Is Richt on a slippery slope when it comes to secondary violations?
Did Mark Richt forget UGA has a guy on staff whose job is to make sure the rules are followed? (Associated Press)
So what did you think of Mark Richt being tagged for an NCAA rules violation in the recruiting of Isaiah Crowell?
It’s a given that the violation, considered “secondary” by UGA and unlikely to draw any further punishment from the NCAA, is pretty picayune compared with some of the stuff going on these days in college recruiting.
The vast majority of UGA fans appear to feel it was definitely worth Richt crossing the line in order to land a must-have recruit like Crowell. A lot of folks admire his gumption in pushing the envelope.
But it’s worth noting that the true “missing man” in Richt’s recruiting stunt was Assistant Athletic Director for Compliance Eric Baumgartner, who’s there to advise coaches what’s a violation and what isn’t.
The problem is that Richt didn’t bother to check whether his little skit was allowed. According to Athletic Director Greg McGarity’s letter to the NCAA about the case, “Coach Richt knew that the team could not use equipment or run a play to create a tryout activity but did not not check with the Compliance Office beforehand about the offensive alignment. … Coach Richt knew that the activity could not occur in the stadium, for the public to view, equipment to be used or for an actual play to be run and did not believe this constituted a game-day simulation.”
The SEC disagreed and ruled that Crowell donning a Georgia jersey and joining an offensive formation was indeed a “game-day simulation,” even in an indoor practice facility. A quick call to Birmingham before Crowell’s visit to Athens could have ascertained that.
This situation was different from the five secondary violations UGA reported earlier when former players Randall Godfrey and David Pollack attended Ray Drew’s signing ceremony at the recruit’s invitation. UGA had nothing to do with that but had to take the blame under the NCAA’s peculiar rules about what it takes to constitute a representative of a school’s athletic interests.
In the Crowell case, however, the wound (admitted a very minor nick to UGA’s image) was self-inflicted, a result of Richt getting sloppy while caught up in his pursuit of the Dream Team. It also was probably unnecessary if McGarity was correct when he told the NCAA that “UGA does not believe a recruiting advantage was gained as [Crowell's] mother has stated that her son knew he was going to attend UGA since he was a young child.”
A few years back when Richt had his players deliberately draw a celebration penalty against Florida, most fans applauded the gutsy motivational ploy. “Evil” Richt was hailed as a welcome facet to the coach’s generally straight-arrow image.
Is the Crowell violation a similar situation? Should that letter of admonishment in his file be accompanied by a private “attaboy” pat on the back? Or should we remember that when Lane Kiffin was crossing the line at Tennessee, some of us weren’t quite as dismissive of secondary violations by a head coach.
I guess the question is, where should we draw the line? Is it ever acceptable for the coach to break NCAA rules, even minor ones? Would we be quite so accepting if it had been Nick Saban handing an Alabama jersey to Crowell?
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390 comments Add your comment
mad dawg one
March 15th, 2011
3:41 pm
Bill for you to even put CMR’s name in the same blog as lane kiffin is something that a gt fan would do. I thought better of you.
Maria in Roswell
March 15th, 2011
3:41 pm
Mark Richt is nowhere near Lame Kiffin.
No he’s not. Richt makes Kiffin look like a choirboy.
Richt is the biggest cheater and the sleaziest scumbag in the SEC, if not the country.
Fly down the field
March 15th, 2011
3:41 pm
P. Bull Terrier:
Cam was ruled ineligible the Monday of the SEC title game. He was reinstated by the NCAA the next day.
