UGA reports violation in Crowell recruitment, bars Richt from calling recruits next month
Georgia broke an NCAA rule in the recruitment of prized tailback Isaiah Crowell and will respond by barring coach Mark Richt from phoning recruits next month, according to a letter from UGA athletic director Greg McGarity to the NCAA.
An attempt by Richt in January to demonstrate the Bulldogs’ need for Crowell by having him stand in as the missing tailback in an offensive formation with current players resulted in a secondary violation of the rule against “game day simulation” with recruits, McGarity wrote.
Crowell signed with Georgia last month, and the school’s self-reported violation had the temporary effect of making him ineligible. But the NCAA staff, acting on a request in McGarity’s March 4 letter, already has reinstated Crowell’s eligibility, according to an e-mail from the NCAA to UGA on Friday.
McGarity told the NCAA that Richt did not believe the January scenario constituted a “game day simulation.” However, McGarity wrote that “as a result of the violation,” Richt will receive a letter of admonishment and will be prohibited from telephoning recruits and their parents during the NCAA’s “spring evaluation period” in April.
The NCAA could accept those penalties or could impose additional ones. In most cases, if the NCAA agrees the violation is secondary, meaning inadvertent and resulting in no significant advantage, self-imposed penalties are accepted.
McGarity said Monday that he “will have no comment other than what’s in the letter,” a copy of which was obtained under the state’s Open Records Act. Richt was not available for comment, spokesman Claude Felton said. Crowell did not return messages.
McGarity described the incident in detail in his 1 ½-page letter:
“[Crowell] was on campus for his official visit January 21-23, 2011. . . . [Richt] and the football staff arranged for the offensive linemen, wide receivers, fullback and quarterback to gather . . . in the indoor practice facility that [Richt's] office overlooks. The [players] . . . were dressed in their game-day uniform tops.
“Coach Richt, [Crowell] and [Crowell's] family left his office to join the group. By the time [Crowell] made his way to the field, the team was in an offensive alignment without a running back. [Crowell] was subsequently handed a jersey and stood in the vacant running back position . . . After [Crowell] stood in the position, the student-athletes broke from the alignment and talked to him. The activity lasted less than five minutes.”
Richt’s idea “was to create a feeling for [Crowell] that he was needed,” McGarity wrote, adding that Richt didn’t think having a recruit stand in a formation without running a play constituted a violation. However, Richt “did not check with the compliance office beforehand.”
The SEC subsequently informed Georgia that the NCAA rule against game-day simulation is “all-encompassing and includes the activity [Crowell] participated in,” McGarity wrote. Also, it is against the rule for a recruit to try on or wear a game-day jersey outside of the locker room.
Georgia “does not believe a recruiting advantage was gained as [Crowell's] mother has stated that her son knew he was going to attend UGA since he was a young child,” according to McGarity’s letter.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
755 comments Add your comment
Bama Mike
March 14th, 2011
10:27 pm
Georgia did not send the former players to the ceremony. They went on their own. Nut using the best of judgment obviously. If the university had sent them then “Athens we have a problem”
erk
March 14th, 2011
10:27 pm
You have got to be kidding me. A coach imitating a running back position is a violation. These NCAA boys must be a bunch of nerds that seriously need to get laid. GET A LIFE NCAA!
Anybody remember the phrase from “Good Morning Vietnam”?
You are in more dire need of a blow— than any white man in history!! LOL LOL LOLLOL
Colonel Reb
March 14th, 2011
10:30 pm
The NCAA knew something was up when Georgia didn’t line up in its usual field goal formation.
christophorm
March 14th, 2011
10:32 pm
YAWN….wake me up when they find out who paided cam newton’s daddy’s 180,000 dallor fee to play last year.
Richard Cranium
March 14th, 2011
10:32 pm
every 4.1
Bama Mike
March 14th, 2011
10:32 pm
Colonel Reb: Outstanding.
kral
March 14th, 2011
10:33 pm
I actually like the reference to the cartoon “The Jeffersons” cool bm…do not know exactly what happen but do no they are not season ticket-holders and do no this was arranged by his hs…not UGA..direct quote is out there..
