Fan talk: Richt’s problem isn’t discipline or risky recruiting, it’s perception (Updated)
Was it "risky" for UGA to recruit Isaiah Crowell? (Associated Press)
So, SEC Media Days have come and gone, Mark Richt will be making his annual visit to the Cobb Galleria Monday, and season tickets will go into the mail the second week of August. Now, it’s starting to feel like football season! So let’s check the Junkyard Mail. …
EarthDawg writes: Bill, what do you think of these critics who blame Mark Richt’s recruiting for the disciplinary problems at Georgia, saying he’s taken too many risks and ignored “red flags” with players like Isaiah Crowell. They act like Richt is cruising reform schools looking for junior hoodlums. Correct me if I’m wrong, but wasn’t Crowell recruited by just about every major football program in the country? Aside from a reputation for taking himself out of the game a lot in high school, I don’t recall any red flags raised in advance about Crowell.
You’re right. Alabama, Florida, Southern Cal, Auburn and other schools offered a scholarship to Crowell, a consensus five-star prospect, and gladly would have enrolled him, yet you don’t see anyone questioning Nick Saban’s recruiting judgment in going after him. “We’re not recruiting bad kids,” Richt said this week. “We’re competing for the same guys everybody else is in the league.”
Looking at the disciplinary problems that have cropped up at UGA in the past year and concluding that Georgia’s head coach must need to change the sort of kids he recruits — especially without explaining what sort of players you would go after instead of the ones every school wants — is a facile argument that doesn’t take into account the realities and complexities of modern-day college football recruiting. As Richt reminded reporters, coaches are limited in the amount of contact they can have during recruiting and do the best they can to root out character flaws in advance. But they’re not able to peer into the future and see how an 18-year-old will react to the freedoms and temptations that come with attending a large university in a hard-partying town like Athens — particularly kids who’ve gotten the star treatment and been coddled and enabled throughout high school to the point that many don’t think everyday rules apply to them or don’t expect to be held accountable.
As for comparing Georgia’s situation with other schools, you have to factor in that not only does UGA have one of the strictest policies in the country for recreational drug use — with the quickest and stiffest penalties — but Georgia players also happen to reside in one of the most closely policed college towns around.
And once the players run afoul of the rules, Richt tends to come down on them harder than many other coaches. Do you really think Stephen Garcia would have lasted through five suspensions at UGA? And how many coaches would kick a quarterback off the team who’s good enough to become the starter at a school in the same conference — and not put any restrictions on where the player could go? Zach Mettenberger wound up at LSU, where first drug offenses rate no suspension and where last year three players (including the Honey Badger) missed just one game after apparently failing at least a second drug test.
Richt correctly noted this week that the playing field isn’t level in the SEC when it comes to drug policies or discipline. “Some people have policies that bring certain things to light and some people don’t,” he said. “To say these issues aren’t happening around the country [isn’t] really realistic.” Not only did Les Miles sign Mettenberger after he was kicked off Richt’s team, but last season Jordan Jefferson missed four games for LSU after being involved in a bar fight. Should Miles rethink his risky recruiting?
Certainly, there’ve also been problems at Auburn, where four players were kicked off the team for being charged in an armed robbery. And yet it’s Richt who carries this reputation for having discipline problems, not Gene Chizik.
It’s not that Richt has a discipline problem or a recruiting problem as much as he has a perception or publicity problem. UGA players get called out more because of tougher policies and get punished more severely. Perhaps the school’s publicists should try flipping the discussion by emphasizing the higher standards to which the Bulldogs are held and making that the topic of national and regional sports talk rather than the numbers of players who run afoul of the rules.
Richard Samuel is a prime example of an unselfish player. (Associated Press)
Matt Cafaro writes: Bill, I don’t know about you, but Richard Samuel is finding his way up my list of favorite Dawgs of all time for his unselfish devotion to his teammates and our Alma Mater. Hines Ward was another Dawg in a very similar situation, and he reacted the same way, with the same attitude: “Put me anywhere on the field, and I’ll play as hard as I can.” I think special attention needs to be paid to Samuel this year by Bulldog Nation for his willingness to sacrifice playing time (to acclimate himself to LB again) and a whole redshirt year in order to do his part to make the Dawgs a better, deeper team. Maybe extra cheers whenever he gets in a game or a standing ovation on Senior Day at the end of the year, or perhaps some attention from the AJC. Something, anything that brings credit to his team-first ideals. I know most of us like to think that ALL the Dawgs should feel and do as guys like Hines and Richard do, but the sad reality is, that just isn’t the case, as we’ve seen MANY selfish, me-first players come and go in Athens (Isaiah Crowell just the latest example).