Vicki
March 15th, 2011
3:42 pm
Mark needs to clean up his program, period. UGA is always in the media for doing something wrong…..All this rests on Mark’s shoulders.
bubba4dawgs
March 15th, 2011
3:43 pm
OK, let’s say that one of the players is in the locker room and can’t find a roll of toilet paper. CMR comes along and is asked for a roll. Uh, Oh, CMR…..call NCAA for approval but in the meantime, tell the player to “hold what he’s got, so we can send it to the NCAA for proof that the toilet paper was indeed needed.” They make you wanna choke and puke! You go CMR! You’re da best! GO DAWGS!!
dawg gone
March 15th, 2011
3:46 pm
Fly down the field what is your point I never said Auburn did anything wrong in regards to Cam..and it never stops the Barners from calling UGA players thugs etc when they recruited them too.I agree the Chiz did move fast on this and it had to be hard to dismiss the senior there was little room for him to grant any mercy here but it had to be tough..hate to see this at any school…
Bama Mike
March 15th, 2011
3:47 pm
Your right Kiffin has a National Championship from USC and gave Richt a royal beat-down the only time they coached against one another. I would say Richt is a tad behind in the accomplishment comparisons.
Colonel Reb
March 15th, 2011
3:49 pm
bubba4dawgs,
I believe that is Dave Van Halanger’s new job.
Dawg Man
March 15th, 2011
3:49 pm
I guess Richt should have just forked over a few hundred thousand dollars…apparently, the NCAA has no problem with that. Then he and Crowell could have gone and beat up a cop so bad he winds up in the ICU, that’s cool too. Then they can go commit armed robbery.
People are making a bigger deal of this than need be.
Bama Mike
March 15th, 2011
3:52 pm
Understand your compliance department is looking to have a little sit down with “Turbo Pollack” covering their interpretation of what is a media representative and what defines conflict of interest. The look in Pollack’s face is classic. “Duh, I may be not suppose to be here, duh” Classic.
Hoya Hoya
March 15th, 2011
3:52 pm
There were a lot of things for the dawgs to celebrate this year. Let’s see…
1. A drunken, whoring athletic director with red panties in his lap.
2. Twelve players arrested. And 41% of UGA football players are arrested during their time at UGA.
3. A player suspended for violating NCAA rules.
4. Winning the Fulmer Cup for the most players arrested.
5. Winning the title of #1 party school (i.e., the most drunken student body in the USA).
6. A sleazy assistant coach who razzes opposing players, unethical coaching conduct in violation of NCAA rules.
7. A super sleazy head coach who thinks he’s a saint, but recruits thug wannabes, gangbangers, and illiterate morons.
8. A 6-7 record despite having a team full of 4- and 5-star recruits.
That’s really something to be proud of!
the real Kirby Smart
March 15th, 2011
3:55 pm
If you’re not cheating (at least a little cutting of corners here and there) they you ain’t trying. Good for CMR.
dawg gone
March 15th, 2011
4:00 pm
Hoya Hoya face it Troll you have nothing to be proud of…you have nothing period.
dawg gone
March 15th, 2011
4:01 pm
Bama Mike really your calling out David Pollack as dumb..your first name is Bama…how much traction you think your going to get on this one??
Fly down the field
March 15th, 2011
4:01 pm
dawg gone – my last point wasn’t specifically directed at you just clarification for others.
Auburn is All in jail
March 15th, 2011
4:03 pm
Nick Fairley
I would suggest you go work out so you won’t be working in McDonald’s this time next year.
and congrats on the 2011 Fulmer Cup.
It is all yours.
http://www.everydayshouldbesaturday.com/
Auburn is All in jail
March 15th, 2011
4:05 pm
hoya hoya,
This 2011
This is Auburn’s year to claim the Cup
Auburn is All in jail
March 15th, 2011
4:05 pm
Auburn is all in, the front door, with a gun.
80 Fulmer Cup points by March 15th
a new record
Pat Dye is so proud
Auburn is All in jail
March 15th, 2011
4:07 pm
Maria, go make me a sandwich.
You must have been banging Kiffin if you are defending him.
No one has ever defended him
Auburn is All in jail
March 15th, 2011
4:08 pm
Bama Mike,
Kiffin has a national title the same way Richt does, as an assistant coach
Auburn is All in jail
March 15th, 2011
4:11 pm
Colonel Reb, the only thing your lousy excuse of a school is good for is producing hot women
They love it when the Georgia men come to town
Bama Mike
March 15th, 2011
4:17 pm
Kiffin actually has two. Plus and you got to credit this. Have you seen his wife. Wow just Wow. Dawg Gone your probably right awkward would be more acurate. Either way it was lacking in judgement to the highest for him to remotely be there.
