Report: Brad Bohannon knew about massive bet on LSU vs. Alabama, bettor had 'inside information'

More details are coming out about the role Brad Bohannon played in a massive bet on LSU against Alabama this past baseball season, Sports Illustrated’s Pat Forde reported Monday. Red flags came up when the bettor went to place $100,000 on the game.

Forde reported the bettor — revealed to be Bert Eugene Neff Jr. — went up to the window to place a bet on the game, which hadn’t seen much action. The $100,000 in bets also exceeded the house limit for college baseball, further raising questions.

As Neff tried to make his case for the staff to take his bet, he also “indicated he had inside information on the game,” Forde wrote. That information was about the Alabama starting pitcher. Luke Holman was supposed to start that game, but was scratched with back tightness. Bohannon opted to start Hagan Banks, marking his first time starting a game since March.

That decision came as Bohannon apparently knew about Neff’s attempt to bet on the game. An investigation revealed text messages between the two as security cameras picked up the exchange. Forde reported the two used an encrypted messaging app called Script in an attempt to cover their tracks. However, it’s unclear whether Neff was placing the bets on Bohannon’s behalf.

No Crimson Tide players are believed to be implicated in the situation, Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne told Forde. That also appears to be the case at LSU, although the university didn’t respond to SI’s requests for comment. The Tigers won that game 8-6 after Alabama started to erase an 8-1 deficit.

As a result of the investigation, Alabama fired Bohannon May 4.

“Alabama director of athletics Greg Byrne announced he has initiated the termination process for head baseball coach Brad Bohannon for, among other things, violating the standards, duties, and responsibilities expected of University employees,” the university said in a statement about the decision to fire Bohannon. “Bohannon has been relieved of all duties and Jason Jackson will serve as the interim head coach. There will be no further comment at this time pending an ongoing review.”

The Crimson Tide then moved Jason Jackson up to interim head coach for the year as the program rattled off a run to the Super Regionals. Alabama finished with a 43-21 overall record, including a 16-14 mark in SEC play.

After the season, the Crimson Tide hired Rob Vaughn as the program’s next head coach — and he kept Jackson on staff as associate head coach.