By Harry King

LITTLE ROCK — Skullduggery in the multi-billion-dollar business called college football?

No surprise. Whether in sports or the real world, when megabucks are involved, there are always a few people willing to cheat.

It would be as much of a mistake to paint sports agents, players and coaches with that broad brush as it would be to throw the Bernie Madoff blanket over all hedge fund managers.

But accusations and investigations indicate there are some in each category who are guilty of unscrupulous behavior.

The NCAA is investigating possible violations involving sports agents and players at Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, Florida and North Carolina. In turn, Alabama coach Nick Saban has been vociferous in criticism of agents, his comparison of some agents to “pimps” has been oft-quoted.

Saban also said the NFL Players Association and the NFL should suspend the license of any agent who causes a player to be ineligible, adding: “I’m about ready for college football to say, ‘Let’s just throw the NFL out. Don’t let them evaluate players. Don’t let them talk to players.’ If they are not going to help us, why should we help them?”

Certainly, the NFL needs the feeder system called college football much more than the college game needs the pros.

Saban’s remarks focused attention on agents, but a very prominent agent widened the guilty net. Former NFL player Ralph Cindrich, who has been in the business for 25 years, said he would not disagree with Saban’s characterization of some agents. But, he said, there are coaches who fall into the pimp category.

“You want to find out who has the dirty programs, give immunity and go off the record with agents, and it would be like a cockfight, the last one standing wins,” Cindrich said.

Meanwhile, SEC commissioner Mike Slive wants the NCAA to adopt a policy that is more about educating student-athletes than dealing with agents.

At Arkansas, the process is thorough and prophylactic.

Agents are not allowed on campus to watch practice, said Mark Robinson, director of football operations. If an agent is interested in a Razorback, he must register with the state, contact the UA’s compliance office and send any player-specific material to Robinson. He holds it until he knows the agent is certified.

Once a month since March, consultant Joe Mendes has talked with Arkansas players who are going to be juniors and seniors. The first time around, he met with each player for 30-45 minutes. Once, they met as a group and he took questions.

Along the way, he made it clear that he is available.

Two weeks ago, Mendes was present when more than a half-dozen registered agents made presentations to individual players. Parents that wanted to sit in were welcome. Questions were encouraged.

When the agents arrived on campus, Robinson met them and walked them into the meeting room. When they were done, he made sure they left campus.

Mendes’ work is in addition to guest speakers and compliance meetings.

Those steps should help prevent a violation at Arkansas, but, hurting for cash, some player, somewhere, will accept an advance from an agent angling to represent the young man for 4 percent of his NFL contract. The fee can amount to more than most Arkansans make in a lifetime.

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Harry King is sports columnist for Stephens Media’s Arkansas News Bureau. His e-mail address is hking@arkansasnews.com.