NCAA rules prevent UGA’s Mark Richt from attending Troup High graduation
AJC All-State offensive lineman Chris Burnette will be speaking at Troup High School's graduation ceremony on May 23
It looks like Georgia coach Mark Richt won’t be attending Troup High School’s graduation after all.
Georgia officials had unofficially contacted the NCAA to ask for permission for Richt to attend the graduation if Troup offensive lineman Chris Burnette would be speaking. But Burnette, who has already signed with Georgia, narrowly missed out on being class valedictorian.
When Richt asked to attend the May 23 graduation anyway, NCAA officials said that request was unlikely to approved.
“Mark still wanted to attend the graduation to support Chris,” UGA compliance director Eric Baumgartner said. “However, after speaking with the NCAA, they were comfortable with [Burnette] being valedictorian, but the NCAA couldn’t get there for [Richt] to attend the ceremony without Chris being the valedictorian.”
Richt didn’t know that NCAA rules prohibited him from attending such ceremonies until after he had promised to try to attend Burnette’s graduation if the lineman earned the school’s No. 1 academic honor.
Violating the rule likely would result in a secondary NCAA violation. Georgia athletic spokesperson Claude Felton said, at least for now, Richt will not be present at Burnette’s speech.
“If, for some reason, circumstances change, then I’m sure we’ll reconsider our position,” Felton said.
NCAA spokesperson Stacey Osburn said Tuesday that the sport’s governing body has not denied a waiver for Richt to attend Burnette’s graduation because an official request was never submitted.
“Ultimately, the university decided not to file a waiver,” Osburn said. “If a waiver request was filed, it would have been considered like any other waiver request from a member institution.”
Will Georgia file a request? “No, because we have received verbal indication from the NCAA that if Chris is not valedictorian, then there would probably be no extraordinary circumstances that would be grounds for a waiver,” Felton said.
Burnette said Richt delivered the bad news on Monday. “He was disappointed. [But] I’m still thankful that Coach Richt even tried as hard as he did to attend. The NCAA has rules, and sometimes there’s just no way around them.”
The 6-foot-3, 286-pound Burnette has a 5.12 GPA on a 4.0 scale and has made nothing but straight A’s since kindergarten.
Burnette had initially planned to graduate after his first semester at Troup so he could enroll early at Georgia to get a jumpstart on his college football career. However, Burnette changed his mind and decided to stay in high school this spring to compete for valedictorian honors, with the full support of Georgia’s coaches. Richt said he had never recruited a valedictorian before.
The NCAA’s David Pickle helped bring the story into the spotlight of the college football world when he blogged specifically about Burnette on the NCAA’s official website last week before it was revealed that Burnette barely missed being valedictorian. [Note: Click here to go to the NCAA blog]
“Surely we can stipulate that the appropriate outcome here is for Mark Richt to be able to attend the graduation ceremony if he wants to do so,” Pickle wrote. “One of the hallmarks of Myles Brand’s administration as NCAA president has been to provide flexibility to schools when the circumstances of a situation appear to fall outside of the intended scope of a rule. This case seems to fit exactly with that philosophy …”
“Rules are not always perfect, but neither are they always rigid. The key to fairness often is found in the flexibility of application, and on that count, the NCAA often deserves more credit than it receives.”
Coming up next: The ball is in UGA’s court. They have to decide whether or not to file an official waiver request to get an official response from the NCAA. Will the NCAA approve the waiver? Will they deny it? Burnette’s graduation is May 23, leaving plenty of time for everything to play out in the best interests of all parties involved.
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145 comments Add your comment
» SEC links: Pearl thanks Calipari; Tyus back at Florida John Clay’s Sidelines
April 29th, 2009
7:37 am
[...] The AJC reports that the NCAA has denied Georgia coach Mark Richt a waiver to attend ceremony. [...]
carmatter
April 29th, 2009
7:40 am
I still remember Tyrone Sorrells flunking out of UGA and starting at Tech.
