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
Kevlar
July 14th, 2011
6:02 pm
But will they be appealing? 1st.
Ramblinwreck83
July 14th, 2011
6:06 pm
why? don’t drag it out. it is what it is. too bad the championships gone. they’ll just have to go get another.
btgt69
July 14th, 2011
6:09 pm
The one thing that gave me great pride was the integrity and morality of GT. Now that is gone.
Ramblinwreck83
July 14th, 2011
6:11 pm
I guess the NCAA assume that if a player receives anything from anyone, that it’s considered improper benefits is some form. I think the real issue is that the NCAA is starting to go around and show their muscle. The thing is they can’t even get the damn national championship right. What a joke. Won’t be suprised if they start nailing alot more schools soon. UGA better watch out. That AJ thing seem really stupid, but the NCAA doesn’t care at all. It seems like the dumbest stuff gets the hammer brought down.
FUCPJ
July 14th, 2011
6:14 pm
FIRE D-RAD and FIRE CPJ
GT Disbelief
July 14th, 2011
6:15 pm
NCAA has got to be super bored with themselves, seriously go find something else to do, send them over to Iraq …
skydawg
July 14th, 2011
6:18 pm
@Ramblinwreck83….News break for you. The NCAA has already ruled on the AJ Green situation and it’s a done deal. The punishment was to the player and not the university and/or overall athletic program. So you can go ahead and get those ideas out of your head. Now Cam Newton at AU, that’s a different story. The hammer has yet to fall there as they are still waiting on the conclusion of the federal lawsuit involving some BIG AU boosters/board of regions members. But don’t start trying to point the finger at UGA.
oldbird
July 14th, 2011
6:19 pm
As a UGA grad, I have never posted on a Tech blog, but I think that this is way too harsh. I hate it for you guys. Is there a southern bias with the NCAA? I am beginning to wonder.
Ramblin Wreck
July 14th, 2011
6:20 pm
After reading through the report, it just really irks me. The NCAA basically said, “We think he’s guilty, so you have assume he’s guilty until he’s proven innocent.” Sorry, but BIG problems with that!
Look, Tech knew the player may have been ineligible. They made the decision to play him. It turns out that he’s ineligible. (I may not agree with the NCAA’s decision on hi eligibility, but oh well.) We have to forfeit games. Fine. It’s a chance we took when we played him. But to say that’s covering up and smacking the $100K fine and probation on top? THAT’S garbage.
East Cobb Hokie
July 14th, 2011
6:20 pm
Classy responses IMO.
td
July 14th, 2011
6:20 pm
How do you get punished like this, *and* suck at football at the same time? Amazing.
techy
July 14th, 2011
6:21 pm
face it, we have ediots on our football team just like UGA, you’re kidding yourself if you think our players are not as dumb as theirs. face it, we probably cow tail more to atheletes tham most schools bc of our academics for the normal student. no way 85% of our team takes all necessary couses to be an engineer.
loupresley
July 14th, 2011
6:21 pm
@RamblinWreck83 When UGA found out AJ Greene was under investigation for selling a jersey, the school suspended him and waited for the NCAA investigation to conclude. Georgia proactively suspended him 2 games. The NCAA set the punishment at 4 games, but there was no cover-up. There was no attempt to play an ineligible player. UGA met it head on…and sat a star player down. It is the cover-up and the unwillingness to cooperate that cost Georgia Tech.
juvenal
July 14th, 2011
6:21 pm
if they don’t appeal, then they are guilty by admission-any guilt in this and the three above should resign-in the meantime, i’m waiting on re-ordering basketball tix……..
mgdawg
July 14th, 2011
6:25 pm
I’m not trying to get at tech because I’m a uga fan, but what is the purpose of being on probation if there are no consequences to it? No postseason ban, no scholarship reduction, etc. It just seems like if you’re on probation that there should be some kind of punishment, but I guess it just means that they are going to watch you closer. It doesn’t really seem like that big of a violation, but neither did AJ Green’s. The only thing I heard that was really different in this case and uga’s was that uga worked with the ncaa while tech did not, from what I’ve heard.
Rodney King
July 14th, 2011
6:25 pm
Why can’t we all get along?
John Galt, MBA, CPA
July 14th, 2011
6:25 pm
As a UGA grad, it is temping to act like the typical GT insect and to gloat, but I won’t. The NCAA is out of hand and this seems a bit harsh to me.
