Riddle of the UGA locker-room theft solved by … Facebook?

"We're looking for players who can steal the ball. Oops, wrong word." (AJC photo by Curtis Compton)

"You recruits: I'd better not see this picture posted on Facebook." (AJC photo by Curtis Compton)

As reported by esteemed colleague Chip Towers, three arrests have been made in the theft of iPhones and iPods from Georgia’s locker room. One of those arrested is a football recruits for the year 2012

A gentle suggestion: Were I Georgia, I would no longer recruit that player.

This isn’t to prejudge guilt or innocence as defined by our legal system. Due process will take care of that. But Towers quotes UGA police chief Jimmy Williamson as saying of his investigation: “Facebook is always a big help.”

(And this works … how? Jimmy Williamson sends a suspect a “friend” request?)

If I’m Mark Richt, my new list of  guidelines for pursuing football talent would read thusly:

Rule No. 1: Do not recruit anyone who might have gotten arrested due to something posted on Facebook.

Rules No. 2-10: See Rule No. 1.

By Mark Bradley

359 comments Add your comment

birther dawg

April 18th, 2011
5:33 pm

Where does these thugs come from that UGA attracts?

ATL Sports Fan

April 18th, 2011
5:35 pm

hey birther, whose your team? I’m pretty sure they were after Deion Bonner also. So you can ask yourself the same question about your school.

Paul N Destin

April 18th, 2011
5:37 pm

Woe Eagle…if you’re hear to tell us the NCAA is done with Auburn and Cam then you’re just plain stupid to go along with your redneck. The NCAA has so many irons in the fire at Auburn they can’t keep pace with all the stuff your old banks,drunk old coach, the jock sniffer yellafella and you DA AD has done over the past three years. The hire of the two ghetto twins from OSU was the last straw for you towel wavers. The SEC will be better off if they just boot your sorry azz from the conference!!!There is no college in America as trashy as Auburn. Until the old banker and the drunk old cheating coach is dead I see no way it will change. That inferiority complex is killing you folks over there. You’re Alabama and you never will be Alabama so give it up and enjoy being 2nd fiddle. Cow college U ,yesterday , tomorrow and forever!!! Moo U…what’s that smell.

Beast from the East

April 18th, 2011
5:40 pm

@Paul N Destin,
I take you’re not a fan of Auburn? Never seen you go off like that before.

birther dawg

April 18th, 2011
5:40 pm

My team is UGA… whats your excuse?

Rayz

April 18th, 2011
5:44 pm

When did theft of $500.00 or more become a misdemeanor? Maybe these guys are getting special treatment to keep a “felony charge” off of their record. They should not be allowed to happen. Their behavior is identical to the common crack head. Could that be the problem here? Perhaps, they should be court ordered to drug rehabilitation.

Dirty Dawg

April 18th, 2011
5:45 pm

The thing about this crap is that some SEC school, if any of these kids are good enough, will rationalize their behavior and enroll ‘em. I mean UF had had enough of Cam’s behavior – stealing, cheating, numerous traffic violations, and two seasons later he wins the Heisman and NC at Auburn…the Mettenburger kid sexually assaulted a Valdosta State coed, then lied about it to his coaches…and now he’s competing for the starting QB job at LSU.

I mean what good does it do to discipline these kids is if all they have to do is spend a quarter or two at some JC (wanna bet how many classes they actually attended) then enroll in a big-time SEC school/rival and all is forgiven? I say that the SEC itself needs get involved in these kinds of issues and, upon review of the case, say that any kid that is dismissed for crap like this, or even if it’s in high school, not only would have to have completed a year at a JC, but would have to sit out an additional year at any other SEC school. these kinds of acts needs to have some real penalties associated with it, particularly since the league is gaining the reputation of cutting corners, paying players and compromising standards when it comes to football.

Sven Ottke

April 18th, 2011
5:58 pm

And in typical form, Coach Richt offered them schollys on the spot. “These boys are part of our Dream Team II: Electric Bugaloo” plan.

Dawginit

April 18th, 2011
6:03 pm

Auburn will still take him.

Bingo!

April 18th, 2011
6:06 pm

They were auditioning for Mark Richt. Obviously they passed the thug test.

Dirty Dawg Fan

April 18th, 2011
6:08 pm

Dirty Dawg makes some good points.

