OK, so we love college football. But WHY do we still love it?
Caleb King: No longer a Bulldog. Tech: No longer the '09 ACC champ. (AJC photo by Brant Sanderlin)
The SEC’s annual Media Days — the biggest football conference needs three calendar days just to accommodate all the blather — convene Wednesday in Hoover, Ala. The ACC stages its (two-day) convocation this weekend in Pinehurst, N.C. This means we’re not that far from actually getting to watch the One True Sport, the game we Southerners know and love.
One question, though. Should we love it?
For college football, 2011 has already been an annus horribilis, which is Latin for “lousy year.” And yes, it’s only July. We’ve still got the 2011 season to go. Maybe things will get better. They could scarcely get worse. In calendar 2011 we’ve seen:
• The 2004 BCS titlist (Southern Cal) stripped of its crown, largely because of an investigation into the financial arrangements of Reggie Bush, the 2005 Heisman winner.
• The 2002 BCS titlist (Ohio State) stripped of iconic head coach Jim Tressel, who resigned after it was revealed he hadn’t reported allegations of players trading memorabilia for tattoos and had been less than forthcoming in statements to the NCAA.
• The 1998 BCS titlist (Tennessee) stripped of athletic director Mike Hamilton, who quit ahead of an NCAA hearing into basketball and baseball, yes, but also football. Which can happen when you hire Lane Kiffin.
• The 2009 ACC champion (Georgia Tech) stripped of its title because it used an ineligible player and stripped of $100,000 because its administration ticked off the NCAA.
• One of the three 2010 Big East co-champions (West Virginia) placed on two years’ NCAA probation because of a failure to monitor its coaches.
• The 2010 Music City Bowl champion (North Carolina) informed that the NCAA has levied nine violations, ranging from impermissible benefits to academic misconduct, against it.
• Both teams that played for the 2010 BCS title fall under scrutiny: Auburn because of the presence of Cam Newton, the 2010 Heisman winner whose recruitment is still apparently the center of an ongoing NCAA investigation, and Oregon because it paid a Texas man named Willie Lyles $25,000 for what it contends were “scouting services” but what Lyles says were something else.
• The Fiesta Bowl, one of the BCS flagships, lose its president and nearly lose its exalted status after it was revealed staffers had been (illegally) reimbursed for contributions to political campaigns.
• One of the 2010 Big East co-champions (West Virginia again) accepting the resignation of head coach Bill Stewart, who had become implicated in the attempt to smear Dana Holgorsen, whom the Mountaineers had just hired as Stewart’s successor-in-waiting. Quick succession, huh?
The NFL and the NBA are locked out because of money. After such a run of regrettable news, we who follow college football should be asking if this sport mightn’t be better served locking its doors and disbanding its programs. Even those among us who have long known of the seamier side to the Color & Pageantry are wondering if color and pageantry are worth all this.
College football has long been a dirty business, but it’s bigger and dirtier than ever. The strange spectacle of recruiting has become a sport unto itself. (Esteemed colleague Michael Carvell offers the best description I’ve heard: “A lot of fans would rather see their team get a big commitment than score a touchdown on Saturday.”) Assistant coaches now make more than Hall of Fame head coaches did a quarter-century ago. At least one father — an ordained minister, of all things — has been accused of trying to sell his son’s services.
And yet: For all the grime, college football is the one game for which our passion is never diminished. Look around the SEC. Notice many empty seats in those massive stadiums? Even college basketball has seen its regular season diluted because nobody can remember who’s playing from year to year, but never college football. There’s big money to be made. (Except if you’re a player and you’re looking to sell your Independence Bowl jersey. That’ll cost you four games.)
Back to the SEC. It’s the biggest, and its five consecutive BCS titles brand it as the best. It’s also, as Brett McMurphy of CBS Sports noted, the slimiest. Since 1987, no conference can match the SEC’s 13 major NCAA violations. Every SEC football program save two — LSU, which saw its last major violation in 1986, and Vanderbilt, which has never been hit with one — has been docked over that span. The (im)moral of our story: To be the best, cheat the hardest.
And yet: We know all this stuff and we love it anyway. And, cognitively dissonant though we are, we’re about to get excited all over again. Heaven help us all.
By Mark Bradley
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245 comments Add your comment
J.J.M.
July 18th, 2011
1:33 pm
first?
brandon
July 18th, 2011
1:34 pm
I hadn’t realized just how rough a year it had been…
Mark Bradley
July 18th, 2011
1:35 pm
Kudos, J.J.M.
RTR
July 18th, 2011
1:36 pm
Secon
RTR
July 18th, 2011
1:37 pm
well make it 3 and 4th
Beast from the East
July 18th, 2011
1:37 pm
Mark,
Do you honestly think it’s worse than in the 80’s? I don’t. Just think everything is more visible these days with all of the technology.
NCAAJOKE
July 18th, 2011
1:38 pm
Mark,
Do you think there is any chance Tech can appeal any part of the sanctions (like the stripping of the title)? I’ve heard it’s near impossible for any school to do so these days but was just curious. With all of the other sanctions the title being removed just seems totally out of line.
Mark Bradley
July 18th, 2011
1:40 pm
I think it’s pretty darn bad, Beast.
Mark Bradley
July 18th, 2011
1:42 pm
The title was stripped, NCAAJOKE, because Demaryius Thomas, who was ruled to have been ineligible, played that night and Tech won. He also played against Georgia and Iowa, but Tech lost those games. The one game Tech won while using an ineligible player just happened to have been the ACC title game.
BuzzOff
July 18th, 2011
1:43 pm
“The (im)moral of our story: To be the best, cheat the hardest.”
Or in Tech’s case…cheat and still suck.
Beast from the East
July 18th, 2011
1:43 pm
Fair enough, Mark. Just glad that UF has managed to steer clear of these troubles. I think Foley runs a pretty tight ship. Hope he stays in Gainesville FOREVER!
NCAAJOKE
July 18th, 2011
1:44 pm
Mark you didn’t answer the question about the appeals process…and yes that’s all clear, but over $300 stripping the title is ridiculous (I think most people not just the tech folks would agree)
George Stein
July 18th, 2011
1:47 pm
If the question is should we love it, I’m not certain there’s a right answer.
But, if the question is why we love it, I’m pretty sure this Tech fan and all the UGA fans are going to need more space.
Realistic fan
July 18th, 2011
1:52 pm
Mark, the penalty for Tech was well deserved and just points out the problem with Tech fans in Spades. The arrogance is unmatched. They cheated, they lied, they tried to cover it up and now they say they don’t agree with the penalty although they admitted they probably should not have take the advice of their own attorney and played Burnett and Thomas. And now they want to go crying before the NCAA and appeal. They always think they are right and smarter than everyone else when they aren’t . This is exhibit A.
Bob
July 18th, 2011
1:52 pm
Because we’re narrow-minded, provincial, and scared of anything related to big cities or other parts if the world/country/county.
Herschel Talker
July 18th, 2011
1:54 pm
MB:
Well written. This does put a perspective on things. Mark Richt is a good man (but still a terrible coach), and I am sorry for continually calling for his head (but again, let’s not kid ourselves, he’s a trainwreck).
HT
juice sourcer
July 18th, 2011
1:55 pm
And it will continue to get worse until serious changes are made…just like our government and the economy. Nothing but lip service.
GTinNashville
July 18th, 2011
1:56 pm
Mark, according to the info that Tech released, they consulted with Jennifer Henderson at the NCAA, she stated she saw no reason to declare Thomas ineligible. Is what is being done now not simply “revisionist history?”
PMC
July 18th, 2011
1:56 pm
How are all these problems at the top of the NCAA’s elite programs all that different than the rest of our society at the moment.
Indeed, if you aren’t cheating, you aren’t trying.
Stud
July 18th, 2011
1:56 pm
B/C we can start ponzi schemes after we get fired and make millions ripping people off
BankerDawg
July 18th, 2011
1:59 pm
Actually, DT was never ruled ineligible at any point by anyone?
This is why Tech will get the title back, Mark. Nowhere in the document does it read that either DT or MB were ineligible, so the game was played above board.
Pretty big distinction, I think.
And yes, College Football is still the greatest sport in the world. Fall Saturdays in Athens…nothing like it anywhere else.
GOOOOOOOOOOOOO DAWGS! SIC ‘EM!
juvenal
July 18th, 2011
2:00 pm
so why did they do nothing to osu for playing dez? where did nordin go to school?………..if we ever get caught cheating instead of just being stupid, i’m done(o’leary may have come close)…guess i’ve been stupid lots of times, my wife puts up with, but cheating?
Larry
July 18th, 2011
2:00 pm
Beast from the East
July 18th, 2011
1:43 pm
Fair enough, Mark. Just glad that UF has managed to steer clear of these troubles. I think Foley runs a pretty tight ship. Hope he stays in Gainesville FOREVER!
You mean a ship loaded with more criminal arrests (31 in four years under Meyer) of their football players than any other university?
LOL!
DawginLex
July 18th, 2011
2:00 pm
I love college football but I despise what the NCAA has done to the sport.(and to college basketball too)
Ohio State being allowed to play those 5 players in the Sugar Bowl.
Auburn being allowed to play Cam Newton when anyone with a brain realizes he will be ruled ineligible sooner or later.
GT, while they did handle things wrong, is being made somewhat of a scapegoat for other’s misfortunes.
North Carolina and OSU-God help you.
Mark Emmert, former President of UW, now President of NCAA, not allowing Enes Kanter to play at Kentucky even though his former school recruited him and Terrence Jones. Only after Emmert got mad for Jones and Kanter switching to Kentucky did the Kanter eligibility issue become non-negotiable. Mark my words, he would have played for UW.
NCAA-Selective Enforcement and A Big Joke
Somewhere over the Dwayne Bowe
July 18th, 2011
2:01 pm
That’s because we are smarter, realistic (sic) fan.
Bring Back Knowshon
July 18th, 2011
2:02 pm
Any time we don’t have 10 arrests in the preseason, I chalk it up to a win. IMO, we’re 1-0 on the season already. Boise St. is going to make win #2!
Dickie
July 18th, 2011
2:03 pm
Something is wrong with a system when a player can steal money or clothing & no NCAA action against the school but if it the same is given to a player all hell breaks loose!!
DawginLex
July 18th, 2011
2:03 pm
GT in Nashville
Go talk to Memphis and Coach Calipari about a kid being declared eligible and then taking away an entire season including a Final Four.
The University of Memphis went through the NCAA Clearinghouse and were given news that Derrick Rose was eligible to play.
The NCAA is the only organization in the world that can tell you that you followed the rules and then later change their mind and destroy your program.
stan
July 18th, 2011
2:05 pm
the rules are dumb. get clothes is a benefit? return clothes with tags never worn benefited how?
ncaa is a joke. ohio st was 100 x worse than tech but they will get the same smackdown. just let the kids get what someone is willing to give them. that’s what capitalism is all about. punishing players who didn’t do anything wrong is bs like bedford wrote. fine the school fine. but taking away a champ because someone got some clothes they didnt wear and are sitting in a box is insane. and does anyone really think jacoby ford cj spiller or kyle parker didn’t get anything that year? lol yeah right.
cantondawg
July 18th, 2011
2:06 pm
There’s cheating everywhere. I played at a Division 1-AA school and i saw cheating there in the 80’s. If the NCAA looks hard enough they will find it at every school. Fellow bulldogs…Be careful before you start talking smack about Tech on probation. We could very well end up in the same situation.