Well said. I don’t believe Samuel’s unselfish attitude has gone unnoticed by Georgia fans and those who cover UGA, but a bit of extra recognition for his refreshing devotion to doing whatever the team needs certainly is deserved. I know a lot of fans were heartsick when Samuel’s terrific game against the Gators last year ended in injury, and certainly those of us in attendance at G-Day noticed the boost he provided when put in at tailback in the second half. Here’s hoping he gets the senior season he deserves. If he does, it can only be to Georgia’s benefit.
Andrew Smith writes: Hey Bill, Mizzou head coach Gary Pinkel seems to be building up the SEC season opener atmosphere. Given UGA’s tendency to take a few games to “warm up” for the season do you see this game being closer than when both teams are in late-season form? Does the fact that the Mizzou QB has only been throwing a few days after surgery now play a factor in your decision?
It’s too early to know what sort of shape QB James Franklin will be in come Sept. 8. If he’s not back 100 percent at that point, it might balance out somewhat the Georgia defense missing however many starters. But to answer the first part of your question, yes, the slow starts Georgia teams have gotten off to in recent seasons is a major concern. If the Dogs’ offense shows up against Mizzou looking as not-ready-for-prime-time it did in the Dome last year against Boise State, it could be a long night for those in red and black.
Art Finley writes: Bill, Here are a couple of recent headlines . . .
May 31, 2012: The football games scheduled for 2020 and 2021 between Georgia and Ohio State have been called off. Ohio State recently informed UGA that it is exercising its right to cancel the games, which had been set up in a memorandum of understanding between the schools in December 2010. “They couldn’t make it happen due to the Pac 12-Big 10 football schedule deal,” Georgia athletic director Greg McGarity said Thursday, referring to a recent agreement between those conferences for a series of regular-season matchups beginning in 2017.
July 13, 2012: “We are disappointed to announce today that the Big Ten/Pac-12 strategic collaboration announced jointly in December 2011 unfortunately will not be consummated,” Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany said in a statement.
Do you think there is any chance that AD McGarity will contact Ohio State about reinstating the memo of understanding for Ohio State and UGA to play?
It depends on how much strength of schedule ends up figuring in selections for the new four-team playoff. If that really does wind up being a determining factor, I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see Georgia and OSU take another stab at scheduling a home-and-home. I’d certainly rather pay to see the Dogs play the Buckeyes than Florida Atlantic or North Texas, wouldn’t you?
UPDATE: Speaking to reporters prior to Monday’s UGA Day, Greg McGarity said that he plans on calling Ohio State to see about renewing the deal.
I’ll answer more Junkyard Mail next week, so if you have something you want to discuss concerning UGA athletics or a question for the Junkyard Blawg, send it to junkyardblawg@gmail.com.
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197 comments Add your comment
UGAHomer
July 22nd, 2012
8:53 pm
Bill,
Wow, terrific article, about Richard Samuel, even though he averaged less than 3 yards a carry, I agree, since he’s a team player, and nice young man, he should get more reps than thre 5 yard per carry backs like Richt always does, we remember how Samuel got more carries than 4.95 yasrds per carry Carlton Thomas of course.
Back 1: 2.9 ypc
Back 2: 4.95 ypc
Which one gets more carries at UGA?
Back 1.
Wow, we are really smart for doing it this way, Richt is a really smart man.
Reality Dawg
July 22nd, 2012
8:54 pm
UGA doesn’t have the “win at all costs” mentality of Alabama and LSU. UT used to have it, but that went away when Fulmer left. Richt is doing great with the kids he brings in for the most part. I know, I’ve spoken with many of them at various functions. Our problem is on game day, not in recruiting. Game day execution and matching wits with the best coaches in college football. That is one tough job. It’s also where your assistant coaches get the job done or otherwise show they are not SEC material. I’ll stop here.
