Alabama legal fees: $175,000

TUSCALOOSA - The price tag for The University of Alabama's defense in the NCAA textbook scandal has risen well into the six-figure range.

According to information obtained by The Decatur Daily through a public records request, the school has paid more than $175,000 so far on legal costs and expenses.

The matter, handled by the school's general counsel and attorney Mike Glazier, of the firm Bond, Schoeneck & King, racked up bills of $170,228. Attorney fees cost $149,252 while other expenses totaled $20,976.

The additional $5,221 was spent on miscellaneous expenses, according to information provided by the university.

All expenses to date, were paid by the athletic department with no state money involved.

Glazier, based out of Overland Park, Kan., specializes in NCAA infraction issues. According to the Bond, Schoeneck & King Web site, Glazier worked at the NCAA for seven years dealing with infractions, compliance and legislative matters. His firm was initially hired by the university to conduct the internal investigation into the student-athlete textbook distribution system just days after the discovery of inaccuracies in October 2007.

The case has yet to be resolved as the school appealed the NCAA's punishment issued in June. Alabama wants 21 vacated football wins restored and it has filed several documents in the long appeals process.

The school initially denied the newspaper's July 9 public records request for documentation pertaining to the legal costs in the matter. Multiple requests that followed were ignored before Deborah Lane, assistant vice president for university relations, provided the requested records Tuesday evening.