Paddy
July 18th, 2011
2:10 pm
Mark…..will Tech appeal these NCAA penalties?
Les W. Moore
July 18th, 2011
2:12 pm
With all it’s warts, college football is still better than all other sports.
UGA_2001
July 18th, 2011
2:14 pm
How has LSU not been caught? I realize Louisiana is corrupt as hell, but you’d think the NCAA would find something on them. You can’t compete with Aub and Alabama unless you cheat like hell.
GT-97
July 18th, 2011
2:19 pm
Dirty rotten NCAA.
Georgia Tech is among the finest academic programs in the country.
GT78
July 18th, 2011
2:20 pm
Mark, We love the game of College Football but hate the business of College Football. The mesage I get from the NCAA is if you question at all their methods or motives you will be put in your place and made an example of.
Even as a Tech fan I came to that conclusion last year with the AJ Green episode. He and UGA were penalized two extra games for stealing the NCAA’s thunder. Tech is far worse guilty of feeling las though they should be concerned and protective of the rights and best interests of their students. Remember they came looking for one thing and wound up digging up something else to justify the travel expense report. When you read the details of the story, Tech was punished for questioning their tactics. I know of nowhere else in the U.S. where an individual is disallowed the benefit of prior notice or advice and council. Should you ever be questioned, the AJC would be right there to prepare you for any investigation or you would have the benefit of prior notice so you could obtain your own. Not so for 20 year old football players.
The General Feeling
July 18th, 2011
2:20 pm
The overwhelming majority of college student athletes get it right. Therefore, the NCAA gets it right most of the time.
btgt69
July 18th, 2011
2:20 pm
SEC = Scandal Everywhere Conference
George Stein
July 18th, 2011
2:21 pm
Agreed, Les.
Mark Bradley
July 18th, 2011
2:21 pm
Tech hasn’t decided if it will appeal. Apparently you can’t just appeal because you want to appeal. There has to be something open to interpretation.
Dr Richard Handler
July 18th, 2011
2:22 pm
Some of your best work, I always remember SMU legend Ron Meyer’s (in)famous quote: ” If you ain’t cheatin’…….. You ain’t tryin’.
ACC Champs: my T-shirt doesn't lie!
July 18th, 2011
2:22 pm
MBradly…surely Tech will appeal (and probably win…something…perhaps some face) because the nzaa did not deem the clothes gift were agent related. So, $312 should not command a “give back” of a championship…ya think?
Lowcountry Bulldawg
July 18th, 2011
2:23 pm
I wish I knew the answer on that one. I think I will just blame my Dad,lol. Heck its so bad now that if my wife makes plans for me in the fall she checks the UGA schedule to make sure I will be open to going. Perfect example is a Dirty Dancing Festival I am going to at Lake Lure. She made sure it was just the Coastal Carolina game I would miss. Yeah I know I have to turn in my man card for that weekend, but I gotta build up points for a latter time to cash in,lol.
Anyway loving UGA has not been easy every year but it sure has been damn fun. The memories of my youth with my family traveling to Athens on the backroads will forever be with me. This is why I will always support UGA.
headley lamar
July 18th, 2011
2:25 pm
but over $300 stripping the title is ridiculous (I think most people not just the tech folks would agree)
They didn’t strip the title over $300. They stripped the title because Tech lied about it after the fact.
Funny how the NCAA is sooo evil now that they have busted Tech (twice)
I wouldn’t lie to the NCAA again if I were you Tech. You think this one hurt.
Cuga
July 18th, 2011
2:27 pm
Mark…. You can focus on the few stories of those breaking the rules, (I think we know more now because of technology), or focus on the great stories about those student-athletes who over come great odds to be successful. There are far more stories of courage and accomplishment than of the bad stories so often written about. Whether you look for the bad or good you’ll find it everytime. I’ll look for the good and continue to pull for those who lay it on the line and overcome personal, athletic, and academic hardships to be successful.
uga_b
July 18th, 2011
2:28 pm
Mark, do you think that means that ESPN may brand one weekend Salacious Saturday? Maybe the OSU v. Michigan weekend or Oregon v. USC?
headley lamar
July 18th, 2011
2:28 pm
So, $312 should not command a “give back” of a championship…ya think?
It wasnt the $312 dollars. It was the lying about it after the fact and trying to coach the players on what to say.
George Stein
July 18th, 2011
2:30 pm
Actually, I don’t recall anywhere in the report that said Tech lied, Headley.
OK, so we love college football. But WHY do we still love it? – Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) | USA Baseball America
July 18th, 2011
2:35 pm
[...] post by webmaster@technorati.com and software by Elliott Back Comments [...]
Beast from the East
July 18th, 2011
2:36 pm
“You mean a ship loaded with more criminal arrests (31 in four years under Meyer) of their football players than any other university?”
Larry,
Yes. Foley has nothing to do with that. We’re talking NCAA violations. Try and keep up.
ACC Champs: my T-shirt doesn't lie!
July 18th, 2011
2:36 pm
failure to cooperate and playing a highly talented receiver Tech thought was eligible is not lying…
RedandBlackDAWG
July 18th, 2011
2:36 pm
It is simply the game I like. There are really no more problems now than 10 years ago, just more media coverage and as long as you put on so much pressure and pay these coaches so much money, most are going to try and skirt the rules as much as necessary to keep the bucks coming.
I don’t know what the answer is, but I am sure I am not alone, in looking forward each year for my favorite team to play the game. It is football for me, and that is enough.
Old School
July 18th, 2011
2:38 pm
Good post Lowcountry Bulldawg, I have similar, great memories from growing up. There weren’t southern pro teams around to cheer for when my father and grandfather were young. It was always college football, it was what we all grew up with and what our autumn weekends were centered around. It still is today with my family, can’t wait!
USC GAMEC0CK
July 18th, 2011
2:42 pm
Frankly my dear….I CAN’T WAIT!!!
USC GAMEC0CK
July 18th, 2011
2:44 pm
The SEC cleaned up most of the “SLIME” when Lame Kiffen ran off to Southern Cal…frankly my dear…I hated to see him go.
chilidawg
July 18th, 2011
2:45 pm
Why do we love it? For the same reasons we love our country: Nostalgia and tradition. Even as we sprint towards socialism. It’s time to act, people.
Joey
July 18th, 2011
2:46 pm
Mark, when did UGA’s football program have a major violation since ‘85? I’m pretty sure that was the only time.
Mikey
July 18th, 2011
2:54 pm
I still love it, but I love it less and less every year. I preferred it when it was My Team vs. Your Team. I think the BCS has ruined it by turning it into a My Conference vs. Your Conference.
juvenal
July 18th, 2011
2:55 pm
can’t think of any one thing more constant my adult life—many other things have changed, but i still have trouble sleeping before the 1st game, that 1st opening kick-off makes my pulse pound……..
JT
July 18th, 2011
2:58 pm
Why do we still love college football? Because it’s the only football worth caring about. Broadly speaking, rivalries and passion in the NFL have largely been killed off by free agency whereas they are alive and still boiling hot in the college game. Though money and pressure it brings increasingly threatens to rip the whole thing apart.
JB
July 18th, 2011
3:02 pm
leaving early to the pro’s has really hurt the game. I would love to see some of these teams build a great team with 4 full years, like Stafford and Knowshon coming back. Dawgs would have been a different team if they would of played their senior year.
NC Dawg
July 18th, 2011
3:04 pm
Take your pick: fights, tripping in hockey, illegal, dangerous helmet hits and holding in the NFL, either “chin music” or, also dangerous, outright throwing at someone’s head in baseball, “enforcers” and extremely inept officiating in basketball, deliberately causing wrecks in NASCAR. Nobody’s really interested in the integrity of these sports. Not only that, groupies and their partakers abound in every sport. I don’t respect any professionals any more.
GT Alum
July 18th, 2011
3:05 pm
headley -
Actually, the title was stripped because an ineligible player played in the title game, not because the NCAA believes Tech tried to cover things up.
The probation and measures like that were the punitive measures for the alleged cover-up.
Paul's Finebaum
July 18th, 2011
3:06 pm
I love College Football for all the trash talking and insults college fans different teams/schools do to one another.
Also, it is so much fun to make fun of the LACK of “education” of UGA players.
ROLL !!!!!!!!!!!!
TIDE !!!!!!!!!!!!
OK, so we love college football. But WHY do we still love it? – Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) | Football
July 18th, 2011
3:06 pm
[...] Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) [...]
jay
July 18th, 2011
3:08 pm
Still,compared to professional sports, college football is virginal.
GEICO
July 18th, 2011
3:09 pm
RE: “WILL THIS BE ANOTHER LOSING SEASON FOR UGA?”
Did BOO Get Shot?
Hoopster
July 18th, 2011
3:09 pm
Actually GT Alum you are incorrect. Like many others have stated, Tech checked with the ACC and the NCAA and both organizations said both players were eligible to play. If you read the report and response document, this was an NCAA witch-hunt.
Fred
July 18th, 2011
3:11 pm
Unfortunately, one of the advantages of pro sports is a higher level of integrity than colleges, at least than major sports in college. For all the NFL’s issues, it does not have to pretend that its teams are anything but professional athletes–no “student-athletes” who are admitted only because of athletic ability and then take easy courses to remain eligible.
TDone
July 18th, 2011
3:14 pm
Who writes your by-lines?
sogadog
July 18th, 2011
3:15 pm
I hate to say it but it aint just college football.
GT Alum
July 18th, 2011
3:18 pm
Not sure why you’re picking on college football. Professional athletes get arrested on a regular basis, steroids in major sports as well as Olympic sports, labor disputes, players suing the league, officiating disputes, to the point that some suggest the leagues have conspiracies to help certain teams win, disputes between players and ownership or the commissioner’s office, beyond the CBA disputes. Not to mention $4 bottles of water.
Unfortunately, there’s plenty of ugliness in sports. I do sometimes wonder whether it’s worth it.
GT Alum
July 18th, 2011
3:21 pm
Hoopster -
Let me put it this way. That’s the NCAA’s reason why they’re stripping the title. Whether you put any stock in the NCAA’s penalties and reasons behind them is up to the individual.
Love is blind
July 18th, 2011
3:23 pm
Hey Mark, UGA didn’t go through an offseason of a bunch of arrests for TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS that made front page news for TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS like last year…..Did I mention to all the jerks that lambasted UGA for these arrests as sleazy criminal doings that most were for TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS. This year I guess they got their liscenses updated. Learned a little better that drinking and driving is not good (What a shock, kids drink?!!! and get in cars?!!) and put their scooters away ( except for a certain DE).
But the off-season is not over yet.
Now, all you UGA bashers who want to compare shootings, robberies,rapes, and murders to TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS and whistle about their favorite glass house school, enjoy your oral masturbation.
I’d say it was a good year thus far, Mark!