Marietta
July 14th, 2011
6:26 pm
This is BS!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The NCAA is using Tech as an example plain and simple.
Bb
July 14th, 2011
6:28 pm
Classy?? Sounds more like a lot of boohooing and “life isn’t fair” to me. UGA sat AJ period. Have some class Jackets. That’s something you could hang your hat on (at least the real Jackets, not the ones who post here), but now that’s gone with this coach and this administration.
BULLDOG STEVE
July 14th, 2011
6:29 pm
I don’t understand what is so harsh about the penalties? Like CPJ said, no effect on current team or future teams, unless they screw up again. I think they got off easy. According to NCAA they impeded investigation and played ineligible players. So they take away their ACC championship, so what? Do they give the rings back? Do they name somebody else champion? So they have to take some banners down, who cares. Major violations twice in six years and this is all they get? They should be jumping for joy. Scholarship reductions, bowl bans, those are damaging. Give me a break.
Denver Dawg
July 14th, 2011
6:29 pm
News like this brings no pleasure to THIS Dawg fan. Don’t let it get you down, boys, it’s not that big of a deal. A new season is coming, and everyone will prove it on the field.
SmittyATL
July 14th, 2011
6:29 pm
They’re watching nervously up in Chapel Hill…
bucket
July 14th, 2011
6:32 pm
So the hearing was in April, but it is just being reported about now? I agree with some of you that these issues appear like small potatos compared to what other schools have been accused of, but does the AJC not use the ole’ freedom of information trick against Ga Tech that they use on UGA routinely?
Sven Ottke
July 14th, 2011
6:32 pm
Here is what makes no sense….the NCAA came back and said the players were never ineligible, so what is there to cover up? If there were eligible, they were eligible. This is the NCAA being sanctimonious. I wish the schools would rise up and tell them to go fly a kite.
Chloe
July 14th, 2011
6:35 pm
Why is basketball punished for what football did wrong
spider
July 14th, 2011
6:36 pm
BYU cheats on the field of play at end of game that affected the outcome of the game and the NCAA does nothing ab
Paul The Vol
July 14th, 2011
6:36 pm
Well, I guess we can scratch Radakovich off of our AD search list. He almost makes Mike Hamilton seem competent by comparison.
Ramblin Man
July 14th, 2011
6:38 pm
Doug,
This sounds like it could be cause to fire Hewitt, if he was still employed, so could GT now try and get out of the contract with Hewitt and stain that golden contract? Just looking for a little light at the end of the tunnel.
rightofcenter
July 14th, 2011
6:38 pm
Read the report again, Rambling Wreck. They didn’t find the players ineligible. If they didn’t find them ineligible, how can they force us to vacate a win? It makes no sense and is another example if the idiocy of the NCAA.
Riverdawg
July 14th, 2011
6:38 pm
It’s too bad Lewis Grizzard is not here to mourn your misfortune. He would surely be a source of comfort. Anyone remember his column on Goody Two Shoes and Tyrone Sorrels?
Ramblin Man
July 14th, 2011
6:39 pm
Chloe,
Read the NCAA finding.
spider
July 14th, 2011
6:39 pm
NCAA only tries to make themselves look good for going after schools that committ crimes that have no affect of a game played, yet here is BYU cheating in a game and they do nothing.
Supsalemgr
July 14th, 2011
6:39 pm
This does not bode well for the Heels and Buckeyes. It will be interesting to see if there is a difference in how those two are treated. I am not ready to throw Auburn under the bus yet. There has been a lot of scrutiny on Newton and so far nothing. I am not an Auburn fan.
acowa
July 14th, 2011
6:41 pm
Why does this have anything to do with basketball? Why are they getting punished?
Ramblin Man
July 14th, 2011
6:42 pm
Still amazed at the kick in the groin punishment. I expected GT to get slapped, but this seems a little harsh. I am sure an appeal will occur and thank god that idiot GT had for counsel is gone. DRAD maybe next time get a lawyer who might have experience in this type of stuff.
ozzfest
July 14th, 2011
6:43 pm
1. I am a GEORGIA BULLDOG.
2. This is getting idiotic….the NCAA should be disbanded. How the HELL do you justify stripping a conference title from a team that busted it’s tail in practice…after practice… after 90 degree practice because some clown pocketed $312 dollars worth of SHIRTS?