Reality Dawg
July 22nd, 2012
8:57 pm
UGAHomer, stats are for losers. Carlton Thomas got those yards against whom? What should be measured is what average YPC was against SEC competition, Tech, Boise and Mich State. Games with tams like Buffalo, Fla Atlantic and GA Southern stats should not be factored in.
kingdaddy
July 22nd, 2012
9:07 pm
Mr. Poetaster
LOL, very funny my friend. Good Luck…
BTW, there’s always comedy…
UGAHomer
July 22nd, 2012
9:09 pm
Oh yeah, wow, that Richard Samuel, 4 td’s in 3 years at running back, wow, what a back! Sensational production! And L-O-V-E that 2.9 yards per carry!!!!! Such a team first, little me guy!!!!! Sic em’.
HalfEmpty
July 22nd, 2012
9:15 pm
Bill, “Richt’s problem isn’t discipline”, seriously? You’ve got to be kidding.
Richt looks the other way when Stafford & Murray both get photo’d in possession of alcohol, UNDER the legal age, and Richt doesn’t even suspend them, neither even miss a down, because both happened the week before the rival Florida game?
UGA has become a laughing stock for the way Mark Richt deals with his favorites. Ogletree has either been busted for theft or drug use every season and he’s still on the team,
Smell the coffee, it’s brewing. Wake up Bill.
UGAHomer
July 22nd, 2012
9:28 pm
I love the way Richt makes his choices.
Back A, in the Auburn game, gets 8.5 yards per carry
Back B, in the Auburn game, gets 5.5 yards per carry
So, Richt, being the offensive genius he is, gives the back averaging 5.5 yards per carry 25 carries, and the back averaging 8.5 yards per carry 15 carries.
No, it wasn’t because Richt ENTITLED Crowell.
THERE IS NO SENSE OF ENTITLEMENT AT GEORGIA. THAT’S A FALSE RUMOR.
The Auburn game proves it!!!
Woof!
UGAHomer
July 22nd, 2012
9:33 pm
I get tired of people trying to say Richt has created a CULTURE OF ENTITLEMENT at Georgia.
This is NOT TRUE!!!
Back A averages 4.95 yards per carry for the season
Back B averages 2.9 yards per carry for the season
Back be got the most carries because Richt is FAIR and does NOT ENTITLE ANY PLAYERS.
Sic em!!!!
AltamahaDawg
July 22nd, 2012
10:04 pm
Thats a bit of a false choice Bill. Obviously folks would rather pay to see us play OSU, rather than FAU or NTU. If it’s that simple. But it’s coupled with a return trip and one less home game.. The choise is really: do you want to pay to see both FAU and NTU or just OSU?
The Tide is Rolling and Nothing can stop it
July 22nd, 2012
10:22 pm
Yeah, it’s perception, and you have a chance to win a championship! HA!
Say what you want to Dawg Fans
July 22nd, 2012
10:29 pm
Any player in his right mind would rather sit down in front of Mark Richt and tell him they screwed up instead of telling Nick Saban. Yes Saban recruited Crowell but he played for Richt, got slapped on the hand for his antics and would not even seen the field and maybe matured if he played for Bama.
Jump31
July 22nd, 2012
11:09 pm
Going after these top 100 type of players, is NOT WORTH THE RISK.
The research proves, a team chock full of 3, 4, and 5 star recruits, doesn’t have any relationship to the percentage of games teams will win. Winthrop Intelligence did a huge study to prove that out.
This is why teams like Boise beat teams like Georgia. They go for good men first, then look at how these guys fit their unique system, and then they have coaches who can DEVELOP that talent.
A team full of 1, 2 and 3 star recruits, has a chip, and is out to prove everybody wrong. And if you go for character first, you’ll have excellent team chemistry, as your program will stay clean.
AngryDawg
July 23rd, 2012
7:15 am
the dawgs are tired of all this disrespect from the media—look for early blowout wins over missouri and tennessee, another easy win over florida and an upset win over south carolina! Dawgs win the east and this time beat lsu for the title! The dogs D–best in the SEC!!!!!!
Tman
July 23rd, 2012
8:12 am
It’s Obama’s fault before he was president, athletes behaved and were accountable.
Tman
July 23rd, 2012
8:14 am
Before Obama , athletes were accountable and UGA was a good football team. Affordable Health Insurance will be the downfall of this team
DawginLex
July 23rd, 2012
8:18 am
whiskey
You don’t know anything about richt other than what you read on a message board so why don’t you just shut your pathetic drunk piehole??????????
