Reports: Bama’s Price at topless bar, had woman in hotel room

AP ^

[BurbankKarl]

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Alabama coach Mike Price spent hundreds of dollars at a topless bar in Florida the night before a young woman in his hotel room tried to charge more than $1,000 in food and drinks to his bill, according to newspaper reports today. University President Robert Witt issued a statement this morning indicating that he was nearly done with his review of Price’s behavior and would meet with Price and athletic director Mal Moore later in the day.

Witt will update university Chancellor Mac Portera afterward and has called a meeting Saturday with the Board of Trustees’ Athletics Committee and other members "to present and discuss his decision regarding Price’s status as head football coach," the statement said.

"This review involves careers and lives and it has been imperative that it be thorough," Witt said.

The president said Wednesday evening he and Moore were reviewing Price’s "behavior in certain public settings and the appropriateness of that behavior."

Price, 57, spent time at a nightclub called Arety’s Angels in Pensacola, Fla., on April 16, The Birmingham News quoted a dancer as saying.

Price, who was hired in December from Washington State, was in the Panhandle city for a pro-am golf tournament the next day.

"He bought me several drinks. I think he had three private dances in the back area of the club with me," the News quoted dancer "Destiny" Stahl as saying.

Stahl, 36, said Price spent about $200 on her, but nothing happened beyond dancing. In all, Price spent several hundred dollars in cash at the club "buying and tipping all the girls," she said.

"There was no sex, no touching, no lap dancing," said Stahl. "He was a gentleman."

The Montgomery Advertiser reported that the next morning, a young woman in Price’s hotel room ordered more than $1,000 in food and drinks charged to his bill. The Advertiser said Andrea Wright, assistant manager of the Crown Plaza Grand Royal Hotel in Pensacola, confirmed that a guest of Price ordered one of everything on the menu.

Dale Peterson, manager of the hotel, declined comment when contacted by The Associated Press today.

The Mobile Register, quoting four workers at the Crowne Plaza who would not agree to be identified, said the woman wanted the food placed in boxes so she could leave with it.

Concerns about the unusual order prompted the hotel to contact Price, who was listed as being responsible for incidental room charges, the Register said. The workers said Price returned later in the day and paid the bill after the woman left. She was not allowed to leave with the order.

Price, who is married, declined comment Wednesday on his actions, saying he could not talk about the review until the university released a statement.

Hours later, the university said Price’s actions were under investigation.

"We are involved in a very deliberative process of gathering information, discerning what is factual, and discussing these findings with coach Price," it said.

Witt said he was in contact with the chancellor and university trustees and hoped "to bring closure to this situation as soon as possible."

The statement provided no details on the nature of the investigation.

The Register quoted an unnamed source on the university board as saying a meeting of the athletics committee would be held Saturday to review Price’s situation.

Speaking in an interview early today with the Birmingham Post-Herald, trustee John Russell Thomas said the reports felt like "another blow to the program."

"How bad is it? We can’t judge that yet," said Thomas.

Another trustee, John England, said "what happens with the coach is the president’s call."

Stahl denied leaving the club with Price, and she said she knew of no dancer who did.

"The club rules forbid us from leaving with people," Stahl said. "We don’t do that. He’s a good man who was here to have a good time.

"I don’t see what the big deal is. He’s like everybody else. He just wanted to admire a beautiful woman."

A playing partner of Price, Tuscaloosa businessman Larry Wilkin, said in an interview he saw nothing unusual the morning after Price’s reported night out.

Wilkin said Price was early to the course for an 8 a.m. tee time and received a couple of calls while on the golf course, including one from his wife.

[bourbon]

I enjoyed the Tide fans in Norman last year. It was a great time.

I was there for that game too (as a UA fan). I had an absolutely wonderful experience in Norman, and I was very impressed with the OU fans. Y'all are some hospitable people who are justly proud of your long and successful football tradition.

[bourbon]

Mal Moore should be taken to the top of a tall building and flung off.

Jeez. I couldn't agree more.

When the last three coaches your university has hired are Mike DuBose, Dennis Franchione, and Mike Price, it's probably time for a new athletic director!

[small_l_libertarian]

Mr. Price, you have one of the most coveted positions in college football and you throw it away on a dancer named "Destiny?!?" (Not to mention the bimbo who wants $1,000 worth of food and drinks in boxes.)