I am going to continue to consider the Jackets the 2009 ACC Champs…the NCAA and the ACC can shove their returned trophies.
juvenal
July 14th, 2011
6:43 pm
so CPJ lets drad handle everything? if drad deserves to be thrown under the bus by his coach, he needs to go-ironic how this is the reverse of what happened at osu………..agree with Sven, if we have documentation from the ncaa they were eligible, release it-that’s what au got from them, but now that’s still in play!? the schools that still wnt this to be about academics should leave the ncaa & form their own league……….
Chan Gailey
July 14th, 2011
6:45 pm
Quit yer moaning techies. Want me to come back and coach??
Chris
July 14th, 2011
6:46 pm
They played ineligible players because they has three huge games coming up, the UGA game, ACC title game and bowl game. They are supposed to be so smart. Why didn’t they hold their players out like UGA did AJ Green? They got greedy and wanted to play their two best players, Thomas and Burnett. The Tech AD and President should really be in question here. Flat out cheating to use ineligible players.
dobearsbare
July 14th, 2011
6:46 pm
If there is even the appearance of impropriety, a coach is damned if he does, damned if he doesn’t. UGA sat A.J. Green, and it trashed their season. They didn’t get any NCAA sanctions, but if the sanctions were going to be what Tech just got, they might as well have played him. Probation and a hundred grand? They still look like choirboys compared to Auburn. Tech, on the other hand, took a gamble, albeit what looked like a safe one at the time, and now they’re penalized. No way to win.
macrotech
July 14th, 2011
6:47 pm
It is what it is…the ncaa continues to provide proof that they are consistent in their wishy washy ways! They remain the punchline in a sad joke. We shall move on…2012 season nears!!! GO TECH!!!
Spartan
July 14th, 2011
6:47 pm
It’s not the crime; it’s the cover-up. Tech nerds thought they were smarter than the ncaa.
whatthedawg
July 14th, 2011
6:48 pm
With all GT/UGA homerism aside, I have to honestly say that this seems a little too harsh of a punishment. When you consider what some other schools have gotten for way worse offenses, I think that an appeal may offer some relief to the consequences. Infractions deserve consequences, Tech or UGA, however, they need to fit the crime.
BUZZY BEE
July 14th, 2011
6:49 pm
IM TURNING IN MY MASCOT UNIFORM AND AM QUITTING THE TEAM!!
tim
July 14th, 2011
6:49 pm
A bunch of cheaters and a bunch of denials……..just like the Atlanta Public Schools.
spider
July 14th, 2011
6:49 pm
tech people be careful going out too BYU in a couple years. the mountain west only slapped their hands and changed a policy. but BYU is now an independent and they dont have too answer to mountain west or follow their rules and of course the NCAA is going to do nothing to a school that has such high morals(BIG JOKE).
CPJ
July 14th, 2011
6:50 pm
They did because they don’t respect the offense I run. They just don’t want to let a triple option team have an ACC championship trophy.
Techman
July 14th, 2011
6:52 pm
Georgia Tech will bounce back from this Tech is a school with a strong backbone just like Coach Paul Johnson said you learn from your mistakes everybody makes mistakes so now they can move forward.
Z-Bone
July 14th, 2011
6:54 pm
I like the fact that most bulldogs, even amidst trying times, don’t have to take joy in the misfortune of our insignificant neighbors.
Philly Guy
July 14th, 2011
6:54 pm
Boy, if Tech got this for their actions which wasn’t really an attempt to intentionally cover anything up but more inaction, can you imagine what has to happen at Ohio State where it was intentional??? I guess if you ever receive anything from anybody, say no. How would a player know if it was illegal when it came from a friend of a friend and there was nothing expected in return? If the friend of a friend was not associated with a firm, would it then be legal? Sounds to me like the NCAA is expecting too much of 20 year old kids away from home.
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.
Milledgeville Dawg
July 14th, 2011
8:35 pm
This made my day. I love it.
GT@GT.com
July 14th, 2011
8:37 pm
With all of the collected trophies, is the NCAA going to put them on ebay? Not a bad idea to make money to play for these schools.
Southern Boy
July 14th, 2011
8:37 pm
Who cares about a trophy. They should be going to school to get an education.