Whiskey Breath
July 23rd, 2012
8:19 am
Bill you are the best AJC, but you need to change your name to ” Bill the biggest homer:.
What does CMR have on you? You know right from wrong.
AAAAA Athens Bail Bonds R Us
July 23rd, 2012
8:42 am
Any more dawgs arrested today?
CubanDawg
July 23rd, 2012
8:47 am
@50 arrests in four years, you continue to call Richt a liar yet you’re the one that lies on every post by the handle you so proudly use “50 arrests in four years”. Please do us all a favor and list the name of the 50 UGA players that have been arrested in the last 4 years or change your handle. LIAR!!! Better yet go away little bug!
NextHerschel
July 23rd, 2012
8:59 am
Herschel got 5.27 yards per carry and averaged a td every 20 carries.
Knowshon Moreno beat that, so did Ealey.
Not hard to find the next Herschel Walker.
There are plenty of backs who can beat 5.27, and a 1 to 20 td to carry ratio.
i-185
July 23rd, 2012
9:06 am
I wonder how Isaiah’s bulldog is gettin along?
NextHerschel
July 23rd, 2012
9:06 am
Wisconsin’s Montee Ball, got 33 td’s, on @300 carries, better than a 10 to 1 td to carry rate, and averaged over 6 yards per carry.
Just blew Herschel Walker away.
Ace
July 23rd, 2012
9:20 am
Year in, year out players with troubles, and the reason remains. Expect more.
Columbus Dawg
July 23rd, 2012
9:31 am
Ball did it in the Big Ten, Walker did it in the SEC. No comparison.
Columbus Dawg
July 23rd, 2012
9:38 am
Georgia does not have to have a Hershel Walker to produce an adequate running game. Boo and Richard will get tough yards. Samuel was a man possessed in the Florida game before his injury, and he blew everyone away late in the G Day game when he made the surprise appearance. Marshall will take full advantage of his opportunity. Run game won’t be a problem in 2012. I do believe that Murray will take next step this season as well, must fix special teams in fall camp. Otherwise, things are looking up. Everyone needs to chill on the Missouri game, they don’t have the D or the run game to compete. Laugh if you want, but Vandy will be as tough or tougher defensively than Mizzou.
Old Dawg
July 23rd, 2012
10:00 am
Like an earlier post stated, Zach Witchett wasn’t signed by UGA because of off the field issues.
And Darth Visor let Garcia get away with far more serious issues without game suspensions than UGA would allow.
Every school has problems, whether they are reported or not is another issue.
I wish other schools would “man up” and admit their athletes do the same things and are handled with kid gloves.
Let the REAL games begin!
GATiger
July 23rd, 2012
10:01 am
I can appreciate that misery loves company, but don’t be so quick to compare Georgia to LSU in the area of student athlete discipline. We haven’t had nearly the number of problems as UGA over the past 10 years. Richt has toughened his approach to disciplinary matters a little recently because he’s had to.
NextHerschel
July 23rd, 2012
10:13 am
Alabama had 3 running backs that averaged better than Herschel Walker’s career 5.27 yards per carry.
LSU also had 3 better than 5.27 ypc.
Florida had 2 last year better than 5.27.
Not very hard to do in the SEC.
UGA Insider
July 23rd, 2012
10:28 am
The main problem with UGA is something that no one wants to talk about… It’s the Athens Police Dept who constantly target and harass our football players. The APD have done this for years and are corrupt in my opinion. I am told that undercover officers watch the team often. Our problem at UGA is the APD in my opinion.
Tide Rising
July 23rd, 2012
11:03 am
UGA Insider,
Your players aren’t targeted anymore than anyone else. We had the same thing in Tuscaloosa before Saban’s arrival and during Saban’s first year. The newspaper even did a couple of articles on whether or not the Tuscaloosa PD was singling out Bama players because 7 players had been arrested in Saban’s first year and a half. The theory that players were targeted was bolstered when one of the players was arrested at a bar for brawling. The video evidence from the bar he was at proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that he was innocent of being in a bar brawl and the police had to drop charges.
