Tech AD Radakovich still has a job; for that, he’s a lucky man
Demaryius Thomas holds a list, but you'll note it's not a list of infractions. (AJC photo by Johnny Crawford)
The strongest sanction in the NCAA arsenal — and we should stipulate this was one sanction not levied against Georgia Tech — is the “show-cause” penalty. When a coach is found to have committed egregious violations (two examples: Dave Bliss and Kelvin Sampson), he’s banned for a number of years and any member institution seeking to hire him during that span must convince the NCAA it has good reason.
I mention this because I’ve been thinking: If the NCAA said, “We want you, M. Bradley, to show cause as to why Dan Radakovich should remain athletic director at Tech,” I’m not sure I could.
This isn’t easy for me to say. I like Radakovich. Until Thursday, I rated him among the brightest stars in his industry. But the department Radakovich heads turned what should have been a one-week tempest into a 20-month ordeal that has yielded four years’ probation, a $100,000 fine and a vacated ACC title.
Even the NCAA sounded a note of incredulity. From its press release: “The university’s failure to cooperate and meet the obligations of membership compounded the seriousness of the case by adding onto what was originally an isolated instance of impermissible benefits and preferential treatment.”
As late as this spring, Tech still believed this case could amount to no more than a secondary violation. This tells us Tech had no idea what was happening, which is a dire indictment. Radakovich has been in this job since 2006 and has spent all but four years of his adult life working for NCAA institutions. This is the man who should have been steering, not asking, “Which way looks good to y’all?”
It’s clear he got bad advice, but Radakovich was (and remains) the guy in charge. He gets paid to safeguard his athletic association. Given that Radakovich had fired coaches Chan Gailey and Paul Hewitt despite the onerous contracts negotiated by predecessor Dave Braine, this AD seemed capable of acing any test. He flunked this final.
In a 25-minute phone conversation Friday, Radakovich was asked if he felt he’d let Tech down. His response: “The circumstances around this have caused a lot of consternation, not only with me, but within the department. I take this very seriously. I know there was no intent to hinder the investigation, but the NCAA enforcement committee doesn’t see it that way. That’s a blow to my integrity.”
If you read the committee on infractions’ 26-page report, you’ll have a hard time grasping how a case that began with the NCAA checking on a football player’s cellphone and his use of complimentary tickets could lead to such heavy penalties because a different player was found to have accepted $312 of clothing. (FYI, most of the clothing given to Demaryius Thomas was never worn and is housed in a cabinet at Tech.) From Point A to Point H to Point W?
Conceded Radakovich: “It’s not cut and dried. It’s not as simple as some cases.”
I get that part. What I also get is that the NCAA got ticked at Tech — not just at former Institute counsel Randy Nordin and what it called his “obstructionist reproach,” but also with the AD.
Said Radakovich: “I don’t personally think I angered the NCAA. I think the NCAA and this particular investigator were miffed when I did not follow his instruction to our compliance director.”
Radakovich told football coach Paul Johnson what was coming. Investigator Marcus Wilson had asked that Radakovich not say anything. Said Radakovich: [The NCAA believed] this action impeded their investigation. We maintain that it did not.”
Then: “This [don't-say-anything order] may have come up a hundred times [in other cases], but it certainly wasn’t highlighted. It goes back to how the individual investigator chooses to handle it. It is procedural.”
And that’s Tech’s defense: That its error was procedural, as opposed to conspiratorial. Said Radakovich: “There was no clandestine meeting, no conspiracy to pull together a story. That stuff didn’t happen.”
Why did he tell Johnson? “I was going off previous experience I’d had … I did it consciously.” Then: “I need to have a relationship with coaches. That’s important in being able to run a department. What would my relationship [with Johnson] have been like if I hadn’t said anything? That’s the part that gets lost.”