Ramblin Man
July 14th, 2011
8:44 pm
DAWG fans I will admit I would give some of you a hard time if this happened to UGA, but remember this involved two players that had NFL potentiol and Athens is full of them and could easily be looking at something like this. Nobody knew about this until today outside of the NCAA and GT, so how many other schools are being investigated for the same crap. The real problem here is the NCAA and agents. GT deserves to be punished for the actions of general counsel during the course of the investigation but not to this limit. I just hate it for the 83 other players that had nothing to do with it and worked hard all season.
Gorilla Biscuit
July 14th, 2011
8:45 pm
I guess Wofford is looking better and better to our recruits.
sasquatch
July 14th, 2011
8:50 pm
this takes the pressure off cmr.
now he can have another mediocre underachieving season and dogbois will be happy just to crow about tech’s sanctions.
GT is a 4th rate high school team
July 14th, 2011
8:50 pm
Paul Johnson thought he can get away with it. Punishment is just appropriate.
GT is a 4th rate high school team
July 14th, 2011
8:52 pm
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
GT is a 4th rate high school team
July 14th, 2011
8:55 pm
GT thought if they call themselves classy, they can get away with anything. GOT YOU.
Brainiac(Dawg for life)
July 14th, 2011
8:57 pm
You would hope for some type of uniformity by the NCAA but that will never happen. If GT gets this much for something of this nature then we can expect to see the NCAA Firing Squad show up at Ohio State and certainly for that Cow College in Alabama.
Brainiac(Dawg for life)
July 14th, 2011
8:59 pm
Sasquatch: You need a bath. Go away.
Student
July 14th, 2011
9:04 pm
Radakovich once asked the student body if they wanted to be more like Emory after telling the student body that they would have to pay more to keep the football team around. The student body said that they wanted to be more like Emory and to lose these stupid programs filled with individuals who aren’t representative of the majority of the student body. But, Tech still has these programs. They say that they bring recognition, status, and money to the school. But they don’t. The students have to pay out of their pockets to keep these programs around. And I’m positive I know who will be paying these fines. It won’t be Radakovich. It will be the students at Tech taking out loans to pay for an education.
Class House Dawgs...
July 14th, 2011
9:05 pm
Be careful Dawg fans who are making fun …. He who lives in a glass house should cast no stones.
Didn’t the guy at UGA just resign recently saying “I never KNOWINGLY broke any rules” or something to the EXACT meaning????
What he was saying is yeah, after the fact I now see rules were broken, but ….. I NEVER KNOWINGLY BROKE THEM.
Hold your “stones” fellas, and ladies …. and I ain’t talkin about your Keystone Lights either.
Just like 99.9% of us on this blog had no idea GT was under investigation, you can bet your arse an investigation is, or soon will be, underway with the Dawgs.
Glass House Dawgs...
July 14th, 2011
9:06 pm
Oh, and this GT fan is okay that the present, and FUTURE teams will not be punished.
whateva!
July 14th, 2011
9:07 pm
Enter your comments here
Ross
July 14th, 2011
9:11 pm
Americans don’t torture, and Tech people don’t cheat. I’m an American, and a Tech guy. I don’t cheat, and I don’t torture.
-drl
jackets39
July 14th, 2011
9:13 pm
Vacating the ACC championship…….How is this fair to the 106 other players on 2009 team that did nothing wrong.
Stinger
July 14th, 2011
9:15 pm
We won the Game. No one can say we didn’t beat Clemson. We won the Title. Who cares what the NCAA says. It’s only on paper. Everyone knows we won the Championship. That is all that matters.
NCAA Speaking so listen up
July 14th, 2011
9:16 pm
Auburn will get their pants yanked down and suffer greatly. We can’t do much yet because the Justice Department – IRS – FBI are still putting the dots on the i’s and crossing the t’s. They have priority so we must wait. All of college football will be proud when we get our chance and we WILL get our chance.
Can't change the past
July 14th, 2011
9:19 pm
This is something that happened IN THE PAST. Like PJ said, the current and future teams are not punished for a couple guys $500 so dollars in clothing gifts. Did the clothes they received help them tackle better, catch better, block better, run faster, jump higher, etc??? Didn’t think so.
So, when GT beats UGA in 2011 are the same UGA fans that are on here NOW slinging dirt gonna accuse GT players of wearing too many clothes???? I sure hope so … now THAT will be something to HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA about!