CP Gator
April 29th, 2009
7:55 am
The only thing that the NCAA cares about is sports and making money off of it. Being a former collegiate athlete I know exactly what is important to the NCAA. Even though I am a gator I commend Coach Richt for his attempts in supporting a great student athlete. Go Gators…LOL
DIZZLE D
April 29th, 2009
8:05 am
IT’S TIME TO LET COMMON SENSE BE INVOLVED IN THE DECISION PROCESS OF THE NCAA – WHAT A NOBLE ACT BY COACH RICHT – TO BE DENIED BY A VERY STUPID RULE
Bank Walker, Texas Ranger
April 29th, 2009
8:14 am
First, he is not speaking so it is a dead issue. There is a reason for this rule. Second, I agree with the statement that anyone who knocks this kid is a prick. I don’t care if he is at the smallest, crapiest school. I applaud any kid who makes all A’s. And finally, I get sick and tired of hearing about Tech’s SAT requirements because those do not apply to the football team.
Bank Walker, Texas Ranger
April 29th, 2009
8:15 am
Oh yeah and if it were Notre Dame, this would be allowed I’m sure
Talking points: the politics of division | MrSEC.com
April 29th, 2009
8:20 am
[...] NCAA tells Mark Richt he can’t go honor a recruit with a 5.12 GPA who has made nothing but straight As since kindergarten with his presence at [...]
e
April 29th, 2009
8:21 am
LeeDog – If you are using the urban dictionary (http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=dawg), then you are correct. “Dawg” is not in the Webster’s dictionary.
Crimson Crush
April 29th, 2009
8:35 am
I think I actually like Tokyo Jacket . Political history (cited correctly no less) on a football recruiting forum . Who would have thunk it ?
As far the rest I have chimed in on on every piece written on this episode so far . For the people claiming this is a “publicity stunt” there is one fact that is beyond arguement . Without the dumb ass Byzantine labyrinth of the NCAA there would be no publicity to be had past a few local papers.
As a Tide fan I certainly wouldn’t be commenting on it if Richt had decided to attend the graduation of a kid he had ALREADY SIGNED . The fact this is even an issue has absolutely zero to do with Richt , the Dawgs or whether some Tech fans can get over the thrashings in football the Bulldogs have dispensed on their team over the decades . (Tokyo you have made clear where you stand so I did put SOME Tech fans
)
IF Georgia decides to pursue this and IF it is a “publicity stunt” to some short sighted peoples eyes , there is NO organization on the planet to thank for that except the NCAA . It has NOTHING to do what so ever with anything or anybody else’s personal issues with the Dawgs , their mothers or the neighborhood kids who stole their lunch money when they were growing up ….
globeflyer
April 29th, 2009
8:41 am
From a Bama fan…Go to the graduation. If any program can’t take the opportunity to showcase an academic “victory”, then how are they supposed to ask any player to “hit the books” with a straight face? The NCAA has turned into what I think their hierarchy is made up of anyway……legalistic loons. P.S. Give the players an allowance; the millions they make for the big schools will more than cover it. At least then, there could be some accountability for the funds.
braveshater
April 29th, 2009
8:48 am
Where are the recruiting updates, we know all about this story. The AJC sucks.
Zoomie
April 29th, 2009
8:54 am
Within the last few weeks, the AJC posted an article where Richt talked about players asking him why they had to tuck their jerseys. His response to them was (paraphrased), “Because it’s a rule.” Coach Richt cannot ramp up the discipline on his team in the manner he’s chosen and then simply dismiss an NCAA rule; it will defeat his purpose and diminish his credibility and leadership credentials. The message to Mr. Burnette was delivered: Coach Richt is very proud of his academic accomplishments. It’s clear that Chris got this message loud and clear and is chomping at the bit to play for CMR and retain his academic achievements at a high level. Coach Richt has already shown us he’s a really good man; Chris Burnette is showing us the same. It’s already a win-win and should go no farther. On a side note: I second the motion that anyone who comes on here and denigrates Chris’s accomplishments because of his alleged SAT score, or where he attended school, is scum-of-the-earth.
Reality Check....
April 29th, 2009
9:12 am
e needs a reality check….The word is mispelled incorrectly on purpose. It is a marketing ploy. It separates us from all other teams with the same nick names. WOW. Hatred can really be blind sometines.
Reality Check....
April 29th, 2009
9:18 am
Reality Check needs a reality check and check is mispelled words it is “sometimes”.
Brock D
April 29th, 2009
9:21 am
It’s a typo you ignoramous
SEC links: Pearl thanks Calipari; Tyus back at Florida | MrSEC.com
April 29th, 2009
9:21 am
[...] The AJC reports that the NCAA has denied Georgia coach Mark Richt a waiver to attend ceremony. [...]