The NCAA made hay of Tech’s failure to comply with its request. The committee on infractions noted that, because it lacks subpoena power, “the successful adjudication of infractions cases is heavily dependent on the good faith efforts and, most importantly, the full and complete cooperation of member institutions and other involved parties under investigation by the enforcement staff. ”
Translated: We might not be able to make an agent come testify, but if you work at one of our institutions you’d better do as we say.
Said Radakovich: “We didn’t do — Georgia Tech didn’t do — some things very well.”
That doesn’t quite go far enough. This was a howling case of mismanagement — “A cautionary tale of conduct that member institutions should avoid,” the NCAA deemed it — from a school that has, of all things, a college of management.
Asked if he had offered his resignation to Tech president Bud Peterson, Radakovich said: “No, I did not. Was not asked and didn’t offer.”
Then: “The lesson learned from all of this is that when you get that inquiry, the initial phone call is to bring in someone like a Chuck Smrt [a former NCAA investigator who now counsels those being investigated and who was retained by Tech] … someone who is skilled in that kind of forum. You need a different set of eyes. As good as any university attorney is, this is not their forte.”
In 2006 a Tech coach said, “If Tech people understand anything, it’s business.” The next day Gailey’s team lost the ACC title to Wake Forest in the worst game ever played. Fifty-one weeks later, Radakovich fired Gailey. Two years after that, a different Tech coach won the conference title. This week the crowning achievement of this AD’s most notable hire was forfeited because the AD and his department didn’t follow procedure.
I’m not a Tech grad, but I wouldn’t call that good business. I’d say it’s close to being a firing offense.
By Mark Bradley
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291 comments Add your comment
Simple Techster
July 15th, 2011
8:23 pm
I see that you are still checking the comments, taking the time to thank someone patting you on the back, while not taking the time to answer some very reasonable, logical and pertinant questions in regards to the article you have written. Now, I am a very, very big GT fan and have always been…and I have always been a fan of your work. I genuinely enjoy reading your articles, even though you have a tendency to side more with UGA. As a journalist, you are paid to put your thoughts and opinions on paper, the right of every US citizen. I strongly disagree with your stance, however we can agree to disagree.
at 149pm….How could DRAD inform CPJ Thomas was ineligible to play if he could not tell him about the investigation? Should he have just said he cannot play? That would have been
crazy.
Can you answer this question?
And then my question….
There is an appeals process. You are taking the NCAA report and completely landblasting GT and DR, taking the NCAA report as complete and unrefutable fact…while taking the statements of BP and DR and wiping them away with disregard, disinterest and what seems to be disbelief (you don’t believe them). SO, if GT appeals and wins…..WILL YOU POST A PUBLIC APOLOGY?
GTforever
July 15th, 2011
8:28 pm
I think Drad should be let go. He did not follow simple instructions from the NCAA. This is unacceptable. If our President does not see it this way, then he should be let go also.
DuluthDawg
July 15th, 2011
8:30 pm
As much as I dislike the Jackets this is really overblown IMO. The AD is upset because he believes, and I do also, that there was no intention to deceive or hide anything. What I think happened is the investigator felt like he was being disrespected and punished both the AD and the lawyer for that. I think that’s an abuse of power and tech should appeal this. If this is the way its going to be I think there will be a lot more teams in similar situations. And then again, maybe the NCAA was sending a message and others will get it. It just seems so much to do about nothing. Don’t get me wrong, I can’t wait to continue the tradition of beating the techies on the field each year, but this isn’t right.
Go Dawgs!
The Spirit of UGA VII
July 15th, 2011
8:32 pm
Well, dang! Didn’t they teach the Tech people anything? If it’s clothes, you ought to get at least a thousand bucks out of the deal on e-bay. Otherwise, it’s not worth cheating for. The Big Guy up here is chuckling about it. Talk about dumb. First the QB throws the ball away on fourth down. Now this. Not only can’t those guys play football, but they can’t even cheat halfway decent. But I’d say this is going to get the Techies all fired up for the big game with the Dawgs in November. I’d guess Tech won’t lose by more than three touchdowns now.
