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.
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755 comments Add your comment
Colonel Reb
March 15th, 2011
12:01 pm
Siddy,
The report is they ran the play with Crowell without a defense. Murray threw a screen pass over the fullback’s head for no gain.
state
March 15th, 2011
12:05 pm
Someone said Bill Curry may have created a seconday violation by playing center and having a recruit play QB like he was Bart Start. I think they is how they got the QB from Brookwood.
state
March 15th, 2011
12:05 pm
excuse me Bart Starr
Colonel Reb
March 15th, 2011
12:09 pm
State,
Bill Curry promised to bring “those cheaters (UGA) to their knees”.
He delivered and the Jan Kemp lawsuit exposed those cheaters to the world.
They are still cheating today.
state
March 15th, 2011
12:10 pm
darn if you and darn if you dont’t. Big deal what Richt did.It is not like he asked young ladies go to high school games. Everybody ranks the two coaches from southern cal to be among the best of recruiters in college sports. Those two are the king of secondary violations. What do the get for their troubles? Praise and lots of money and top recruits.
Delta Stewardess
March 15th, 2011
12:10 pm
Folks It is not the Referees or the NCAA. We don’t lose games because of either. Like my Father told me a long time ago. “If you don’t like the cops or Jail, then don’t put yourself in a position where they can control your life.” UGA coaches and players need to learn this simple fact. The refs can steal a game if it is on the last play ie. the Tennessee vs LSU game last year. If there is a PLAY left to Play then you have a chance to change the outcome. I don’t like all the NCAA rules but If you just do what is moral and ethical, then these issues will not be a problem.
GREAT TO BE AN AUBURN TIGER
March 15th, 2011
12:11 pm
OMG Saint Richt committed a sin. Can’t be possible….AU is the only program around that cheats.
state
March 15th, 2011
12:12 pm
state is cheating today. Curry plays center for recruits and has them play Bart Starr. Is that fair? I am sure UGA was exposed to the world. I think people behind the Berlin wall cared and the great wall were stunned by what was happening at Ga and other schools.
state
March 15th, 2011
12:15 pm
Enter your comments here
Me
March 15th, 2011
12:15 pm
These “violations” happen at every school. The NCAA needs to go away.
Colonel Reb
March 15th, 2011
12:16 pm
Georgia State gave Alabama a better game the last time they played than Georgia did.
state
March 15th, 2011
12:17 pm
Colonel Reb, is your comment based on score? If it you are clueless.
Colonel Reb
March 15th, 2011
12:20 pm
Sorry, no other school pulled the same stunts that Georgia did. If the NCAA doesn’t suspend Crowell and Drew for at least four games, they are as big of a joke as Georgia is.
Colonel Reb
March 15th, 2011
12:23 pm
Georgia State put up an fight and scored in the first half of their game with Alabama.
Georgia got skunked.
state
March 15th, 2011
12:24 pm
I think GA could handle if those two were suspended for 4 games. I hope it doesnt happen, especially with Crowell. It would be worth it. Reb, your wishing if that would happen and even if it doesn’t happen, NCAA is still a joke, ex. SABAN, BUTT, THE joke at southern cal, throw in auburn, and the the vest
state
March 15th, 2011
12:26 pm
Great, State put up a fight, yea, big deal, yes, ga stunk the last time they played bama, i am glad you are of the belief everybody is a winner and deserves a medal.
Colonel Reb
March 15th, 2011
12:29 pm
Say what you want but Kiffin and Orgeron know how to control the NCAA. They inherited all of those violations and still signed the largest class in USC history.
And believe me, its pains me to say that about Coach O.
STEINER
March 15th, 2011
12:30 pm
JB :
NO, DO IT THE JB WAY AND PASS, GET IT INTERCEPTED, AND RETURN FOR A TD….JB, THERE ARE NOT TOO MANY GOOD CALLS ON 3RD AND 17….
state
March 15th, 2011
12:32 pm
is ga in trouble with the NCAA. I have not heard as of yet in violations and sanctions. Richt learned from the best going head to head against those two cheats.
state
March 15th, 2011
12:33 pm
maybe richt should have ripped off his shirt and shouted ” uga” and “wildboys”
STEINER
March 15th, 2011
12:35 pm
Delta Stewardess:
WHAT’S UNETHICAL ABOUT LINING UP IN A FORMATION???? DON’T REALLY GIVE A RATS A$$ WHAT YOUR DADDY TOLD YOU….
Colonel Reb
March 15th, 2011
12:36 pm
So far, the NCAA has barred Richt from contacting recruits.
Still no word yet from the SEC or the school on suspensions.
state
March 15th, 2011
12:37 pm
NCAA or Ga imposed?
Colonel Reb
March 15th, 2011
12:38 pm
NCAA imposed.
STEINER
March 15th, 2011
12:38 pm
Colonel Reb:
YOU ARE EITHER A TROLL OR TOTALLY STUPID….PLEASE TELL US WHICH…..
STEINER
March 15th, 2011
12:41 pm
Colonel Reb :
YEA, THESE INFRACTIONS LOOK TO BE OF THE MOST SERIOUS OUT THERE…EVEN WORSE THAN SCAM AND COACH TRESS AT THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY…..IMAGINE 2 FORMER GEORGIA PLAYERS SHOWING UP TO CONGRATULATE A HIGH SCHOOL KID ON SIGNING WITH GEORGIA…..THE FORMATION VIOLATION IS PROBABLY A DEATH PENALTY OFFENSE….WHAT A JOKE!!!!!!!
state
March 15th, 2011
12:43 pm
best thing to come out of oxford in years was Dexter McCluster video, “If you want to stay alive, don’t text and drive.” Priceless.