Ramblinwreck83
July 18th, 2011
3:24 pm
Realistic fan
July 18th, 2011
1:52 pm
“The arrogance is unmatched”
You have just matched it unrealistic fan.
headley lamar
July 18th, 2011
3:25 pm
Whether you put any stock in the NCAA’s penalties and reasons behind them is up to the individual.
I got 20 bucks you’d have alot more stock in their reasons if it was UGA in trouble.
Chip Folendore
July 18th, 2011
3:33 pm
My question Mark is why the investigation of Tech was never reported before day sanctions were announced?
Red Clay Hound
July 18th, 2011
3:34 pm
Man I need to take a shower after reading this article.
Uuugghh...
July 18th, 2011
3:35 pm
Why do I love college football? Let’s look at the other options:
NFL Football: WAY too many commercials–can hardly get into the game anymore. The coverage now is more about the commercials than it is the contest happening. I think now they interrupt the commercials to bring us 40 seconds of football. If you go to the game, you know what they show on the big screen during commercial time-outs? You guessed it: commercials. You can’t escape them–not even at the stadium.
NBA Basketball–Too long–way too many games. Season lasts from October to July. Wow. Also–I can not identify with a single player. Most exciting play? A Dunk. Happens 30 times a night for both teams. I don’t ever need to see another dunk…or another basketball game.
NHL Hockey–Season too long but oddly only about 8 of those games are televised. No home team anymore–apparently the NHL just does not need my interest. Hint Taken!
Baseball–Season too long. What are they going to prove in 162 games they haven’t proven in 50? It is fun to go to the Ted…but there is a baseball game on virtually every single night from April to November. Too much. (Except for Brian Wilson. The world needs more BW!)
March Madness (NCAA BB)–I know they have a whole season before march–but they might as well not have it. I tune in for a month then tune out. Having players stay for a single year is stupid–takes away from the game. See also problem with NBA called dunk.
Golf–will never be better than Caddyshack. Plus Tiger is not on the juice anymore blowing away the field. That was fun to watch. Now you have somebody you have never heard of winning every week. Great–I guess.
NASCAR–Greedy Track Owner took away the first Atlanta race to prove that Kentucky Speedway could totally mismanage the event and put on a totally boring race that the drivers complained about. Too many cookie cutter 1.5 mile flat tracks + car of tomorrow has made most races boring. Sponsors have driven out all of the most entertainingly fiery driver conflicts and rivalries. NASCAR has literally grown itself out of being interesting. Kudos.
Soccer–You have to pay a premium to watch soccer regularly here. I do…and I do. Their method of buying and selling players is much more market based than the NFL/NBA/NHL scheme. I wish there was some sort of relegation/promotion scheme in some of these other sports that have spread themselves too thin. EPL is much more interesting to me than everything but NCAA Football.
Which reminds me, time to pick up the new NCAA Football game for PS3…it is a July ritual that lets me know the season is coming. Next, I’ll buy some overpriced magazines that give opinions about every team and I will read them all 2-3 time before the first game. Then I will over pay for a new jersey for my son and a new cap for me. Then it starts! There are just enough games to make each one count. None of the other sports are near as exciting as college football to me!
GT Alum
July 18th, 2011
3:35 pm
headley -
I honestly haven’t read the full documents and am therefore trying not to veer too far one way or the other. I wasn’t saying that so much for myself as for Hoopster and the rest that feel that this was a NCAA witch hunt.
Even having heard the highlights of both sides, I have a hard time declaring Tech’s complete innocence in this. Tech’s rebuttals could be dismissed by skeptics as sidestepping responsibility. And since I was skeptical of other schools’ dismissal of the NCAA’s claims against them, I’d be a hypocrite if I dismissed the accusations against Tech without knowing all the facts.
GT Alum
July 18th, 2011
3:36 pm
headley -
And I bet you’d be saying the accusations were a load of crap if it was UGA in trouble, so perhaps you shouldn’t cast too many stones.
MC
July 18th, 2011
3:38 pm
GT Alum maybe you need to go back and read ‘How the Case Unfolded’.
Obviously the NCAA felt that GT did everything in it’s power to impede the investigation. Just the fact that Radakovich told PJ and PJ went straight to the player tells me that GT got off lucky in actuality. And then there was the “get our stories straight” meeting with Drad, PJ, the compliance guy, AND the players. Being so sanctimonious when you get caught cheating AGAIN makes you look absolutely stupid.
techfan
July 18th, 2011
3:39 pm
You could have kept going with issues like the BCS and oversigning. College football is really just a very scummy sport at this point. Unfortunately it’s a sport I love to watch and i’m not going anywhere. It’s like being the victim in an abusive relationship.
Uuugghh...
July 18th, 2011
3:40 pm
Dude…really?
Beast from the East
July 18th, 2011
3:41 pm
“It’s like being the victim in an abusive relationship.”
LOL! Pretty funny observation, techfan.
Love is blind
July 18th, 2011
3:43 pm
Mark, It’s nice to have had a year thus far with no arrests for TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS at UGA.
Of course most of the arrests that made front page news last year were for TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS.
So, i guess they updated their liscenses, decided drinking and driving (at least getting caught for all you glass house people) was not good. And Jeez people, kids drinking and getting in cars, what a freakin shock! Adults, maybe even you reading this, do it.
Even parked their scooters, except for a certain DE.
But did I mention those arrests were for mostly TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS!
Now the off-season isn’t over yet, but it’s good to not have had an off-season of TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS. And all you UGA bashers that want to compare shootings, robberies, rapes, and murders to being arrested for TRAFFIC TICKETS, go look to your glass house school.
Thanks Mark, looking forward to a great year!
Curious George
July 18th, 2011
3:44 pm
Is it really fair to accuse Coach Mark Richt of cheating just because he recruits fast-running CRIMINALS who he is not able to control, make behave, force to learn the alphabet or teach any manners or respect for other human beings?
MC
July 18th, 2011
3:45 pm
Then GT Alum read ‘How the Case Unfolded’ at that should make things crystal clear to you that GT is dirty in this latest incident.
juvenal
July 18th, 2011
3:45 pm
headley, you really want the nzaa hanging out that close to athens for 4 years? don’t want them hanging around anywhere close to atl, these players all know each other…….
Heath
July 18th, 2011
3:47 pm
I’m just biding time with the SEC until Kennesaw State gets going in 2014.
I WUV FOOBAW
July 18th, 2011
3:51 pm
My states school is better than your states school and that proves my state is better than your state.
And we get to party more because it’s better.
And that means more people like us because we’re better and we get better looking girls too.
And cause I live here and cheer for my state school that means I’m the best.
Yeah!!! GO ME
UGA Fan
July 18th, 2011
3:54 pm
When are we going to quit messing around and turn this into a cam newton/auburn hate fest?
I WUV FOOBAW
July 18th, 2011
3:56 pm
I miss u mama, I’m down here in that bad place for all the cheating I did.
Signed, Bear B.
gt45
July 18th, 2011
3:57 pm
Yeah, Mark, you are a horrible anus and writer. You can’t find anything bad on UGA?
Ok, Where's my comment Bradley?
July 18th, 2011
4:01 pm
Kennesaw St….YEEHAW or as the owl goes WHO
juvenal
July 18th, 2011
4:04 pm
Mark, you, Jeff, kincade, nobody notices dez cost osu nothing! glad to see the local media so reverant to the nzaa………at least one of espnu’s commentators called it a joke.which is a bigger sham, nzaa or fifa? hate it these bozos regurgitate, er, regulate my 2 favorite sports……..
Dawg Tired
July 18th, 2011
4:08 pm
Well Mark, I must admit I have lost some zest for the sport. When you can play a player or players who are clearly ineligible under conference rules and not only receive no punishment, but actually get both the conference and the NCAA to allow the player of players to play, it is completely dumbfounding. One team ends up winning the NC and the other wins the Sugar Bowl. Yikes!
What’s the point in keeping the rules? So you later get stripped of wins, etc. Do you think Auburn fans will ever say they didn’t win the 2010 NC? Not a chance. Will OSU fans admit they lost the Sugar owl? I don’t think so. Heck, their fans actually come on here and criticize UGA’s football program. Beam me up Scotty!
GeoffDawg
July 18th, 2011
4:10 pm
That’s like asking why we love pretty girls in sun dresses. It just feels right.
…Now, why tech fans love college football, I have no idea.
ASG = JERKS
July 18th, 2011
4:13 pm
Yeah, the stuff with Cam is a bit much. The NCAA put its head in the sand there and for THE Ohio State – tech cheats and they lose their title LOL.
Integrity runs this State
July 18th, 2011
4:19 pm
`
The Georgia Southern University Eagles and the Georgia State University Panthers are currently the two best college football programs in this State.
Both teams had winning records and very few disciplinary problems, whereas 6-7 GT and 6-7 UGA appear to be getting worse (poorer quality and lower standards).
.
Stinger2
July 18th, 2011
4:21 pm
Mark: Get you facts straight. GT did not let an ineligible player participate. The report said he may have been ineligible. A big difference. You have been obviously biased in all you have written about this incident. Pitiful reporting.
South Georgia Guy
July 18th, 2011
4:24 pm
If the NFL and NBA had true minor leagues college football and basketball would be cleaner games. College baseball is a much cleaner game due to the major league draft including high school players.If you are good enough at 18 and not interested in a college education you can go pro and not “fake it” for a few years in college.Yes, the level of play would decrease in college football and basketball,but I would like the players more.I believe ticket sells would not decrease.
DawginLex
July 18th, 2011
4:27 pm
Next big headline
John Jenkins tells NCAA investigators that Auburn offered him cash to sign with them.
DawginLex
July 18th, 2011
4:30 pm
http://espn.go.com/blog/pac12/post/_/id/23264/usc-rb-tyler-suspended-for-comments
Anybody want to compare reasons as to why USC’s running back was suspended versus why ours was?
RiffRaff
July 18th, 2011
4:31 pm
I think the whole NCAA probe into this is overblown and the punishment should fit the crime. Wow, $312 for some clothes and then a couple of administrators not giving the NCAA Nazi police what they felt owed to them? Silly. Give the players back the ACC Championship. They earned it.
Go Dawgs!
Mark...your byline seems incorrect
July 18th, 2011
4:32 pm
It is offensive! Please change!
tim
July 18th, 2011
4:32 pm
We love college football becausre they’re not ALL thugs YET……..
" Hot " seat
July 18th, 2011
4:42 pm
Gotta beat Boise State in the Georgia Dome with very little depth at the running back and offensive lineman positions.
*All-Involved
July 18th, 2011
4:44 pm
I can’t wait ’til *AU gets theirs. I’m ashamed to be in the same conference with those folks. They’re going to fall hard and I’m going to laugh mightily when it happens.
RiffRaff
July 18th, 2011
4:51 pm
Handful of Boise State flaws. This seems to be their consensus:
Replacing Austin Pettis and Titus Young at wide receiver
Complete lack of experience in the kicking game
Losing Bryan Harsin
A void at strong safety
Starting two newbies on the right side of the O-line
Playing in a brand new conference against brand new teams
Old Dawg
July 18th, 2011
4:55 pm
It’s ugly everywhere. A fight broke out during a high school 7-on-7 game in Chattanooga Saturday, with fans running onto the field to participate in the fracas.
