Comments from Johnson, Peterson and Radakovich
Here are comments from Georgia Tech Dr. G.P. “Bud” Peterson, athletic director Dan Radakovich and football coach Paul Johnson from a 4:30 p.m. news conference. The NCAA announced earlier in the day that the Yellow Jackets would have to forfeit its 2009 ACC title for minor violations and failing to fully cooperate with NCAA investigators looking into those violations. It would also receive:
- Public reprimand and censure.
- Four years of probation from July 14, 2011 through July 13, 2015.
- A reduction of two men’s basketball recruiting days during the 2011 summer evaluation period (self-imposed by the university).
- A limit of 10 official visits for men’s basketball for the 2011-12 and 2012-13 academic years.
- A vacation of all contests won by the football team during the 2009 season after November 24. The ACC said Tech must return the trophy. No champion for the season will be named.
From Johnson:
On if he was surprised when he learned that Demaryius Thomas and Morgan Burnett could play late in November of 2009:
“I wasn’t aware of what was happening because I wasn’t involved in the process. I knew they had been interviewed when the NCAA came in. I had no idea what was said in the interviews or what was going on. We found out that Wednesday or Thursday that they were eligible to play. As far as we were concerned, we just went with the attitude that until somebody told us differently they were playing. Dan came in on Wednesday afternoon and said they are both cleared.”
On the results of the punishment:
“I think our guys are frustrated. I understand why our administration did what they did. It’s frustrating when you aren’t directly involved in something and it effects you in such a big way. I was proud of the way that 2009 team played on the field and for the majority of those guys to have an asterisk beside that effort, and the assistant coaches, it makes it tough. It is what it is. Life isn’t fair. You learn from things.”
On when he learned of the seriousness of the investigation:
“I didn’t really know until the hearing in April. I thought at that time ‘These guys are out for blood.’ That’s the time I realized the seriousness. I still had no idea it would be as serious as it was. This is 32 years of coahcing and I’ve never been involved in one of these.”
On what he told the team today:
“I told them that sometimes things that happen aren’t fair. The neat thing is doesn’t affect our football team moving forward: No postseason ban, no scholarship limitations, no loss of anything that way so it doesn’t affect the guys that are here. It’s disappointing that the guys that played so hard in that game doesn’t get to see the fruits of their labor. But you use it as a learning experience. It’s a valuable lesson that we talk about a lot: What you do and how you represent yourself carries over to everybody in that room and everyone on that coaching staff. You are representing a school and a coaching staff.”
On if this affects his desire to remain at Tech:
“No, not at all. As I said, I understand why our administration did what they did given the information they have. I have a lot of respect for Dan and Dr. Peterson. They made decisions based upon what was available to them at the time. I’m not going to second-guess them now.”
From Peterson:
“Georgia Tech is committed to integrity of its athletic program including full operation and support of the NCAA.”
“We could have been more aggressive in our investigation. Had we known then what he know now, we could have acted differently. At the time we took appropriate steps … we acted in good faith.”
“I don’t believe anyone did anything or took actions to hinder or impede investigation.”
“Georgia Tech has an unwavering commitment to compliance.”
“We are very concerned about having to vacate the championship title.”
From Radakovich:
“There was no intent to influence testimony. We cooperated fully during process.”
“We don’t agree with the report and its findings.”
“Not a proud day for me.”
“Georgia Tech should not be placed in a position where its integrity is challenged.”
“We disagree but we will move forward.”
– Doug Roberson, AJC
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164 comments Add your comment
just saying
July 14th, 2011
6:57 pm
Honestly DRAD, I would tell the NCAA that GT isn’t going to give back any trophy and good luck trying to confiscate it..and I would appeal, don’t apologize for anything…these people have flimsey hearsay cR@p for evidence, what kind of idiots prosecute a school and have no names to speak of, a friend of some agent, what agent? what friend? w
juvenal
July 14th, 2011
6:58 pm
Tech kicked a player off the team, he sued & got re-instated.that chan played him is when i lost respect for him, it was a felony rap……….again, release the proof if the ncaa cleared them or not, what Tech is saying is 180 degrees from the allegation……
nerd
July 14th, 2011
6:59 pm
the punishement fails to fit the crime. the sheer unfairness of the punishment does little to earn my respect for the ncaa. if they want to send a message then go after real cheating.
