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
Tech Wrecker
July 14th, 2011
11:22 am
Yeah talent to washout…..
George Stein
July 14th, 2011
11:23 am
Also, there’s a time and place for smack talk. It’s just usually best when it’s good natured, creative, and funny.
Cletusdawg
July 14th, 2011
11:23 am
NCAA sanctions will force the nerds to play Georgia TWICE a year in football. I guess losing once a year to UGA is not enough suffering for them. Suck it insects……
George Stein
July 14th, 2011
11:25 am
Classy, Cletusdawg.
Mel
July 14th, 2011
11:25 am
Am I reading this correctly? That these violations occurred over 10 years ago?
St. Richt
July 14th, 2011
11:25 am
Get back to World of Warcraft, you are an absolute idiot. Of all of those guys, Swilling had the worst NFL career. Why don’t you try naming some of those NFL stalwarts from Colorado’s 1990 team? That team that got the 5th down??
Jim Donnan
July 14th, 2011
11:26 am
And to think, in spite of a 40-19 record at UGA, I was fired for having a 2-3 record against Tech. Between Tech playing ineligible players and the worst officiating in the history of NCAA football, can I please be forgiven?
Tech Wrecker
July 14th, 2011
11:27 am
Ken Swilling….a.k.a “Mr. Hype”
Buckeye
July 14th, 2011
11:28 am
Welcome to our world…….
George Stein
July 14th, 2011
11:31 am
The worst officiating in history occurred in 1997, when a phantom pass interference call sustained the last drive. I believe that call angered the football gods.
Sanks totally fumbled though
St. Richt
July 14th, 2011
11:32 am
“Mr Hype” as you call him was a 1st team All American.
T3
July 14th, 2011
11:32 am
Here’s a repeat of all the actions already taken in this matter:
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.
Also, GT’s AD at the time, Dave Braine, was canned. Chan Gailey was canned.
The Academic Advisor to the football team at that time, was also canned.
The primary violations in question were over (10) years ago,
and GT has already paid big penalties for those issues.
It’s simply amazing that the NCAA has any more concerns in this matter.
I will be shocked if there is any more issues coming out of this.
If GT somehow did more bad things, the penalty will have been earned.
However, any rules that GT may have broken, are nothing compared to
the glaring violations that have been made just recently by numerous
so-called football factories.
As I have mentioned before, I think the NCAA is just getting warmed-up
for the really serious stuff coming up for several other programs,
like Ohio State, USC, and more than just one SEC school.
protocol
July 14th, 2011
11:33 am
At least Paul Hewitt did not leave in NCAA violation. Fire the football coach. Double standards. LOL
Thuga
July 14th, 2011
11:33 am
Tech D lineman need to be alert when they play thuga as thugas center likes to chop block. One if the dirtiest players I have ever seen! Had to sit out awhile due to chop blocks against Colorado or Miss St. Keep it classy thuga!
St. Richt
July 14th, 2011
11:33 am
And you’re still a 4th string loser.
GTVegas
July 14th, 2011
11:34 am
My guess is it relates back to Chan Gailey.
Now question is, if it was on Gailey’s watch, can we go after him saying that he was fired for “cause” and get back all the money we paid him since that time?
In any event, this can’t be good.
Tech Wrecker
July 14th, 2011
11:36 am
Mike Pritchard was a pretty good pro off that Colorado team. Better than Mr. Hype.
PerimeterCenterJacket
July 14th, 2011
11:37 am
Said I was leaving, but…T3…these violations are supposed to be about Bay Bay Thomas and Morgan Burnett after the 2009 season. It appears they took a watch and a t-shirt offered to them by someone who counts as an agent. UGA fans know how this feels. It’s so ironically similar to AJ Green’s issue. Problem is…it was before November 17, 2010…which means it’s officially part of the case you mentioned as an added offense. We might be on thin ice here…
dawgfan
July 14th, 2011
11:37 am
NCAA violations? Has this made the news anywhere? Didn’t even know they were under investigation. Doesn’t seem like it could be too severe, but big enough to hold a press conference. A slap on the wrist, probation and maybe loss of a few scholarships at best.
St. Richt
July 14th, 2011
11:37 am
Mike Pritchard is all you got?? Refer back to the GT list I provided..
Reggie Ball
July 14th, 2011
11:38 am
It’s me they’re after.
My performance on the field was an NCAA violation.
I’m sorry.
PerimeterCenterJacket
July 14th, 2011
11:39 am
This site is reporting the best info so far: http://www.fromtherumbleseat.com/
UGA fans possibly trashed the North campus ...
July 14th, 2011
11:39 am
The bulk of the trash left on campus at UGA games past is from local red neck HS kids who go there to get blitzed and try to waggle a few burgers and some cold ones. No, the alumni do not do that. Our Range Rovers and GLB Benz SUVs can carry it home for pick up. Sorry ……………..nice try.
GT’s campus? IT IS ALWAYS VERY dangerous and trashy. No excuses for you all.
Certainly your fans do not trash the campus ………………… because you have no fan base.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHA
GT=SMU of the South
ramblin man
July 14th, 2011
11:40 am
haha im a tech fan (as big as they come) but some of these comments are actually pretty funny
Tech Wrecker
July 14th, 2011
11:41 am
You are hanging your hat on nice college players but outside of Marco Coleman washout Pro’s.
101 Airborne
July 14th, 2011
11:42 am
Don’t worry Dog fans, NCAA will be knocking on the door to you next.
Frankly if GT receives the DEATH penalty
July 14th, 2011
11:42 am
If the NCAA imposed the Death Penalty on GT for lying and cheating AGAIN after only 3 years off of NCAA probation, the football world would not blink one eye.