Coach Bonner

April 18th, 2011
6:10 pm

I would have thought that a 4 year scholarship would be worth more than an ipod. Plus, they would have given you a red jersey with your name on the back and a single digit number. I think that looks better than the he black & white pin stripe jersey with a 6 digit number you are currently wearing. Oh shucks, either way, you still get a 4 year scholarship. I just would have chosen the one that didn’t include probation.

SAL

April 18th, 2011
6:10 pm

Will the “birther” question become an issue this season? It’s sure seems to be growing!!

RichmondDawg

April 18th, 2011
6:13 pm

This thug nonsense is really out of hand. And this kid is still in high school, and hasn’t signed with ANYONE, much less UGA. It’s sad that this type of stupid stuff happens, but it always has and always will, so when you run down another school, remember that it can happen in your back yard next.

Birther

April 18th, 2011
6:16 pm

“Will the “birther” question become an issue this season? It’s sure seems to be growing!!”

Good question. Could we please see Mark Richt’s birth certificate? :-)

LakeDawg

April 18th, 2011
6:17 pm

Dirty Dawg, you’re right. It’s inevitable that some SEC school will take him and he will probably be a super star. However, at least, UGA can control what kind of institution it is going to be by not offering a scholly. Character and integrity is vanishing among SEC institutions. Hell, even Spurrier is over-signing and making excuses for it . The same Spurrier who used to say that you either cheat like other schools to stay competitive or you turn in cheaters to stay competitive. Things started changing for the worse when Saban returned to the league at Bama. He’s a pro coach at a college and he’s cut-throat. Other schools like Auburn are cheating to keep up and coaches like Spurrier are cutting corners. I don’t know of any cheating at Bama, but it wouldn’t surprise me. I do know that Saban over-signs at the least and cuts corners where he can. He’s a pro coach with no sympathy for the idea of the scholar athlete.

North Georgia Dawg

April 18th, 2011
6:19 pm

I remember a few years ago a Basketball player stole someones lap top and Division I school still recruited him. The funny part was when the kid was on the court playing the opposing team fans started the “overrated” chant except the plugged in “where’s my laptop?” It was priceless. Hopefully! Alabama, Auburn, Florida or UT will pick Bonner up so we can do the same! – Where’s my ipod — Where’s my ipod?

SAL

April 18th, 2011
6:20 pm

Are birth certificates required for scholarships?

DawgDad

April 18th, 2011
6:21 pm

“Character and integrity is vanishing among SEC institutions.”

Vanishing?

LakeDawg

April 18th, 2011
6:24 pm

DawgDad

April 18th, 2011
6:21 pm
“Character and integrity is vanishing among SEC institutions.”

Vanishing?

Its never been the Ivy League, but its at an all time low now.

Stinger

April 18th, 2011
7:08 pm

UGA recruits the scum of the earth. You deserve all this and more until you start recruiting student athletes.

Uh, Ok

April 18th, 2011
7:09 pm

Stinger

April 18th, 2011
7:10 pm

I have a question. Will this recruit from Columbus have to sit out 2 plays in next years spring game?

Promethius

April 18th, 2011
7:11 pm

He was just getting a head start on being a Bulldawg Thug.

Legend of Len Barker

April 18th, 2011
7:11 pm

Jake Scott taps you on the shoulder and asks you about vanishing morals. No internet and no ESPN means we have no idea what the players were getting away with back in the day.

Bill Stanfill had a tremendous game against Florida one year and stayed on the field after the game with his helmet in his hand. Fans who were still there went out onto the field and began stuffing money in the helmet. Twenties, even. I have two accounts verifying that one and Stanfill on his own has admitted to getting drunk at the end of the Florida 51-0 blowout. He’d stick his water cup through the fence and fans would poor hooch in it.

Pete Maravich got a way with more than a ton of stuff at LSU, both legally and academically.

Dave

April 18th, 2011
7:12 pm

Since Bonner is a potential highly regarded recruit was, on campus in the locker room; was he invited? Is this a violation of NCAA recruiting rules? Something smells funny here. Does Georgia allow juat an to anyone wander in the team locker room? Explanations are needed.

Heels Rock and Rule

April 18th, 2011
7:12 pm

If you want an example of a real student-athlete, ready UNC’s Harrison Barne’s press release on his decision to return to Carolina.

Not again

April 18th, 2011
7:18 pm

Although Rocky Top has a lock on the Fulmer Cup this year do we really need to start this season with off-the-field problems from a recruit who hasn’t even started his senior year in high school? I suppose the word is out that you can get by with anything in Athens. For the love of Pete when will this stop? Can Richt stop this nonsense? Can anyone? PLEASE!!!

rs

April 18th, 2011
7:23 pm

this kid will go USC,that is where he belongs.this funny.

