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© St. Petersburg Times, published January 17, 2002
GAINESVILLE -- The Giants' Ike Hilliard testified Wednesday that his former agent, William "Tank" Black, stole between $1.5-million and $2.5-million from him.
The 25-year-old wide receiver said he was one of Black's strongest backers, even when allegations of fraud began to mount.
Black, 42, and two associates are being tried for allegedly stealing between $12-million and $14-million from clients. He also is accused of illegally giving money to college players.
Black faces a 25-year prison sentence if convicted.
"I had a firm belief in what he was trying to do," Hilliard testified. "Then after all of it came to light, I was still one of the last ones to break away because I didn't want to believe."
Jaguars running back Fred Taylor reportedly lost the most to Black, including a $3-million signing bonus and $380,000 received for meeting performance goals.
Hilliard said Black handled all of his finances and that he gave Black that power without question.
"Everything went to him, from signing bonuses to paychecks," Hilliard said. "I never had a problem with anything he did, so whatever he sent me to sign, I signed."
Another NFL player later supported Hilliard's account of how Black handled his clients' money.
"They did everything -- pay my bills, whether it was rent, car note, whatever," said Jamain Stephens, a Bengal offensive lineman.
On Tuesday, Cardinals linebacker Johnny Rutledge said it was difficult to testify against Black "because Tank was the guy who guys put their trust in ... then he turned around and stabbed them in the back.
"Tank was a guy I trusted like a father."
The trial started Monday and is expected to last 4-6 weeks.
In June a federal judge in Detroit sentenced Black to 82 months in a federal prison for a money laundering charge stemming from a drug operation.
ALABAMA: A federal judge in Memphis, Tenn., has refused to dismiss extortion and bribery charges against a former high school coach accused of receiving $200,000 for sending a freshman to play for the Crimson Tide. U.S. District Court Judge Bernice Donald declined to dismiss charges against Lynn Lang, who was indicted in August on one count of conspiracy, two counts of traveling across state lines to promote bribery and six counts of using his position to try to extort money and property. The indictment stemmed from charges that Lang and former Trezevant High assistant Milton Kirk set out to sell the services of Trezevant defensive lineman Albert Means. Kirk pleaded guilty in October to conspiracy.
AUBURN: Coach Tommy Tuberville was given a one-year contract extension. Tuberville has gone 21-15 in three seasons, taking the Tigers to a bowl game the past two years. The extension re-establishes the five-year contract he signed in 2000. The Tigers finished 7-5 after losing four of their final five, including a 16-10 loss to North Carolina in the Peach Bowl.
TENNESSEE: Officials sent paperwork to the NCAA to have receiver Donte Stallworth's eligibility reinstated. Stallworth, a junior, said Jan. 10 that he would enter the NFL draft. He changed his mind after he sent in his draft papers to the NFL the next day and asked to have his name removed before the deadline for entry. Stallworth's name was not on the list released Monday of 37 underclassmen to be included in the draft. But under NCAA rules, players who ask to be placed on a draft list are declared ineligible.
PENN STATE: Quarterback Matt Senneca will graduate this summer and won't return for his last year of eligibility. The school will have three returning quarterbacks next season: Zack Mills, a redshirt sophomore, and freshmen Chris Ganter and Michael Robinson.
UCLA: Coach Bob Toledo agreed to a one-year contract extension through the 2008 season. The Bruins went 7-4 record last season, but the team lost four of its final five and didn't play in a bowl.