CHUCK UGA
July 14th, 2011
7:02 pm
Wow, I had no idea they were even being investigated. It is sad and not good for our in-State school to get in this kind of trouble. Pretty much opens the door to our SEC competitors like UT and SC to swoop in on more Georgia HS talent. That is a problem for me. Pretty sorry situation that has a lot of my friends upset. I do not hate Tech, only some of their childish fans (every school has them). Of course that doesn’t apply on game day! A lot of good friends of mine support the program, so I feel bad for them, and Coach PJ is a good man. Best coach they’ve had since Bobby Ross.
Out of Town
July 14th, 2011
7:02 pm
“There was no intent to influence testimony. We cooperated fully during process.”
No you didn’t.
Bull Meacham
July 14th, 2011
7:04 pm
Enough of the talk comparing Tech with the Heels. Unlike Tech, they have cooperated fully with NCAA. Anyone remember last season and all the players that sat or were kicked off team. They were proactive and haven’t covered anything up.
mrbiguns
July 14th, 2011
7:04 pm
The NCAA has gotten out of hand. With Auburn, Ohio State and Alabama breaking rules blatantly and in the face of the NCAA and the NCAA hands out such a harsh punishment to Tech is ridiculus. The NCAA is about to be done with as soon as schools start paying athletes anyway. I wasn’t for paying student athletes but now…I think I am.
spider
July 14th, 2011
7:06 pm
there is only one worse organization than the NCAA and that is al quaeda. the justice dept needs to investigate the ncaa not the bcs. look what the ncaa let BYU get away with on the field in a game that changed the outcome of the game and put them in a bowl game.
Bull Meacham
July 14th, 2011
7:06 pm
I hate Tech because they are so arrogant and self righteous. Yet they continue to get caught in these type of situations and still will not ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY. Again, unlike UGA that sat down their best player.
GT Rich
July 14th, 2011
7:06 pm
I agree with someone else’s post. The administration saw smoke and decided it was worth risking a fire by playing questionable guys. UGA played it safe/smart by sitting AJ Green. If it was Thomas and/or Burnett, Tech would not have won the ACC championship game without them. Bright side — no loss of schollies and CPJ has good fuel to fire the team for this season. The seniors now have one last chance to get an “official” ACC championship.
davidinloganville
July 14th, 2011
7:09 pm
the fact that Tech has a history of using ineligible players had to have played a part.
Schaden Freude
July 14th, 2011
7:11 pm
This is righteously hysterical: The only REAL bowl the tech-mites have been to in a century — and they had to CHEAT to get there! Where is the cartoon depicting a giant NCAA hand wielding a huge can of RAID!? The sanctimonious tech-mite “fan base” will NEVER live this down. Oh, the jocularity!
michael
July 14th, 2011
7:11 pm
ncaa or federal govt??? i guess someone in the ncfed got upset too late as usual. i worked for the fed’s and the power is really bad at covering mistakes but it’s like a corporation…hey it’s not my fault!
D. Rad is a Joke
July 14th, 2011
7:12 pm
The biggest penalty is the forfeiture of $100,000. Tech is totally broke financially and morally (cannot play by the rules with 2 MAJOR NCAA violations in 6 years). I bet D Rad is passing the hat tonight to collect the $100,000.
Gratefuldawghead
July 14th, 2011
7:13 pm
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Barry Wynn
July 14th, 2011
7:17 pm
I thought that I would never see the day where the holy of holier than thou Techies would be corruptible.Thee ’s veil has been ripped and thee’s temple has tumbled. Yall need a straight edge for redesigning.
Danny G
July 14th, 2011
7:23 pm
NCAA are idiots. Too harsh a punishment and simply out of line. I am a Dawg fan, but this is garbage. Meanwhile, Auburn is still holding their trophy up. Sad.
Ima pike
July 14th, 2011
7:24 pm
What the hell??? What about what Auburn got away with? I think the investigating is all a big joke.
SB
July 14th, 2011
7:24 pm
So the Ohio State players can play in a BCS bowl game, but Tech has to give back an ACC title. How is that logical for the NCAA.
