Gregory says Tech and basketball will come out stronger
Georgia Tech men’s basketball coach Brian Gregory said the NCAA’s decision to place minor limits on recruiting is simply another challenge that must be passed, joining no arena for the 2011-12 season and the loss of two key players.
“When you’re trying to build back the program, with a new culture and adding to that culture by bringing in the right type of player … it’s impaired a little bit,” he said. “We’re going to have work double-time. Fit 48 hours into a 24-hour day.”
The NCAA announced Thursday the following penalties on Thursday related to violations that occurred during predecessor Paul Hewitt’s time as coach:
- 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.
- Four years of probation (for the entire department).
Gregory, who was hired away from Dayton earlier this year, was told about the investigation during the interview process. Reached in Milwaukee while watching a tournament, Gregory said he has no ill feelings toward Hewitt, and described the penalties as being characteristic of minor violations. He said he hasn’t spent a lot of time trying to figure out if the penalties fit the violations, saying doing so would be a waste of time. Though he was mostly a by-stander, he said he was impressed by how Tech handled itself and its plan moving forward. Tech hired two new compliance officers and added a third within the past two months. The department previously had two employees, neither of whom are still at Tech. Paul Parker, the former head of compliance, now works at Auburn. Katreshia Louis, an associate, left to join North Carolina A&T.
“We will come out of this stronger where no one can question Tech’s integrity,” he said.
Hewitt, who was fired by Tech and then hired at George Mason, said he’s disappointed in the NCAA’s decision to punish his former basketball team and that Gregory has to deal with the penalties.
“I feel bad that Brian has to do this,” Hewitt said. “I feel bad that they are doing this with the Georgia Tech basketball program. It’s very unfair.”
It could be argued that these penalties are actually more severe from a competition standpoint than those given to the football team. Other than the probation and the loss of face with the stripping of the ACC title, coach Paul Johnson noted his team can move forward with a clean slate.
Gregory already faced the prospect of trying to rebuild the basketball team that unexpectedly lost several starters (Iman Shumpert, Brian Oliver), but also won’t have a home court in 2011-12 while the new arena is built.
The NCAA’s inquiry into the basketball team started separately from its look at football. They were rolled into one large investigation.
There are two issues which the NCAA alerted Tech to in a letter on Dec. 21, 2010 (details were accumulated from a variety of reports):
- Donovan Williams, a former graduate assistant, was at a camp, the Wallace Prather Jr. Memorial Classic, at Tech’s recreation center in 2009 and ‘10. The tournament has been held at Tech annually since 2000. However, the NCAA changed a bylaw in 2009 that made it an automatic violation for staff members to run or be involved in non-scholastic camps such as the Prather. Williams was there in 2009 as a gym coordinator, which he didn’t know was a violation of NCAA rules. In 2010 his role changed. Because there were instances in the past of fights, a water main break, and games running late, Williams was sent to the camp by Hewitt to make sure things ran well. Someone else was the gym coordinator. Williams said he had since been informed that graduate assistants weren’t supposed to attend events like the Prather’s because they were considered to be on staff. However, Williams finished his classes the week before the event. He and Willie Reese, Tech’s director of basketball operations, thought he was no longer a g.a. and therefore no longer on staff. While there, members of the NCAA said they observed Williams taking notes about players and making 28 phone calls to Tech assistant coaches to discuss which teams were winning. Tech has since decided that the Prather tournament can’t be held on campus.
- An academic advisor, former Tech player Jon Babul, scouted some of the players for between four-five hours on a Saturday in 2010, took notes, and sent an unsolicited e-mail to the coaching staff with his thoughts about five players, none of whom were recruited by Tech. According to NCAA rules, Babul could attend the camp but he can’t send player analysis to coaches.
“We feel like we were operating within the NCAA rules,” Hewitt said. “This is a difference of opinion.”
There were also minor issues of coaches leaving too many tickets for players including the Hawks Josh Smith and former Tech greats Matt Harpring and James Forrest, and a player, Shumpert, being given too many tickets to a sporting event at Tech. Tech gave each player four on two separate occasions. Because Harpring and Forrest also coach, the NCAA says they can only receive two complimentary tickets per game. In its March 17 response, Tech argues it didn’t know that Harpring and Forrest were involved in youth camps that overrode the fact that they are alumni. Shumpert was required to donate $40 to a charity of his choice, which was the value of the tickets. None of those players have been disassociated from the program as a result of receiving the tickets, according to Radakovich.
