NCAA will announce Tech findings at 3 p.m.; Cooperation an issue; Thomas, Burnett deny involvement
The NCAA will announce the results of an investigation into alleged violations committed by Georgia Tech’s football program at 3 p.m. today.
The alleged violations occurred within the past several years. The NCAA considers the violations, which included improper benefits, minor. However, Tech allegedly didn’t cooperate with the investigators as enthusiastically as the NCAA would have liked. A phone conference is scheduled with Dennis Thomas, the chair of the NCAA’s infractions committee, at 3 p.m. Georgia Tech President Dr. G.P. “Bud” Peterson and Athletic Director Dan Radakovich will hold a press conference at 4:30 p.m.
At issue for Tech is that after receiving penalties for the 2005 and ‘06 seasons for infractions that occurred in the 1990s, the NCAA said that if Tech commits another major infraction before Nov. 17, 2010, it will be subject to added penalties as a repeat violator. Colleague Mark Bradley (@markbradleyajc) just tweeted, “I’m told nobody is getting fired, but Georgia Tech people are bracing themselves for a big hit from the NCAA.”
Demaryius Thomas, a wide receiver and first-round pick in the 2010 draft, denied a blog report that he is one of the reasons for the investigation. In a text message, Thomas said he was offered things by people not affiliated with Tech, but never accepted. Morgan Burnett, a safety and third-round pick, also denied the report, texting that he “did not knowingly or unknowingly receive any gifts from any agents … These reports are baseless and false.”
Thomas and Burnett signed with Tech when Chan Gailey was the coach. Paul Johnson, who led Tech to the ACC title in 2009, was hired after Gailey was fired by Radakovich after the 2007 season after five years at the helm.
If there are immediate penalties, it would be the second time within five years the Jackets have been punished.
Tech learned in 2003 that it had been misapplying an NCAA eligibility rule and worked with the NCAA to investigate the nature and results of the error. They learned that 17 athletes, including 11 football players, who were academically ineligible were allowed to compete during the 1998 and ‘99 seasons.
As a result, Georgia Tech was on a two-year probation that resulted in self-imposed scholarship cuts (from 85 to 79) and a reduction in signing classes (from 25 to no more than 19) in 2005 and 2006. In addition to those penalties, the NCAA infractions committee added a limit of 79 total football scholarships for the 2006 and 2007 teams, six below the normal maximum.
The infractions committee also recommended that Tech vacate wins from seasons, 1998-2002, plus 2004, which were all winning seasons that ended in bowl trips. Tech appealed and the NCAA appeals committee agreed, allowing the results of those seasons to stand.
The NCAA has been in what appears to be a testy mood regarding alleged violations and lack of cooperation in wake of scandals at Ohio State, Southern California and North Carolina, among other places. The Trojans were forced by the NCAA to forfeit their 2004 national championship and the Buckeyes voluntarily forfeited 12 wins and their 2010 Sugar Bowl victory in an attempt to appease the infractions committee. Penalties against North Carolina’s program haven’t been announced. However, numerous players were suspended for all or parts of last season.
Please keep checking back for news.
– Doug Roberson, AJC. Follow on twitter @ajcgatech
Here’s a step-by-step guide to NCAA investigations.
Here are some stories about Tech’s previous NCAA issues.
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478 comments Add your comment
JB
July 14th, 2011
9:52 am
Reggie Ball has been fired by Air Tran for making Change for a five and only giving the man 3 dollars.
JB
July 14th, 2011
9:53 am
Maybe gonna charge for the Pizza and coke and give the tickets away?
AceDawg
July 14th, 2011
9:54 am
My assumption is most programs have at least some players or coaches skirting the rules. It is worse when coaches skirt, as they are paid money to be competent, and they should uphold some level of ethics. But, it sure is difficult to hold everyone accountable to rigid rules when the sport is right between a for profit industry and amateur sport. Not sure what changes will work best, but I assume new policies are coming once enough programs are simultaneously on probation.
RED DAWG
July 14th, 2011
9:54 am
TECH LIES AND CHEATS
Curious George
July 14th, 2011
9:55 am
With Georgia State now having a football program, is this to announce & celebrate the fact GT is the 2nd-Most Popular NCAA Football Program in the City of Atlanta?