GTPhenom
July 14th, 2011
7:25 pm
Gotta say, I appreciate all of the matue posters on here. I am with all of them that things seem strange with this entire investigation and penalty. For the childish ones on here, grow up, get a life, and learn to look at things objectively. If you can honestly look at what has been presented by the NCAA, and say that it seems that the punishment fits the supposed “crime,” then I think I want some of the good stuff y’all are smoking . . .
BIG BEE
July 14th, 2011
7:28 pm
Can we recoup some of CPH money, since he apparently did something wrong. We apparently knew this when he was fired, but could not say anything that might hurt our case. As it is seems we need a DC in the front office.
munsondawg
July 14th, 2011
7:28 pm
So they have to give up an ACC Championship .LMAO!!!!! Big Deal. It’s not like they had to bust their azz like teams do in the SEC…. Go Dawgs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
AMG
July 14th, 2011
7:29 pm
NCAA had to STOP there investigation of USC or else they would have had no choice but close all athletics at USC, instead gave them a reasonable punishment. At Ohio State, same story, big, huge problems and a coach that did not report it up the chain, no real penalties. Tech self reported and self imposed penalty with no real problem and the NCAA comes down with a sledge hammer, so the NCAA message of the day is if you have a problem hide it and pay us off we are just like USC, the more you pay us the more we will do what you want. This is BS and the NCAA knows it. TECH had better appeal this with a vengence, there is no point to this at all. The NCAA is a buch of mobsters protecting big name Us that pay them off.
AMG
July 14th, 2011
7:32 pm
Auburn has deep pockets , so does Ohio state and so do alot of other programs, the NCAA stands for Need Cash As Always
mark
July 14th, 2011
7:32 pm
Obviously, just like the US Govt., the NCAA needs the $$. If they don’t continually fine institutions, then freeloading, non-productive workers would lose there “entitlement” like jobs.
icedawg
July 14th, 2011
7:32 pm
“Life isn’t fair.” “Life isn’t fair.” So, what he is saying is that injustice was done. Evidently those investigating thought otherwise. Rather than humbly accepting the outcome this kind of rhetoric indicates the attitude that led to the problem in the first place. This is a sad day for Tech more so by the comments coming from those who represent the institution.
Phil
July 14th, 2011
7:34 pm
Awesome: Both my high school and my college has been exposed as frauds.
Dawg4Life
July 14th, 2011
7:34 pm
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA………. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA…. Lets hear the excuses now….
Bill
July 14th, 2011
7:35 pm
Who ever wrote this needs a proof reader!!
munsondawg
July 14th, 2011
7:35 pm
Techies now whine about the NCAA?? How pathetic.
Nosh Jesbitt
July 14th, 2011
7:37 pm
Told ya’ll one day the bees wouldn’t BEE buzzing.
Win P
July 14th, 2011
7:40 pm
I’m beginning to equate NCAA with the US Congress….some what disfunctional.
reality
July 14th, 2011
7:42 pm
This NCAA commission is not real. The standards by which they set rules forth can be changed at any time. Take Auburn for example. Everyone knew that that quarterback was paid by Auburn. But the NCAA said they couldnt find the money or the money trail —from what I heard.
And further, this Newton guy had been thrown out of the University of Florida for cheating and stealing a laptop. Still, he was allowed to play football for another University. Now, if you have any common sense, you would understand that something is just not right. Or should I say that the NCAA looked the other way in this case. How can a student football player get kicked out of school and go play for another school?———Sorry, this does not add up.
I think there should be a more refined commission watching the NCAA.
Why dont they not give the players scholarships. Let the players pay their way through school. And then let the universities pay the atheletes a fee set forth by the NCAA.
The whole idea of allowing Colleges to train players for the NFL is NUTTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Why doesnt the NFL set up a baby NFL for their players!!!!!And train them for 4 or 5 years and then let them play and leave the Colleges out of it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am just sayin.