Colonel Reb
March 15th, 2011
12:44 pm
Stein,
You know its not about the violations, its about the penalties.
Georgia has penalties (last year and during the off season so far), Auburn and Ohio State do not.
Colonel Reb
March 15th, 2011
12:46 pm
State,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOOk23oPpp4
Delta Stewardess
March 15th, 2011
12:51 pm
Steiner
It was a sales pitch gimmick that is against the rules. Coach basically called the starting player to a meeting in the OFF SEASON and had them dress as players. That is an ORGANIZED TEAM FUNCTION. That could be a practice before Spring Practice started. Look I think Richt is an OK guy. We can’t forget why we got him. He was a member of THUG U. Sat on the bench mind you, but he saw how Miami went about their business. Richt then joined FSU. A school with a Preacher as a head coach like Jim Baker. Richt has learned how to bend break and skirt the rules for the best. We hired him because of his resume. We assumed he could recruit Florida very well and Beat the Gators. What I don’t think we realized he would bring some questionable tactics to the table as well. Right now RICHT and the coaches are fighting for their lives. I get that. It is no excuse to bend the rules.
woebegong
March 15th, 2011
12:54 pm
Well, I guess as long as you don’t violate any minor rules, it is OK to do an assortment of other things in the NCAA. Excuse me, does anyone have a few ladies I can invite to my Pee Wee practice. I promised the parents I would get them home on time, so please relay that to the ladies, OK?
GOOOOO DAWGSSSSSSSSS
state
March 15th, 2011
12:56 pm
glad u dont pull for southern cal and ohio state, and the vols. You would feel dirty,like Riverbend apt in atl from the 1970s
Colonel Reb
March 15th, 2011
1:00 pm
And by the way, Southern Cal hasn’t paid any penalties except having Reggie Bush give his heisman back.
Ron Smith
March 15th, 2011
1:04 pm
Sorry about earlier post. My predictions for 2011:
WIN: Costal Carolina, New Mexico State, Vanderbilt, GA Tech, Ole Miss
LOSE: Boise State, South Carolina, Tennessee, Miss State, Kentucky, Florida, Auburn
MikeP
March 15th, 2011
1:10 pm
Paying a player $180,000 is the same as lining up a formation for Crowel, IMHO. WDE! (We Deny Everything!)
Colonel Reb
March 15th, 2011
1:12 pm
Ron,
Better check on Ole Miss, Vanderbilt, and Georgia Tech. Those games are on the road and Georgia proved last year they can’t play on the road.
Also Mississippi State returns nothing. Even Georgia should give them a game in Athens.
Colonel Reb
March 15th, 2011
1:14 pm
Mike,
Like I said, its not about the violations, its about the penalties.
Georgia has penalties (last year and during the off season so far), Auburn and Ohio State do not.
Auburn and Ohio State are innocent. Georgia was convicted (again).
woebegong
March 15th, 2011
1:18 pm
REB, Last I heard the NCAA had forwarded their paper to Tenn. for violations in BB and football. May be wrong but that’s what the papers said.
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO DAWGSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
All Dawgs Are...
March 15th, 2011
1:19 pm
CHEATERS!!!!
Colonel Reb
March 15th, 2011
1:22 pm
Don’t underestimate Tennessee,
This has happened before, and Tennessee avoided their penalties by turning in the dirt on Alabama.
You don’t think the Dooleys have dirt on Georgia?
state
March 15th, 2011
1:23 pm
ncaa has not imposed anything, ga has imposed the punishment, hoping the ncaa accepts that in the future, same thing with tressel and the ncaa, ohio state has imposed the punishment, and ncaa has not rule yet, and southern cal has been punishment, but upon appeal, punishment has not gone in effect yet, except for bowl ban.
Colonel Reb
March 15th, 2011
1:27 pm
Remember what happened when Georgia self-imposed a one game suspension on A.J. Green? The NCAA increased it to four games and Georgia lost their appeal.
This is why I am expecting suspensions for Crowell and Drew to come.
woebegong
March 15th, 2011
1:28 pm
Well, I guess as long as Tenn. can rat on somebody, that makes their penalties go away. Darn, that sounds like a sound method to me.
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOO DAWGSSSSSSSSSSS
Colonel Reb
March 15th, 2011
1:30 pm
Woe,
I think you are beginning to understand how the NCAA works.
Terry
March 15th, 2011
1:31 pm
Colonel Reb, It was a secondary violation, Crowell was declared ineligible by Georgia, but reinstated by the NCAA on Friday.
Send in the Clowns
March 15th, 2011
1:31 pm
This will bite CMR in the butt cutt when these players wont pan out.
Joemac
March 15th, 2011
1:32 pm
Well, the nightmare has begun…. so far the “dream team” (hysterical name) has not even been on the field, and there has already been 6, I say SIX, NCAA violations. You would think that CMR could do a better job than that when he knows that his job is on the line. As I have stated earlier, 7-5 at best this season, and a new coach in ‘12.
state
March 15th, 2011
1:35 pm
you said GA was convicted again. also that ohio st. was innocent, but both are untrue, it would be nice, i guess good or bad if people care about ole miss football. It is a great campus and place to tailgate, but just pathetic in football. They may be to try violations, they tried oversigning which didn’t work, may minor violations will work. It has for others
Colonel Reb
March 15th, 2011
1:39 pm
Georgia was convicted on AJ Green and Crowell, there is no denying this.
So far, Ohio State has not paid a single penalty for their “violations”. Neither has Auburn.
(Did you see Cecil at the game in Glendale?).
Colonel Reb
March 15th, 2011
1:44 pm
Nothing Ole Miss is doing is illegal.
We hold our players accountable as they are not entitled to a roster slot if they do not contribute.
It is not this way at the UGA country club.