Why? GT is now and has since the late 1950s been irrelevant in football beyond their one fluke NC tie in 1990 with about 4 or 5 other schools that year.
It is what it is.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHA
The Outside World
July 14th, 2011
11:44 am
At the end of the day, this is a non-story. Tech may get some sanctions, but does it matter? They finish between 35-40 in recruiting now, after sanctions they’ll just move to somewhere between 45-50. Not that big of a difference. 7-5 may change to 6-6 or 5-7, either way they won’t be in the ACC title picture. This isn’t me saying that the team I pull for will be in the conference title picture, just an observation on Tech from someone that has no stake in what Tech does.
George Stein
July 14th, 2011
11:45 am
Couldn’t agree more, Reggie.
Curious George
July 14th, 2011
11:46 am
If Coach Mark Richt had both Reggie Bush and Cam Newton on his team in the same year, and the public later found out both players were ineligible for the duration of that year, would the NCAA still make Georgia vacate that season’s loss to Florida?
I know why
July 14th, 2011
11:47 am
I know why the NCAA is after GT.
Answer: THE GT WISHBONE is a laughing stock and folks all over the college world giggle when CPJ brags about it. They know that it is a HS gimmick offense and skilled, very atheltic teams have figured out the way to stop it. Look at GT’s record since CPJ arrived. Nothing to show for it.
GT is ABOUT TO BE in deeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep, triple, secret probation AGAIN!!!!
SEC
July 14th, 2011
11:48 am
Kiss that ACC title goodbye. Guess no one won the ACC that year. Fitting considering the conference and who played in the game.
drew
July 14th, 2011
11:49 am
“GT=SMU of the South”
Just goes to show the intellectual deficiency of UGA grads.
SMU = SOUTHERN Methodist University.
George Stein
July 14th, 2011
11:51 am
Not even close to funny, I know why.
That gimmick offense is averaging over 34 points a game against your boys. Move along.
NCAA
July 14th, 2011
11:51 am
Let’s see the football came out after Sanks was laying on the ground, so that’s a fumble? If so, then what does “the ground can’t cause a fumble” mean? lol
juvenal
July 14th, 2011
11:53 am
only matters if coaches knew & did nothing……right?
Big Dawg
July 14th, 2011
11:54 am
Tech has been playing football……who made up that story?
There’s nothing better than a fall afternoon “Fish Fry.”
George Stein
July 14th, 2011
11:54 am
It’s pretty clear he has never been to SMU, Drew. We have good looking ladies at Tech, but not on the scale of UGA or South Carolina or Ole Miss. SMU doesn’t take a back seat to any of the SEC schools though
Here We Go Again-Georgia Tech to Hear From NCAA - BeyondU SportsBeyondU Sports
July 14th, 2011
11:55 am
[...] More on the NCAA’s investigation into wrongdoings at Georgia Tech, click here. This entry was posted in BeyondU Sports, NCAA Football and tagged college football, Georgia, [...]
Tech Fanatic
July 14th, 2011
11:55 am
At least we beat Georgia that one time in 2008!
George Stein
July 14th, 2011
11:55 am
I saw Sanks fumble, NCAA.
k$
July 14th, 2011
11:57 am
Funny. Atleast Tech isn’t filled with “Dream Team” recruiting classes only to lose 7 games. Now thats a JOKE.
thebullsht
July 14th, 2011
12:03 pm
Drew, does that mean Southerin Illinois is also part of the south?
Michael
July 14th, 2011
12:03 pm
Georgia fan here:
I’m tired of all of this NCAA-Gate crap. It’s becoming more and more apparent that every school falls under the umbrella. It’s time for football to start so the media has something else to talk about, other than finding out who’s the next team to violate NCAA rules.
I feel for this. Everytime I read violation crap my stomach drops. I hope Tech gets out unscathed and we can get back to talking about football between the lines!
Jacket Man
July 14th, 2011
12:05 pm
D. Thomas & M. Burnett are the alleged players involved, and because the issue occurred while Tech was on the NCAA sanctions, there’s no telling how this will turn out. Like I said, GA Tech had no knowledge of, or control over, the situation, so we’ll just have to see how this plays out. I can see how games that were played that they participated in would be affected, but as far as current and future penalties, I just don’t have a clue.
George Stein
July 14th, 2011
12:05 pm
Not bad, thebullsht.
Agreed, Michael.
Dr. Love
July 14th, 2011
12:06 pm
From what I am hearing, we will need to be looking for a new AD. Two early names involve Rutgers and Central Michigan. This could be a good thing for us to move us to the next level.
Daddy
July 14th, 2011
12:07 pm
“thebullsht”
Southern Illinois means its in the southern part of Illinois. Southern Methodist means its in the southern part of the country. Idiot.
bucket
July 14th, 2011
12:08 pm
Only a Ga Tech homer would call the Sanks play a fumble, but it really doesn’t matter now. I don’t wish ill on any program as far as trouble with the NCAA. If there is something here I hope it is much more than some players accepting t-shirts and a watch. If that’s the case then the NCAA is even dumber than I thought. What ever happened to the South Carolina players who were staying in a $1700 a month hotel for $450 a month?
Old Blind Dawg
July 14th, 2011
12:08 pm
For what it’s worth – I think the NCAA is a joke. It takes them years to drill down and find the facts. The punishment is not equal or uniform. The rule book is worse than the IRS tax code.
The only joy in seeing GT under the microscope is watching the handful of techie nerd posters squirm. I think it’s called “Karma”.
Fact is most of college football is guilty of something some worse than others. With the “Street Agents / Runners” controlling the selection process of which school his guys will sign with and the hidden money being funneled around I am slowly turning away from college football.