Sports editor: Should have revealed loan

Tuscaloosa News sports editor Cecil Hurt said Wednesday that he regretted not disclosing information to his editors about a loan he applied for in 2000 that was cosigned by a former University of Alabama booster.

The $4,000 loan to pay for medical expenses came up during Ray Keller's civil case against the NCAA. Keller won his suit Thursday against the NCAA for allegedly defaming him when it announced penalties against the Crimson Tide football program nearly six years ago.

Hurt's financial relationship with Keller was brought up twice during the trial, once during testimony two weeks ago and again during closing arguments Wednesday. Hurt has covered Alabama athletics, primarily football, men's basketball and baseball, since 1982.

"I should have spoken about it to management," Hurt told the Tuscaloosa News. "I made a decision that it wouldn't affect my work. In my opinion, it did not, but I should've left that decision to my superiors."

NCAA attorneys argued that Keller violated rules repeatedly and likely made his name public by being a source for Hurt. Keller and Hurt have known each other since 1988. Hurt said he can't remember how the two met, but Keller would sometimes call him to talk about football.

"I did not think at the time (of the loan) I'd be writing a news story on Ray Keller," Hurt said.

He did not disclose the loan to his editors or to readers until it came up in the trial.

"I am troubled by what we've learned," executive editor Doug Ray said. "Cecil is a straight shooter and a conscientious journalist. As our lead columnist and reporter on UA sports, he also is very influential within collegiate sports in Alabama. That elevates the importance of maintaining independence from his sources and the institutions he covers.

"Appearances matter. In this situation, he made some bad decisions. He should never have had Keller cosign a loan for him. Once that happened, he should have disclosed it."

Ray added that Hurt would be disciplined.

Hurt said the incident did not affect how he covered the story of the NCAA's investigation into Alabama.

"I had pre-existing relationships with virtually every figure involved in Alabama's NCAA case and I tried to the best of my ability to set aside all those relationships covering the story," Hurt said.