Interesting, Tech offered to take the following punitive actions, some of which the NCAA rejected:
- Will suspend Coach Hewitt for the first contest of the 2011-12 men’s basketball season.
- Will reduce the number of “recruiting-person” days by two during the summer evaluation period in 2011.
- Will issue a letter of reprimand to Head Men’s Basketball Coach Paul Hewitt, Academic Advisor John Babul, and director of basketball operations Willie Reese for their involvement.
- Will suspend Babul for one day without pay for his actions.
Will issue letters of reprimand to Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach Darryl LaBarrie, Reese, and Coach Hewitt for their involvement in the second allegation. - Will require Coach Hewitt, Coach LaBarrie, and Willie Reese to attend the 2011 NCAA Regional Rules Seminar or similar educational session. Confirmation of attendance and participation in sessions will be required.
- Will prohibit the provision of complimentary tickets to all high school coaches and individuals associated with prospective study.
Athletic director Dan Radakovich said on Thursday that these violations will not affect the $7 million owed to Hewitt as part of his contractual buyout. Radakovich fired Hewitt earlier this year. What’s interesting is that in the Public Infractions Report, the NCAA says it believed the infractions to be major, while Tech thought they were minor. That’s an important distinction because a major violation would have triggered a clause in Hewitt’s contract that may have vacated the buyout.
– Doug Roberson, AJC. Follow coverage on twitter @ajcgatech.
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95 comments Add your comment
Dawgschiro
July 15th, 2011
12:54 pm
I’m confused as to the basketball program’s role in all of this. Were they just caught up in the football program’s coverup because their violations seem minor. That said I wish the GT supporters would put a sock in it. My goodness, they vacated the wins, but you won all the same. As much as it pains me to say that.
For a school that berates us UGA alums as dumb hicks, you guys aren’t getting the point of the smackdown. It’s the coverup, not the actual violation that warranted the punishment. It wasn’t the $312. It was the fact that your AD revealed the investigation & that O’Leary played an athlete that was under investigation. Please stop whining about the unfairness of the NCAA because this wasn’t their fault. It was your administration.
RealityCheck
July 15th, 2011
12:55 pm
Only Tech could go 1-2 while they are cheating…..
I’m just saying. Still think the NCAA sucks, but that’s a different story.
Basketball’s role in Tech’s NCAA investigation – Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) | USA Baseball America
July 15th, 2011
1:09 pm
[...] post by webmaster@technorati.com and software by Elliott Back Comments [...]
GT Alum
July 15th, 2011
1:12 pm
Dawgschiro -
Apparently you’re a bit confused, too. This happened in 2009. O’Leary was coaching at UCF in ‘09. O’Leary hasn’t been Tech’s coach since 2001. O’Leary used ineligible players the last time Tech was penalized. While that previous infraction likely played a role in the penalties the NCAA handed down, it’s not the reason the championship is being vacated.
Also, the football coach wasn’t the one who made the final decision to play the players. The president made that decision.
As far as the Tech players are concerned, those guys worked hard for that championship, and there’s nothing in the NCAA’s findings that says they weren’t the best team in the ACC that year, so it’s understandably hard for them to take.
As for Tech fans, many don’t seem to believe that the NCAA proved anything, so it’s a matter of who you trust more. Many college athletics fans seem not to trust the NCAA, and I’m sure a more Tech supporters will join that crowd in the wake of these penalties.
Experienced One
July 15th, 2011
1:22 pm
It would be interesting to have an in-depth review of the statements in the NCAA report. There appear to be numerou.s contradictions that go directly to the claims. It seems to me that the bigger story is the inconsistent penalties and actions of the NCAA against a school not in one of the power conferences as a placebo to those asking for definite action against the AU’s, OSU’s, USC’s, and others with questionable actions.
Jacket Man
July 15th, 2011
1:37 pm
I’m hoping there’s a clause in CPH’s contract that will allow his buy-out to be terminated based on the NCAA violations. This may be the only good thing that comes out of this fiasco.
Aerojacket
July 15th, 2011
1:39 pm
The penalties could have been worse. They could have made us take Hewitt back…
What a crock of NCAA manure.
Former Tech coach Hewitt calls NCAA’s decision “unfair” – Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) | USA Baseball America
July 15th, 2011
2:10 pm
[...] post by webmaster@technorati.com and software by Elliott Back Comments [...]