My season ticket money is going to Div. III Sewanee this year. They don’t win very much, but it’s still college football at one of the oldest stadiums in the South. And they serve wine at communion every Sunday!
As bad as I hate to say it...
July 18th, 2011
4:56 pm
I dont LOVE it anymore. For 40 years college football was my passion, but money has ruined it. The NCAA props ups some schools the same way our government props up certain businesses. ESPN is the master scheduler today, and kids who arent qualified to enter a university are accepted because they run fast or catch a ball. Those kids rarely graduate, and if they dont continue to run fast, the scholarship is simply not renewed. College football has gotten ugly. I wont be arranging my Saturday’s around it anymore
Really Confused
July 18th, 2011
4:59 pm
Mark,
Let me get this straight. The NCAA says “don’t tell the coach, but also don’t play the player” …That makes no sense. He BTW wasn’t found to be ineligible. I have no idea where that crawled into your head. Ineligible by ways of perks from agents is by no means “what would be a secondary violation.” That’s a major offense. They haven’t learned anything new about his involvement since the first interview to suggest that he was ineligible. If they had enough then to rule him ineligible, they would have, but they didn’t. They have no new information 20 months later, so obviously they have no new grounds to say he was ineligible and they haven’t. Read the report dude. It basically says we didn’t find anything, we are pissed, we think that it’s because you told your coach. How do you suspend a player for the rival and post season games without telling that player or coach why? Please, Mark, tell me. Your logic is wild! Some punishment, yes, but title stripping, NO WAY.
Bob
July 18th, 2011
5:00 pm
You could hear the sphincters puckering in Columbus OH when the GT penalties were handed down. The NCAA is out to make examples of schools after they it sank in that they got flim-flammed by $Cam and the Rev Moneyman Newton.
VININGSDAWG
July 18th, 2011
5:01 pm
DawginLex, Tell me how Auburn has cheated? The NCAA has looked for ten months and the NCAA President has even said on three different occasions that they looked at Auburn and the recruitment of Cam Newton and have found no wrongdoing. Gene Chizik is too smart to confront the NCAA Director of Enforcement without knowing the answer, and that being they are clean. The current investigation is ongoing due to Miss. St.
Auburn’s compliance department is led by Rich McGlynn is the best in the business. He was hired by Auburn directly from the NCAA where he was Asst Director of Enforcement.
I am an 85 grad of UGA and 88 grad of UGA Law. I have worked with a firm in the past that does work with NCAA compliance issues. There is nothing involving Auburn and the Cam Newton issue.
CharlieAlphaBravo
July 18th, 2011
5:03 pm
Woo!! College Football!!! It’s almost gameday, woo– Wait, what was this article about again??
tech Fan
July 18th, 2011
5:05 pm
I loved college football when “school spirit,” “student athlete,” and “amateurism” really meant something.
The sport I loved has been “prostituted” and “pimped” by the School Presidents, NCAA, AD’s, Coaches, and Agents.
“Absolute Power” corrupts “Absolutely.” $$$ is the Absolute corruptor. College Football is “Absolutely” corrupted.
Blazerdawg
July 18th, 2011
5:07 pm
Valdosta State runs this state. National Champions 2004 & 2007!
Really Confused
July 18th, 2011
5:09 pm
You should freaking apologize for your pathetic reporting. You sound like Obama telling half truths. “may have been” and “having been” ineligible are NOT the same statement!! By your logic, Ohio State and UNC should just not be allowed to field a football for the next 20 years and pay the NCAA the equivalent of our nations debt. Just way off on this one buddy. The NCAA got nothing and should go troll around other schools that actually are known for their cheating. They shouldn’t have to go far. Someone tell me how Mark Richt “pocket dials” a couple recruits every year? He does it on purpose and then reports it as a 2ndary violation because he knows nothing will happen…We’ve all seen picture of him wearing one of those stupid phone clip things on his belt…not a pocket and is a pretty good solution for that simple problem, but yet he always manages to pocket dial 1 5 star recruit every year…
tech Fan
July 18th, 2011
5:13 pm
Mark, bullseye on this article…….
BG
July 18th, 2011
5:17 pm
Cam got all the $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
ncDOUBLEa
July 18th, 2011
5:21 pm
Steve Spurrier suggested the Head Coaches pay players $300 per game, but $312 in clothing for an entire season is deemed excessive.
Integral
July 18th, 2011
5:23 pm
I don’t enjoy/watch/care anywhere near as much as I used to about college football and basketball. Unreasonable game times driven by TV. Unenforced rules in basketball, i. e. traveling. One and dones. Coaches salaries have risen astronomically while the players benefit remains the scholarship.
Buckeye
July 18th, 2011
5:27 pm
Where else would Miller Lite, Bud Lite and ESPN/Sportscenter advertise on Saturdays?
Dawg Tell
July 18th, 2011
5:28 pm
Why do I love college football? It started as a kid growing up in Atlanta playing touch football in the park and on the streets.We would imitate Lenny Snow or Kim King at GT.Friends would go to Grant field on Saturdays trying to get cheap seats so we could see our heroes play.Than my older sister dated some Tech players and I was around the talk and personal contact with them.Saw the excitement on Saturdays and after the games.Read the AJC on Sunday.I could not wait to see what Furman and Jesse wrote about my Yellow Jackets.Than the big change came when some of my high school buddies went to UGA.First trip to Athens,love at first site.Became a Dawg fan in 1970.Saturdays in Athens. No words can explain it.Red and Black colors surround the fall leaves and my Dawg fans having good time at the game and afterwards. Yes college football has received a black eye,but it comes from the love of money;not the game.Hopefully kids will continue to love the game as it should be and not for the almighty dollar.
bucket
July 18th, 2011
5:34 pm
@ Beast – Foley better hope the NCAA doesn’t listen to Mr. Crowder’s radio show in Miami. He was doing some of the same stuff Green and Pryor got busted for. It happens everywhere and I honestly think too much is made of players selling their own property.
ToccoaDawg
July 18th, 2011
5:38 pm
If I was a Kentucky alumni like Bradley I wouldn’t like the NCAA either
RiffRaff
July 18th, 2011
5:44 pm
Cheerleaders.
Between the hedges.
Randy Rhino.
Pigskin Pick in the ajc.
Vince Dooley.
Cheerleaders in sweaters.
Antics of Pepper Rodgers.
Listening to Larry Munson.
A kid named Herschel.
“The Rambling Wreck.”
More Cheerleaders.
A special jersey I got at the JV game as a kid.
Furman Bisher’
Jeff Pyburn.
Bobby Dodd Stadium.
Hotdogs and a Coke.
Did I mention Cheerleaders??
Football Bat
July 18th, 2011
5:47 pm
I think the term “cheating” is a little harsh. he didn’t cheat on a term paper or didn’t cheat on the field. I realize the definition of cheating is “to violate rules or regulations”, do you think that’s a little harsh? And I disagree w/ the assessment that it’s worse than it was in the 80’s. The internet and mobile phones allow us to see and hear just about everything now a days. But hey, that’s my opinion, and you ‘re entitled to yours.
macrotech
July 18th, 2011
5:47 pm
headley lamar, are you saying that you’re a FAN of the ncaa? Explains a lot if you are!
ToccoaDawg
July 18th, 2011
5:47 pm
RiffRaff don’t forget the cheerleaders in short skirts
RiffRaff
July 18th, 2011
5:50 pm
ToccoaDawg – Nice, I thought I was missing one more…..
goober
July 18th, 2011
5:55 pm
We’re all a bunch of whores, Bradley. We who watch it, and ye who cover it.
LawDawg
July 18th, 2011
6:00 pm
“A lot of fans would rather see their team get a big commitment than score a touchdown on Saturday.”
Not true.
Also, the Big whatever in the midwest and the Pac10 are just as slimy as the SEC, they just aren’t as good at the football part.
Timbo
July 18th, 2011
6:02 pm
Roll Tide
BCWRECK
July 18th, 2011
6:03 pm
Mark,
How did Tech cheet?
Have you ever gone 36mph in a 35 zone? That is what Tech did.
And then the cop arrested them because they didn’t look at him the right way.
Timbo
July 18th, 2011
6:04 pm
Right on RiffRaff!
Timbo
July 18th, 2011
6:07 pm
How can you not love Larry Munson. This from a diehard Tide fan.
bamaguy
July 18th, 2011
6:08 pm
tech fan: I think the demise of college football can be traced directly to ESPN and other sports stations. College football was corrupted when the institutions stood to make millions and millions from TV revenue. It is also what fuels the CEO like salaries of coaches.
When I was at Alabama in the 70’s, there was “abc Game of the Week with Keith Jackson” and radio. BIg time schools managed to break even financially so that the university didn’t have to subsidize the football program. I remember it being all over the Birmingham News in Alabama’s 1978 National Championship year when Bear Bryant turned in a couple of million dollars to the President because it was left over after all the bills were paid.
That’s what changed college football.
Timbo
July 18th, 2011
6:09 pm
Give it up Mark. You’ve been writing for the AJC for almost 30 years living in the Deep South and you dare ask the question? PUHLEEZE….
Born2Buzz
July 18th, 2011
6:11 pm
Recent email conversation with an Auburn buddy:
Me:
We (GT) wanted to be like the big boys, SEC and Big 10/12 schools, but sadly all we could do was give a guy 2 jackets worth $312. We got a slap and had to vacate the ACC title.
Auburn guy:
Don’t talk to me until you get to the $50k per player range.
Me:
I don’t think the ACC salary cap is as high as the SEC’s.
Auburn guy:
Hey, you gotta face facts. $50k is what it takes for an all SEC player. Get a few of those and you get close to a conference championship. Get a $95k DL and a $180k QB and your talking National Championship.
And you know what, no matter what the NCAA ends up doing, it was totally worth it.
LawDawg
July 18th, 2011
6:11 pm
I would also just like to point out that the commentariat does not seem to understand the meaning of the word “thug.” It is not “thuggish” to sell a jersey or take money from a booster. Arguably wrong, but not thuggish. Thuggish is usually associated with violence and the ridiculous overuse of the word on these pages has essentially stripped it of all meaning and leaves a deficit when seeking to talk about people doing actual thuggish things.
Beano Cook Fan Club
July 18th, 2011
6:16 pm
College football needs to disband the NCAA and put Mr. Beano Cook in charge.
black sheep
July 18th, 2011
6:17 pm
WDE awburn motto
WDE we deny everything SEC motto
Big Money
July 18th, 2011
6:22 pm
$312 divided by 14 games equals $22.29 per game.
Can’t even by a ticket for that.
Mark (another one)
July 18th, 2011
6:22 pm
When the FBI tells the NCAA to stop interfering in an investigation, I bet the NCAA stops. Auburn’s alumni are being investigated by the FBI, and the NCAA has no choice but to wait for the investigation to finish. They can use whatever information the FBI makes public or that comes out in the court cases. The NCAA investigation isn’t closed, but it is probably on hold waiting for the FBI.
Tech’s infraction was minor and would have amounted to nothing except they didn’t cooperate with the NCAA, of which they are a member. Nothing was criminal and the incident was isolated. The failure to cooperate fully was the biggest issue, and Tech paid dearly.