What the hell are you thinking?

[arkfreepdom]

I was there for that game too (as a UA fan). I had an absolutely wonderful experience in Norman, and I was very impressed with the OU fans. Y'all are some hospitable people who are justly proud of your long and successful football tradition.

Thank you. It was a fun day and I still can't believe we won that game. You people are some kinda classy fans. Wish I could go to the game at Bama...I have to work that weekend in order to get off for home games.

[over3Owithabrain]

LOL - apparently not everyone here is getting your sarcasm.

[HIDEK6]

... and received a couple of calls while on the golf course ...

Why is it that no one is outraged at the most heinous act he committed?

If you're on the golf course, turn the dam phone OFF!

[Plutarch]

These Alabama coaches just cant seem to keep their pants on.

Probably some Auburn plot to put testosterone in the coaches water cooler, drives 'em bananas with libido.

[petitfour]

The morons at BAMA should hire Coach Stallings. He has integrity and his priorities go along the lines of God, family, BAMA football.

[shotgun]

You need to refer to the un-offical Pullman dictionary:

Topless Bar: please remove all caps, hats or other head coverings prior to entry.

Football: A fall saturday afternoon gathering to drink mass quanities of alcoholic beverages while watching another school take an oblong pigskin orb up and down the field, scoring at will, against a bunch of guys wearing crimson and gray uniforms.

"I've always felt that being a Cougar prepares you for life. You learn not to expect too much."
--Retired UW Coach Don James

For those of you trying to find Pullman: go east from Seattle until you smell it: then turn south until you step in it! Plus all dirt roads lead to Pullman!

[southland]

RE post 22: Using a public University's tax payer sourced funds or money for such purchases is a little more than using a company's funds.

[DEPUTYMAYTAG]

I SEE NO PROBLEM HERE.

[southland]

The conditions that caused Stallings to leave in the first place should be investigated.
Stallings is about the only person who could take the problems and wind up with a successful football team.

[DeathfromBelow]

but... only if the accounting department of said university allows those charges. Otherwise the coach gets the bill.

[MD_Willington_1976]

You pretty much nailed it...Price is such a Bonehead..he says the only thing that Pullman produces is football players..I guess he could only see as far as the boundary marking the University property, well guess what, there is a company down the road that makes a hell of a lot more then football players...

http://www.selinc.com

[BurbankKarl]

Price Fired As Alabama Football Coach

By JOHN ZENOR
AP SPORTS WRITER

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Mike Price was fired as Alabama's coach Saturday after a review of his conduct on a trip to Florida that included a visit to a topless bar.

University President Robert Witt said he fired Price for failing to conduct his "personal and professional life in a manner consistent with university policies."

Price, who has yet to coach the Crimson Tide in a game, was described by Witt as "a great coach, a good man." But the president said Price failed to live up to responsibilities that come with the job of head coach at Alabama.

Price, 57, who has been at Alabama only four months after leaving Washington State, appeared earlier with his wife, Joyce, and two sons as university trustees held an open session before going into a private meeting with Witt. He did not comment then.

Witt said he regretted the "period of uncertainty" for Alabama players who now must wait to see who their new head coach will be. Their last coach, Dennis Franchione, left abruptely after the end of the last season.

bump

[flying Elvis]

Take Jackie Sherrill. Please!

[Scoutmaster]

Yes, Alabama won a national championship with Gene Stallings as coach (using Bill Curry's players, if I remember correctly). But didn't the Antonio Langham (spelling?) situation happen under Stalling's watch? Weren't there conflicting statements, even by Stallings, about whether he knew Langham had signed with an agent, and yet he played him in the bowl game? Didn't Alabama have to forfeit about 11 games under Stallings (according to the NCAA; Alabama still counts those as wins in its records even though the NCAA says the games were forfeited by Alabama)? Under Stallings, didn't a tutor report her car stolen, only to find out an Alabama player had driven it across country, and after a private meeting with Stallings, the tutor suddenly remembered that she had "loaned" it to the player? Stallings swore like a sailor on the sidelines (is that class?; he was famous for his salty sideline language when coaching in the old Southwest Conference), and the program was dirty under him. He's viewed as having class primarily because he won.