Dawggone
March 14th, 2011
10:34 pm
Will Richt ever learn the rules..he’s just digging his hole deeper.
kral
March 14th, 2011
10:36 pm
If you are an old miss fan..col…you probably have that formation memorized…just have trouble with the victory formation..but good Quip
All In(volved)
March 14th, 2011
10:37 pm
I guess Richt figures if *Auburn can get away with paying players big money and cheating, he can at least get away with petty infractions.
Fulmer Cup Official
March 14th, 2011
10:38 pm
Ladies and gentlemen, *AU wins the entire decade.
kral
March 14th, 2011
10:38 pm
you know how big the rule book is dg..the ncaa doesn’t know it
SicEmDawgs
March 14th, 2011
10:38 pm
Sounds like UGA Compliance is alot tougher than the NCAA. Bottom line is who cares? We compete agianst a team that paid 180k for a player. Oh wait the Auburn compliance dept found nothing. How about Tressel? Give me a break.
Auburn Robbery Victim
March 14th, 2011
10:40 pm
I knew they were Auburn players because when they kicked the door in they said “war eagle b**ches!”
MikeP
March 14th, 2011
10:43 pm
You can’t prove that Auburn players robbed those people! You can’t prove that there was a robbery! You can’t prove anything! We’re innocent I tell you! Innocent!!
Colonel Reb
March 14th, 2011
10:45 pm
When UGA was recruiting Russ in 2009, the band lined up in the missing mascot formation.
I just emailed the clip to the NCAA.
Aaron Murray
March 14th, 2011
10:49 pm
Auburn Victim,
You know, they said the same thing when they kicked our @$$es too!
Redawg
March 14th, 2011
10:50 pm
I remember last year whena rival SEC school (Tennessee) had reported 6 secondary violations we bashed the coach and the University. Now that the shoe is on our foot it’s not a big deal! Cheating is cheating where I come from, we are no better then them. Richt better get it together McGarity is not going to put up with losing and cheating.
kral
March 14th, 2011
10:51 pm
your wearing it out col…but not bad
ugab
March 14th, 2011
10:53 pm
WTF/ What college did not do the same thing or more?
ugab
March 14th, 2011
10:55 pm
Everyone knows how the system works!!! Ask Cam!!
Colonel Reb
March 14th, 2011
10:56 pm
ugab,
The answer is: “all of them”.
ugab
March 14th, 2011
10:57 pm
Put ur daddy on the phone and win a NC. WTF. The dawgs need to learn how to get around paying these players. Auburn know wtf is going on
ugab
March 14th, 2011
10:59 pm
Everyone knows a 5 star recruit is paid to go to a college. kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk
Pope UGA XXIIII
March 14th, 2011
11:00 pm
Now write on the blackboard 100 times:
……. “I will not have a high schooler in a simulated play”
Then, go to your room without any supper !!
kral
March 14th, 2011
11:06 pm
simulated I am not sure if the de was out there…but humerus,,yes…act of criminal intent..are you kidding…sounds alot milder than some pick up lines i have used in the past
kral
March 14th, 2011
11:07 pm
humerus is a bone in the arm…humorous was the word I was looking for
kral
March 14th, 2011
11:17 pm
i corrected my self for you ufart…maybe
Bama fan
March 14th, 2011
11:25 pm
NCAA is stupid, period. Who cares this is what is wrong With this stupid world, lawyers.
They create all this crap
Dawg89
March 14th, 2011
11:38 pm
The NCAA is full of crap.
westside
March 14th, 2011
11:49 pm
i hope they dnt thank that gained us an advantage
Delta Stewardess
March 14th, 2011
11:50 pm
I heard after the missing running back formation they took Crowell to the parking lot. Richt had the ACCPD pull up in a cop car and made Crowell puthis hands on the hood and spread his legs for the pat down. Richt said that is the position all his players must get to know before signing with UGA.