Looking back now to the AJ Green situation …. how many of the 4 games AJ missed would the Dawgs have won (which now would be losses)?? Zero, I think that would be the right answer. Heck, I’m the guy had one of his better games in 2010 vs. Colorado (100+ yds, 2tds) and they still LOST!
Tech Fan
July 14th, 2011
9:20 pm
Johnson is lying his butt off, he knew exactly what was going on, and he knew exactly what he wanted to accomplish by talking to Burnett….. GT needs to get rid of all three of these clowns; the Institute has no credibility with these guys on campus….
freedawg
July 14th, 2011
9:21 pm
um hahahahaha, nerds
Mr. SEC
July 14th, 2011
9:31 pm
Too bad for Tech! I’m not a great Tech fan, just a fan, red and black 100%. But Tech got screwed!
89Dawg
July 14th, 2011
9:33 pm
Like most Dawg Fans, I have friends who are Tech Fans and this stinks for them and the school. The NCAA is out of control….how is this or anyting else they do (as it pertains to compliance) improving college athletics?? Its just getting old…
GTBUZZ64
July 14th, 2011
9:36 pm
Time to begin awarding athletic scholarships based on better criteria such as academics and indicators of integrity. As an alumnus and a Tech fan for more than 60 years I never thought I would see a scandal such as this. We may have a problem with administrators attention to detail. I am positive we also have a problem with the character of some of our recruits as evidenced by poor academic performance, failures to graduate and jumping to the pros. I want athletes who will stay in school and graduate regardless of won / lost records.
Dan
July 14th, 2011
9:44 pm
Tech Lies and Cheats!
Big L
July 14th, 2011
9:45 pm
Pease, fellow Dawg fans, act like grown ups.
Choke Hall
July 14th, 2011
9:45 pm
If you read Tech’s administrations comments of how they handled this and then read the NCAA you would swear they were not talking about the same investigation. All a bunch of BS politics out of a terrible AD.
law dawg
July 14th, 2011
9:47 pm
It looks like someone at the NCAA feels that Tech didn’t properly kiss ass in the investigation. I hate Tech, but I hate the NCAA more. I could write a history about the the consequeces of creating unchecked organizations like the NCAA and it’s soon to come demise, but most Techies only understand algorithms and no body else wants to be bored to death. Tech is an insect, but I think the big boys are close to being fed up and will soon squash this ego crazed bunch.
PMT
July 14th, 2011
9:59 pm
Tech gets hammered but Ohio State is getting off easy. The NCAA leaders are a disgrace.
ClemsonFan
July 14th, 2011
10:04 pm
Think taking away the 2009 ACC football title is a bit harsh…and I’m a die-hard Clemson fan that drove down to Tampa for that game.
Wes Durham's Gigantic Bottom
July 14th, 2011
10:05 pm
Comments from CPJ: “I have bigger fish to fry”…..”punch an NCAA investigator in the mouth”…..”I have moobs”.
Mama Says
July 14th, 2011
10:10 pm
Good grief, are you kidding me ? I have read the report and I say this with all respect to the investigators, how on Gods green earth is anyone being paid to investigate “incidents” of this nature ? Look at the basis of all this–a student at an NCAA institution which makes hundreds of millions of dollars, some of which it passes along to the NCAA itself, is being questioned like he is a criminal. He “was not informed of his obligation to be truthful” under paragraph x of section y !
really ? over $312 of clothing ? his was suppose to be read the NCAA’s version of his Miranda Rights ? what ?
I could understand all this if the NCAA and member universities were not all about the money but we all know they are. Therefore this amounts to the fox questioning the chicken as to how much feed it ate !
ridiculious !!!!
Wes Durham's Gigantic Bottom
July 14th, 2011
10:10 pm
Class House…..the point of UGA fans’ delight is that most of you GT fans think your program is different than other major college programs….all schools have players who take gifts and money from fans, drink and smoke pot, and who get help to stay in school……there may well be investigations under way at UGA which lead to punishment by the NCAA, but it goes on everywhere…..GT athletes are not choir boys from the 1950s…..this nation’s culture has changed and young people have different morals….wake up and accept reality….
Billyboy
July 14th, 2011
10:38 pm
Another dumb mistake results in a stupid fine and taking back a trophy. In all this stupidity, the NCAA looks bad again, GT looks bad, and the stupid rules of not providing some small amounts of cash support lurks it’s ugly head again.
The only thing of beauty that most people miss is, integrity is important and if you don’t keep your integrity then it doesn’t matter if you have the trophy or not.