The Auburn and Tech cases are completely different, but I feel sorry for the players at both schools that kept their noses clean yet will pay for the past issues. This is the real issue with the NCAA. They can’t go after players or coaches in a meaningful way (see Jerry Tarkanian) so they have to hammer the school, usually after the offenders are gone. This will continue until the member institutions decide to do something.
These Universities make coaches and players sign agreements that require them to abide by NCAA rules. In return, coaches and players receive either pay or scholarships. The Universities need to sue the violators and the NCAA needs to make this mandatory for all member institutions. Then, no one will want to cheat.
This NCAA vs. the Universities is crap. The Universities collectively are the NCAA. Until the NCAA and the schools figure this out, cheating will continue. Think about the penalties Pryor, Bush and Mayo are paying. Will Cam get away scott free as well?
black sheep
July 18th, 2011
6:23 pm
VININGSDAWG I think I will believe the NCAA lady rather than your next door, step-brother in law rumor.Thanks for playing though.
black sheep
July 18th, 2011
6:30 pm
VININGSDAWG http://bleacherreport.com/tb/babHA
Also, it’s not surprising that the SEC is upset that this story was leaked to the press. We all remember that the SEC sat on the Cam Newton story for over 6 months before MSU finally passed it on to the NCAA after our illustrious commissioner, Mike Slive, would not do so. He should have been fired or at least reprimanded by the SEC for his omission and cover up.
nc double a
July 18th, 2011
6:31 pm
Auburn North Carolina, and Ohio State are in for a rude awakening.
TECHREDNECK
July 18th, 2011
6:31 pm
I don’t know why we all love it so much. I guess when our team wins we feel like we’re winners. If they play tough ball, we think we’re tough. If they are National Champions, we feel we’re National Champions. I’ve lost alot of interest lately because of all the B.S. that goes with it. And its hard for me to hate other programs. I have so many friends and relatives that attended other colleges.
Old Blind Dawg
July 18th, 2011
6:33 pm
Congress is worse. The president’s lack of leadership is worse. The Atlanta School System is worse. The IRS is worse. I could go on but my fingers are tired.
black sheep
July 18th, 2011
6:39 pm
Old Blind Dawg And you are worse!!
Bulldog Joe
July 18th, 2011
6:39 pm
Like NCAA basketball is any better…
Bulldog Joe
July 18th, 2011
6:48 pm
@Big Money,
If you pay $22.29 for Tech’s opener, you are paying way above market price.
http://www.stubhub.com/georgia-tech-football-tickets/georgia-tech-vs-western-carolina-9-1-2011-1054798/
tech Fan
July 18th, 2011
6:54 pm
bamaguy: Keith Jackson is my all-time favorite…..
Bear was the “MAN”, any money left over today would get carried out the back door…
Truly amazing how this NCAA system punishes players for their transgressions, then turns around and punishes the players again for coaches and staff transgressions, its the perfect system for coaches and administrators, the player is the only one with skin in the game…..WOW
Supersize that order, mutt
July 18th, 2011
7:02 pm
Old Blind Dawg, you and I are definitely in agreement on your last post.
Old Blind Dawg
July 18th, 2011
7:02 pm
Say what black sheep?
What on my list is incorrect?
Why ?
July 18th, 2011
7:03 pm
Why do people say nc double a when it is easier and faster to say ncaa ?
Why add another vowel as an abbreviation ?
Stupidy rules.
Old Blind Dawg
July 18th, 2011
7:04 pm
Super size as bad as college football has gotten it still offers an escape from all that is Washington D.C.
KING LEBRON
July 18th, 2011
7:05 pm
Mark Bradley,
LeBron Jams do not care for your question.
Axe me something else.
Supersize that order, mutt
July 18th, 2011
7:09 pm
Blind, I rarely find myself in agreement with a dawg, so this is a refreshing turn. lol
Heath
July 18th, 2011
7:20 pm
RiffRaff, my cousin Deborah was married to Jeff Pyburn when I was a kid. Wonder what he’s up to these days?
Really Mark
July 18th, 2011
7:25 pm
Mark,
How do you actually call yourself a journalist? With all the information at your finger tips, you accutally have the gall to write an article that is completely fiction in regards to Georgia Tech. Was Thomas ineligble or deemed ineligble by the NCAA? No they his was not. Georgia Tech was punished for the AD telling their Coach their player was going to interviewed? Does this acctually sound like outlandish behavior? The NCAA took this one way over board and you sir are adding false information. Please do you research, and head your next column “Sorry college football fans I was wrong”.
Old Blind Dawg
July 18th, 2011
7:48 pm
Super size I always try to stick to football and remain civil. The world is fooked enough without hurling insults at each other over a game. I will argue when innuendo or lies are stated as truth or fact – I get enough of that from politicians.
Oh yeah for the record I have 4 nephews and a brother in law that graduated GT and one niece that graduated UGA.
juvenal
July 18th, 2011
8:19 pm
something about your first love,,,in this country, very small % still with their college sweetheart……..never had a serious relationship with someone who wasn’t, or willing to be, a Techie-only mixed relationship i am opposed to……..(uneven yoking is tough, too)…..
juvenal
July 18th, 2011
8:24 pm
dauug tell–always hate it when someone turns to the darkside……..
Delbert D.
July 18th, 2011
8:34 pm
If nothing else, college football is a high-testosterone soap opera.
Alabama Jack
July 18th, 2011
9:05 pm
dumb ass sports writers are the underlying cause of all the problems.
George Stein
July 18th, 2011
9:22 pm
I’m pretty sure college football is a lot like pizza and sex – even it’s bad, it’s good.
Tired and Sick
July 18th, 2011
9:24 pm
Really Mark You better go read the report- Tech did more than that
GatormanATL
July 18th, 2011
9:52 pm
Let’s see … you select 9 instances. There are 110+ D1 teams, each playing 11-12 games last year. That’s 1200 games in 2010 not counting the 500 bowl games played in Dec-Jan.
You add Champ Games, you include the 3 years priors, and you have about 5,000 football games played total.
Of that, you get 9 instances of misconduct.
This year is but a blip on the radar. I submit that the body of work by SMU or scUM is far far worse than all nine instances you quote.
Oh by the way, no way in hell a commit means more than a TD. Especially one like the one where UF beats Bama in the SECCG 2 years ago.
Mobile Dawg
July 18th, 2011
9:55 pm
B.J. Bennett
SouthernPigskin.com Senior Editor
Simply put, it’s different down here – just ask
former Heisman trophy
winner Frank Sinkwich.
“I’m from Ohio,” the University of Georgia legend
once said, “but if I’d known what it was like down
south, I would have crawled down here
on my hands and knees.”
Football in the south is an interesting beast. It’s
not a game, it’s not a pastime…it’s a way of life.
It’s a mixed drink of family,religion, politics and
pageantry, spiked with shotsof antagonism, arrogance
and pride.
Critics label our view of college football as naive
and tendentious.
Our response? We couldn’t agree more. Southerners
revel in regional bias, and why shouldn’t we? In the
south, we transform a vast picnic area into The Grove.
We see a stadium on the river and bring a Navy.
We take a plain desert stone and make it magic.
We have The Chop, The Chomp and The Ramblin’ Wreck. We
root for the same team as our dad, the same team as
his dad and say “to heck” with the team of your dad’s
dad. We call players by their first names, anyone on
the
athletic staff coach, and to the chagrin of media
pundits and those who just don’t understand, we say
“! we”.
Southern football is why my grandmother spent fall
Saturday’s in orange capris, blue reebok classics and
alligator jewelry and had a football card of Danny
Wuerffel taped to her dresser. It’s the same
reason why my mom can’t watch the fourth quarter,
my dad won’t watch the first quarter and my uncle and
his two sons have walked around Valdosta, Georgia with
a little more pep in their step since December 7th,
2002.
Southern football isn’t tailgating, it’s all-nighting.
It’s not about painting your face, it’s about painting
your chest. It’s not about grills, it’s about cookers.
Inside the stadium, you don’t talk to your neighbors,
you yell at them. Those around you aren’t strangers,
they’re 80,000 of your closest friends. You don’t go
on the road when you travel to see your team
play…you go home.
Down here, you’re not born a boy or a girl, you’re
born a Gamecock or Tiger. Down here, football is just
as entrenched in our culture as Jesus, sweet tea and
barbeque sandwiches. We say “Yes Ma’m” and “No
Sir”, but we also say “Roll Tide”, “War Eagle” and
“Pig Sooey”. Down here two plus two equals third down
and six. Southern football is why you drive through
Wrightsville, Georgia and see “The Home of Herschel
Walker” on Highway 15.
It’s why hundreds of adults in the state of Alabama
are named “Bear”. Southern football is Billy Cannon,
Bo Jackson and Archie, Eli and Peyton Manning. It’s
Bobby Bowden, Vince Dooley and the Ole’ Ball Coach.
It’s detergent boxes under toilet paper, frat boys in
team-colored pants – it’s Lynard Skynard and Molly
Hat chet in button-down shirts, Southern
Living with a cowboy hat; it’s a clash of styles
that produces a scene often imitated but never
duplicated. Ever.
The setting? So picturesque you don’t want to touch
it, yet so enthralling you just can’t let it go. It’s
a
similar one in Knoxville, Tennessee, Starkville,
Mississippi and Blacksburg,Virginia, and it has been
for years. Southern football is Erk Russell joking,
“we don’t cheat at Georgia Southern, that costs money
and we don’t have any.” It’s John Heisman saying,
“it’s better to have died as a young boy
than to fumble the football.” It’s Bobby Dodd saying
he’d rather face the lions in the colesium than the
Tigers in Baton Rouge. It’s Clemson fans stating they
would rather be on probation than lose to
Furman.
The players, the coaches and the rivalries are
captivating here in the south. Florida-Georgia weekend
causes more people to call in sick on Monday morning
than the stomach flu and strep
throat, Alabama-Auburn divides households,
neighborhoods and the entire state, and The Egg Bowl
is a true late November fixture. The storylines are
just
as alluring. Think “The Choke at Doak”, “Lindsay
Scott!!” or the 1961 Clemson-South Carolina game where
a group of USC students impersonated the Tiger
football team in pre-game warm-ups, catering to the
crowd and the band before flopping all over the field
and mocking Clemson’s agricultural background with
milking hand-motions.
Though the press tries to hype the last week in the
regular season as rivalry week, every week is rivalry
week in the south.
Something down here makes this game different.
College football has a legitimate influence on state
governments, a major affect on commerce and local
economies and is the lifeblood and pulse of God’s
country. Perhaps former Tennessee Volunteer radio
personality George Mooney put it best.
“Southerners are proud of their football heritage,
their schools, and their teams. And they share a deep
pride that goes with being from the South,” he said.
It’s a match made, and currently outplayed, in
heaven.
OK, so we love college football. But WHY do we still love it? - Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) | NCAA Time
July 18th, 2011
10:23 pm
[...] is the original: OK, so we love college football. But WHY do we still love it? – Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) Tags: 100, 885, function-ctu, image, not-want, notice, previous, previous-page, return-false, [...]
jarvis
July 18th, 2011
10:25 pm
1998 champion? Like it was yesterday?