Swami Sez

April 18th, 2011
7:30 pm

Chanticleers 12 Dawgs 9 Mark Richts swan song and Waterloo.

Delta Stewardess

April 18th, 2011
7:37 pm

Boys will be Boys.

snotbubble

April 18th, 2011
7:46 pm

I guess my comments were deleted. If you want the run down on Deion Bonner. Go to his facebook page. We don’t need him at UGA…………

Bubbatavious

April 18th, 2011
7:50 pm

Hey Coach……. sumbody stoled my ear bling from my lockers.

jerry

April 18th, 2011
7:50 pm

Well, I guess that rules out BYU.

surfdawg

April 18th, 2011
7:51 pm

Moderate all you want Mark

dawgfan's Daddy

April 18th, 2011
8:08 pm

I must apologize for dawgfan’s post earlier today. He does not know what he is talking about. He has been sent to bed without supper for this transgression. He would crap in his pants if he told anybody to STFU to their faces. Now, to go give him a beating!

Cletus Redus

April 18th, 2011
8:34 pm

What’s up with these thug kid football players ?

dawgfan's Granny

April 18th, 2011
8:36 pm

And I’m gonna beat the hide off dawgfan’s Daddy when he comes back from the outhouse…

robdawg08

April 18th, 2011
8:39 pm

Mark, DOB moderates all my comments just because I bow down to you and call him the “Beat Writer” that he is. You are his Father, use the force ! He wants to be you some day. You know, get off the beaten path and into the AJC papers…

robdawg08

April 18th, 2011
8:42 pm

Can you cover the Braves more often please ? DOB subs his work out to Carroll a lot so he can ride his Harley. I wonder what the sub-out pay is to Carroll ? Probably a ride on some long dirt road on the back of his Harley….

Caught Redhanded

April 18th, 2011
8:48 pm

Facebook is a new Big Brother.

Mark Bradley

April 18th, 2011
8:49 pm

I can’t imagine anyone wanting to be me.

Crimedog

April 18th, 2011
8:49 pm

Bonner was part of the package deal for Crowell, which will prove nothing but trouble for the University and Richt, if he is still around. Richt is certainly not the only coach recruiting thugs, but he did bring Randy Moss to FSU under the guise of reforming him. Moss had to leave FSU when he was sentenced to 60 days in jail for drug dealing and couldn’t make it to Thursday night bowling.

Snoop Dawg

April 18th, 2011
9:34 pm

All I can say is that Auburn University is the trailer trash of the SEC. The entire Auburn fan base is so trashy it’s funny. I’d rather lose every game like Vandy but have a little dignity and respect than be part of that incestuous crowd of defects.

yo mama

April 18th, 2011
9:37 pm

can anyone finish this story as to how the police used facebook to capture the suspects. I mean how can you leave that out of a story when you report that the police were able to use facebook to help solve the case. i mean hello, are you going to leave us all hanging?

MikeP

April 18th, 2011
9:43 pm

They are just in training for when they sign with Richt. His recruiting line went something like this: “C’mon over this weekend and swipe some stuff. You’ll see how well you fit in with the 13 other guys that got arrested last year”.

Delta Stewardess

April 18th, 2011
10:31 pm

We are WINNING for sure now.

Paul in RDU

April 18th, 2011
10:37 pm

I don’t belive this episode says anything about UGA in the slightest but it does say something about HS FB in the state of GA.
The report a couple of days ago said that the UGA police were after 2 adults and a juvenile from Columbus. Now we have 2 offenders named and an unnamed juvenile. Does this mean that Bonner (a HS JR) and Hawkins (a HS SO) are over 18? How the heck do you get to be an 18 year old sophomore in HS? Are kids still being kept back in middle school to make sure that they are physically larger in HS?

Go Dawgs

April 18th, 2011
10:42 pm

@ Paul in RDU If you are 17, GA criminal law says you are an adult. So they are 17 year old HS JRs and SOs. Hawkins was probably held back a year but Bonner probably was not.

Lakedawg

April 18th, 2011
10:47 pm

This Bonner kid must be as dumb as some of the posters here. Georgia had a record of everyone that went through that day and could time down pretty darn close. To steal from one of your former teammates probably cost this junior a scholarship at any D1 school. These trollers blaming CMR do not have a clue as this kid was invited for visits by about 15 different schools.