NCAA will make ‘inquiry’ at Georgia (UPDATED)
(Last updated 1:05 a.m. Thursday)
HOOVER, Ala. –- The NCAA, in the midst of a crackdown on improper dealings between college football players and agents, informed the University of Georgia late Wednesday afternoon that it will send investigators to campus to conduct an “inquiry.”
The probe is believed to be the latest in a recent string of NCAA investigations looking into possible improper benefits received by college football players from agents.
Investigations are known to be underway at North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida and Alabama.
Georgia associate athletic director Claude Felton confirmed Wednesday’s call from the NCAA and said UGA Athletic Association officials responded by pledging full cooperation.
Felton said the NCAA requested that UGA officials, coaches and student-athletes refrain from further comment on the matter “until the inquiry is completed.” Georgia interim athletic director Frank Crumley declined to comment when reached by the AJC.
The NCAA’s call to Georgia officials in Athens came as the SEC was wrapping up the first session of its annual media days event in Hoover, Ala., where the hot topic was the widespread recent allegations of improper agent activity.
“It’s epidemic right now,” Florida coach Urban Meyer said. “I think it’s always been there, from what I understand. . . . But I think we’ve reached a point where the size of college football, the magnitude of college football right now, [it] is really overwhelming.”
The NCAA is investigating whether Alabama defensive lineman Marcell Dareus broke NCAA rules by attending a sports agent’s party on Miami’s South Beach during Memorial Day weekend, and NCAA investigators also have interviewed North Carolina players, including defensive tackle Marvin Austin, and South Carolina tight end Weslye Saunders about the same party.
In addition, the NCAA is looking into an allegation that former Florida offensive lineman Maurkice Pouncey accepted $100,000 from an agent’s representative between last season’s SEC Championship Game and the Sugar Bowl –- an allegation that Pouncey has strongly denied and called “absolutely ridiculous.”
Georgia’s highest-profile pro prospect, junior wide receiver A.J. Green, told SI.com on Tuesday, the day before the NCAA’s call to UGA, that he was not at the South Beach party that triggered investigations at three schools. Green said he spent Memorial Day weekend at home in Summerville, S.C., and that he was asked about the party by a Georgia compliance official on Tuesday.
“I never went to South Beach,” Green said.
Former Georgia wide receiver Michael Moore, Green’s teammate the past two seasons, said Wednesday night on Twitter: “Hahaha. This talk about A.J. is hilarious. That country boy ain’t never been to Miami!!! You can put those rumors to rest.”
It is not clear whether the NCAA informed Georgia which player or players it plans to interview.
NCAA rules prohibit college players from signing contracts with, or accepting benefits from, agents. If a player is found to have done so, he could face loss of college eligibility. If the NCAA finds that the school knew, or should have known, about the matter, the institution also could be penalized.
“At the conclusion of the process, when the facts are known, appropriate determinations will be made as to the amateurism status of the student-athlete and whether the institution was aware or should have been aware of the improper conduct based on existing NCAA rules,” SEC commissioner Mike Slive said Wednesday, speaking in generalities and not about any specific case.
Slive added: “Given the surreptitious nature of these matters, it is difficult, if not impossible, for institutions to know what might have taken place. . . . My point is, this isn’t done on Main Street at noon with a compliance officer sitting there. Our schools work very hard. We’ve talked about this issue over and over. We’ve brought experts in. Our schools do everything they can to educate student-athletes about what they should and shouldn’t do.”
Georgia coach Mark Richt and three players -– Green, punter Drew Butler and fullback Shaun Chapas -– are scheduled to arrive at media days Thursday morning for appearances before almost 1,000 media members here.
The NCAA’s recent focus on agent activity, dubbed AgentGate by some, was much-discussed during the opening session of the SEC’s annual three-day media event Wednesday.
Alabama coach Nick Saban was most outspoken on the topic, exuding anger from the podium at the Wynfrey Hotel.
Although not excluding players from responsibility, Saban said agents are “entrapping and taking advantage of young people at a difficult time in their life” and should be banned from the agent business for a year if they endanger college players’ eligibility with improper inducements.
“I don’t think it’s anything but greed that is creating it right now on behalf of the agents,” Saban said. “Agents that do this, I hate to say this, but how are they any better than a pimp? I have no respect for people who do that to young people -– none. I mean, none. How would you feel if they did it to your child?”