Jeff
July 15th, 2011
8:44 pm
Mark, does Bill Curry let Thomas play?
Big Ten Champs Nebraska.....Dawg
July 15th, 2011
8:46 pm
If Tom Osborne were at Tech, this never would have happened this way……Covering up such a simple infraction…..Nice.
Jeff
July 15th, 2011
8:56 pm
I meant if Bill Curry were AD does Thomas play in those three games?
original ole yeller
July 15th, 2011
9:17 pm
Hey Bradley are you not supposed to be a reporter of fact? Yours is always a one sided observation. You are a homer, and at times sicking in your opinions. D’rad is a good man and only wants the best for Ga. Tech. I find it hard to understand your biased opinion after all that goes on in the gutter antics that occur within UGA football. You remind me of a Terrence Moore of your newspaper, always biased never telling the whole truth just only to get a blog going. Shame on your reporting antics. Hopefully, you will find the same door that T Moore found.
george
July 15th, 2011
9:22 pm
Well that makes two of you who are lucky to have a job. If you worked for anything but a fishwrap newspaper you would be out of a job yourself. Kudos and duly noted.
Justafan
July 15th, 2011
9:28 pm
I’ll believe Rads any day over the NCAA. Agree with@8;23..Mark I’d hate for you to be on my jury….
LoyalDawg
July 15th, 2011
9:41 pm
As a Dawg Fan, the NCAA investigator has a problem. Too harsh of a penalty. This is insane. Lordy, what is going to happen to Ohio State and Boise State?
Tony
July 15th, 2011
9:59 pm
If this stands as is or anything close then North Carolina should get the “Death Penalty” as they have a total loss of institutional control going on there. But I bet they get just a slap on the hand as swafford will go to bat for them since he was their AD before becoming commissioner. No wonder they get all the help from officials and still can’t put together a decent football team. Think how bad the basketball team must be cheating.
EDIMGIAFAD
July 15th, 2011
10:04 pm
If GT had come clean from the start this would have been too harsh of a penalty BUT given this cover-up is part of the third infraction case against GT Football in 10 years, 4 years was probably accurate. GT fans need to go investigate what happened to SMU when they got the death penalty because if GT violates probation, the death penalty may very well be in play.
Rafe Hollister
July 15th, 2011
10:10 pm
Can’t sell college football in the largest city in the South, even with Rad and Johnson cheating!
BG
July 15th, 2011
10:21 pm
He should have been fired! CHEATER!!!
Ron Hyatt
July 15th, 2011
10:27 pm
Investigate all D1 programs, and give them all the death penalty. No great loss.
snoop
July 15th, 2011
10:28 pm
at least Radakovich wasn’t flashing his date’s red panties to the ghp….
IllinoisRed
July 15th, 2011
10:38 pm
GT Alum said: “I know there’s a lot of complicated rules, but it’s their job to know. This country’s tax laws are numerous and fairly complex too, but accountants are supposed to know them, and what happens to them if they don’t follow them?”
Some of them get to be US Treasury Secretary—maybe Dan R. is auditioning for Attorney General instead of the job @ Tennessee……
Yellow Fuzz
July 15th, 2011
10:55 pm
lol
original ole yeller
July 15th, 2011
11:14 pm
Bradley you are a eyesore to all the real reporters out there. You seek nothing but to add to blogs that do nothing but get attention to your one sided opinions. Guess what, everyone realizes that your reporting is slanted to your beloved Dawgs.
May you go in the direction of Terrance Moore, out of here. No one wants to read the bias and hate you bring to the table.
Lets remember the really good non biased reporters. Jessie Outler, back to Ed Danforth, Furman Bisher, Jim Mintor. These reporters had talent, and skill. The base now at the AJC are hacks who do not report facts but personal attacks just to get the public outraged.
GT GRAD
July 15th, 2011
11:16 pm
GT is not “dirty” and Radakovich is a solid high character AD………the NCAA investigator got mad and is trying to “teach GT a lesson” that he has POWER and GT better cower to his every demand or else. Pitiful and embarrassing……..thus guy (from the NCAA) should probably be fired.