The point is that there was no police persecution of players. The truth was that there was a lack of discipline and a lack of fear of consequences going on in our football program that dated to the Shula days. It took Saban a year and a half to get rid of the bad apples and instill his brand of discipline but since then we’ve averaged something like 1 arrest per year. I can’t even remember the last time we had an active player on the roster arrested. I think it was 2 years ago. Dre Kirkpatrick got arrested for pot but that was after he had gone pro and left Bama. A transfer Aaron Douglass was arrested for DUI but that was before he enrolled at Bama.
Its not about police conspiracies and singling out football players. Its about the coach instilling a sense of serious discipline, standards of behavior, and the expectations of real consequences if you screw up and end up embarrassing the university with an arrest.
THE Dixie Redcoat Band
July 23rd, 2012
11:08 am
We agree, how many “deadlocks” on BYU, Boise State, Utah and Utah State. BYU and Boise win games with 2 and 3 star recruits. You won’t fine many thugs on these teams.
UGA fan...not fanatic
July 23rd, 2012
11:13 am
Can the NCAA go back to 81 on Penn St.? Didn’t they beat the Dawgs? Can we have that win and argue that we should get another NC??? lol
Columbus Dawg
July 23rd, 2012
11:13 am
Tide Rising, from your comments, it is not hard to see that you worship at Saban’s crotch. The police dept. at Bama has since been put on notice to leave players alone by Saban. I have never in my life seen a bunch of idol seekers as Bama fans are today, probably unlike anything seen since Paul Bryant was coach over there. Anyone who is not a Bama fan that knows Saban’s cheating history knows the story on that little pos. What a bunch of blithering idiots.
UGA fan...not fanatic
July 23rd, 2012
11:15 am
make that 1982-83
Dawg Fud
July 23rd, 2012
11:23 am
Fredildo,
Get a life.
Will
July 23rd, 2012
11:33 am
The same kids are being recruited by all of the schools. The kids being are the only common variable. Where the biggest differences can be found is among the coaching staffs at each school. What do you think is causing UGA to have such different results than the other schools? Bad luck on the draw with the recruits? Or is it more likely that the results are not determined until after the kids get to school and start being handled by the individual coaching staffs?
WDE
July 23rd, 2012
11:43 am
@Tide Rising sorry I’m confused you said that a Bama player was accused of brawling but video showed he wasn’t , but then you say there was no police bias just poor discipline ? Sorry you lost me if the cops were incorrectly charging Bama players seems that would indicate bias.
DawginLex
July 23rd, 2012
12:06 pm
So Dre Kirkpatrick never smoked weed in T-Town but all of a sudden started once he got to Florida?
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!
That is why we laugh at you Bamatards
The difference is.....
July 23rd, 2012
12:06 pm
CMR suspends his players…..DON’T suspend them and win jackwagon! He ain’t their daddy, we pay you to win crystal, not go 8-4 with good moral feeling.
chazzo
July 23rd, 2012
12:14 pm
Jump 31, while I appreciate what you wrote about star potential not making teams, I don’t think pinning that as the reason BSU beat the dawgs is accurate. i do think Boise should be commended for teamwork and fundamental; they are a well-coached bunch. We have to take into consideration, though, that a bunch of young, patched-together Dawgs with a relatively new QB and D scheme played a bunch of seniors who had been playing together for a while.
The Dawgs weren’t prepared for that game. One can make a lot of arguments as to why. I don’t think boise having less highly touted recruits is necessarily a solid or isolated reason, although your point is well taken.
NC_Dawg
July 23rd, 2012
12:17 pm
As Richt reminded reporters, coaches are limited in the amount of contact they can have during recruiting and do the best they can to root out character flaws in advance. But they’re not able to peer into the future and see how an 18-year-old will react to the freedoms and temptations that come with attending a large university in a hard-partying town like Athens — particularly kids who’ve gotten the star treatment and been coddled and enabled throughout high school to the point that many don’t think everyday rules apply to them or don’t expect to be held accountable.
While access to these kids is limited, access to their coaches, teachers and teammates are not. Maybe CMR needs to do a better job on finding out what the people that know these kids the best have to say about them. I heard rumors about Wahaun Ealey being a bad teammate before he ever came to UGA. If your HS teammates don’t like you, how do you think that translates to college? If you have disciplinary problems in HS, how does that translate to college? If you take yourself out of the game in HS, how does that translate to college.
