Former Texas LB Emmanuel Acho says Longhorns players were offered $1,000 per interception in 2010 title game
Former Texas linebacker Emmanuel Acho said he and his teammates were offered $1,000 per interception in the 2010 BCS national championship game against Alabama.
Acho, now an ESPN college football analyst, said during a Thursday appearance on "Get Up!" that Longhorns players were offered incentives, but the offer was not made in a public manner.
On Monday night, after LSU beat Clemson in the national championship game, Browns wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. was caught on camera on the field, handing what appeared to be cash to LSU wideouts Justin Jefferson and Jontre Kirklin.
"We went to the national championship game. ... it was public to the team, for every interception the defensive back got, they were going to get $1,000," Acho said. "... Now, the difference is we just didn't do it publicly on the field."
The Longhorns lost to Alabama 37-21 for the title.
After initially labeling Beckham's antics a "joke" and calling the money "fake" on Tuesday, LSU's athletic department backpedaled Wednesday and stated that "apparent cash may have also been given to LSU student-athletes."
The NCAA prohibits collegiate players from being compensated or receiving impermissible benefits outside of Division I scholarship parameters.
Beckham sent every LSU player Beats Studio 3 wireless headphones prior to the championship game, but that was cleared by the NCAA. Postseason rules allow players to receive gifts up to $550 in value for competing in bowl games "from the management of the event or from the participating member institution."
Acho stood up for Beckham and criticized the NCAA.
"I don't have a problem with it, for two reasons — the first layer is. ... Odell Beckham, just by existing, by breathing out oxygen, he will get attention," he said. "That's who he is.
"The second thing I have a problem with, as far as the perception that's been painted, is the NCAA — they only care because they can't control the narrative. Remember, four days prior, Odell Beckham gifts the entire team Beats headphones. Y'all do the math. That's over $45,000, if you count the players and the coaches.
"But that's fine. Hey, NCAA, guess what? The players are probably taking those headphones and selling them because they need the bread. So that's my biggest issues."