GT GRAD
July 15th, 2011
11:17 pm
Bradley……..please grow up and quit trying to spin this story in such a negative light (in an attempt to hurt GT)!
Paul in RDU
July 15th, 2011
11:44 pm
GT Grad
D-Rad is not dirty, but the GTAA blew it big time with their reaction to the NCAA investigation and D-Rad was the guy in charge.
original ole yeller
July 16th, 2011
12:01 am
Because of your contempt of Ga.Tech I have cancelled my delivery of the Journal. I just do not want to hear your idiot opinions any longer. I urge all the Tech nation to do the same.
original ole yeller
July 16th, 2011
12:06 am
Bradley you are a coward. You would not publish my last comment because you knew I was right.
Navigator
July 16th, 2011
12:20 am
It’s obvious to Rad now that he is not in the SEC where this is minor crap. The NCAA may be afraid to deal with SEC teams but is willing to crush the teams in the lesser conferences. Tech had better be squeaky clean for a long time.
LydiasDad
July 16th, 2011
12:44 am
What does 4 years of probation really mean to Tech? Is it a slap on the wrist, or will it really affect the team?
Coach Grohbo
July 16th, 2011
1:00 am
Radakulous double-secret probation. No big deal.
The Truth
July 16th, 2011
1:04 am
Here is the simple truth: GA Tech’s president, their AD and their head football coach continue to Lie about the situation. They make it sound like GA Tech is the only school in history to get put on probation for doing nothing wrong. LOL! You did not follow instructions by the NCAA. And you told Lies about what really happened. You knowingly played ineligible players. You guys deserve a much greater punishment than the one you are receiving. GA Tech Lies & Cheats & Everyone knows it! Especially the NCAA. GA Tech = Liar and Cheater City.
Jeff
July 16th, 2011
1:09 am
I’m not a Tech fan and I don’t have a dog in the fight, so to speak, but I find this interesting on several levels:
1. Some Tech fans (not all) seem to have a hard time accepting this. They excuse, blame others, and try to sweep it under the rug, but they don’t seem to be willing to say “Yeah, we screwed up, we got caught, we’ll take our beating.” It seems very pretentious, arrogant, and condescending for some GT fans (again, not all) to act “holier than thou” when things happen to OTHER schools, but yet they bury their heads in the sand when something happens to THEIR school.
2. That being said, the NCAA seems a bit rediculous here. USC and Ohio State and Auburn are literally buying and selling players and pretty much giving them perks (cars, housing for their families, etc.), acting as if college athletics is fantasy football…. but Tech gets in trouble over $300 worth of clothes? Seems quite the minor infraction for such a penalty. Perhaps the NCAA could better use it’s resources to look into the really seedy things going on at places like Oregon, UNC, Ohio State, etc. instead of this?
3. Finally, this is a rhetorial question for anyone… something worth considering… do you ever see a day when the colleges and universities on the Division-I level say “ENOUGH” and find a way to extricate themselves from the NCAA and form some sort of new college athletics organization? Seems to be that NOBODY is happy with the NCAA and how it does things — not the school presidents, not the academics, not the coaches, not the fans, not the media, not Congress, not the players, not ANYBODY. In essence, what would it take to “fire” the NCAA… to blow the whole thing up and start over? Looks like to me, everybody could start over with a clean slate.
Just some food for thought…..
Overblown Arrogance
July 16th, 2011
4:37 am
C’mon! It is not like DRAD had a hooker in his car, drunk with the red panties!!!!
The NCAA has such an inferiority complex and lost control of this investigation.
Asking an AD not to tell his coach about an investigation – then slamming the school when he does – ARE THEY NUTS????????????
YES,
Buzz me
July 16th, 2011
4:50 am
AJC as usual was clueless about what was going on
Mark Bradley`s Booster
July 16th, 2011
6:05 am
Mark Bradley: This is my last response as your booster.
