NCAA inquiry is the last thing Georgia and Mark Richt need (UPDATED)
Mark Richt is trying to turn Georgia's program around. An NCAA inquiry doesn't help.
(UPDATED at 7:45 p.m.)
Georgia can finally count itself in the same company as Alabama and Florida — just not in the way everybody hoped.
According to our Tim Tucker, the NCAA has contacted Georgia to inform the school of an “inquiry” on campus.
This is never good news.
Georgia associate athletic director Claude Felton emailed a statement, reading: “I have been asked numerous times over the last two days whether we had been contacted by the NCAA and the answer has been ‘no.’ … Late Wednesday afternoon, the University of Georgia received a call from the NCAA requesting permission to conduct an inquiry on the UGA campus. Athletic Association officials indicated that full cooperation would be provided. The NCAA has requested that UGA officials, coaches, and/or student-athletes decline further comment until the inquiry is completed.”
The best case scenario for the Bulldogs is that this inquiry goes nowhere, because if coach Mark Richt suddenly has to deal with a full-fledged investigation and even the potential of NCAA sanctions, after last year’s down season, it could hamper his efforts to move the program forward.
No reason was given for the inquiry. But given recent news, it could be connected with investigations into illegal contact between various college players and agents. Players from Alabama, South Carolina and North Carolina been linked with a party hosted by an agent in South Miami Beach earlier this summer. If the players were compensated for the trip in any way — travel, lodging, meals — it would negate their amateur status and constitute an NCAA violation. Alabama defensive lineman Marcell Dareus reportedly is among those under investigation.
Former Florida offensive lineman Maurkice Pouncey, a first-round draft pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers, has been accused of taking $100,000 from an agent following last year’s SEC title game and before the Sugar Bowl, which also would constitute an NCAA violation. Pouncey denies the charge.
UPDATE: Stories on SI.com and TMZ.com both referenced wide receiver A.J. Green about an agent’s Memorial Day weekend party in Miami. Green denies being at the party in the SI.com story. The TMZ.com story says Georgia “ is investigating” whether Green attended.
A source said one potential interview subject is junior receiver A.J. Green, but if enforcement officials plan to ask Green about the now-infamous party in Miami Beach, Fla., on Memorial Day weekend that prompted the inquiries at North Carolina and South Carolina and an internal investigation at Alabama, they won’t learn much.
Reached by phone Tuesday night — almost a day before the NCAA contacted Georgia — Green told SI.com that he did not attend the party. Green, who is considered on of the nation’s best receivers, said a Georgia compliance official asked him Tuesday if he attended the party. Green said he spent Memorial Day weekend at home in Summerville, S.C.
“I never went to South Beach,” Green told SI.com.
TMZ has learned the University of Georgia is investigating whether football star A.J. Green partied on South Beach at the same bash that’s launched investigations at three other colleges.A source closely connected to Georgia’s athletic department tells TMZ the wide receiver allegedly attended a party at the Fontainebleau Hotel in Miami on Memorial Day weekend. Partying alone isn’t a crime under NCAA rules — Green is 21 years old — but if someone (like an agent or financial adviser) paid for anything related to Green’s trip, that could be a violation.
Agents and their pursuit of college players dominated the first day of SEC media days.
Alabama coach Nick Saban referred to agents as pimps.
Florida coach Urban Meyer called agents “predators.”
Call them what you like, they’re the major story right now.
What level are your concerns about the inquiry into Georgia?
♦
Previous SEC/Georgia posts
♦ It’s no coincidence Saban suddenly is concerned about agents
♦ SEC media days: Hey, who let the BCS in here?
♦ We’re LIVE at SEC media days (with no shortage of storylines)
♦ NCAA reportedly investigating Florida (but temper excitement)
♦ Can Dogs end Alabama-Florida monopoly in SEC title game?
♦ Listen up, Ole Miss: I’ve got Colonel Reb’s replacement
♦
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256 comments Add your comment
Robert
July 21st, 2010
9:34 pm
Contrary to what one poster said above, this is no nightmare at all for Bama. Everyone knows the drill…if Dareus’s expenses were paid, he makes restitution, maybe he sits a couple of games, and that’s it. Bama will be praised by the NCAA for self reporting and being on top of the situation.
On the other hand, the NCAA called Georgia. Let that sink in for a minute. The NCAA called Georgia and said, “We’re coming to your campus to investigate.” You want to talk nightmare? There’s your nightmare. Why didn’t Georgia call the NCAA first?