Slive called for a national re-examination of the agent issue, saying: “This is a national problem that calls for a national agent strategy for college athletics.” He said an NCAA committee should take an outside-the-box look at the issue.
“Dealing with improper agent conduct has been a challenge for a long time,” Slive said. “Not only for intercollegiate athletics, but also for the many good agents who try to follow the rules. It is time to reexamine the NCAA rules that relate to agents.”
After the story broke late Wednesday of the NCAA’s inquiry at Georgia, former Bulldogs linebacker Rennie Curran, who gave up his final season of college eligibility to enter this year’s NFL draft, addressed the matter on his Twitter account.
“Can’t believe how hard the ncaa is trying to crack down on college athletes,” Curran tweeted. “How can [you] expect someone not to look to outside sources…”
Continuing on his next tweet, Curran wrote: “… when there are video games being made of you, your jerseys getting sold, your family is struggling [and] you don’t even get a dime except pell [grant].”
Please follow @ajcuga on Twitter for updates.
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365 comments Add your comment
70 Dawg
July 21st, 2010
9:41 pm
BigCaliDawg…Ditto. Well said my friend.
RobertHallGTsmackshos
July 21st, 2010
9:45 pm
AJ was at the party!!!! several hos approached him and ROBERT HALL from GEORGIA TECH damn near beat the ho’s to death. Blood coming out of their mouths and nostrils. ROBERT HALL hasn’t been suspended yet. That’s OK, he doesn’t “RUN THIS STATE” and GEORGIA TECH players can really kick the crap out of women and fellow ACC competitors.
Coach Kiffin
July 21st, 2010
9:48 pm
I had a great time in Miami. It was crazy up in there.
twodawgs
July 21st, 2010
9:49 pm
Come on Rennie! You get FREE tuition, FREE room and board, FREE books, a chance to earn a FREE diploma from a major university, an opportunity to continue to play the sport you love in the pros and thus profit from all the endorsements, all the women you could possible want due to your big man on campus celebrity status, and you say you don’t make a dime? Poor, poor pitiful you, you unappreciative jerk. You will have your opportunity to make big bucks one day. But right now you are just paying your dues. You owe everything you have right now to UGA who gave you the opportunity so don’t bemoan your situation.
GT79
July 21st, 2010
9:54 pm
AJ Green can’t hold Calvin Johnson’s jockstrap. Now he is going to get suspended for partying with some agents – not the brightest bulb in the pack. He will be lucky to be a 2nd round draft choice. Maybe the Lions will take him and he can learn from a real pro. As soon as Dooley’s kid gets Tennessee turned around, Georgia will be an afterthought in the SEC – sort of like Kentucky or South Carolina, which will start beating the leg humpers regularly soon and Tech will own them for as long as CPJ is around. CMR should get out of Athens as soon as he can – this program is on the decline big time.
ajfdog
July 21st, 2010
9:54 pm
Rennie needs to STFU. Don’t recall the NCAA rule saying he had to have a child that young. Maybe it is the NCAA’s fault he could not afford a condom. I used to be a big fan of his, but now he seems like a whiner. He could have just gone to the real word and started a career after high school to support his family. True he did not get paid while at school (at least I hope), but because of the NCAA, he will make more at the end of three years (without a degree) than most with a degree after four or five years.
Just another with an attitude of “it is not my fault”. He had got the girl pregnant but it is the NCAA’s fault that he cannot support him/her.
Metro Coach
July 21st, 2010
9:55 pm
Many of the players were already in Miami for the Playboy All American Team Photo shoot. That’s how Marcel Dareus and probably most of the other players got there in the first place. I’ve also heard that many of them left when they realized the party was hosted by an agent. As far as Marvin Austin and Wesley Saunders, rumors are circulating that they are in much deeper trouble because they’ve been acting as runners for this agent, convincing other players to go to the party, accepting gifts, etc. This isn’t something that we should all be “hahaing” at our rivals about, this goes way beyond rivalries on the football field. 40+ players were involved in this deal, chances are a player at your school is going to be involved.
Micheals L.N.Y
July 21st, 2010
9:56 pm
Surprise, surprise. MORE trouble for the UGA DAWGS.
Color me chocked. NOT. The AD is gone down there. Who’s next?
Jan Kemp
July 21st, 2010
9:58 pm
They may never graduate, but we’ll make garbage men out of them. UGA, bringing in barely literate football recruits since 1970!
Ignorance is bliss
July 21st, 2010
9:59 pm
I hope you all realize how childish your comments are. 90% of you don’t know anything about what’s going on. Type on wanabees!