DawginLex
July 14th, 2011
9:56 am
Folks the NCAA does not announce they are going to hold a parade or a yard sale. There were rules broken.
how serious remains to be seen
Really?
July 14th, 2011
9:56 am
It amazes me that so many Georgia fans have nothing more to do than comment on a GT story.
gdawginkalamazoo
July 14th, 2011
9:57 am
PerimeterCenterJacket, as Jim Tressel would say “don’t say cheated, say violated the rules.” Actually Jim Tressel wouldn’t say anything he would ignore, ignore, ignore. When caught it changes to deny, deny, deny. Then quit, quit, quit.
JB
July 14th, 2011
9:57 am
Maybe Johnson will be having a Fish Fry before every game?
JB
July 14th, 2011
9:58 am
Come on ‘Really’….This is too rich….you can imagine if the shoe was on the other foot…..
UGACCC
July 14th, 2011
9:58 am
They are going to let GT have 5 downs instead of 4. This will be retroactive so it turns out Reggie Ball was a genius!
Lowcountry Bulldawg
July 14th, 2011
9:58 am
This has the makings of something big. UGA has had issues breaking, but never with the headline that this one had. Very interesting for sure.
PerimeterCenterJacket
July 14th, 2011
9:58 am
No. If we cheated then we should say we cheated and make changes. Jim Tressel wouldn’t be welcome in Atlanta. I really hope we handle whatever news this is like men.
juvenal
July 14th, 2011
9:59 am
got rid of the last coach & AD that got us on probation, or they would not be getting any of my time & money…….
Reggie Ball
July 14th, 2011
10:00 am
Cam told me everything would be ok !!
http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/6767680/auburn-tiger-football-ncaa-investigation-report-says
MoGA
July 14th, 2011
10:00 am
How can you cheat and still be so bad?
Some days, you know it’s going to be fun to blog. | Get The Picture
July 14th, 2011
10:00 am
[...] This sort of popped up out of nowhere. Georgia Tech is expecting to receive at 10 a.m. news from the NCAA into alleged violations committed by the football program within the past several years. [...]
JB
July 14th, 2011
10:01 am
Maybe Johnson is going back to wearing a wind suit during games to bring back that winning Magic………… or maybe some of Gailey’s players……
Skitty Fritty
July 14th, 2011
10:01 am
I knew something wasn’t right when UGA lost one time in the past 9 years to GT.
JB
July 14th, 2011
10:04 am
Maybe a price increase on tickets….you know, the old supply and demand rule…..
Morris
July 14th, 2011
10:05 am
That’s because they are unemployed losers really.
PerimeterCenterJacket
July 14th, 2011
10:05 am
Ok the suspense sucks…
juvenal
July 14th, 2011
10:06 am
maybe it’s inadvertent texts…..jn, y’all started it, mine was a reply, been to many venues, hear sanford & son only better than, say,knoxville, never been there,guess people go anywhere if getting likkered up is part of the plan…….cu got 5 downs….
St. Simons
July 14th, 2011
10:07 am
OUCH!
OUCH!
OUCH!
OUCH!
We are in deep trouble!
We are in deep trouble!
We are in deep trouble!
We are in deep trouble!
We got caught!
We got caught!
We got caught!
We got caught!
We’re worse than Auburn!
We’re worse than Auburn!
We’re worse than Auburn!
We’re worse than Auburn!
eric
July 14th, 2011
10:07 am
haha… ncaa violations and ya’ll suck as much as you do?
Tech Fan
July 14th, 2011
10:08 am
Ok, I got the news….TJ Barnes is being suspended for the year. Officials were stunned to find that TJ had not only eaten everthing in the cafeteria…..but actually ate the cafeteria……
Confirmed: Auburn still being investigated by the NCAA
July 14th, 2011
10:08 am
[...] Dang, now it appears GT may be in trouble with the NCAA NCAA will announce results of GT findings at 3 p.m. | Georgia Tech [...]
Wrecked
July 14th, 2011
10:09 am
Please don’t tell me Pj has to cheat to sign #41 ranked classes.
GPC IV
July 14th, 2011
10:09 am
10 Year Extension with Russell Athletics and Texas Instruments
JB
July 14th, 2011
10:10 am
Don’t tell the guy from NY wants to build a Mosque at Grant field to accommodate the students.