Gordon
July 18th, 2011
10:29 pm
Thomas WAS NOT ineligible for the ACC Championship Game, or any other game Tech played. That is a fact. The punishment Tech received was ridiculous. I will be very disappointed if we don’t appeal.
gtkenz
July 18th, 2011
11:35 pm
Mr. Bradley,
For starters, cheating much like sin is not categorized, but you ain’t God and neither are we. Let’s not make any mistakes here. GT in its long and glorious tradition has never engaged in the type of cheating that runs amuck in College Sports. And when it comes to honesty, the white hats in the flats can never be confused with the black hats in Athens………..the birth place of cheating.
GT has no Jan Kemp, no basketball 101 for play (with answers), and we have certainly never had nearly 1/5 of the football team arrested between spring practice and fall arrivals.
Enjoy the story, all $314 bucks of it.
Jorg'e O'leary
July 18th, 2011
11:39 pm
Hey realistic fan, go back to powdering UGA’s mascots balls fake tech fan. P.s. 7-6 CUSA rules you loser!!
just asking
July 18th, 2011
11:56 pm
any chance any of you reporters with AJC can ask the NCAA why did they not rule GT had an ineligible player before the 2009 game? Instead of waiting a year and a half later? Why didn’t the NCAA start shouting from the rooftop with they saw Demaryius Thomas go out on the field after the kickoff on Dec 6 2009 vs Clemson? If GT notified the ACC and NCAA plus has the clothes with the tags stils on them, what is the problem? Sounds like the NCAA interviewed Thomas and coerced him into answers. Thomas probably thought they(NCAA) was on his side like they were trying to find out if someone posing as a friend was really an agent who they wanted to go after and encouraged Thomas to agree with them instead.
What kills me is that you MARK yes you and your coworkers should be asking the NCAA these exact questions instead of pointing your finger at GT? These questions I presented are valid. YOU ARE THE HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER, DO YOUR JOB FOR A CHANGE
HardTruth Soldier
July 19th, 2011
12:16 am
In the real world(people who work) taking from a store requires over 500 dollars to be deemed a felony, so why is Tech being slapped around(can’t believe I’m defending them) like a cheap slut? I mean(Free Shoes University) was cheating like dogs in the 90;s along with there in state rivals Felony University. That’s FSU, and Florida for the mentally challenged. and nothing happened to them. Georgia fans don’t even want this, so we can say we kicked ya’lls behind cleanly. MB good article, and you and Georgia hating Jeff Schultz keep bringing it daily, it keeps me entertained daily. To Bad Terrance Moore ain’t in this, it would have to be pay per view newspaper reading read what he has to say.
Pig Farmers Local 42
July 19th, 2011
12:26 am
Im a Tech fan. That beiung said, until colleges REMOVE the UNCK-bohmahnganies from the sport, we will always have the discpline problems. Some kids have not/shall not/ will not abide by the rules bc/ their dads aint around and thier moms are lookin for the next paycheck. Need I say more? BTW if it wasnt for footbal these kids would be mowin yards or breakin in houses……….Go Jackets!
TheAntiMe
July 19th, 2011
12:29 am
Because it’s football!
TheAntiMe
July 19th, 2011
12:32 am
And, because we don’t have to listen to Ledbetter going on about what a hotshot he thinks he is.
ScottBravesFan
July 19th, 2011
12:51 am
I’m done with college sports. At least pro sports tell you up front they are in it for the money. College sports like to pretend that they are doing it for love of school or state. It’s all a joke. Like the running back from USC who just got suspended because he said that USC players get paid better than pro’s. He said he was joking but let’s be honest there was some truth in what he said.
gtdrake
July 19th, 2011
12:57 am
to all you idiots who declare Tech cheaters and liars…
FALSE! thomas was NOT ineligible you morons. He was under investigation. D Rad even consulted the ACC before playing thomas. Mark rich would have done the same thing. Seriously, you call us cheaters, but in reality it was nothing. You want cheaters, look at unc, auburn, ohio state, etc. Geez, read the whole story first before making ridiculous accusations…
Pongo
July 19th, 2011
1:20 am
I’m sorry, I gave up on college football 5 years ago and haven’t missed it. The NCAA has completely lost control of the recruiting process and hasn’t figured out how to handle even texting and the internet. Until they come out with a playoff, I won’t be back! The NFL is much cleaner.
legionaire
July 19th, 2011
5:43 am
The NCAA does not allow for common sense. Is it common sense to expect kids recruited from a poor familes to not allow them some pocket money while in school? Players are not allowed to have a part time jobs. When I was at UGA in the 50’s players got $40 a month in “laundry” money. Players were allowed part time jobs when not playing ball. I don’t know if Tech cheated or not but doesn’t the fact that an entire team is punished for something so trivial devoid of common sense or worse just not fair to the players who sweated their collective ass off and took the pounding in order to make Tech and the NCAA millions.
tenn.DAWG
July 19th, 2011
6:37 am
Fulmer Cup is wide open.
CentralFLDawg
July 19th, 2011
6:42 am
Mark…well said; for fans of college football, the season for selective awareness begins.
The good is so good…memories, back to the campus, game day excitement, old friends…and, annually, ‘next year’ has finally arrived.
But, the bad is creating severe cognitive dissonance…the heart says it’s wonderful, the mind says ‘what a hell of a mess!’
What’s the solution? Probably only two unappealing options: 1) Adopt Div III (or whatever it’s called these days.) No scholarships or jock dorms. Playing football would be just like joining the geology club. 2) Recognize college football for what it is, a semi-pro money machine. Pay stipends, royalties. No classes during the season.
But, in the meantime we will dwell in this conflicted purgatory, hold our nose, deny or ignore the ugly realities and enjoy the 4 hours every week with the mind numb and the heart full.
steve brown
July 19th, 2011
7:12 am
Most NFL players last 3-4 years in the league and then deal with a screwed up life. Why do I get the feeling that most big time college football players don’t really belong in college and fare just as poorly afterward as NFL’ers.
Gen Neyland
July 19th, 2011
7:19 am
Classroom cheating by student-athletes or money passing hands to players and/or parents may constitute the need for the NCAA to hand out their Golden Hammer Award’s to college athletic programs. Other than that, I’m a bit suspect of their power…
chazzo
July 19th, 2011
7:20 am
Don’t you think it is a sign of bigger things than football. Our society accepts cheating. There is no regulation, no proactive investigations. We just want to win. Right? And, if a coach decided to raise the academic standards and only recruit A and B students, only offer scholarships after players are there for a year and earn them, and immediately kick anyone off the team that looked sideways…. How long do you think that coach would last?
So many of these posters argue about honesty out of one side of their mouths and argue about not competing for great players out of the other.
Let’s face it there are a bunch of college fans who would be thrilled to death to have a dirty rotten, cheating coach who won championships as long as he didn’t get caught.
I hated Kiffin, but let’s face it, had he been at UGA, I would have liked him and most likely defended his shananigans.
The BCS is worthless. It was always a money-making scheme. Play-offs would help. It’s always going to be a dirty business, though. Sorry, I remember Jacky Sherill, Frank Ford, Charlie Pell, and Johnny Majors too well.
Otter
July 19th, 2011
7:28 am
Thanks for the downer Mark… just what we all needed.
arch
July 19th, 2011
7:29 am
yes, why do we still love it…when coaches continue to sign irresponsible, lazy, cheating, nonethical kids that either, rob, steal, lie, drink & drive, evade parking tickets/law, court appearances,burglarize, break team rules, break ncaa rulles(jersey’s, clothes, rings,etc). Would rather see them sign a lesser athlete with better character; so what if they’re still 6-7??!!
not loving it so much anymore
Sometimes you make it hard for me to care. | Get The Picture
July 19th, 2011
7:37 am
[...] that’s not how I feel after reading one little dung nugget in Mark Bradley’s latest attempt at passive-aggressive observation of the world that helps pay his bills. … College football [...]
Thomas Brown
July 19th, 2011
7:38 am
Cognitive dissonance
Mark Bradley
is what you sir, practice changing the subject so quickly from 4 years PROBATION for Georgia tek yet AGAIN in FOOTBALL back-to-back in your last blog.
A blog I note if you will that from November 11, 2009 until AFTER The NCAA announced July 14, 2011 had not one word about Georgia tek and their cover-up with your personal assistance Mark Bradley sir.
chazzo
July 19th, 2011
7:41 am
Make the rules simple: No contact with players prior to completion of their senior season. No gifts, money, or promises from anyone coach or not. Pay rewards to recruits who report violations. If it’s some jaggoff agent not affiliated with the U, then he goes to jail.
Bust them early! Don’t penalize a bunch of legitimate players for what one player did a few years ago. Stripping titles is crap. As dirty as it may be, the majority of the players work hard, and this is it for them.
Thomas Brown
July 19th, 2011
7:53 am
Not around here, they don’t chazzo – work hard that is.
Around here, we are 3-9 vs the teams who finished Top 10 all 10 yrs
And, 10 more losses to teams who didn’t finish Top 25 all 10 yrs
That is not working hard, not at all.
Fan of the Game
July 19th, 2011
8:02 am
I’m quickly losing my likeness for College Football. I am afraid that everyone knows that college football and college basketball are two of the most corrupt outfits there are. We continue to sign players that we think can win us championships and have no regard for the integrity of the game or about what college athletics should be about. You use to have one, two or three players you gambled on and signed but now rosters are full of so called student athletes that have no business in college much less representing a university.
dtanner
July 19th, 2011
8:08 am
another thing i hate about college football now is these sorry ass non conferance games against non bcs schools look at UGA’S schedule now, charleston southern,georgia southern etc.,disgraceful
Columbus Dawg
July 19th, 2011
8:23 am
Hey Viningsdawg, I don’t know how old you are, or whether or not you have followed Auburn’s shady history, but there was never a drop off in Auburn’s pay-for-play from one instance of probation to another. Terry Bowden would not have done the interview implicating Stephen Davis and others after the Pat Dye fiasco. Auburn has been dirty since 1957 when they were on probation, could not even appear in a bowl game, but were named national champions by the media poll anyway. Goes to show you that the media did not just now become a crowd of idiots. Auburn did not get caught again until the 1970’s when the incredibly intelligent Doug Barfield became coach, then came the eighty’s and the D.A. drunk pos Pat Dye’s era of cheating. Yep, caught again.
I’ll be glad to tell you how Auburn cheated. By giving cash money to football recruits, and players who were already on Auburn’s campus, that’s how. As far as the NCAA’s current investigation of Auburn football, that is what it is, an investigation into Auburn football’s pay-for-play scheme, which has yielded many Auburn players cash money, and not just Cameron Newton or his pos father. Everyone who speaks of the Auburn football investigation refers to it as the “Cam Newton” investigation, but there will be players implicated that no one ever thought about when it comes to light.
Bottom line is that Auburn has NEVER stopped paying players, in any decade since old Shug was in charge, this time however, they will be hammered by a different breed of the NCAA, one that is trying to get some credibility back.
GT
July 19th, 2011
8:34 am
Southern college football and church are about the only two public gatherings that you can take your kids to anymore. It becomes a family tradition. The north has it in pro sports but the crowds are not like college football where there is enough sprinkling of college grads that the mob is generally civil. You have the idiots at the Georgia game that urinates on the sidewalk in front of your daughter, but when confronted he is at least apologetic and your daughter is embarrassed you confronted him.
