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.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
478 comments Add your comment
PerimeterCenterJacket
July 14th, 2011
10:18 am
OOPS!
We got caught cheating again….
PerimeterCenterJacket
July 14th, 2011
10:18 am
“all this cheating” ….right…..did Green sell his Jersey or not? Who’s had the more recent issues before this? Gimme a break.
J_Man
July 14th, 2011
10:18 am
The NCAA has to be the most hypocrite organization alive… Get a grip everyone with half a brain can see you pimp Athletes (giving them scraps from the billions you make off them) to pay the deans and administrators millions yearly!
Wht does one go to college? the real answer is to put them selves in a better position to make more money, definitely not for the knowledge or more young adults would go overseas for a real education!
PerimeterCenterJacket
July 14th, 2011
10:19 am
Cute, use my handle. Is there an admin on this thing, or what? Ban?
CryBabyJacket
July 14th, 2011
10:19 am
Waaaaaaaaa!
Al
July 14th, 2011
10:20 am
So the investigation at unc, which has been going on for over a year and very serious, still hasn’t concluded but out of nowhere gt has this announcement and the ajc says it’s serious and they will announce the “findings” today? Gonna be some BFD stuff.
Bi-Curious Georgia Tech Fan
July 14th, 2011
10:20 am
Is Georgia Tech upgrading to a more masculine, aggressive-looking mascot appropriate for Midtown by replacing “Buzz” with “Hairy Potter” wearing leather vest and chaps?
Copyright?
July 14th, 2011
10:20 am
Unless you have a copyright on a handle quit whining and crying if someone else uses it crybaby!
JB
July 14th, 2011
10:21 am
Bring back Bill Curry………Whoops, he’s got a GOOD football job.
THe real story behind this NCAA recruiting scandal
July 14th, 2011
10:21 am
The real story behind the latest GT CHEATING SCANDAL is that the guy(s) that cheated ought to be fired. Whom did they recruit worth spit? They SHOULD BE FIRED for the lack of quality in the GT player ranks.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHA
Flagboy
July 14th, 2011
10:22 am
I like our mascot Buz….he/she looks so feminine!!!!
Why do you think we are located next to Midtown? Convenience!
Kline
July 14th, 2011
10:23 am
I see several uga fans have hard ons over this. They sure do get off on anything gt.
PerimeterCenterJacket
July 14th, 2011
10:23 am
Copyright, it’s called a blog. Evidently this is the only one you’ve ever been on. Most of them (not the AJC apparently) keep it clean from idiots hijacking your handle. You wanna set a time and place to see who’s crying? Be my guest.
JB
July 14th, 2011
10:23 am
I’ ve heard Western Carolina and Lenoir Rhine have blown the whistle due to some of their commits switching to Tech late.
Boca Baby
July 14th, 2011
10:24 am
If you cheat you ought to win. If you cheat and don’t win what you have is GT football. Pathetic.
Impressions for Advertisers
July 14th, 2011
10:24 am
Nothing to see here……impressions and click rates are down for AJC advertisers, so they need something to increase web traffic….that’s all.
St. Simons
July 14th, 2011
10:24 am
OUCH!
OUCH!
OUCH!
We got caught AGAIN!
We got caught AGAIN!
We got caught AGAIN!
I hope it isn”t MAJOR infractions AGAIN!!!!
I hope it isn”t MAJOR infractions AGAIN!!!!
I hope it isn”t MAJOR infractions AGAIN!!!!
Huh?
July 14th, 2011
10:25 am
Hardware Puppies…..Hardware. When was your last National Championship? Conference Championship? I think the Nerds have you beat.
Don’t stop believing guys, I am proud of you all. This will be the year.
CryBabyJacket
July 14th, 2011
10:26 am
I can and will cry any place and anytime. I am a CryBabyJacket!!!!! And whining and crying is what we’ve been doing for decades!
Uga football
July 14th, 2011
10:26 am
Irrelevant for 30 years and counting…
CPJ
July 14th, 2011
10:27 am
They plan to announce the Josh Nesbitt for Heisman 2011 campaign
GT findings
July 14th, 2011
10:27 am
Within the past several years is very vague,
. . . . . . . can’t we be a little more specific?
PerimeterCenterJacket
July 14th, 2011
10:27 am
Don’t try the Natty argument with the Dawgs. They just say scoreboard thinking there’s no such thing as a bigger stage to play on and if we lose to them then our season must totally be over. And if we don’t take the majority of W’s for the decade in the series we must REALLY want to shut our doors and never field a team again. Because that makes perfect sense….
Cal
July 14th, 2011
10:27 am
To the guy who talked about how bad Georgia was last season. Yea, they were 6-7 and yea they lost to Central Florida. Those facts can’t be changed. You want to know what else can’t be changed? That is the fact that while Georgia sucked they also beat Tech yet again. So run your mouth about how bad Georgia is but it makes you look worse to know that the worst they’ve been in about 15 years and you still couldn’t beat them. As for how close it was. Who gives a crap? Close only counts in horse shoes and hand grenades not football.
gdawginkalamazoo
July 14th, 2011
10:27 am
Not to worry Tech Fans, they are just changing your school name to
THE University of Georgia Tech.
Spanky
July 14th, 2011
10:28 am
Well,….so much for that “we’re smarter than you!” gloat!
Seriously, I heard on the elevator this morning that Al Groh was offered the Captain’s chair somewhere in the mid-west. Is he bailing before the infractions start? Stay tuned for “As the Nerd Turns”!