Reality Check
July 14th, 2011
10:10 am
It amazes me that Georgia Tech fans who stay on the computer all day commenting on UGA stories all day every day, act smug and indignant when some UGA fans comment on Tech stories.
Quit you blabbering crybaby whining Techsters! Grow up!
PerimeterCenterJacket
July 14th, 2011
10:10 am
who sucks? Weren’t the boys from the Un-iversity in the Athens only 6-7 with a loss to a C-USA team last season? My how we act all superior! And November was a close one…don’t act like you weren’t scared.
mp
July 14th, 2011
10:11 am
someone ask WnE (wrecks-n-effects) . . . this “fan” was hellbent on reporting CPJ around nat’l signing day last year over a supposed violation. he tweeted ad nauseum about it, threatening to contact the NCAA. with “friends” like him, eh???
the real Old Gold
July 14th, 2011
10:11 am
Does the AJC report the news, or create the news? You are, in fact, the cause of the 1902 Atlanta Race Riots..
Worm
July 14th, 2011
10:12 am
Time to take your medicine boys!..As old Barry Obama would say, “Eat your peas”.
Skitty Fritty
July 14th, 2011
10:12 am
Maybe GT was tied the APS scandal?
ha ha
July 14th, 2011
10:12 am
NNNEEEEEERRRRDDDSSSSS!!!!
PerimeterCenterJacket
July 14th, 2011
10:13 am
good one, never heard it before. Redneck?
Go Jackets
July 14th, 2011
10:14 am
Does this mean we are free to join the SEC now?
Bummer
July 14th, 2011
10:14 am
It is time to drop American football at Georgia Tech. We can replace it with soccer and cricket. That will actually appeal to our student body. Americans rarely attend Georgia Tech anyhow! We train middle easterners in nuclear technology!
Are you kidding me???
July 14th, 2011
10:14 am
Recruiting violations lately? Again? Are you kidding me???
Are we cheating trying to sign 2, or 3 star ball players??? My old pappy once said ” if you steal, steal millions as you will get caught, so you might as well make it worth while” and GT coaches are going after 2 star, 5′9″ 198 lb O linemen???
I thought GT men were intelligent. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAHHAHA
Where is St. Simons now? AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHAHAHHAHA
Big Man
July 14th, 2011
10:15 am
lol @ Skitty Fritty
PerimeterCenterJacket
July 14th, 2011
10:16 am
Bummer, you’re wrong. Undergrad student body is over 70% white and over 60% from the state of Georgia. By the way, what do you have against international students?
rcox - wrong
July 14th, 2011
10:16 am
rcox – get your facts straight BEFORE you misrepresent them.
You stated: “The Trojans had to forfeit a national championship and the Buckeyes their 2010 Sugar Bowl victory.”
That’d be a NO. The Ohio State Buckeyes GAVE UP THE VICTORIES ON THEIR OWN, as a way to try and appease the NCAA. The NCAA HAS NOT TOLD the Buckeyes to vacate the victories. Aren’t you supposed to know the facts?
kramer
July 14th, 2011
10:16 am
I say we pull our resources and come up with a new association for collegiate athletics. This NCAA is obsolete…using a 1960 definition of amateurism. And…I think they are in existence strictly for themselves.
JB
July 14th, 2011
10:16 am
Cheat’n and lose’n will get ya fired.
Buzzed
July 14th, 2011
10:16 am
It amazes me that so many tek fans have nothing better to do than comment on a tek story.
Buzz
July 14th, 2011
10:17 am
This time when the NCAA makes us vacate wins we will not get them back on appeal. We at Georgia Tech have become a repeat offender. All this cheating and only one title of a mediocre football conference to show for it!!!
Buzzed
July 14th, 2011
10:17 am
Can’t believe they can find the time off from running the world.
Reggie Ball Air Tran story simply not true
July 14th, 2011
10:18 am
Ball was not fired for making change with a $5.00 bill and handing the passenger back $3.00. No, he was fired for making change for a $5.00 bill and he gave the guy 5 ones and a $10.00 bill.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAH
GT men…………………the Right Stuff. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHHA
Obama has killed NASA. No jobs there anymore for GT men in government work, I guess.