Ramblin Man
July 14th, 2011
10:58 pm
I just need some help understanding one thing. How was Burnett exonerated and Thomas was not? the interview from what I read never proved either player knew for certian the gift MAY have come from an agent, and even if it was how is one cleared and the other not? Not saying what they did was smart and they should have questioned it and reported it to the coaches. I also fail to see how DRAD telling CPJ about the investigation impeded the investigation at all. GT deserved to be punished, just not to this extent. Also still wondering if cause can now be argued against Blewitt and some of his buyout can be forfieted?
sports
July 14th, 2011
10:59 pm
$7,300,000.00…unvelievable and now this, what a sordid program.
The death penalty is approiate here.
uga_alum_93
July 14th, 2011
11:56 pm
Hey Georgia Tech fan…with your multiple probations from the NCAA in recent years you now have the “street cred” to get back in the SEC…WELCOME BACK BROTHER
JMAC
July 15th, 2011
12:03 am
1) At least one football violation may have occurred, but it was very minor.
2) The NCAA likely uses aggressive interviewing techniques (not a surprise here) and it probably scares the heck out of student athletes.
3) Our general counsel gave us terrible advice on dealing with the NCAA, and not only was he inexperienced in these matters but he was so uneducated about how to deal with the NCAA there may be grounds for legal malpractice.
4) Our compliance officer did a terrible job, and did not competently discharge the duties of his office. And that statement is being very kind.
5) DRad relied too much on both of these gentlemen, and was left holding the wrong end of the roman candle when it went off…so to speak.
6) (There is no number 6. Never.)
7) It sounds like more of a good ol boy network in way over their heads in the GTAA from the way the report reads. Two key people without enough knowledge or experience to handle this, and an AD that trusted them explicitly and did not do his due diligence prior to acting on his buddies “advice”. Guess that’s par for the course in the SEC where DRad cut his teeth though.
9) One has to wonder: A) How this came to light, (football violations). It almost seems like a set up by someone that does NOT have GT’s interests at heart….B) Why the NCAA is wasting time with such trivial stuff when there is so many more serious matters (violations) going on in college football. Huge issues with schools with BCS title implications.
I don’t think they have an unlimited staff…did GT just tick off the wrong caseworker here?
10) The Basketball violations in truth, although minor, were more serious in my opinion because they appear to have been done with by the basketball staff with if not the the actual direct consent at least the knowledge of the head coach, and involve rules he should have been familiar with.
11) The NCAA appears to want to make an example of GT, no matter what their official position is. Their insistence in making GT out to be a bid bad repeat offender is laughable in the context of GT’s actual violations and against the background of what has gone in at least 50% of the top 25 schools in the last 2 to years.
Also, the NCAA’s exact wording is ludicrous AND a enormous untruth.
“Fortunately, instances in which member institutions do not cooperate with the NCAA enforcement program are rare.”
Rare if you choose to completely redefine the words “rare” and put such a narrow interpretation on the phrase “do not cooperate” as to render it virtually meaningless.
It is obvious in just looking at the real major scandals going on in college football right now that they primarily stem from deeply ingrained and institutionalized behavior in these schools AD’s, and the only cooperation the NCAA EVER gets is when it has hard proof.
The NCAA appears to feel GT disrespected it in some manner (possibly just the case worker, as they seem to have a lot of individual power in these matters, and like the bully that gets beaten up for lunch money all the time wants to take out their frustrations on an easier opponent.
12) GT should do an internal housecleaning, because the PRIMARY thing they are guilty of is not being prepared, and being incompetent. But the NCAA would not generate any headlines from THAT finding….
Roy Wood
July 15th, 2011
12:25 am
you see how stupid the NCAA is.Of course Tech thinks its different when it concerns them,not as funny as A J GREENs jersey.I wish they woulg disband the NCAA and come up with something that has a little common sense.It makes me sick every time I hear NCAA Texas Dawg
TechDan
July 15th, 2011
12:37 am
The NCAA can pry my ACC Championship swag from my cold, dead fingers.
priorities
July 15th, 2011
1:28 am
I just returned from a mission trip to Costa Rica, and I can tell you that most people in the world couldn’t care less about this. Yeah, it may be news to us GT alums, but it’s a minor issue in the whole scheme of things.