The Ghost of Wally Butts
March 15th, 2011
4:18 pm
Dear NCAA Police:
I have had evil thoughts about UGA opponents.
I have had impure thoughts about the Tennessee HO-stesses and about Lame Kitten’s wife.
How much punishment will my bad thought-life cost UGA?
Hell, maybe we should just train our recruits to steal laptops (Newton) and play while ineligible (Tressell). No big deal that way.
Bama Mike
March 15th, 2011
4:23 pm
I do wish some Buckeye fans woould post about their beloved little sweater vested coach. Would love for them to explain his actions to this audience. Could you imagine if that had occurreed to any any SEC coach.
7576DAWG
March 15th, 2011
4:23 pm
CMR knew that the stunt had a chance to be a violation or he would have run it as a play with no restrictions. By modifying the situation he was able to play dumb. I knew that Pollack and Godfrey was a violation when it came over the air live. Unless Bobo is an idiot , he did too. All the coaches modify a situation so that it want fit exactly with the rule , just so there will be a question as to where it would be a violation. It was reported that Tressel of Ohio State had 238 secondary violations last year. If that’s true and very little was done then all the coaches show how much they respect these rules by just ignoring them. There are certain coaches that will do anything to get an advantage in recruiting and the other coaches are fools not to exploit the weaknesses of the top recruits.
Just think how many violations are never caught or repoted. Back 30 years ago when there wasn’t 20 media guys following ever recruit everywhere even the Saban’s ,Myers and Kiffin’s of the world probably blushed with 1000’s of violations occurring daily.
Dawgfan17
March 15th, 2011
4:30 pm
One secondary violation does not make a slope of any sort. The other “violations” were not by the school or anyone associated with it.
Coachdawg 2000
March 15th, 2011
4:32 pm
NCAA and Dan Wermer are putting Coach Mark Richt on “double secret probabtion” for pulling the tags off of his mattress.
Auburn is All in jail
March 15th, 2011
4:36 pm
It would take the entire UGA team to commit murder in order to catch up to Auburn’s Fulmer Cup point total.
WDE!!!!!!!!!!!
7576DAWG
March 15th, 2011
4:38 pm
When each school run a profile on the top recruit’s you better bet the top coaches are going to exploit this news to give them an advantage with that recruit. If a coach finds out that a recruit likes to fish it’s not an accident that on every visit the head coach or an assistant ends up at a river bank or pond with fishing gear . Or in the case of LSU every recruit that thinks they are a lady’s man ends up being escorted by half a dozen cheerleaders or half a dozen of those fully developed majorette that every man drools over. Coaches use every trick in the game to place the recruit in a fantasy world . When the recruit comes back to reality they are already signed , sealed and delivered.
big o
March 15th, 2011
4:40 pm
Dude we won 6 games !!! I wouldn’t care if he brought in Larry Munson To do a play by play !!! Way to go CMR !!!! Go Dawgs !!!! and play B. Smith at corner this year
JDawg1785
March 15th, 2011
4:47 pm
Pales in comparison to tattoos and oversigning like some of the other coaches are doing.
Timbodog
March 15th, 2011
4:48 pm
Here’s the thing:
If Richt were WINNING GAMES, I wouldn’t care one bit.
But his coaching has been merely average his whole career, and way below average the past few years.
How long will it take before my fellow Dawg fans get it?
TROJAN
March 15th, 2011
4:50 pm
If CMR has only run the play for the FATHER of the recruit, would it have been a violation?
Auburn is All in jail
March 15th, 2011
4:52 pm
timbo thinks winning 2 SEC titles when we hadn’t won anything in 20 years is average.
You must be Ray Goff’s uncle
Timbodog
March 15th, 2011
4:56 pm
And about the “violation” itself: I won’t even discuss whether I think it should be against the rules, as it doesn’t matter. It is, and that’s all there is to it. Richt should know better.