You Techies
July 21st, 2010
10:00 pm
are a pitiful bunch – I can only imagine what you are going through – it must be like penis envy – which is somethong I can only imagine.
DawgDad
July 21st, 2010
10:01 pm
What can the NCAA do to an agent?
Micheals L.N.Y
July 21st, 2010
10:02 pm
UGA will go 6-6 this fall and Richt will be looking
for work as an assistant by Mid Dec.
jimmymack
July 21st, 2010
10:07 pm
agents saban slime
Micheals L.N.Y
July 21st, 2010
10:08 pm
Where there is smoke, there is fire, red panties, and vodkatinis for all! I am amazed UGA can’t make it 1 week anymore without making
the negative section of the national news…
J
July 21st, 2010
10:12 pm
No Tech player, student, or graduated can be accused of partying. (Go to a Tech game if you doubt me)
Zach muttenberger
July 21st, 2010
10:17 pm
I was there too. I totally assaulted all the ladies there!
GT79
July 21st, 2010
10:18 pm
You techies – you are the one that brought up penis envy……i am betting you can more than just imagine it……you pencil d*cked leg humper……your program is so pathetic. I cannot believe a half decent guy like CMR hangs around this cesspool of a school…….I am sure there are plenty of more Damon Evans types in your athletic program…..I am so glad to be a proud Tech alum and fan and not in possession of a piece of toilet paper with UGa printed on it.
Time
July 21st, 2010
10:18 pm
I’ve got it on a strong source that Georgia Tech will be receiving a call from the NCAA within the next week about both it’s football and basketball programs.
What??
July 21st, 2010
10:19 pm
Help me to understand, who at UGA is under investigation??
Also, what the heck are the issues at UGA??
A lot of discussion but no HARD facts.
Zach muttenberger
July 21st, 2010
10:19 pm
Yeah J, just as no UGA fan can be accused of being a genius. Look back over your post, go read a remedial English book, then try again.
CANINE NONSENSE
July 21st, 2010
10:20 pm
ANYBODY IN THIER RIGHT MIND KNOW’S A.J. DIDN’T GO TO THAT PARTY!! THE ONLY PLAYER’S THERE WERE OF NFL QUALITY!!
GT79
July 21st, 2010
10:21 pm
Time – you are a so misguided or either have some really bad sources
QBskillsgrader
July 21st, 2010
10:22 pm
I called it this morning. Told ya so. You better hope A.J. was telling the truth, cause there was an ncaa agent at the party w/ a camera. If A.J. lied, he’s GONE.
LSU…you’re on the clock.
Time
July 21st, 2010
10:22 pm
Sorry GT79, my sources are legit. GT does in fact, on occasion, get big time athletes. And when you do, trouble can follow because the agents circle like vultures. Derrick Favors is at the center of the basketball inquiry.
GT79
July 21st, 2010
10:26 pm
Derrick who? He falls into same category as Chris Bosh, Javaris Crittenton and the rest of the bunch who really did not care about Ga Tech – just needed a year in college because of NBA rules. I hope you are wrong.
GT79
July 21st, 2010
10:30 pm
Time – lets check back in about a month and see how good your sources are.
Get a life
July 21st, 2010
10:33 pm
The people on these blogs never cease to amaze me. Everyone is already guilty before any charges are even made. My daughter dates a player and I know other people involved in the football program and everyone says A.J is one of the most down to earth people you will ever meet and it is comical to think that he would be at a party in Miami. Worry about your own school and quit trying to destroy other teams and players just because you can’t beat them on the field.
What??
July 21st, 2010
10:33 pm
Rennie Curran
You now have the courage to tweet, text, or whatever about the fact that schools are making money by using atheletes.
OK
Did you receive an education??
If not, aren’t you to blame??
Also, who made you play football at UGA?? You coul have tried out for the pro league right??
I am sick and tired of the black atheletes crying this BS!!
Get a real job!
ga gator
July 21st, 2010
10:35 pm
I’m convinced more now than ever that the football powers need to form 5 to 6 “Super conferences” and tell the NCAA to go to hell.
BigCaliDawg
July 21st, 2010
10:39 pm
PLEASE let’s keep this a football thing and not a race thing. There’s no room for that here.
One unfortunate thing I have noticed about both UGA and the North Avenue Trade School. One thing both schools have in common, is that they each have a select group of fans who are racist.