Tech Fan Since 1950
July 14th, 2011
7:45 pm
No one hurts anymore than this old guy tonight, but it is time to move along, wipe our noses, and plan to be bigger and better about this kind of stuff in the future. The NCAA doesn’t always seem to have the same level of enforcement for its members, but Tech has to be concerned about what Tech does first. The Tech administration could have done better on this one by being more up front first, but I can see how the initial (football) decision was made during the time frame at the end of the season. What bothers me more is the appearance of stonewalling or interfering with the investigation. The ultimate best PR is to be open and candid at the beginning and let the chips fall where they have to fall. It appears Tech thought they were burned doing this the first time a few years ago, but it is still always the best policy. Go Jackets! Let’s get ready for fall.
Winfield J.Abbe
July 14th, 2011
7:46 pm
Don’t like the decision? Get this corrupt garbage of slutball of campus where it belongs. It has nothing to do with higher education and only makes it a true house of ill repute.
Always a Jacket
July 14th, 2011
7:51 pm
I agree with the UGA posts. Tech needs to accept the fact that someone screwed up and hold them accountable. It starts with DRad. Someone in the AA decided BeBe was eligible instead of doing the cautious thing and sitting him. The decision was wrong and now someone needs to pay. Good to know Coach Johnson was not part of the incompetence. Sounds like Bud made the decision. He has not been impressive since coming to Tech, now we know he’s stupid too.
Tom
July 14th, 2011
7:51 pm
Ok, I’ll be completely honest, GT is my 2nd favorite team, UGA is my #1 team. I guess I’m kind of an oddity? How could GT screw up so badly to get such harsh sanctions? Does not sound like GT to me. Okay from this point on, no GT bashing of UGA for off the field issues with players and staff! Seems only fair to me. I will say this, the NCAA does seem like a bunch of pencil-pushing nerds, who never played sports in their life. Trying to appeal is a waste of time, so just move on!!!!!!!!!
GSUStud
July 14th, 2011
7:52 pm
I’m still laughing on the floor that someone said that Tech had morality, pride and integrity…..are you kidding me? Tech has been known for decades as a dirty, cheating program and even laughed at because they lose while cheating. Way to represent the state of Georgia.
Ekim
July 14th, 2011
7:55 pm
@techy: You’re an impostor. Nobody spells that poorly.
Nosh Jesbitt
July 14th, 2011
7:55 pm
Hey Winfield J.: go back to posting your crap on the Athens Banner Herald website.
Eatmybonemutts
July 14th, 2011
8:09 pm
Hey mutts, at least we HAVE a championship to forfeit.
real dawg
July 14th, 2011
8:10 pm
tech should fire radokovich—he dropped the ball and tried to keep stuff from the ncaa and cost Tech big money.
atltigerfan
July 14th, 2011
8:14 pm
You Auburn haters need to give it up. No program has had the scrutiny and spotlight on it the way Auburn has in the past year. From the NCAA, newspapers, espn, etc. Yet not a single shred of anything other than accusations. Nada, zip, zilch. If there was something there they would have found it. And might I remind the haters that Auburn stands accused of NOTHING. Yep, nothing. The only thing validated is that shady Mississippi State boosters floated the idea of money with Cecil Newton and tried to buy his son.
Nosh Jesbitt
July 14th, 2011
8:16 pm
Hey Techies, The mutts have 2 SEC championships in the last decade a played for a 3rd and lost that game. You have ZEROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Buzzwax
July 14th, 2011
8:23 pm
While unlikely, how funny would it be if GT could win the ACC this year and shove the trophy up the NCAA’s ARSE!!! $312??!!
OfcouseIamadawg
July 14th, 2011
8:26 pm
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!!!!!!! serves you right you stupid Techies!!!!
fan49
July 14th, 2011
8:27 pm
Everyone always knew Tech lied and cheated! Now they got caught!!!! FedEX is ready to ship your ACC trophy back!!!!!
OfcouseIamadawg
July 14th, 2011
8:28 pm
Aww was that too soon, I would say that I am sorry but I am not.
OfcouseIamadawg
July 14th, 2011
8:30 pm
Hey while they are sending back trophies how bout the 1990 national championship one… Go ahead and send that back also. Better yet I bet the University of Colorado will pay for the shipping and handling.
OfcouseIamadawg
July 14th, 2011
8:33 pm
Go ahead techies… Find something else to whine about and make excuses.