NCAA Speaking so listen up
July 15th, 2011
2:25 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vEjUQ15lyzk&feature=related
GT BBall
July 15th, 2011
2:37 pm
I think all 2009 ACC championship football players should get a free tattoo of the ACC trophy, supplied for free from the Columbus, Ohio tattoo parlor involved in the OSU case. Just sayin….
Hewitt's lawyer
July 15th, 2011
3:31 pm
Hewitt’s contract under firing with cause
Willfully violating an NCAA or ACC regulation or rule which
results, after hearing, in probation or loss of scholarships or knowingly allowing a
member of the Men’s Basketball coaching staff to engage in conduct which results in
similar sanctions; provided, however, that “Cause” shall be deemed to exist only after
Hewitt has been given written notice of the basis upon which “Cause” is deemed to have
occurred and thirty (30) days have expired since Hewitt’s receipt of such written notice
without Hewitt having cured such circumstance that has been alleged to constitute
“Cause” and further provided that the President of the Association or the President’s
designee approves that such “Cause” exists. Should Hewitt disagree with the
Association’s assertion that “Cause” exists, Hewitt may, within ten (10) days of receipt of
such written notice, give written notice of his objection to the Association and seek
arbitration pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.
It seems that GT missed the time period in which to fire Hewitt w/ cause and not have to pay buyout.
don't you just hate it
July 15th, 2011
3:37 pm
One small misstep for a player, one giant misleap by the AD.
Baldheaded beauty
July 15th, 2011
3:44 pm
Yeah, like hewitt really cares about the decision, he is getting millions for doing absolutely nothing for the GT program the last 8-10 years, now he is coaching elsewhere and left his negative trash for the new coach to clean up and is stuck with.
Sven Ottke
July 15th, 2011
3:51 pm
Dogshiro, by the NCAA’s own admission, neither player was ineligible. Can you not read?
Gregory says Tech and basketball will come out stronger – Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) | USA Baseball America
July 15th, 2011
5:43 pm
[...] post by webmaster@technorati.com and software by Elliott Back Comments [...]
Do What?
July 15th, 2011
8:20 pm
Ken – you should be embarassed that you had no idea GT was under NCAA investigation. If you had been doing your job, i.e., filing Open Records requests as the AJC does routinely with the Georgia Athletic Dept, you could have informed your readers. Unfortunately you and Roberson were too busy cheerleading. Hopefully in the future you will trade your cheerleading skirt and pom poms for journalist big boy clothes. Now that GT is the state’s most penalized NCAA athletic program perhaps you will keep an eye on the serial offenders on North Ave.
yellowfever
July 15th, 2011
8:31 pm
dawgmatic, I bet all you do is sleep, eat and drink uga. what a pitiful life. I feel sorry for you
GTfan
July 15th, 2011
9:57 pm
All you dawg fans get your funny in now because your turns coming…….
GT GRAD
July 15th, 2011
11:25 pm
If the Hewitt contract says he forfits the $7M for these infractions, then we should enforce the contract wording and refrain from paying him the $7M…….as long as this approach is completely legal of course.
Ima JACKET
July 16th, 2011
10:39 am
NCAA = No Class At All.
Paul in RDU
July 16th, 2011
11:09 am
GT can’t claim that the basketball violations were minor and then declare that they don’t have to pay Hewitt’s contract – it only became void if there were MAJOR violations.
dawgmatic
July 16th, 2011
12:06 pm
And I feel sorry for all the lonely fans in tech’s tiny stadium. All 40 of the fans, half of which serve the free hotdogs and Cokes.
Bozo
July 16th, 2011
12:41 pm
Change you can believe in! Yes we can! People will believe anything but the truth!
The Anti-Buzz Draft
July 16th, 2011
1:13 pm
Doug, something smells fishy in Tech’s proposed penalties. Where are the names of O’Connor and Zaharis? You might want to place an Open Records request for who gave tickets to who. Zaharis and O’Connor’s names will pop up. Why did Tech only propose reprimands for Hewitt, LaBarrie, and Reese?
The NCAA
July 16th, 2011
1:32 pm
I hope all of you techie fans, alumni, students, and former players just keep on dissing the ncaa.
The ncaa has a long memory will no doubt back hand you a good one the next time you step out of line and pile it on for all of the trash talk.
You can’t spell CHEAT without T E C H.
hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!
Hewitt Fan
July 16th, 2011
2:19 pm
Im glad Hewitt got out of this dump when he did!!!
CC
July 16th, 2011
2:23 pm
@ Do What? Don’t go spouting off B.S. to make yourself feel better:
UGA has six MAJOR violations (none since 2004, but still bad enough for 12TH MOST in the NATION all-time.)