But more than that, it was desperate and pathetic to make such a show of all but guaranteeing a starting spot to a guy who has never played a single down of college ball.
Down South Dawg
March 15th, 2011
4:59 pm
CRACK BABIES—ONE AND ALL!
Bill, Play something we like ! Not this same old crap!
What a bush leagur blog.— Get A Life !
Timbodog
March 15th, 2011
4:59 pm
“Auburn is all in,”
It is average when you look at the fact that we are the ONLY school in the state with the 4th most talent of ANY state in the country. Yes, completely average. Quit defending Richt and demand excellence.
Do you like looking up at Alabama and Auburn? Why the heck do they win titles when we can’t even sniff one? You realize they have virtually NO talent in their crummy state, right?
They get all their talent from…GEORGIA. Which means they’re either better at evaluating our talent or developing it.
And you’re happy with this???
gbal
March 15th, 2011
5:01 pm
Bill, Really… take a look at yourself. You are truely getting more and more like JS and MB in you negativity towards UGA. You were always the one blogatologist (although it takes a guest) that was pro UGA. You are leaning more and more to the left as time goes on.
If your just a guest and not getting paid, do the respectful thing and turn in your notice, and let the AJC find new untainted blood. youve lost your edge.
If you just enjoy it to much to step down, apply for a full time position with the AJC and take a position alongside the others. Your just as qualified. But let a new positive guy take your slot.
Einsteindawg
March 15th, 2011
5:11 pm
While I haven’t been a Richt cheerleader the past four years, and I’ll be calling for his head if we don’t contend for the SEC East this year, I’ll give him a pass on these silly violations. In my opinion, these insignificant (and inconsistent) time/money wasters are just a desperate attempt by the NCAA to justify their job. They, as well as most everyone else, know that sooner rather than later, the BCS will be college football and basketball’s governing body. It’s all about the money.
howboutchee
March 15th, 2011
5:12 pm
OMG! Get over it! I’m not even a Richt supporter but I know (and every other true SEC fan should know) that you must bend the rules and even break them at times to land the prized recruits in today’s day and age! Gone are the days of kids from GA, attending UGA because that’s what’s supposed to happen. Look around the country and find all the secondary violations of every SEC school and get back with me, I guarantee that UGA is no worse than the other contenders in the SEC.
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U Get Arrested
March 15th, 2011
5:22 pm
Spring break is near and the Fulmer Cup is ready!
Athens Jail Blotter
March 15th, 2011
5:23 pm
Got plenty of ink for this years news.
Colonel Reb
March 15th, 2011
5:24 pm
gbal,
Bill has gone to the dark side because there is no bright side left at UGA.
Your dream team has turned into a nightmare before they even stepped on the field.
41 days from signing day and they have already racked up six NCAA violations for UGA.
10 - 6
March 15th, 2011
5:28 pm
Yep thats about right… 6 points and 6 NCAA violations fot the UGA fooball team.
Jim Tressel
March 15th, 2011
5:30 pm
Mark Richt should fire his A D.
mad dawg one
March 15th, 2011
5:32 pm
bama mike
after reading your post I am now sure you just can’t fix stupid
7576DAWG
March 15th, 2011
5:33 pm
At least nobody has been arrested , yet.
shane#1
March 15th, 2011
5:37 pm
How is lining up in a mock formation a “game day simulation”? No pads, no helmet, and indoors at that. I think the best thing that UGA can do is stop all this self reporting. If you get busted by the NCAA then deal with it, but never self report. I see little danger of being busted by that crowd, when it comes to finding real violations, the NCAA couldn’t track an elephant across a beach.
SouthGA Dawg
March 15th, 2011
5:49 pm
AU has four players arrested and we are talking about this? Am I the only person to see this is just a smear tactic against UGA. It is a joke if this is the only thing you can write about. If UGA had those players from AU it would be all over this paper every day.GET A LIFE, UGA GATA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!