I do believe college football is on a decline. Not in the south but the rest of the country. What we don’t understand as we pull for our teams is if they don’t have competition and are in an isolated world of greatness that is not good. And the sport is good where the least population and money is. Watch what happens when Ohio State, Notre Dame and Southern Cal are no longer in the picture. The real alumni will stay but the subway alumni will disappear. Sponsors will be less interested. I don’t think the game is as healthy as Brad would lead us to believe. Now that the NCAA has seen fit to throw the book at lowly Tech which in general is closer to Vanderbilt than Alabama, they about have to do something really radical to Ohio State. Is that good for the game? Interesting times.
Eddie
July 19th, 2011
8:38 am
Because we love seeing the Georgia players lying on the ground and the Georgia coaches staring at their feet as opponents’ players, fans, and coaches celebrate.
We see this all the time and still, we can’t get enough of it, Mark.
GT
July 19th, 2011
8:39 am
College football is not as healthy as Brad would have us believe. Lets see what happen when Ohio State gets their probation. The NCAA have painted themselves in a corner and now about have to bomb OSU. If the richer and more populated parts of the country don’t field a football team and the rest are watered down with parity there will be and has been a negative result. Basketball just got there sooner but the cloud is coming for football.
Eddie
July 19th, 2011
8:42 am
We also enjoy seeing the sad look on the Georgia fans’ faces on TV.
yellow britches
July 19th, 2011
8:48 am
Mark, How did Tech “cheat”? Here is what I want the NCAA and the BCS to do for me. I went to the ACC championship game in Tampa. Cold. I went to the Orange Bowl in Miami. Colder still. The NCAA says these games did not occur. Tech didn’t win and Tech didn’t lose. There was no “do over”. Just nothing. However, my credit card and bank account says something happened. Namely, that I spent money for nothing. I WANT A REFUND!!!! OK.
Bodda Getta
July 19th, 2011
8:54 am
Jealousy can be an ugly thing, Columbus Dawg
Auburn has already been investigated twice. It’s over.
But Keep Hope Alive, Georgia Fans!
Athletes in college don’t deserve pay – MiamiHerald.com | News Feed Today
July 19th, 2011
9:01 am
[...] AP By Greg Cote The long-simmering debate over paying college athletes reaches a boil again. …OK, so we love college football. But WHY do we still love it?Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog)all 11 news [...]
NYJacket
July 19th, 2011
9:06 am
Mark, is your comment that DT was ineligible a fact? Or, it is an oppinion not based on fact?
tar and feathers party
July 19th, 2011
9:06 am
I think the criminal activity of News Corp in England should result in the closing of ALL american papers, especially the AJC, and the firing of all the big mouth sports reports like Mark! Should anyone believe anything written in any newspaper? No, so close them all and fire the worthless staff.
tar and feathers party
July 19th, 2011
9:08 am
Oh yeah, abolish the ncaa, fire all its staff.
Can't spell cheat without T-E-C-H!!!
July 19th, 2011
9:10 am
Sorry tool fans, but the moronic, laughable lie of “well it was just a mistake and we didn’t know about it” isn’t going to work this time. For that matter it didn’t work a few years ago either when a poor woman was blamed for the “errors” for all the other crooks youc cheaters illegally played. Obviously the AD and Johnson were neck deep in this scandal, hence their adamant refusal to allow NCAA investigators on campus.
If you have nothing to hide, then let them in. Just yet another hilarious cheating scandal coming out of the worst athletic program in all of sports. Karma is funny, isn’t it?
DC
July 19th, 2011
9:12 am
@ Columbus Dawg hahahahahahaha….man if we brought up everything that big NCAA schools have done…Back in 1918..ole Jesse Waldrup took a pay for play while attending Old Demascus…he took 2 dollars and went to all the nickelodians he wanted to for free…
old_eagle
July 19th, 2011
9:28 am
Perhaps it has been mentioned (don’t read all the posts), but all this and no mention of the crime that is rampant among college football players. Look no further than the headlines of today’s AJC re. GSU’s QB. In general, today’s college football player is a much lower form of “student”-athlete. The dreads and tattoos are a small refelection of a lifestyle. Lowlife-style. A bit reflective of society in general I suppose. I played college football at a time when you at least were expected to show some measure of self respect. Those days are long gone.
Columbus Dawg
July 19th, 2011
9:41 am
I would not expect a “Happy to have a crystal football in our trophy case, no matter what anyone thinks” Auburn D.A. to understand my point about your cheating football program, or the pieces of crap who have and are running it, but your team has been banned from television and bowl games on at least three different occasions, and if you are stupid enough to think that the 2004 season was played without payed for players then I do not know on what scale your blind stupidity could possibly be measured.
I have not been able to uncover one single occasion where UGA was banned from television appearances, or any bowl game in it’s history of playing under the NCAA. Now that is not to say that there have not been plenty of instances of goings on in Athens that Dawg folks are not proud of, but not nearly on the plateau that the weagles have reached. No one in America thinks your title is legit exept Auburn people, and that is a shame. Only the idiot Auburn crowd could come up with the slogan, “Auburn Tigers: The best team on the radio”. Give me a break.
John
July 19th, 2011
9:46 am
Mark, you are FACTUALLY WRONG: Thomas was NOT ruled ineligible at ANY time!! Not by the NCAA, the ACC, or the Institute. Please take the time to get your facts straight!
No wonder they have such disdain for you over there.
Rayburn Golf
July 19th, 2011
9:47 am
EVERYBODY cheats. They don’t have enough field staff to catch a good deal of it.
Vanderbilt has the best plan
Cobb Dawg
July 19th, 2011
9:54 am
I’m starting to love it less and less. When “student athletes” can barely read and write, and can’t speak the Queen’s English, are given full scholarships to a school. And kids with 3.5 HS GPA’s can’t get in, there’s something wrong with the system. And when a CFB HC makes up to 10 times what the president of the university makes, our priorities are somewhat skewed. The NFL and the NBA need minor league systems like MLB has. That way the Cam Newtons, who have no interest in getting a degree and no loyalty to a school at all, never attend class, etc. have a place to hone their skills.
headley lamar
July 19th, 2011
9:56 am
One thing is for sure.
Tech is now one of the dirties programs in college football.
Two probation’s in a very short period of time. One more might get them the death penalty.
Cobb Dawg
July 19th, 2011
9:58 am
ViningsDawg, I seriously doubt that you live in Vinings or that you are a Dawg. If you don’t think that *AU paid *Cam Newton, you probably still believe in Santa Claus and The Easter Bunny.
Cobb Dawg
July 19th, 2011
10:00 am
I’d certainly hate for Tech to get the death penalty. That home game at the end of the season, no matter whether we’re in Athens or Atlanta, is sweet for UGA fans.
wreckbone
July 19th, 2011
10:02 am
I think the clothing thing is ridiculous. Its not like the players don’t get mountains of “sanctioned” clothing. Apparently strollers and kids clothing is also part of that. In 2000 I sat in Duke’s ACC seciton of the ACC tournament. You mean to tell me a player like that has enough time and money to deck out his girl and baby in all Duke clothing and also a Duke stroller that would cost an average fan $100+ . So that is legit, but I guess it all is where you got the clothing. In the mod 90’s Wake’s guard was a basketball, football and baseball letterman. He lived with his kid and fiancee in on campus apartment. How would you pay for that if your girl didn’t work, supporting your significant other and a baby but you lettering in 3 sports? You have no time to do that. The school had to pay for that. Its all BS. At least they are levying probation. I’d rather play for the post season and get it stripped later than to miss the post season. That kills recruiting. I don’t care if it is not on the books. Some Clemson chump may be able to talk smack in a bar at some point, but that night, Iw as happy, adrenaline pumping watching that awesome game that we won. I still got the T shirts so no big deal. Everyone jumped on the Johnson bandwagon because of that season so it worked for me. We put more people in the bleachers and got 4/5 guys to the NFL from that team. That doesn’t suck.
Tom
July 19th, 2011
10:07 am
Still waiting for Mark to tell us which Tech player was ineligible.
Cobb Dawg
July 19th, 2011
10:08 am
Bodda Getta, can you not read?!?! Or do you just live in the land of the fairies?!?! The NCAA has said that the investigation of *AU is not over. And, in fact, I believe that they are dotting their I’s and crossing their T’s because the hammer’s coming down hard. Do you really think that *AU’s getting away with the *Cam Newton pay-for-play issue, the HBO “we got paid” story, etc, etc, etc. Do you really think the NCAA is going to punish Tech for a fairly minor infraction and *AU is getting away scot-free…………really?!?!?!
DC
July 19th, 2011
10:23 am
I believe..I feel…How can…2004..no way …I I I I I…
How come when it comes to this topic, no one can make an argument based on facts?
HBO story is not valid anymore…look up facts on that..
Its not what you know…ITS WHAT YOU CAN PROVE. Do i think AU is a clean university? NO. Do i think UGA is a clean university? NO. Do I think any university is clean? NO. Does it make it right? NO.
I do know that there is no way to hide over 100k ..NO WAY. that money should be traced by now as long as this case has been going….
Only way AU gets in trouble is if AU knew about the issue at miss St and discussions were talked with cecil at AU…Cam isn’t going to talk. AU isn’t going to talk.
Good luck with all that…
Andy
July 19th, 2011
10:31 am
Mark,
Good article. Let me list some things:
1- Tailgating
2- Pre-game debates
3- Poll ranking debates
4- Position battles
5- Debates about freshman
6- Best memories of last season
7- Seeing how new coaches will do
8- Seeing how JUCO transfers will do
9- Spring games
10- Recruiting battles/rankings
11- Can SEC maintain dynasty
12- Seeing who goes in NFL draft, and who underused talent
13- Rivalries
14- traditions
15- Marching bands
16- Seeing if predictions work out
I think it’s the love of the underdog. It’s David & Goliath, every week. Georgia or Boise or South Carolina could be the underdog story of the season.
What do you think Mark, as a journalist, is the underdog thing a big story?
SoCal_GT_Fan
July 19th, 2011
10:57 am
With your “Mightier-than-thou” approach, I’m assuming you have banned yourself from watching baseball? I mean, there was a WHOLE DECADE of cheating going on (could be longer than a decade) and that was ACTUAL ON-THE-FIELD cheating.
You know why its a dirty business? Because we live in a capitalistic society where there’s this big business called “college football” that makes BILLIONS of dollars yet these “student-athletes” are suppose to be happy with just receiving a free education with room & board. Any dummy can do the math and know that they are getting HOSED/USED by the system to generate big money for their respective school and conference. Now, in such a situation, will there be players who would do anything to get a bucket of change in their pockets? OF COURSE!!!! Why should they follow NCAA rules when that same governing board is making boatloads of cash off of their blood, sweat and tears?
