TUSCALOOSA, Ala., May 1 (UPI) -- Mike Price finds his employment as football coach at Alabama in possible doubt after a recent incident at a gentlemen's club in Pensacola, Fla.
The Birmingham News reported it was told by a source that Price spent part of the evening of April 16 at a club called Arety's Angels. The source, "Destiny" Stahl, is a dancer at the club, which is a topless lounge.
"He came in here," Stahl, a married mother of two, told the paper. "I'm not sure who was with him, if anyone was. I was only with him. He bought me several drinks. I think he had three private dances in the back area of the club with me."
The paper said the university also is investigating reports of Price drinking heavily while at the club. There also have been revelations by other media outlets about $1,000 having been spent for room service by an unidentified female companion, and hundreds of dollars at the club.
Alabama President Robert E. Witt issued a brief statement about the investigation, which he said involved both the incident and Price's hiring.
"This review involves careers and lives, and it has been imperative that it be thorough," Witt said. "We hope to bring closure to this situation as soon as possible."
Witt met with both Athletics Director Mal Moore and Chancellor Mack Portera on Thursday, and indicated he will meet with members of the school's Board of Trustees Saturday, when a decision about Price will be announced.
"I'm here pulling for the coach," Ron Stone of Birmingham told the paper. "I'm an Alabama fan and a Coach Price fan. Let the facts get out and then we'll see what the talk radio shows have to say. Let them eat crow then. You can't expect the university to say anything publicly while they are looking into something private."
Price, 57, spoke briefly after a round of golf Wednesday in Birmingham. In the five-hour round, he played, with among others, PGA veteran Tom Kite and country music singer John Michael Montgomery.
Price, who is married and has two sons, was hired by the school on Dec. 18, 2002 to succeed Dennis Franchione, who took a similar job at Texas A&M. Price spent 14 seasons at Washington State, where he had an overall record of 83-77, before coming to Alabama.
The Tuscaloosa News reported that Price has not signed a contract with Alabama at this time, and contract negotiations have been suspended during the current investigation. It is a deal agreed in principle worth $10 million over seven years.
"I hate it for the team," JoAnn Harris told the Birmingham News. "I just hope it's not as bad as it sounds. You just have to watch what you're doing all the time."
Franchione came to the school after a tumultuous period involving problems with NCAA investigations and violations, and was widely criticized when he left the school last winter.
He already he had controversy while at College Station. His two daughters were arrested at a local bar in mid-April on alcohol-related charges.