I know you have to take chances on some recruits and hope you can coach them up, but a bad egg ia a bad egg.
chazzo
July 23rd, 2012
12:35 pm
I don’t know Mark Richt. I haven’t had personal conversations about his faith or spirituality. I, like the vast majority of people have nothing but circumstantial evidence to form such an opinion.
That being said, flying down to central america to do mission work seems a fairly extreme measure just to appear to be a Christian. “Fake Christians” don’t tend to do such things.
I am more of an existentialist myself. I am not defending Christianity or Richt’s beliefs. I’m just pointing out that there are a lot of accusations based on very little actual knowledge.
chazzo
July 23rd, 2012
12:36 pm
PS. That’s our culture, though, just talk crap people and get other schmucks to run around repeating it.
AltamahaDawg
July 23rd, 2012
12:47 pm
I think Athens, Ga. has as large of a per capita police presense as any county in the state .#1 or #2 it used to be I think they are not likely to cut any football players, or college student any break whatsoever. So there is a greater odds that events occur. Thats a pretty simple conclusion.
But as far as corrupt……currupt in what way? Currupt on behalf of whom? You are saying that you believe they are doing something unethical or improper because they are receiving some personal benifit from it?
DawginLex
July 23rd, 2012
12:56 pm
Blaming the cops for Crowell is stupid
i have been to Athens 3 times over the last 12 months, usually arriving at midnight or later.
All 3 times i encountered a police roadblock with license check
If you go to school there, shouldn’t you realize that if you are out a 2 am, you will most likely encounter one?
All the hard work and minding his elders that Crowell was doing(according to Jarvis Jones) got blown out to sea by him being stupid
Don’t blame the cops
AltamahaDawg
July 23rd, 2012
12:57 pm
I would agree with tide rising that a coordinated police conspiracy is probably a stretch. But its foolish to think that its all just a matter of a HC cleaning it up either. Look at a place such as Ole’ Miss, or any number of schools that have gone through a number of coaches. Ae you suggesting that every coach that they hired just happen to have the same philosophy of “discipline”? Because I am certain that they drink and drive poorly in Oxford Miss too, and I dont rememebr a bunch of bad publicity in the papers. So clearly there IS some factor other than having a cult worshiped coach in place.
And as I have said in the past, as far as public perception, a “suspension” for missing a tutoring class, might as well be a felony gun charge, because it all gets lumped together. Obviously Georgia has more strict rules that do negatively affect the “perception” of trouble. Nobody cares about the irony.
GATiger
July 23rd, 2012
1:02 pm
UGA Insider, you are right on point with your comment about Athens PD. It’s not just athletes. It’s all students. Arresting students, especially for underage drinking, is probably the largest revenue stream they have. My daughter’s a student, and the number of kids she knows who have not been arrested is not a very big one. Thankfully, that includes her. The APD will follow kids to their dorm rooms, and, if they misstep, stop them and request a breathalizer test. There are many more serious stories that space here won’t permit. I can appreciate the need to enforce the law, and DUI is certainly another matter. But these are kids for whom the local bars turn a blind eye when it comes to admission and service, walking or taking a taxi back to their dorms or houses, and not creating a disturbance.
Ace
July 23rd, 2012
1:13 pm
Its the coaches.
AltamahaDawg
July 23rd, 2012
1:50 pm
What is it that they do, or do not do, in your opinion , Ace?
Chuck
July 23rd, 2012
2:26 pm
The problem is people thinking Richt has a discipline problem because he publically disciplines his players.
Talk about backward logic.
Look at Paterno, and the incident that got PSU’s compliance officer booted. There was an apartment brawl with multiple injuries and one student beaten uncoscious, caused by Nittany Lions going all target-dummy.
The compliance officer thought the player should have been held to the student code of conduct and the letter of the law. Joe-Pa didn’t think so, so no criminal charges, no code-of-conduct punishments – the players wound up serving the penalty Joe-Pa sought from the beginning:
- They cleaned up the stadium for two hours after each home game, and
- The PSU compliance officer was looking for a job not long afterwards.
And this from a program that has been compared MULTIPLE times to UGA “for doing it the right way.”
Turns out they were a LOT better at hiding player (and coach) wrong-doingg than they EVER were at actual punishment.
And if you thing there aren’t other programs, in the SEC alone, that have the football program driving the justice system – both in the school and outside of it – you are hopelessly naive.