JB
July 14th, 2011
10:28 am
Kline, this a little more than “anything” This is too rich for all the crap from 2 or 3 real losers who I think pose as Tech Fans who troll the UGA blogs ALL DAY and accuse us of everything from cheating to murder to having all thugs. In the famous words of Rev. Wright. ” Georgia Techs Chickens……………….Have come home to roost”
PerimeterCenterJacket
July 14th, 2011
10:29 am
There’s a difference between COULD and DIDN’T. Not that you’d ever admit it.
Topp Dogg
July 14th, 2011
10:29 am
Football has been replaced at GT by Camel Racing in the indoor Dune facilities.
What does it matter?
July 14th, 2011
10:29 am
GT never sells out any football games anyhow unless Clemson, UGA or FSU comes to town! It’s not like we have a real fan base.
So what? We cheated. We got caught in the past. Big deal. Would we have won any more games? I doubt it! we are the epitome of mediocrity.
kevin
July 14th, 2011
10:30 am
Hilarious. GT fans love to point out how UGA is full of crooks, etc. Yeah, our players get drunk from time to time (like our old AD) and one of them sells a jersey. Your program allows kids who can’t make the grade to play. I will take a program that has individuals making bad personal decisions over a program that is corrupt. Way to go GT. You are corrupt and still can’t win.
By the way, Mickey Mouse called and he wants his offense back.
General Sherman Jacket
July 14th, 2011
10:31 am
I have been urging all Tech fans not to spend their money to make Georgia howl again.
Sales tax and property tax revenues drop.
No new teachers hired (except at APC).
UGA teaching degree becomes worthless piece of paper (if it wasn’t already).
UGA fans lose their homes.
What’s not to like.
Most Tech fans consider me radical but you’ll get them to join me soon.
munsondawg
July 14th, 2011
10:31 am
Looks like football tickets will be be easy to come by for Dawg fans in Nov. when they play Tech in Atl. after this mess is revealed. Wait a minute!!!! Tech football tix are always easy to get……LMAO!!!!!!!!
PerimeterCenterJacket
July 14th, 2011
10:31 am
Close counts when stats like 9 of 10 get tossed around like all those losses were blowouts and we should just pack it up and bulldoze the stadium. To us, 1-2 when the 2 were close is worlds better than 0-7 when some of those 7 were like 51-7. It’s progress, but Dawgs’ll never admit we’re in a better spot under CPJ. Fine with me. We can’t and won’t say we’re better than you in football until we win head to head. So don’t defend that point. What we AREN’T is as bad as you say we are.
Tyrone Sorrells
July 14th, 2011
10:32 am
Damn, and I thought all along that our football players were all headed off to work at NASA after graduation. Does Reggie Ball work at the Varsity now?
Pathetic
July 14th, 2011
10:32 am
GT cheated and is till 1-9 against UGA. GT cheated and still has a tiny football stadium that can’t even get a sell out crowd. GT cheated and only has 1 ACC Championship & the ACC is weak in football. GT cheated and is still inferior to CalTech and MIT. GT cheated and the whiners are still out in force!
The Truth
July 14th, 2011
10:33 am
GA Tech Lies and Cheats and Everyone knows it. Everyone!!!!!!!!!!
Kline
July 14th, 2011
10:33 am
If it was major jb, word would have leaked months ago. The ajc is trying to make this into something much bigger than it is. We’re getting “results” today meaning they are done with the investigation. Funny how everyone knew about the investigations last year at unc uga bama and other schools but this just appeared from nowhere. It’s going to be something dumb and minor. Big violations are not kept quiet. The writer for the ajc is likely a uga grad.
NCAA set to announce findings of investigation into Georgia Tech | CollegeFootballTalk
July 14th, 2011
10:34 am
[...] has flown well below the media’s radar, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution is reporting that the NCAA will announce its findings stemming from an investigation into the Georgia Tech football program. The announcement is [...]
PerimeterCenterJacket
July 14th, 2011
10:34 am
What praytell are we inferior to CalTech or MIT in? Maybe one or two majors?
Tech Wrecker
July 14th, 2011
10:34 am
Tech = SMU!!!!! Give them the Death Penalty!!!!! Spare the South the embarassment of such a mediocore program!!!!
Jackette Nation
July 14th, 2011
10:35 am
And we wonder why our student/athletes can’t read or speak a coherent sentence on TV.
What Happened ?
July 14th, 2011
10:35 am
Did a player sell his jersey ?
Did a coach give the “choke” sign ?
Did the fans throw trash all over the campus ?
HBN
July 14th, 2011
10:35 am
Uga cheated and is 1-9 against UF!! Hey let’s compare athletes you recruit to Uf and then you to us. The difference losers is YOU ARE suppose to win most of the time. But you’re recruting is on the same level with Uf and you lose more often than we lose to you. So STFU rednecks and go back to your own blog.
PerimeterCenterJacket
July 14th, 2011
10:36 am
Yeah, this is totally the same as SMU. Trailerpark Nation can’t even stand up right now trying to hide the wood over this.
jw
July 14th, 2011
10:36 am
I knew they wouldn’t be able to say it was “conditioning” when all those football players installed that new turf – I knew it!
LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
DC
July 14th, 2011
10:36 am
Blame Nick Fairley.
DawginLex
July 14th, 2011
10:36 am
How can this be worse than UNC? I can’t believe it will be. Probably too many phone calls or too many text messages.
I can’t believe Butch Davis is still employed!
Haha
July 14th, 2011
10:37 am
Report done on Yahoo sports said uga had the second best recruiting class over the past 10 years. What did it get them? LMAO!!
jw
July 14th, 2011
10:37 am
Wonder if the Varsity gave out free onion rings and Big Oranges – dang it – busted!