All the noted cheating and scandals you mention above are incidents that happen off-campus and something that I’m not sure how a school should monitor their players. What are ya going to do? Restrict players from going off campus or having a chaperon with them at all times? All you can do is just hope that they aren’t getting themselves in trouble but that’s where the trouble lies. Trouble is everywhere around them because there’s a HUGE demand for anything to do with players such as memorabilia and autographs. If someone wanted a jersey you had in the back of your closet (or AJ Green’s closet for that matter) for thousands of dollars, I wouldn’t be surprised if most of us would sell that jersey. Now you can go to Dave & Busters and/or out to Buckhead and have a couple nights of fun without worrying about running out of money. These are 18-22 year olds who want to enjoy college and have fun so even though they might know what the consequences are, they might reason their way into breaking NCAA rules.
Hal
July 19th, 2011
11:23 am
Mark
If you were Tech and know the character of the players under question and believe them when they told you that they had done nothing wrong what further is there to discuss? If he NCAA had come to your institution for another reason and found nothing. Pulling a switch and going in another direction would piss me off too and would smack of a which hunt in progress. As it turns out nothing was found and the items in questioned returned as soon as they could be interpreted as a gift with a taint of an agent behind them. The only real guilt in short was the attitude of the Tech staff involved during the investigation. After questioning the players Tech felt comfortable w that nothing was wrong and that was the end of it . The NCAA wanted to drag it out ,Tech saw no reason to drag it out and let them know it. The moral of the story . When two parties involved in an NCAA investigation only one has a opinion that counts and it is not the institution under investigation.
chank a long chong
July 19th, 2011
12:49 pm
a bit cynical aren’t we mr. bradley? where is that inner child that see’s the good in others hiding?
RT in NC
July 19th, 2011
12:52 pm
Most NCAA violations are about money and recruiting. There have not been any point shaving scandals, signal stealing, or referee payoffs. Basically, its been and “ugly” year, but no one is accused of cheating on the field. Bottom line, who cares? Because the NCAA is inconsistent about enforcement and penalties, it is in every team’s best interest to get away with whatever they can on recruitment and player benefits. The NCAA didn’t have the nads to punish Ohio State before the National Championship game, so now they are going to bring the hammer down on non-contenders like GT to prove they are really serious. Give me a break.
RedShoe
July 19th, 2011
12:52 pm
“Mark, you are FACTUALLY WRONG: Thomas was NOT ruled ineligible at ANY time!! Not by the NCAA, the ACC, or the Institute. Please take the time to get your facts straight!
No wonder they have such disdain for you over there.”
John-
Mark made it up. It’s just a little journalistic cheat. But it’s ok- we love college football.
RT in NC
July 19th, 2011
1:11 pm
Cobb Dawg said
The NFL and the NBA need minor league systems like MLB has. That way the Cam Newtons, who have no interest in getting a degree and no loyalty to a school at all, never attend class, etc. have a place to hone their skills.
As a Tech fan, it pains me to say that this Dawg is 100% right. And I bet if the Cam Newtons never played a down in college, there would still be tens of thousands of fans in every college football stadium every Saturday of the fall.
If a kid cheats, take his scholarship away and ban his coach for life. The kid can still play ball, he just has to pay 20 grand for the privilege. The coach is gone forever. There are ten people right behind the coach’s and players ready to take their places with near equal skills. It would only take a few enforcements to “encourage” coaches to enforce the rules themselves. It ain’t rocket science.
ACC’s lunchtime links | truthpopsicle.info
July 19th, 2011
1:30 pm
[...] football is dirty. And I still love it. [...]
captguitarman
July 19th, 2011
2:22 pm
“It’s the Economy, Stupid” – Hillary Clinton. “The Things We Think and Do Not Say – The Future of Our Business” – Jerry Maguire – published just before he was fired. “Show Me the Money” – Rod Tidwell (Jerry Maguire). “Money Talks and Bullsh*t Walks” – Aesop, Socrates, Bubba Jay?
Gosh, I hate to be grumpy old curmeddgeon stomping on lofty goals and ideals and the sacred ideal of the student-athlete, enhancing his or her education and building character while building a healthy and fit body through fairly played athletic contests, and gaining fairly won glory from fairly won victories, etc. It’s a dirty job, but somone has got to do it. As Joan Rivers would say . . . Oh, puh-leese, at long last . . . . puh-leese. How can we stand ourselves for loving big time college sports, especially football?????? What planet are you living on????
The student-athlete ideal in big-time college sports is oooohhhvvvveeerrrr! OH-VER! Is it going to take a stadium falling on the heads of the true believers to finally get it. The system is immersed, soaked, saturated in money, BIG MONEY – I mean like REALLY REALLY REALLY BIG MONEY. Does money corrupt, people, ideals, systems, institutions, governments, preachers, and first grade teachers, causing them to violate the rules?????? Okay, that was stupid question. The money is a well-estalished fact. It is here and has been here, and every year their will be more and more of it, and more bad influence, and more bad behavior. Why? Because in the name of preserving an ideal that has lost its meaning in big time college sports — “The Student-Athlete” — we have an organization defending to its last breath (because of the money, of course) the last bastion of indentured servitude in American life.
Millions and gazillions of dollars flowing into the big time programs. Schools, school presidents and other officers, coaches, assistant coaches, trainers, agents, lawyers, consultants, sportswriters, PR reps, marketing and merchandising reps, concessionaires, relatives, friends, former players, classmates, etc. etc. all raking it in hand over fist in gi-normous amounts. Everyone that is, except the gladiators on the field. And like it or not, the value of a four year degree and books and a little spending money for laundry pales . . . . totally pales, pales at what those who surround these indentured servants rake in from their efforts. And the indentured servants notice it, and it is easy to tempt them.
GT burns over $312 because the NCAA gets mad — while the coach makes $312 per minute — per second???? This has all become a huge distraction, a cottage industry, a huge joke, and it is on the indentured servants – it has a whole life of its own now. Just figure out a way to get these guys some well-deserved money that recognizes the value of what they bring in. Lots of issues to deal with, I know, so let’s get the ball rolling and deal with them – and avoid these travesties of injustice imposed on GT, and others.
More for the players means less in the pockets of the schools and all named beneficiaries above, but there is more than plenty to go around as far as I can see. And by the way, someone said something about solving this with an NFL minor league. Not very likely because the NFL has a free minor league now that it does not have to pay one penny for. I dout the billionaires fighting the millionaires in the NFL now, who can’t figure out how to divide up that enormous pie, will suddenly want to begin paying their mior league players in college football. It’s way past time to end this student-athlete myth at the big time money making schools now (okay to keep it for sleepy liberal arts colleges, for now), and move on.
Free Play: Unmasking and Ending the Exploitation of NCAA Student Athletes – Student Pulse | Better Bettors
July 19th, 2011
2:39 pm
[...] benefit the universities and outside …Athletes in college don't deserve payMiamiHerald.comOK, so we love college football. But WHY do we still love it?Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog)Pay to Play: If Rob Blagojevich Ran College FootballBleacher [...]
Bet 2 Fat » Blog Archive » Tony Mitchell’s bumpy road leads to UNT – ESPN (blog)
July 19th, 2011
3:00 pm
[...] revenue they produce?AnnArbor.comPay to Play: If Rob Blagojevich Ran College FootballBleacher ReportAtlanta Journal Constitution (blog) -ESPNall 16 news [...]
GT Alum
July 19th, 2011
3:35 pm
Make that Vanderbilt is the only SEC program that hasn’t been penalized for major violations in the last 25 years.
Bet 2 Fat » Blog Archive » Basketball: Kyle Hall dies in collision – Port Huron Times Herald
July 19th, 2011
5:00 pm
[...] revenue they produce?AnnArbor.comPay to Play: If Rob Blagojevich Ran College FootballBleacher ReportAtlanta Journal Constitution (blog) -ESPNall 16 news [...]
Bob
July 19th, 2011
5:36 pm
” Since 1987, no conference can match the SEC’s 13 major NCAA violations. Every SEC football program save two — LSU, which saw its last major violation in 1986, and Vanderbilt, which has never been hit with one — has been docked over that span. The (im)moral of our story: To be the best, cheat the hardest.”
You can now scratch LSU off that short list of non-violators.
Thomas Brown
July 19th, 2011
11:52 pm
LSU, yes for 1 year probation. At least LSU owned up to it.
That is a lot more than Georgia tek did in trying to cover-up and continuing to try to cover-up when your AD told PAUL JOHNSON and BOTH future NFL players what should and what should not be said.
Thus
Four (4) Years PROBATION in football.
PROBATION in FOOTBALL back-to-back. Repeat offender.
Georgia tek has spent the entire last 10 years on NCAA PROBATION in FOOTBALL.
I say again Georgia tek has no basis for saying anything about college football – nothing. And, for the poster GT who says something about an UGA fan, do you really wish me to post about Georgia tek fans and how you throw bottles on the field of play ?
The Georgia tek fans are the absolute worst.
All you have to do is to read any blog on the AJ-C and you have all the proof you need of my point.
Mark Bradley – nice job sir – of reporting NOTHING from 11 November 2009 to 14 July 2011 on Georgia tek now being right back on NCAA PROBATION in FOOTBALL. Nothing.
megan
July 20th, 2011
2:09 pm
“Actually, I don’t recall anywhere in the report that said Tech lied” Uhhh…thats exactly what they got busted for, OBSTRUCTION!!!!
How to clean up college sports? Led an ear to the SEC's Slive | Mark Bradley
July 20th, 2011
3:05 pm
[...] the elephant in the room. (And by this we don’t mean Alabama’s mascot.) He mentioned the rash of ugly offseason headlines that have emanated “from the Atlantic to the Pacific, from the Gulf to the Great [...]
How to clean up college sports? Lend an ear to Mike Slive – Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) | News In world
July 20th, 2011
3:24 pm
[...] addressing the elephant in the room. (And by this we don’t mean Alabama’s mascot.) He mentioned the rash of ugly offseason headlines that have emanated “from the Atlantic to the Pacific, from the Gulf to the Great Lakes.” He [...]
How to clean up college sports? Lend an ear to Mike Slive « Live Sports News
July 20th, 2011
5:47 pm
[...] addressing the elephant in the room. (And by this we don’t mean Alabama’s mascot.) He mentioned the rash of ugly offseason headlines that have emanated “from the Atlantic to the Pacific, from the Gulf to the Great Lakes.” He [...]
How to clean up college sports? Lend an ear to Mike Slive | Virginia News
July 20th, 2011
9:14 pm
[...] addressing the elephant in the room. (And by this we don’t mean Alabama’s mascot.) He mentioned the rash of ugly offseason headlines that have emanated “from the Atlantic to the Pacific, from the Gulf to the Great Lakes.” He [...]
How to clean up college sports? Lend an ear to Mike Slive
July 21st, 2011
1:17 am
[...] addressing the elephant in the room. (And by this we don’t mean Alabama’s mascot.) He mentioned the rash of ugly offseason headlines that have emanated “from the Atlantic to the Pacific, from the Gulf to the Great Lakes.” He [...]
How to clean up college sports? Lend an ear to Mike Slive | Tolly TNT Blog
July 21st, 2011
3:23 am
[...] addressing the elephant in the room. (And by this we don’t mean Alabama’s mascot.) He mentioned the rash of ugly offseason headlines that have emanated “from the Atlantic to the Pacific, from the Gulf to the Great Lakes.” He [...]