GT has had two major violations.
Unless you have some other FACTS to show otherwise, it’s not even close.
And we all know that UGA is the current Fulmer Cup Champion.
I’ll admit GT screwed up here and needs to deal with the facts of how the NCAA works, not how they think they should work. But UGA fans have no room to throw stones. It could happen to the ‘dogs again at any time. It certainly has plenty of times before.
sports
July 16th, 2011
10:04 pm
The arrogance of that yellow bunch is revolting…Georgia Tech.
ToccoaDawg
July 17th, 2011
12:01 am
I understand the football penalties, its all about the coverup. But the basketball penalties are BS. when a student assistant cant make sure the schools property isn,t torn up its a sad day for colleges everywhere.Tech got rid of the problem Bball coach and should be commended for it. Whats next? Will the ncaa start putting people on probation for letting their student athletes help in the community?
robynbarry
July 17th, 2011
1:49 am
Glad O’Connor is fine with it. Hope that helps him with the new job that he should have to be looking for in the near future. http://bit.ly/rfJns6
fountain
July 17th, 2011
6:10 am
Football SINGLE GAME Tickets
Single game football tickets will be available via an online pre-sale beginning at 5pm on Friday, July 15. Tickets for home games (excluding Georgia) will be available online throughout the weekend. Beginning Monday, July 18 at 8:30am, tickets for the first six home games will also be available for purchase via telephone at 888-TECH-TIX, 888-832-4849 or 404-894-5447.
A seven-game football season ticket is still available for purchase and DOES include the Georgia game. Season ticket holders may also request to purchase extra Georgia tickets. Please speak with a ticket office representative for details.
Season ticket holders, alumni, A-T donors, faculty/staff and students may purchase away game tickets via telephone only. The general public is encouraged to contact the host institution for ticket availability. Away game tickets are assigned at a later date and are assigned based on A-T point priority.
hell i guess you had to do something to sell season tickets
Billyboy
July 17th, 2011
6:57 am
Everybody missed the real problem here. The AD and GT lawyers believed that this “grey area” would be only minor and at worst a slap on the hand. They (AD and GT lawyers) were wrong in guessing how the NCAA would rule. The NCAA may be wrong, but, the AD and GT lawyers took a gamble and loss. Now, who should suffer the consequences? Also, why do lawyers never pay for their mistakes? As a note, if you check out politicians most are lawyers.
GT
July 17th, 2011
9:07 am
Seems to me Hewitt should be made to pay some of that money back. If the NCAA really wanted to turn college basketball back to the colleges it would have a list of coaches that could not be hired by any NCAA school. None of these facts of fights and things get out until there is an outside investigation. What is the purpose of higher education entertaining thugs.
Dom
July 17th, 2011
10:32 am
Awww, Gregory. That is SO cute! You are adorable to think Ga Tech matters.
bk
July 17th, 2011
11:34 am
Why did you and the ajc miss this story until it broke? My guess is that it would be reported and speculated on weekly if it was from the school up the road.
Joe
July 17th, 2011
2:50 pm
Can I receive money back for vacated games, since they wasn’t played?
Luke
July 18th, 2011
8:53 am
Yech shows again how they are one of the most corrupt, dirtiest programs in the nation. What an embarrassment, but a hilarious one at that.
Matt from Mn
July 18th, 2011
10:31 am
GT is dooooooooooomed.
Kev the Geek
July 18th, 2011
10:37 am
I find it hard to believe this investigation was happening for 20 months and not a sniff from ANYONE at AJC. Continued birdcage liner iyam.
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Can't spell cheat without T-E-C-H!!!
July 19th, 2011
8:58 am
You can always count on the thugs from North Ave. to provide the sporting world with hilarious entertainment!!! LOL!!!
You scholars do realize “vacating” isn’t the same as vacation, right nerds? LOL!!!!
ormewood
July 19th, 2011
10:13 am
Expectations can’t get much lower at this point in Coach Gregory’s inaugural season. Should be a battle royale for the ACC basement between Tech, BC, and Wake.
juvenal
July 20th, 2011
4:44 pm
hewitt fan-U19 finished fifth……..
WR Amba Etta-Tawo commits to Maryland Terrapins over Virginia | Maryland News
July 21st, 2011
3:31 am
[...] Georgia Tech basketball coach says NCAA’s penalties will make ACC school stronger (click on story link) [...]