Wes Durham's Gigantic Bottom
July 15th, 2011
2:00 am
Fire Radakovich and Johnson for the sake of the Institute……
pcb mike
July 15th, 2011
2:05 am
old bird – classy comments from a UGA fan. Nice too see. I get tired of both sides ripping each other.
Bobito the Payaso
July 15th, 2011
4:14 am
They don’t know half of what goes on. When I was teaching at GA Tech, I failed a women’s basketball starter in 2004. The assistant assigned to make sure the b-ball players go to class (I had Jarret Jack, who was actually a decent student, and a lot of others) came to my office to offer me tickets to (men’s) games to change the grade. I reported it. Nothing was done. Not even a minor follow up. They get what they have coming.
Bobito the Payaso
July 15th, 2011
4:15 am
JMAC: You’ve got it wrong. The NCAA knows more is going on that it can prove. So it puts the hammer down on the basis of some minor, unimportant nonsense.
Floyd
July 15th, 2011
7:24 am
Don’t worry cpj has bigger fish to fry. Or maybe ncaa fried his big fish.
I M Yellowjacket
July 15th, 2011
7:45 am
WE are GEORGIA TECH……That’s all that matters.
General Sherman Jacket
July 15th, 2011
8:48 am
Ford and GM need us to buy a new car from them?
No longer my problem.
Get even, fellow Jackets by deferring spending or buying a foreign car or both.
They don’t care about me then I don’t care about them.
Make the nation howl with a double dip.
And I hope you bought your gold when I did.
General Sherman Jacket
July 15th, 2011
8:51 am
The Friday MJD just arrived with its huge foreclosure section of Dawgs fans about to lose their homes because I no longer buy anything from them.
No new teachers hired means Uga teaching degrees now worthless.
Works for me.
Hal
July 15th, 2011
8:57 am
I would like to know how this got started. Who told who what? I don’t see anybody at Tech really admitting any big wrongdoing. The suspected players don’t admit any wrongdoing. I don’t see the NCAA proving any wrongdoing. You had a clear violations at UGA and OHIO State. If the items in question were returned then who cares? I would suspect that the NCAA after learning the items were returned was not satisfied. They wanted to keep looking until they found a violation and that’s why all you have is a failure to cooperate with the NCAA because Tech told them to take a hike. If they want that type of control they should be like the Communist Party and have a NCAA “party” political officer at each institution to keep an eye on things.
ken
July 15th, 2011
10:09 am
NCAA is taking the fun out of college sports. Even if you win, you never know if two or three years down the road the “wins” are taken away with the stroke of a pen !!
Ramblin Man
July 15th, 2011
10:13 am
I found what is reportedly a letter from Sean Bedford and thought it was interesting,
“Dear NCAA,
Thank you for handing down penalties that only adversely affect the players who did things the right way. This reeks of an organization desperate to prove that it has some sort of control over its member institutions despite lacking the ability and firepower to police the serious offenders and protect the student-athletes whose interests you purport to have at heart. While I realize that all violations merit some kind of punishment, I have a hard time grasping the notion that one of the proudest moments in my life (and the lives of every other individual that was a part of the team and program in 2009) is apparently worth $312 in your eyes. If that truly is the case, I’d be happy to provide you with that same amount of money (cash or check, your choice) in exchange for the reinstatement of the title my teammates and I earned through our blood, sweat, and tears. It took months of hard work, dedication, and personal sacrifice by a team of over 100 players, 10 coaches, and countless staff members to achieve that championship, but, evidently, it only takes the handful of pencil pushers, lawyers, and professors on your infractions committee to strip us of it. I was a part of the 2009 ACC Championship team and, while you can pretend retroactively that it didn’t happen, I have vivid memories of an incredible season that was, and continues to be, one of the most fun, meaningful, important, and very real times in my 23 years on this planet. I’ll be wearing my championship ring with pride and if you want that too, you’ll have to pry it from my cold, dead finger.
Sincerely,
Sean Bedford”
I really would like to know how the NCAA is trained in interviewing techniques and standards. Why were both Thomas and Burnett no interviewed on the same day when both were available? That aspect alone killed the investigation as you never give suspects the oppurtunity to talk before interviews if you are able to keep them seperate.
gtfanfrom1951
July 15th, 2011
10:51 am
This must be Casey A. punishment or NCAA is still mad or just plain crazy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
66 Jacket
July 15th, 2011
11:28 am
Now maybe Tech alumni will see how much Radakovich has hurt Tech. We should all be up in arms, and he must go. CPJ has not convinced me that he is clean in this investigation. He should go as well, or at least be placed on probation himself.