You must surely have a personal vendetta against DRad.
Otherwise you would not have written such a biased article like this one.
Hugh17
July 16th, 2011
6:12 am
How can anyone making $600k screw up something so simple so badly. The penalty of forfeiting the ACC Championship does not fit the complaint. It penalizes the effort of a fine team & coaching staff because the AD is stupid. I believe the decision should be appealed and that that President Peterson should offer Radakovich’s head or a%# or both to the NCAA. I also agree that the $100k should come out of Radkovick’s salary. Surely there must be a stupid clause in there somewhere.
SMITTYSTHEMAN
July 16th, 2011
6:16 am
Still not as bad as getting caught with red panties in your lap.
bcall123169
July 16th, 2011
6:35 am
Hey Stung if were nerds,which one are you a DUMB REDNECK OR THUG.GOOOOOO JACKETS
ss
July 16th, 2011
6:42 am
Mark,
Than why is the AD at UNC not getting heat? The stuff that came out about them was a whole lot worse, between the suspensions with the agents, the kids not doing their own school work, and even the parking ticket fines im not sure they got paid.
You do this to sell papers during a slow time period?
Stuff like this happens, im not going to be two about it!
juvenal
July 16th, 2011
6:49 am
dez plyed b4 he was suspended, it did not cost osu any games.the AD talked to his coach, & that equals tressel? that this was an attempt at a cover up is an allegation, but the nzaa is judge, jury & executioner, don’t make them mad, especially at a time they look like the bozos they are…….
JimTech
July 16th, 2011
7:26 am
I’m a big, life long, Tech fan, went to Tech, daughter went there…. But, if I were Bud Peterson, my news conference would have gone something like this: “I’m here to annouce, effective immediately the termination of Dan Radokovich and Coach Paul Johnson. I am further putting all players on notice that if they are involved in a violation of NCAA rules that they will be kicked off the team immediately and expelled from school. No further comments.” End of press conference.
BankerDawg
July 16th, 2011
7:33 am
@ Truth
I guess I am just a little to dense for this, but can someone please explain to me how Tech lied or covered up anything, or played ineligible players for that matter?
There seems to be a lot of misinformation put forth out there that has not been cleared up by the wonderful team of “journalists” at the AJC.
A cover up would be DRad lying to the investigator about telling CJP about the impending interviews…much like Tressel lied about contacting anyone else about the Pryor situation or how Chip Kelly lied about knowing someone names WIllie Lyles. However, DRad told the investigator he talked to CPJ as part of normal protocol based on previous NCAA cases of the same type. Again, the NCAA cannot place a “gag” order on an AD. They can request him not speak to anyone, but it does not result in an actual violation of he does not do so. This is what ticked off the NCAA.
Again, no cover up here.
Regarding ineligible players, no one, not the NCAA, the ACC, or Tech has found anyone to be ineligible at this point…none. You can say in hindsight that they should have held out Thomas for prudency sake, but that would not change the fact that ultimately he was found to be eligible, so it’s moot. This makes no sense, and this is why when Tech appeals they will get their ACCC back.
This should scare a lot more people, and is why I have been vocal in my support of Tech on this. The NCAA cannot operate like this because it can ultimately hurt MY team.
GOOOOOOOOOOOOO DAWGS! SIC ‘EM!
Buzz 2011
July 16th, 2011
7:45 am
Be lucky you have a job, Bark Madley!!
A Dawg keeper fits..
BankerDawg
July 16th, 2011
7:47 am
@ Truth, and I guess, anyone else yelling “cover up”,
I may be a little too dense for this (my wife may agree), but can someone please explain the notion that a cover up took place here?
IMO, a cover up would have resulted from DRad advising the NCAA investigator that he did NOT talk to CPJ about the pending interviews. In this case however, DRad very plainly advised that he did talke to CPJ and that further, he did so based on information in several other similiar NCAA cases. This ticked of the investigator, but that’s about it. It’s not even a violation to do what he did.
