Tech coach Spencer resigns over rules violations
Georgia Tech co-offensive line coach Todd Spencer has resigned. Spencer offered his resignation in the midst of a school investigation into numerous text messages to recruits that he had sent in violation of NCAA rules.
“I find it inexplicable that an employee would violate these rules with regard to text messaging after our ongoing focus to educate our personnel on NCAA rules and regulations,” athletic director Dan Radakovich said in a statement. “Actions of this type simply are not acceptable in our programs and will not be tolerated.”
NCAA rules limit electronic communication between coaches and prospects or their parents or guardians to e-mail and faxes. Other forms, such as text messaging and instant messaging, are not allowed.
Monitoring software caught the violation Jan. 12, and Spencer was placed on administrative leave the following day. The athletic department has been in a state of high alert in matters of NCAA rules compliance since being placed on probation after findings of failure to cooperate and failure to meet the conditions and obligations of NCAA membership in an investigation into possible impermissible benefits violations to two former football players. The school notified the NCAA immediately following the discovery of the violations.
Spencer offered his resignation Jan. 27. Prior to that, Tech coach Paul Johnson had recommended to Radakovich that Spencer be fired. In the letter, obtained by the AJC through a Georgia Open Record Request, Johnson said he found Spencer’s actions “troubling and inconsistent with the expectations I have for our staff.”
“There is no need to put our program in further jeopardy,” Johnson wrote.
The matter is not expected to affect the school’s appeal to the NCAA sanctions, the verdict of which is likely to be released soon. It is unclear, however, if Tech’s probationary status would impact the degree of any sort of penalty levied by the NCAA for Spencer’s texting violation. The investigation is ongoing.
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169 comments Add your comment
MR is a Hypocrite
February 2nd, 2012
1:40 pm
The NCAA’s no texting rule is like working in a company owned by a UGA grad – major on the minor, rules do not keep up with the times, more emphasis on finding things wrong than doing things right – oh wait, wasn’t the president of UGA on the NCAA rules committee? At least at Tech we are taught t to thnk and speak and not drool out the side of our mouths like a dumb dawg
Hoopster
February 2nd, 2012
2:06 pm
Hey look, WnE, I mean buLLdawg has a new handle…..Brad n Tucker! At least he’s creative!
damngooddawg!
February 2nd, 2012
3:57 pm
MR is a Hypocrite, you are a very angry person and, dare I say it, delusional. It’s scary knowing people in your condition are out and about in the community…try to take your meds on a regular basis.
damngooddawg!
February 2nd, 2012
4:00 pm
I hope he doesn’t have a driver’s license…..
Sting Man
February 2nd, 2012
4:01 pm
BLAH BLAH BLAH…my name is Shultz BLAH BLAH BLAH
Go Sting Yourself
February 2nd, 2012
6:32 pm
BBBUUHHUUWWWAAHHHAAHHHAAA
A recruiting violation, while on probation.
You guys are smart.
BBUUHHUUUWWAAHHHAAHHHAHHHAH
sports
February 2nd, 2012
6:36 pm
You have to watch this Tech bunch…they’ll stoop to any level.
Stinger
February 2nd, 2012
8:07 pm
To all UGA fans running their mouth aabout Coach Spenser, Look in the mirror today as UGA violates NCAA rules. Bwahhhaaaahhhaaa
WTF NCAA
February 2nd, 2012
8:11 pm
I hear rumblings that WE may lose 4 scholarships (2 next year and 2 the next) over this texting mess. I can’t believe the NCAA keeps punishing GT for MINOR infractions.
mk52
February 2nd, 2012
9:06 pm
Bohannon will keep both QB and RB duties…he has to coach both. It is essential to the offense. Those two positions can’t be separated
ole yeller
February 2nd, 2012
9:21 pm
How long is this Spenser article going to go? There are four others posted currently by the AJC . Is this fish wrapper so biased that it continues to try hurt G.T. How much of a gap and advantage do you guys really want to create? I have been on top of every article written on recruiting and am sick of the negative bias the so called journalist reports. I’ve read Shultz and Bradley until I cannot stand the hate any longer. Both are homers and yet you at the top level continue to let these journalist ( SORRY, HACKS), to continue their quest to destroy a sister school. I have not read even one positive article about Paul Johnson or the Ga.Tech team in weeks. Report the darn news without negative bias. It’s a shame that a city as large as Atlanta, cannot get over its love affair with UGA and try to lend support to one of the great institutions in the USA.
"To H _ _ _ WITH GA"
February 2nd, 2012
11:03 pm
@Ole Yeller – couldn’t have said it any better.The AJC is just a bunch of preppy UGA Alumni Frat Boys who were too stupid and too unmotivated to get into Tech. Those writers couldn’t even get on to the ‘M’ Train @ Tech. People talk about crime around the Tech Campus – the real crime is the lack of education that UGA provides to their athletes and all students for that matter, and their pitiful graduation rate. CPJ didn’t hesitate to fire Spencer, yet it took almost a week for UGA to figure out if they should fire their AD for getting a DUI while driving a prostitute. Go figure.
Old Blind Dawg
February 2nd, 2012
11:21 pm
“to H— with Ga – it’s called due process. It all hinges on what the lawyers do and say. He screwed up and he lost his job same as your clown coach. Get over it.
Do you have any proof regarding your accusations – ALL the AJC sports writers are “preppy UGA Alumni Frat Boys”? You might want to check your facts. You might also check your misleading facts on the education the vast majority of the UGA athletes receive. You seem to be cherry picking and not looking past the kids that go pro.
Why are you so bitter?
Old Blind Dawg
February 2nd, 2012
11:27 pm
Back at to H— you might want to read this – then get down off your high horse.
http://news.yahoo.com/ap-enterprise-examining-football-player-majors-171816888.html
ole yeller
February 2nd, 2012
11:56 pm
Old Blind Dawg, you missed the point entirely. It seems to me, that the hacks at the ajc consistently throw poison arrows at the G.T. program. Why is it that these homers are so bent on negative reporting?
With the top recruiting classes in the nation why do these guys at UGA always struggle? Let’s think, could it possibly be poor coaching? That’s not the issue. The real point I am trying to make is why does the Atlanta Journal continue to condone biased reporting and slanted views by Bradley and Shultz.
They both need to follow the trail of Clarence Moore, and just go away!!!
Old Blind Dawg
February 3rd, 2012
12:20 am
Ole yeller drop in on the negative cols about UGA and you get the same complaining. They can’t MAKE the news only report it. Most of my UGA friends think Bradley and Shultz suck because they always write negative stories about UGA. It cuts both ways.
Many of the top recruits were injured and more than a few have left for the NFL that will kill any program and some simply didn’t pan out. It doesn’t reflect badly on the institution or coaches it’s just life.
You guys need to be celibrating your new recruits which based on what CPJ has done in the past looks better than his previous groups.
Old Blind Dawg
February 3rd, 2012
12:23 am
Oh yeah………. Negative reporting = sensationalism = more hits = more readers = more revenue.
steaming pile
February 3rd, 2012
9:13 am
this is pitiful to intelligent folks—recruting penalties for gt—let them off—-they will learn to go after more stars if you are going to cheat—so stupid, yea cpj a mensa
yellowjacket
February 6th, 2012
10:31 pm
Spencer was a joke for a coach anyway….He drank all the time and took pills drunk texted people and everyone knew it and covered it up !!!!!