So its basically huge fans and or boosters with deep pockets that follow the teams recruiting very closely and see when they need to step in whether they were directed by the staff or not. Its just a given these peeps will get it done?
Cash comes from guys that have absolutely zero ties to the University. I've seen 5 kids go to Bama in the last 4 years. 3 definitely were compensated. 1 definitely was not. And the other showed no signs (no car). All were at least 4
Here's how it works, bro. Long but good article that should be read by anyone interested in recruiting. People who don't think Alabama and Clemson are paying players, paying them more than anyone else, and doing it in a far more sophisticated and established manner than almost anyone else, these people might as well still be claiming the earth is flat and is the center of the solar system.
https://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2014/4/10/5594348/college-football-bag-man-interview
An unnamed and likely unverified source. That article has been circulated for years and I believe it less and less every time I read it. Not because I don't think this stuff goes on, but because I doubt a legit bagman from real Bama or Clemson level program would ever sit-down with a reporter. No chance. And if he did, it's disinformation and completely filled with nonsense that takes you away from the way they're actually working.
The leaders of drug cartels give interviews to the press. I think you're underestimating the vanity of some of these guys if you don't think they want a little notoriety, albeit anonymous notoriety, for their efforts. At least the guy who gave this interview, if real, can brag to his drinking buddies about what he does and the time he told some reporter all about it and it never came back to bite him.
You make a fair point, but I don't discount the piece as you do. The timing was certainly interesting as the Ole Miss thing was coming down. Maybe it was an Ole Miss bagman who knew they'd be shutting down operations for a while anyway due to NCAA scrutiny. Maybe he wanted to try to shine some light on what everyone knows is going on at Bama, LSU, even Miss. St., in their jealousy of not being able to get away with it while these other schools do. That's another form of the same misdirection that you alluded to.
It's all fascinating, really, once you get past the extreme irritation that your school either just doesn't do it as well, doesn't have the same budget, or just simply can't get away with it as much as some others do.