CrackDaddy
July 21st, 2010
9:34 pm
Mark Richt, Saban, Davis, and Spurrier should be held responsible for what one of their football player did? And my Dad should be responsible for me smoking a “J” in high school. Get real people!
theTruth
July 21st, 2010
9:35 pm
DAWG78, quit being a troll. You are not very good at it. Even IF Green was there, there is no consequence to the school just the amateur status of the player. The program is going to be hit hard? Epic Fail.
TGator, interesting, I wouldn’t put ANYTHING past that sleaze ball in LA.
SHULTZIE, you are using TMZ as a source, really? Oh where oh where has journalism ethics gone? It’s a good thing you aren’t getting graded on your papers anymore.
jojatek
July 21st, 2010
9:36 pm
Yup. Surprise, surprise…
theTruth
July 21st, 2010
9:38 pm
ROBERT, that is because there is nothing to report. AJ has said he wasn’t there. Would you like for me to call the NCAA and tell them I wasn’t there as well?
BTW, this might be about dawg night, not AJ.
Michael Jackson
July 21st, 2010
9:41 pm
Why can’t we start knee-capping these maggots? One .45 in each patella.
Robert
July 21st, 2010
9:42 pm
Heyward, if you go back and look, that’s what Saban has done in every incident since he’s arrived. Saban suspended the Textbook Five on their own the morning of the 2007 Tennessee game. He suspended Andre Smith for the Sugar Bowl, and he suspended Julio and Ingram before the 2009 season. The Textbook Five didn’t play again until they made restitution and were cleared by the NCAA, and they missed a few games. Smith may have been cleared, but Saban didn’t play him because he was less than 100% cooperative with the investigation. Julio and Ingram didn’t play until they made restitution and were cleared by the NCAA, not more than a day or two before the VaTech game.
I’d like to think that we learned our lesson a long time ago. I don’t think that most Bama fans wish Georgia any harm in this deal; I certainly don’t. I don’t see Georgia as being one of our bitter rivals, and I usually pull for Georgia against everyone else.
Tough spot for your new AD to be in. I just hope that UGA is very thorough and cooperative.
Above the Law
July 21st, 2010
9:49 pm
Robert,
I went to UGA and I didn’t read any UGA fans (granted I wish we could lose a few) giving Bama a hard time. Frankly, I see wayyyyyyyy too much UGA bashing from fellow SEC brethern…..
Robert
July 21st, 2010
9:51 pm
Truth…I never mentioned AJ or a party. Other posters did. I just made mention of the fact that the NCAA made a call to UGA and said that they’re coming to town. That’s fact. I have no idea why they’re coming or what they’re investigating. I also know that the NCAA didn’t call us or Florida. That also is fact.
Robert
July 21st, 2010
9:52 pm
Fair enough, Above The Law.
All Vol
July 21st, 2010
9:56 pm
They need to crack down on the low down agents. I think it is a small percentage…but some agents prey on high profile recruits. I know that these kids know they should not do anything….but it just looks like they get caught up in it. Just sick of reading these stories….I wish we could just talk about SEC football and not this crap.
ryan
July 21st, 2010
9:58 pm
Nothing is going happen unless there is bombshell here there is not when all said& done i believe AJ was in S.C.
Above the Law
July 21st, 2010
10:00 pm
The problem for us (UGA) and these posts is we have the biggest rag (AJC – Atlanta) in the south and UGA is the biggest school in Georgia – that provides it’s biggest readership – and Atlanta is melting pot for all schools. Surely not near as many posters look at the Birmingham News, Tampa Tribune, or Orlando Sun.
Brian
July 21st, 2010
10:01 pm
U{sic}GA gets caught for cheating. Am I supposed to be surprised? What a joke that program has become.
Dawg Whisperer
July 21st, 2010
10:03 pm
This is probably a lot to do about nothing but hey it generates interest which generates sales which, well you know where this going. Who wants to talk about football when you can talk about sleaze? College football has become a daily soap opera. Stay tuned (if you like).
The Sham
July 21st, 2010
10:04 pm
I LOVE HOW ONE MEDIA SOURCE THROWS OUT SOME ALLEGATIONS AND UGA LOGICALLY ASKS AJ WHAT HAPPENED AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, BC UGA ASKED HIM, ANOTHER MEDIA SOURCE (I USE THAT TERM LOOSELY WITH TMZ) THEN PROCLAIMS UGA IS CONDUCTING AN INVESTIGATION! YOU GOT TO LOVE THE RUMOR MILL.
IF I’M THIS AGENT HOSTING THIS PARTY I’M REALLY REALLY NERVOUS ABOUT WHO MIGHT BE WALKING BEHIND ME. I KNOW THE DAWG NATION CAN BE ROWDY, BUT I’M NOT SURE I WOULD WAN’T TO DRAW THE IRE OF THE TUSCALOONIES OR NICK SATAN!
