Saban backs University of Alabama's screening policy

Two University of Alabama football staff members were recently mentioned in a Yahoo Sports investigation of an illegal University of Miami booster, the Associated Press reports. The staffers - offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland and director of football operations Joe Pannunzio - are both former Miami employees who, according to the report, allegedly led recruits to a booster who supplied players with amenities such as cars, prostitutes and other gifts. Alabama head coach Nick Saban is adamant that the school's background screening policy was thorough during the hiring process. "We do have people in this organization who worked (at Miami)," Saban said, quoted by Mr. SEC. "Before those people were ever hired here, we do an NCAA check to make sure that they pass all compliance criteria and don't have any red flags relative to compliance history, and we certainly did that in both of these cases." Both coaches were hired prior to the investigation, the Decatur Daily reports. According to the booster, Nevin Shapiro, the coaches brought recruits to his home and yacht, where he then offered the illegal gifts.