HOOVER, Ala. — The NFL had SpyGate. The NCAA now has AgentGate.

Talk of agents and their potentially illicit dealings with college athletes dominated Day 1 of the 2010 SEC Media Days and only appears to be growing.

SEC Commissioner Mike Slive mentioned dealing with agents in his opening statement, and Alabama head coach Nick Saban went so far as to call them “pimps.”

Much of the controversy stems from a party held in South Beach that has three SEC schools — Alabama, Florida and South Carolina — under open investigations for improper contact with agents.

Alabama defensive lineman Marcell Dareus and South Carolina tight end Weslye Saunders are both suspected of attending an agent’s party in South Beach. Former Florida Gator Maurkice Pouncey is being investigated for receiving $100,000 before the Sugar Bowl in January.

The talk of agents clearly had Saban hot under the collar.

“I don’t think it’s anything but greed that’s creating it right now on behalf of the agents,” Saban ranted. “The agents that do this — and I hate to say this, but how are they any better than a pimp?

“I have no respect for people who do that to young people. None. How would you feel if they did it to your child?”

Georgia may be a fourth school involved in an NCAA investigation, as Georgia Sports Communications Director Claude Felton confirmed in an e-mail that the NCAA had contacted the school about a potential inquiry.

“Athletic Association officials indicated that full cooperation would be provided,” the e-mail said. “The NCAA has requested that UGA officials, coaches, and/or student-athletes decline further comment until the inquiry is completed.”

While no Georgia players were named in the NCAA inquiry, unconfirmed Internet reports placed star wide receiver A.J. Green at the South Beach party Memorial Day weekend. Green denied the report to the Athens Banner-Herald Wednesday night, saying he was visiting his family in Summerville, S.C.

Former Georgia receiver Michael Moore shot down any rumors swirling around Green on his Twitter account, tweeting, “Hahaha. This talk about A.J. is hilarious. That country boy ain’t never been to Miami!!! You can put those rumors to rest.”

The NCAA prohibits athletes from receiving gifts from agents, as a violation can cause a loss of amateur status. The school can also be penalized if it is found to have knowledge of illicit dealings between agents and players. Slive said that it would be very difficult to determine if any of the schools had any knowledge of prohibited activity.

“Given the surreptitious nature of these matters, it is difficult, if not impossible, for institutions to know what might have taken place… This isn’t done on Main Street at noon with a compliance officer sitting there.”

The four-man Georgia media contingent of coach Mark Richt, Green, Drew Butler and Shaun Chapas were not available for comment, but will be the first school to speak Thursday morning, with updates following as they become available.