All Vol
July 21st, 2010
10:04 pm
Above the Law. You are right..their are so many responses on here from other schools because Atlanta has so many alumni from other places. I am one of those but do not flame against any other school on here.
joey
July 21st, 2010
10:15 pm
I saw A.J in Sumerville.this story is sh#t.
ryan
July 21st, 2010
10:18 pm
Brian UGA has not been caught for cheating all this is to see whether Greene was at that party in south beach and he was not get facts strait before you accuse anyone jerk.
justafan
July 21st, 2010
10:20 pm
Hope Green is not telling a lie. Kids will be Kids and Money talks.
59bulldawg
July 21st, 2010
10:24 pm
If AJ was there and the NCAA comes down hard on Georgia, Richt, even though not his fault, had better hope for a much improved season. If not things could get ugly come January. But this agent thing is something all college football fans, no matter what school we pull for, should be together on because it threatens the sport we all love. Would love to see one of these agent fellas caught on campus and roughed up a little bit . . . in addition to some type of suspension or ban. I’d be in favor of the NFL refusing to negotiate with these guys . . . even with a rumor of impropriety. This has got to be squashed now.
Kerryb
July 21st, 2010
10:30 pm
This is nothing. So they are coming, who cares. They will find nothing. Green said he was at home that weekend. He is not the type of guy that would lie to Mark Richt about that. The NCAA is looking at every big name kid from South Carolina for some reason. Not worried about it.
Ron
July 21st, 2010
10:39 pm
ha. couldn’t happen to a nicer bunch of nitwits.
Kerryb
July 21st, 2010
10:40 pm
Ron, what’ happened? answer, nothing.
fayncdawg
July 21st, 2010
10:43 pm
The Gators have a whole lot more to be concerned about for about 100,000 reasons.
ryan
July 21st, 2010
10:46 pm
Everyone needs to realize that its not UGA , Alabama, Florida, or S.C. fault it these damn agents and lawyers those should be people mad at for taking advantage of the players.
dawgfan
July 21st, 2010
10:47 pm
Not at all concerned. AJ says he wasn’t in Miami. Schultz is just trying to stir the pot and get Mark Richt fired. When absolutely nothing comes from this “inquiry” we will of course hear absolutely nothing about it from the AJC. Its garbage tabloid journalism. What a crock.
jod
July 21st, 2010
10:49 pm
Dogs going down hard from what I have heard from my sources… aj Is shady.
Above the Law
July 21st, 2010
10:52 pm
Jod,
Go back to peeling potatoes with your sources. Your shift break is over.
ryan
July 21st, 2010
11:00 pm
I think most of these jerks want UGA to go down like USC well if were going down were taking you down with us because those other schools are just as guilty to what goes around comes around.
P. Bull Terrier
July 21st, 2010
11:05 pm
No one would ever question the credibility of TMZ as a news source. They rank right up there with the National Inquirer, POAD and the AJC when it comes to quality journalism.
Sources tell me that athletic departments at every school that participates in NCAA football are conducting investigations to determine if their players participated in the party in Miami. The fact that most of the investigations consist of nothing more than a coach asking “Hey guys, did any of you go to the party in Miami on Memorial Day weekend?”, is irrelevant. When you have page views to count, that’s as good as a full scale investigation.
Chuck Allison
July 21st, 2010
11:07 pm
If UGA and Mark Richt and the Bulldogs are indeed guilty as it appears, then the best thing that can happen to them is that they get caught and are held accountable for their normal excesses. Only with very severe discipline will the situation at the State University ever be brought under control. The people of Georgia deserve better.
Larry M.
July 21st, 2010
11:08 pm
They’re picking on us again.
girl know better than you
July 21st, 2010
11:13 pm
OMG this has been going on forever..big surprise..including your precious dogpoops…Saban upset…that is too funny..I imagine the Miami Dolphins owner was angry himself when Saban shook his hand and pledged loyalty only to haul a$$ to the airport to catch the privste plane to take him to Tuscaloosa and please Pertrino do not get me started on you. Self righteous hypocrites in the coaching world and the SEC is right up there in the top 5. One more reason to thank CPJ for not hauling @ss to Notre Dame or Auburn after you people did everything you could except pack his clothes to get him to do just that. If the coaches want the agents to stay away and players to not look that way..then practice what you preach. It is all about money and these kids see you coaches heading to the gold mine and you all expect them to stay impoverished but at the same time be sure to win a national title for me while your shoeless and tattered without a dime to your name. I D I O T S
Above the Law
July 21st, 2010
11:15 pm
Chuck, last time I checked this is still America and YOU are ready to say UGA is guilty over in inquiry? If I said you may be suspected in shoplifting, am I right? Nice…..