Brock D
April 29th, 2009
9:23 am
BTW, if you’re going to correct someone on spelling don’t MISSPELL mispelled
Brock D
April 29th, 2009
9:26 am
Not there anymore? Darn, I thought we were going to have a “pelling” bee.
AltamahaDawg
April 29th, 2009
9:29 am
Well he IS speaking, but on behalf of his senior class. What Richt told him is that if he was Valedictorian, he would attend his graduation, not knowing it would infringe upon a recruiting rule. When he didnt make it, Richt wasnt going to insult the man and say, no deal, so he offered to see if it was still ok anyway, and it’s not. Case closed.
I actually don’t think that there is a rule called the “graduation ceremonies” rule, as much as this would come under the heading of limited contact. But on that for a minute, does anyone think that there would never be a highly saught after high school junior that just happen to be at a high school graduation. Plus where do you draw the line? Coaches can go spend unlimited time talking to anyone as long as “somebody” there had signed a LOI. Or what if Urban Meyers just happens to be really proud or Aaron Murray, even though he had signed with UGA. Why can’t he go to his graduation and tell him so? (just an example, spare me your idiot responce gatorboy) Or is there going to be some assigned person there with a stopwatch and clipboard? This all makes for great drama, and ranting, but the NCAA does not sit around an invent ways to keep coaches from celebrating academic acheivement. They do sit around and try to think of ways to limit out of control year round recruiting.
Go anyway? Well IF he had been Top of the class, maybe. But now, the point would be more JUST to break a rule, more than the original intent. What about next year, and the next honor student?
Reality Check....
April 29th, 2009
9:45 am
I’m here Brock D. I got your typo. I corrected my own blog you moron to try to stop idiots like you from posting your high and mighty posts on spelling. LOL. Really. What a tool. You are pathetic.
obvious
April 29th, 2009
9:47 am
If CMR really cared about his false promise. i’m pretty sure he would have filed an OFFICAL request. dumb move
Matt
April 29th, 2009
9:51 am
This is ridiculous, this just shows that the NCAA is moreabout money than the student/athlete slogan they tend to use. Last time I checked these young men are students before athletes and to punish one the has put the student part first is ridiculous.
Brock D
April 29th, 2009
9:59 am
Lol, you corrected a post and still misspelled, and I’m the tool
Reality Check....
April 29th, 2009
10:10 am
Brock D as a jesture of good sportsmanship, I believe we are both tools.
hahahahaha
Reality Check....
April 29th, 2009
10:18 am
Hey Brock D, I looked up the spelling of ignoramus and you guessed it. You misspelled ignoramus. Now that’s funny. LOL. You could have a full time job correcting my typo’s. Thanks for the laugh this morning.
GA Tech Insider
April 29th, 2009
10:24 am
I thought the NCAA is supposed to be an Organization that is in favor of “scholar athletes”. If that’s the case, I think that they’d applaud a Coach, especially one who who is recognizing a young man who has excelled in the classroom as well as the playing field, as an example of what all “scholar athletes” should be striving for.
Personally, I think that the NCAA should be ENCOURAGING ALL of their Collegiate Coaches to attend High School graduations in support of these young men to emphasize the importance of this aspect of the need of the full commitment to be sucessful in College and life after football.
Travis
April 29th, 2009
10:33 am
This just epitomizes everything that is wrong with the NCAA. I’m calling serious horsecr@p on this.
Lazy Dawg
April 29th, 2009
10:50 am
There comes a time when you need to do things without your parents permission,now is that time for the Coach to do what’s right and make his own grown-up decision.
ProffOnTheRun
April 29th, 2009
10:50 am
LOL. Ya’ll finally get on that doesn’t have to go to Hargrave and you’re all up in arms. Get over yourselves. If it means that much, take the NCAA to court like you did over the TV contracts, or doesn’t meet the money test?
Anyway, Richt doesn’t have the nads to do it….. besides, it conflicts with his spray-on tan appointment.
mborodawg
April 29th, 2009
10:59 am
I feel this is a stupid rule however as Richt has said in other circumstances “we will play by the rules”. With that thought in mind Richt should not go as he has to follow the stupid rules along with the rest of the rules then have the NCAA change the rule
Bob
April 29th, 2009
11:50 am
As William Blackstone wrote: “An unjust law is not merely a bad law, it is no law at all.”