S GA AU FAN
March 15th, 2011
12:22 am
Nice one Delta!
Coach Grohbo
March 15th, 2011
12:44 am
Coach Richt did not originally planned the missing player formation, but I understand Caleb was hurt and Washaun had a court date (or was it the other way around?).
Colonel Reb
March 15th, 2011
12:47 am
Richt claims Carlton Thomas was in the backfield, just no one could see him.
Coach Grohbo
March 15th, 2011
12:54 am
When Crowell arrived, they got confused (again) and lined up in the missing receiver formation, the same one they ran the first half of the season.
Colonel Reb
March 15th, 2011
12:59 am
For nose tackle Jenkins’ arrival, Richt and Bobo taught the offense how to line up in the victory formation.
Delta Stewardess
March 15th, 2011
1:00 am
Be nice. We did put the same defense we used all year on the field too. Like every Running that faced us this year Crowell didn’t see much defense either.
Delta Stewardess
March 15th, 2011
1:02 am
Grantham better have something up his sleeve this year besides a choke sign to the Field Goal Kicker.
Coach Grohbo
March 15th, 2011
1:08 am
I understand for outside linebacker Drew’s visit, they just put him out on the field all by himself.
Colonel Reb
March 15th, 2011
1:24 am
The offense just lined up in a straight line and they brought out a witness to see if he could identify Crowell.
mowreck
March 15th, 2011
5:58 am
Hummmmm, wonder how King and Ealey felt?
RMikel58
March 15th, 2011
6:14 am
Here you have Auburn evidently having a Parent involved in a huge scam and the worst thing that happened was the Dad not being allowed to put a foot on campus but so what Cam Newtons in the NFL now.
Then you have a Head Coach (Treschel) lying to NCAA investigators about recruiting violations and getting no harsh penalties. Atleast not to this point.
Then Mark Richt of Georgia admitting that 2 ex-bulldogs were at a signing day and now this. You gotta be joking me right?
Its amazing of all the crazy rules these coaches have to remember so much infact that they need to carry a book as a point of reference just so they dont violate a rule.
Whats next tying an athletes shoe laces for him? My guess is the NCAA is like any business and when they need money or they see a gambit that a college is getting too good in sports then they impose some type of infractions to level the playing field and recoop some money from these rich college programs.
Hey im for someone breaking rules such as buying a guy a new car or giving his family money or a new house so he’ll sign but these little rinky dinky rules are just crazy.
Ohio State Buckeye Program is deservant of harder punishment because of their Head Coach lying……at best they should fire that guy.
I was shocked that Treschel violated anything because i thought he was a standup guy and a very honest outstanding coach that Ohio St. was very lucky to have but now i dont know.
But im sure they wont fire him because its always about winning and making the college money and people in sports dont really care about your character but only money in the end.
The Ole ball coach
March 15th, 2011
6:25 am
UGA breaks wind and it is nationally reported as a EPA violation………..
Hey Stewardess..................
March 15th, 2011
6:27 am
STFU and bring me my drink. When we want you to speak it will be just to ask, “How may i serve you sir?”.
Nachos the barn burner
March 15th, 2011
7:01 am
Crowell couldn’t spell win if you spotted him the W and the I.
Buckeye
March 15th, 2011
7:38 am
Nothing like a good match of Fulmer Cup tennis.
Columbus Dawg
March 15th, 2011
7:38 am
Are there any knowledgable, adult UGA people around the blog? I’m just wondering if there are any real reports on Ealey’s behavior since his reinstatment. Someone on an ESPN board claiming that Ealey was seen eating at Wendy’s in Athens since being reinstated to the team. Just wondering.
Buckeye
March 15th, 2011
7:38 am
Morning You too,
You coming around today or was that a guest appearance?
VOL IN BETHLEHEM
March 15th, 2011
7:43 am
I LOVE HOW BULLDOG FANS THINK ITS OK TO COMMIT VIOLATIONS.
BUT ANYONE ELSE AND YOU ALL ARE BASHING.THATS CALLING THE KETTLE BLACK IN MY BOOK!