Jim Tressel, Gene Chizik, Lane Kiffin & Pete Carroll
July 15th, 2011
1:47 pm
Players receiving improper benefits? Lying? Cheating? Covering up? What’s the big deal? We do those things and more in our sleep. If Tech is interested in learning from the best, we could teach ‘em a thing or two about cheating.
GT's lone major bowl trip NOW was in .....
July 15th, 2011
2:23 pm
Since the Urange Bowl in 09 was a loss anyway, maybe they won’t place an asterik by it. If so, then GT’s only other major bowl trip since the 1950s was their sad Urange Bowl loss to Florida back in 1967. At least that loss is not marked with an asterik.
Remember, GT would not have gone to the Urange in 09 w.o. their ACC title and since that is now non existant, so is that 09 Urange bowl trip …………..losing to fat, slow, white farm boys from Iowa, it was.
GT has been on probation now since Bobby Ross’ era what ….. 3/4 times now????
GT reminds me of the public school system in Atlanta ………..systemic liars and cheats.
GDBurdell
July 15th, 2011
11:39 pm
Heavy Dawg Walkin’
July 15th, 2011
10:51 am
Chin up, nerds. At least there will be much more elbow room at your little stadium this fall.
I’d buy you all a Coke if they weren’t already free on gameday.
FullMetalJacket
July 17th, 2011
4:28 am
We should take our cue from Coach Paul Johnson: we have a clear road ahead, so let’s get moving. Whether it was negligence, naivete, or deliberate denial that resulted in the decision to play a potentially ineligible player, it’s done. Learn from it, move on.
FullMetalJacket
July 17th, 2011
4:35 am
If the NCAA will not devote its resources to determining a player’s eligibility before game prep, much less game time, neither should it be able to retroactively impose penalties such as vacating titles and wins. Unfortunately we all sometimes lack common sense: Athletic Directors, Coaches, Players (especially), and even the NCAA itself. But making an example out of Tech will never obscure the obvious corruption and deceit of the NCAA itself, as evidenced by its “endorsing” of the Ohio State players before the bowl game. Clearly the NCAA does not respect, much less provide, a level playing field for all of its members.
FullMetalJacket
July 17th, 2011
4:38 am
Slapping Tech or any program around may make the NCAA feel better about itself, but it will never make up for the Cam & Cecil fiasco, Jim Tressel’s legacy of hypocrisy and corruption (I’ve got to get me one of those sweater vests!..it has magical powers!!!), or its turning a blind eye to the systemic problems in the sport.
FullMetalJacket
July 17th, 2011
4:45 am
I believe that Tech’s program is as clean as any other, probably (with CPJ’s clean past) better than most. Likewise, while CMR has had some players with off-field issues, he has run a very clean ship compliance-wise. I am glad that both of the state’s major football programs are led by good men, and apart from an occasional AJ Green or Bebe acting like the kids they are, we don’t worry about the big bad NCAA axe dropping on a regular basis. I wonder how well the Texas schools, the Alabama schools, the Florida schools…et al….really sleep at night. I sincerely do not want to point fingers, but if the NCAA wants to send a signal, roughing up Ga Tech is sending a pretty weak one.
FullMetalJacket
July 17th, 2011
4:53 am
Paying players isn’t the answer. They get paid from 25K to 50K a year already in scholarships and school expenses. For the student-athletes who want to seize the opportunity to better themselves and get an education, it is well worth it. For the kids who have no business being on a university or college campus, there should be an alternative–supported by either the NCAA or the NFL–such as the minor leagues in MLB. Then AJ and Bebe and Cam and Terrell and Reggie can develop their athletic talent without trying to act like students. And if they do take a single penny while a student (as opposed to going the minor-league route), then revoke their scholarships, sue ‘em for the money/benefits they defrauded the schools of, and ban / disbar any agent involved at any level.
FullMetalJacket
July 17th, 2011
4:56 am
College baseball ain’t as good as College football, but it’s pretty darn good….and a lot more legit. The reason it’s better overall is because the pure pro’s who either can’t spell or are good enough that they don’t need to, have an alternative path to the Big Show. Not a really viable option for football players.