If someone associated with Auburn urged the counselor to change the transcript.
2. If the NCAA determines Auburn knew or should have known that the transcript was not accurate.
If Auburn is innocent but the transcript was changed or manufactured, it was fortunate that the news broke when it did and not after Robinson had played in a game. Auburn could have been forced to forfeit any game in which he played.
Tina Wordlow, Robinson's mother, told The Commercial-Appeal she was stunned by the allegations.
"Everything he got, he got honestly, by hard work," she told the newspaper.
A reporter was present when she received a call from an Auburn official, who referred her to an NCAA representative. She left a message for the representative, according to the newspaper..
“I know that he has worked diligently so that he’s up to par,” she told the Auburn official.
That's where things stand. Where it goes from here, nobody knows.
Saturday afternoon Jovan Robinson Update
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- Phillip Marshall
- Columnist - AuburnUndercover
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