jod
July 21st, 2010
11:18 pm
Above the Law, that’s a warning for talking back to your manager. Now back to your station fry cook 1.
jod
July 21st, 2010
11:21 pm
Story first broke in Sports illustrated
Above the Law
July 21st, 2010
11:22 pm
jod, come on. What sources say UGA is going down? Anyone can say such a thing on these blogs. Oh well, it’s your right. But please, AJ Green is probably one of the most respected and respectful kids on the team.
jod
July 21st, 2010
11:24 pm
Do u know him personally? If not, your word is as good as mine
SEC Analyst
July 21st, 2010
11:24 pm
Georgia is clean. No offense to the dawg fans but AJ is really the only high profile 1st round draft pick on the dog’s roster. There’s really not any other sure fire 1st or even 2nd round upcoming jrs or srs on the Georgia roster for agents to prey on. And if AJ wasn’t there he wasn’t there. End of story.
haha
July 21st, 2010
11:25 pm
this isnt about AJ he is clean (was at a graduation on that weekend). most likely this is about a former player tweeting some pretty defensive stuff about taking stuff from “outside sources”
haha
July 21st, 2010
11:27 pm
@SEC analyst…cling boling is rated as going in the first round on numerous sites
SEC Analyst
July 21st, 2010
11:28 pm
From the comments that Rennie Curran was tweeting they sounded awfully defensive as if he was trying to justify players getting some upfront money early. He whines about the players coming from poor families and not getting financial help, he whines about players not making money off the jersey # sales, a lot of curious comments that he tweeted as if he is trying to justify something. Very curious tweets.
Above the Law
July 21st, 2010
11:29 pm
Oh boy. Well, I guess we will have to wait and see. You say he is “shady”- what cause? He never celebrates after a TD, always hands the ball to the official, is not a hot dog, why? Like i said, it’s your right.
SEC Analyst
July 21st, 2010
11:31 pm
haha,
I was thinking about Boling but I didn’t mention him because he’s not black. Not to sound racist but the beach party was on memorial day weekend and Miami is the new, scaled down freaknic destination. That’s been reported on several times. And all the players implicated are black.Again not being racist. Just saying it has a lot to do with this being a mini freaknic sort of weekend down there.
jod
July 21st, 2010
11:36 pm
All I can say at this point is $$$… you take from that what u want.
coach smith
July 21st, 2010
11:41 pm
Guys SCHULTZ INCLUDED
you are making a mountain out of a GRAIN OF SALT (anything else is to big)
AJ GREENE has been upstanding and honest in everyway since before he walked on campus. he says he has recipts and pictures proving he was in SC at the time this went on, if that is the case it ends right there
Also, SCHULTZ, when did “asking questions” become a “full-on investigation that could hamper UGA’s future”
LOL
that is like TABLOID interpretations….give me a break! you are really hoping for some responses considering that BS
Sweet Home Alabama
July 21st, 2010
11:41 pm
Mutts have always been cheaters and Jailbirds.other than that they are wonderful.
ROLL TIDE ROLL. OH HELL YEAH………………………..
coach smith
July 21st, 2010
11:43 pm
Sweet Home Alabama
Dude? Really? LOL LOL
You ACTUALLY have a guy who has lost his eligiblity and you have the nerve to be here knocking UGA over some bogus BS that will go nowhere?
Boo Radley
July 21st, 2010
11:50 pm
Jeff — We get it, if you are newspaper columnist or report a plane crash is a lot more thrilling and makes your job easier than 1000 planes landing safely. However, you are really working yourself up in a lather in trying to propel this ‘Richt on the hot seat’ narrative. This is especially rich, “if coach Mark Richt suddenly has to deal with a full-fledged investigation and even the potential of NCAA sanctions.” Yeah, and if the Russians launch warheads our way we will be at war. If the Sun burns itself out, we will all be very cold. If the Internet shuts down, newspapers will have their business model back. All of these things are very, very unlikely to occur, but let us not allow facts or probability get in the way of what would be really fun times for the news biz. You can continue to gin up these ridiculous scenarios about a “full-fledged investigation”, or you can actually do some reporting and research like what is being done at the following…. http://blogs.onlineathens.com/node/2116
Where AJ Green is quoted by the ABH….”‘I was home that weekend,’ said the junior from Summerville, S.C. ‘There was a buzz going around that I went. I talked to them a couple of days ago. Like two days ago’……Asked if he had ever been to Miami, Green said: ‘Never.’”