Law must conform itself as nearly as humanly possible to ethcial principle. Where a law conflicts with ethical principle, it cannot bind anyone’s conscience. You cannot be morally bound to do something unethical or omit something ethical.
Therefore, Richt should apply for the waiver, and if it is denied, go anyway, submitting to the repercussions for his violation.
The NCAA is not God.
PHIL
April 29th, 2009
11:53 am
The reason they didn’t formally ask for permission to get around the rule is that the NCAA would have denied it and that would certainly cast a bad light on them. Dictator Adams would now allow his precious NCAA to be put in such a position.
Speaking of Adams and since it is he and he alone who is responsible for the state of our basketball program, did anyone read about the guy Memphis hired? I’ll certainly give this guy Fox all the time he needs to prove himself. But as more hires are done it is becoming increasingly apparent that we did not get the best available guy. I think Evans is fine as AD as long as nothing major needs to be done. He’s fine at keeping the ship on course, but if he ever needs to actually DRIVE the boat, it might run aground.
Dr. Phil
April 29th, 2009
12:49 pm
If His Holiness attends one commencement, then he must attend all of them, except for the 20% of his recruits who will not graduate.
Oledawg
April 29th, 2009
1:25 pm
Frank Lane- Good idea! How about a sign or two that conveys a message from Richt and the Dawgs as well if he still is unable to attend. This ain’t over yet.
Preston
April 29th, 2009
1:29 pm
e, unfortunately you’re right but your choice of wording implies that UGA is the only program that does this. Every football program allows some of their players to take much easier courses than the average student. Please tell me who your favorite team is. I have a feeling you’re another techie claiming that their players are the most brilliant bunch to ever suit up. Most of their players take custodial engineering.
Preston
April 29th, 2009
1:36 pm
If Richt doesn’t tell the NCAA to stick it up their ass and go to this kid’s graduation, a lot of folks will be disappointed in him. Valedictorian or not, that’s impressive.
AltamahaDawg
April 29th, 2009
2:27 pm
Yea thats the ticket! Thats exactly what he needs to do, go tell the NCAA to stick it, cause, you always want to piss off and upstage the NCAA. Attending an event, even though the reason you said you would, No longer even exist, is so critical that you want to burn the bridge to when you really need a waiver. I am positive what Chris Burnette really wants is his new HC getting in a pissing match with the NCAA. He might just stop studying othewise.
Voice of Reason
April 29th, 2009
4:12 pm
e — do some research before you make a false statement concerning dawg. It is in fact found in Webster’s New Millennium™ Dictionary of English and is defined as “a term of address for a close acquaintance or friend”. How about next time (and this goes for all of you folks) do a little research before you spout off a bunch of ignorant nonsense.
Also, I agree with the previous posters comment that we should have a large group of UGA fans show up at the Troup graduation. This would be a huge show of support for one of our newest dawgs as well as show that we, as UGA fans, value education as well as athletics. See what you can do about spreading the word Mr. Carvell, the NCAA is already unhappy with you!
Voice of Reason
April 29th, 2009
4:15 pm
to the person who claimed that Tech’s requirements for entry are higher than Burnette’s SAT score– do you really think all of the players on Tech’s team scored higher than 1180 and do you really think they all met Tech’s normal entrance levels? If so, you are a moron. There are a different set up standards for athletes at all schools. That’s right, not only us “thugs and criminals” at UGA allow athletes to be admitted on lower standards. Please, I say again, know what you are talking about before posting.
Another stupid NCAA rule - SECTalk Forums
April 29th, 2009
4:48 pm
[...] stupid NCAA rule What is the NCAA thinking? NCAA rules prevent UGA’s Mark Richt from attending Troup High graduation | Prep Zone: AJC High… After everything is said and done, more is said than done. Defy Conventional Wisdom – [...]
Zach
April 30th, 2009
9:02 am
I do have to reflect on the quality of Troup County schools when a kid getting straight A’s since kindergarten manages only a lousy 1180. Or perhaps they desparately need an SAT preparation course? I know that some kids are bad at standardized tests, but wouldn’t that have shown up at SOME point in this kid’s academic history with a B or lower? Or does Troup just give gold stars for participation?
Boise State shalt not grieve over late recruit, per NCAA rules (Updated) |
August 5th, 2010
1:24 am
[...] NCAA was operating on a minor level of obtuse paranoia when it barred Georgia coach Mark Richt from fulfilling his promise to attend a recruit’s speech at his high school graduation. [...]
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