Again, where is the cover up?
Also, regarding using ineligible players….neither Tech, nor the ACC, nor the NCAA has shown any player to have been ineligible at the time the final three games were played in 2009. None. It seems they are saying that Tech should have exercises more prudency at the time, and held out Thomas, but he was ultimately found to be eligible, so the point is moot. They would have been in error to hold him out, in hindsight.
This is why Tech will appeal and get their ACCC back. They never used ineligible players.
So, let’s see, the NCAA did not prove cover up, manipulation of witnesses, or the playing of ineligible players, yet they vacate a title and place them on 4 years probation, with a nice tiny $100,000 fine.
This is why I have been vocal in my support of Tech on this. The NCAA cannot operate in this manner, or it has implications for any team, inlcuding my Dawgs…and that is very much my business.
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO DAWGS! SIC ‘EM!
Notso Fast
July 16th, 2011
8:01 am
I hate to see this for GT or any team over $312 for 2 players. I guess the NCAA doesn’t care how much just that it was done. If a player sells his jersey for $1.oo a guess he would get the same 4 game suspenion as one that sold it for $1000. Can’t wait for their ruling on Ohio State.
Alabama Jack
July 16th, 2011
8:06 am
Please make sure all future items by Mark Bradley are clearly by-lined so that I can avoid reading them. I have a sensitive stomach and high blood pressure, both of which are adversely affected by Drabley.
CJJScout
July 16th, 2011
8:07 am
I hate Tech, but the penalty does not suit the crime.
Sess Poole
July 16th, 2011
8:32 am
In the 1986 Jan Kemp trial, O. Hale Almand Jr., a lawyer for UGA, offered a justification for the favorable treatment accorded the athletes, citing a hypothetical player. “We may not make a university student out of him,” he told the jury, “but if we can teach him to read and write, maybe he can work at the post office rather than as a garbageman when he gets through with his athletic career.”
That trial exposed UGA for the football factory that it was, and exposed Vince Dooley as a fraud and a sleazebag. It also derailed Dooley’s plans for a political career. That’s why we see the decrepit old fraud doing TV commercials even now.
Mark Richt is just the latest in a line of sleazy UGA coaches who coddle athletes and discard them after four years of football. He recruits illiterate morons he knows aren’t smart enough for college, but he doesn’t care, as long as they help him line his pockets with millions of dollars each year.
gt4ever
July 16th, 2011
8:41 am
These people who are big 10 fans are priceless…. GT has more history in football than most, with the exception of two… Wisconsin football???? Do they even play football?
Big Ol Stinger
July 16th, 2011
8:41 am
Sess Poole
You’re really an embarassment. I hope you’re in middle school, otherwise there’s no excuse for your sorry azz.
Just stop.
dawg day afternoon
July 16th, 2011
8:56 am
Number 9 on that list should have been Catch The Damn ball. Sorry, nerds!
D.
July 16th, 2011
8:59 am
My comments keep being deleted. I taught at Tech for a few years in between 2000 and 2010. I had the misfortune of getting a class that had about 75 so-called student athletes, including one present NBA player (who was actually a decent student). Because of the hoops players the athletic foundation assigned a guy to follow them to class, take attendance, harass me about their assignments, etc. Now, it’s already against the rules for this fellow to even contact a professor except through official channels – but he wanted daily updates on their performance – all sorts of special stuff that ordinary students don’t get – I told him to get lost. Later, when I failed one of the athletes (one out of about 75 – most were no worse students than all the rest), this same fellow came to my office, to offer me tickets to men’s hoops to change the grade. Of course he didn’t say it quite so clearly, but he said it so I understood it. I told him to get lost and reported the conversation to the dean’s office. They acknowledged my complaint, and it ended there.
Between what doesn’t get reported and what gets ignored, there’s lots of garbage going on, though none of this is peculiar to Tech – rather it’s a natural consequence of the cancerous arrangement whereby public educational institutions subsidize professional athletics, something which makes absolutely no sense.