That’s Rennie Curran. His comments do not represent those of every black man, in college, playing division 1 sports, in the United States.
This is a football blog.
TechPhi97
July 21st, 2010
10:40 pm
Free tuition…….free books……free food……free place to live…….all not enough for Rennie Curran. His scholarship was worth $17K per year, so he got $51K in three years. If he was out of state, it would be $33K per year.
HBTD
July 21st, 2010
10:42 pm
It’s pretty standard practice for the ncaa to investigate the superior teams, ie. UGA, FL, Bama. None of these programs will have a problem with this particular probe.
GT79
July 21st, 2010
10:43 pm
Get a Life – better check your daughter’s lingerie drawer for red panties. I hear the UGA types have sort of a fetish about those things.
BigCaliDawg
July 21st, 2010
10:45 pm
I don’t know about the panties, but I bet Coach Johnson rocks a red bra.
Fact Checker
July 21st, 2010
10:45 pm
Got this from a Green Bay Packers web site…
The oval “G” logo was created in 1961 by Packers equipment manager George “Dad” Braisher. To most people’s minds, the “G” stands for “Green Bay”. However, when the logo was designed and adopted, it was determined the “G” would stand for “Greatness”. The team actually used a number of different logos prior to 1961, but the “G” is the only logo that has ever appeared on the helmet. Adopted in 1964, the Georgia “G”, though different in design and color, was similar to the Packers’ “G”. However, since its inception in 1961, the Packers’ “G” has been redesigned several times and now actually looks like Georgia’s original 1964 “G.”
Stone Mtn
July 21st, 2010
10:46 pm
I’m sure the NCAA has the UGA Athletics Dept. on speed dial…
P. Bull Terrier
July 21st, 2010
10:47 pm
This could be the year for GA Tech to win the real National Championship. With most of the usual Top 25 teams on probation, all the Jackets need to do is get past Duke and Lowndes H.S., then it’s smooth sailing straight to #1.
Baldemar Huerta
July 21st, 2010
10:47 pm
The G stands for Gay.
What??
July 21st, 2010
10:48 pm
BigCaliDawg
With all due respect that DAWG will not hunt!
You are right. This is a football blog. However, what seems to have been lost is the fact that first and foremost, these are STUDENT ATHELETES. They recieve an education while playing a game for pure competition, not monotary advancement.
That being said, IF the powers that be at the college levels are interested in discussing monotary advancement by said atehletes, we have an argument. Until that time, the athelete does not have a leg to stand on!!!
Spence
July 21st, 2010
10:49 pm
This must have been an agent for arena football or the canadian league or something. No NFL agent would have any interest in a UGA football player.
OEJ
July 21st, 2010
10:50 pm
Wow..its sad that people dislike UGA so much that they are disrespecting A.J Green. This kid is probably one of the best kids at Georgia. Guess we really are a threat if they want him to be suspended for something he didnt do. Its funny and sad how stupid and scared people really are of Georgia.
Technophobia
July 21st, 2010
10:50 pm
Uh Oh! No, really, I’m sure you have nothing to worry about. UGA players would never do anything to get into trouble or embarass the school. (Walks away whistling) Sleep well. lol
GT79
July 21st, 2010
10:53 pm
its a stupid logo…..totally stolen from Green Bay. UGa has the worst uniforms in college football. Georgia Tech has always had super classy looking uniforms. Just another reason to be a Yellow Jacket
Mirror
July 21st, 2010
10:53 pm
Baldemar would know…
Chad Cookler
July 21st, 2010
10:56 pm
Rennie Curran needs to STFU. There are plenty of people who would gladly accept getting their education, books, meals and living expenses paid for. It probably amounts to well over $100K for a four year student. These athletes also get plenty of perks like clothing, shoes, gear, tutoring etc.
As far as Georgia goes…would it really surprise you if AJ Green or any other goofball Dawg was involved in these shenanigans?? They don’t recruit character to Athens.
GT79
July 21st, 2010
10:56 pm
OEJ – believe me…nobody is afraid of UGa….and haven’t been since Herschel left.
Matchmaker
July 21st, 2010
10:57 pm
Baldemar meet GT79 – you have the makings for a great couple.
GT79
July 21st, 2010
11:00 pm
I have several hot girlfriends….no need for anything else. Thanks anyway
doo doo ley
July 21st, 2010
11:00 pm
hahahahahahahaha, now the dog idiots can join the bama idiots..self rightous hypocrites all of you.