Paying college athletes is far from anything new and it’s pretty widespread.
Also there’s a whole lot of untraceable ways to do it.....living in a southern college football mecca is very educational.
You are right. In a small town college football mecca, paying off players is much easier with a compliant local press.
My high school baseball coach had a car that showed up at his house the day after he signed with the University of Texas back in the 1960s
It sure is educational. Football money starts flowing early HS for promising players. Families are moved into districts with expenses paid by boosters, job provided, rents covered, etc.