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
Bryant
March 14th, 2011
4:54 pm
First Drew then Crowell. The dream team is getting a little tarnished. CMR is feeling the heat!! RTR
Paul N Destin
March 14th, 2011
4:56 pm
Ask the AD which SEC turned in UGA. Don’t throw rocks at the NCAA until you learn who reported UGA. It was not Alabama and hell no Nick Saban will never setup a formation for a recruit. He offers a chance to prove you’re good enough and that covers it. If you have any doubt then ask some of the kids that selected UGA over Bama.
WIN WITH RICHT
March 14th, 2011
4:57 pm
Alphare
The only school that offered Chris Davis besides UGA was Troy. He was a sleeper that worked out well. Cootie could turn out to be a unheralded player that plays a lot of football for the Dawgs.
TIM TUCKER
March 14th, 2011
4:59 pm
HEY TIM TUCKER YOU NO TALENT HACK, THERE’S AN OPENING AT THE NATIONAL ENQUIRER WAITING ON YOU.
ClinchCountyCanine
March 14th, 2011
4:59 pm
gcs
That weenie sweater vest should have been a tipoff.
Tech Fan in Auburn
March 14th, 2011
5:01 pm
Common sense has left us if this is a violation.
UGA Law Dawg
March 14th, 2011
5:01 pm
THE MILLION DOLLAR QUESTION:
How many secondary violations does it take to equal one MAJOR Violation?
schmeckdawg
March 14th, 2011
5:02 pm
306 comments in 2.5 hours, pretty good there TT!
ClinchCountyCanine
March 14th, 2011
5:02 pm
Sounds like the start of a good limerick
There once was a sportswriter named Tim Tucker,
rex
March 14th, 2011
5:03 pm
Let the big dawg cheat !!!!
ClinchCountyCanine
March 14th, 2011
5:03 pm
UGA LAW DAWG
About $180,000 worth.
Jborodawg
March 14th, 2011
5:04 pm
For those of you bad-mouthing the AJC for printing the story: why did you find it so important that you had to comment? It’s UGA coverage; that’s what they do. Some stories are minor and some are big. Even tho the result was minor, any reporting of NCAA rules violations is newsworthy…to some of us.
Having said that, nothing to see here folks…move along.
schmeckdawg
March 14th, 2011
5:06 pm
UGA LAW DAWG
How about a coach knowing for 8 months that his players were doing things illegal (according to the NCAA) sat on it, and then played dumb. I didn’t know what to do or who to tell!!!!!!
YELLOW HAMMER
March 14th, 2011
5:06 pm
UGA gets CROWELL , BAMA gets DEE HART , army all-american MVP, scout # 1 back . w/out any violations or missing man formation, black-out , team running on the field or any other fiasco’s, just sayin
UGA Law Dawg
March 14th, 2011
5:07 pm
Mark Richt has perfected the secondary violation handbook.
To say a recruiting advantage was not gained is just an out and out lie and all of us fans of UGA know it but will never admit it.
AUBURN THUGS
March 14th, 2011
5:07 pm
At less Mark Richt and his players are not out robbing people with a hand gun. AUBURN THUG UNIVERSITY!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Einsteindawg
March 14th, 2011
5:07 pm
Speaks volumns about the abilities of Ealey, King, Malcombe, and Thomas.
bullochdog
March 14th, 2011
5:08 pm
What about a respectable man to replace Mark Richt?
brian
March 14th, 2011
5:11 pm
Dog fan is that a The Program reference? Nice
LJ
March 14th, 2011
5:11 pm
I guess they’ll be running a “Missing Coach” simulation next year…
ClinchCountyCanine
March 14th, 2011
5:11 pm
bullochdog
We already have the best coach in the SEC.
Neutral fan
March 14th, 2011
5:15 pm
This is only a secondary violation but it is in fact a violation of a very clear cut rule. Most average fans like myself know all about the simulation rule. It was the most abused practice in recruiting until they banned it a couple years ago. Secondary violations happen all the time and its not that big a deal. But in this case Richt absolutely knew that he was breaking a rule since such a huge deal was made about game simulation tactics involving jerseys a few days ago. That’s the only thing that bothers me about this. Richt knew it was a rule and knowingly violated it. There is no way the man did not know about this rule. No way.
schmeckdawg
March 14th, 2011
5:17 pm
YELLOW HAMMER
March 14th, 2011
5:06 pm
UGA gets CROWELL , BAMA gets DEE HART , army all-american MVP, scout # 1 back . w/out any violations or missing man formation, black-out , team running on the field or any other fiasco’s, just sayin
HOW DO YOU KNOW??????????
chuck
March 14th, 2011
5:25 pm
When will college football do something about the ncaa? These people are beyond ridiculus. they need to be put out of business. Bunch of dictators. The have more rules than the IRS. Is it any wonder you can’t keep up with them. Kick these jerks out ion their butt.
A.J. finished the drill by running out of bounds
March 14th, 2011
5:27 pm
Enter your comments here
UGASlobberknocker
March 14th, 2011
5:29 pm
I hear another violation occurred when Richt did his back flip off the high dive..seems that since every school doesnt have a high dive, no one can high dive. thats a violation of the flippin backflip rule
Not only that, his back angle was at 45 degrees..NCAA rules explicitly say that head coaches doing back flips MUST have an angle no greater than 40 degrees. Damn! Theres another violation.
Im just glad UGA VIII wasn’t there.. he was??? Damn another violation for unauthorized mascot attendance. Its a good thing UGA didnt poop..thats a environmental violation. He did? Damn..another crappy violation.
Wait a minute..UGA VIII is dead. What”?? Thats a violation too? .. Failure to report dead mascot in a timely fashion. wow this is getting bad.
TTOUGH44
March 14th, 2011
5:31 pm
NCAA stands for Non-consistent Arrogant A##s. Some of the petty things they do to these schools…. but ohhhhh…..they didnt do anything significant durring the bowl season…
the NCAA is a JOKE! After last seasons “crap!” the way they handled these players from UNC, Ga, Ala, Auburn. Ohis state….NCAA is a JOKE….
WHy would it be such a bad thing for a kid to try on a team jersey or helmet…give me a break…
NCAA
NCAA Inspector
March 14th, 2011
5:32 pm
Be careful, bloggers, Im pretty sure there is at least some unauthorized collegiate trashtalking going on here..thats a violation of the no BS BS rule. No trash talking unless the NCAA does it..every one of you bloggers..you are now on probation until we say otherwise. Now go to your room.
Delta Stewardess
March 14th, 2011
5:34 pm
Paul in Destin
Nobody had to turn UGA in. It was reported right here in the Prep Zone/ Recruiting Blog. The story was published and allowed to be blogged about. I think Crowell was interview and told the story himself. The same thing on the Drew situation. Ray asked for Pollack to be at the Signing and told the Media to be there. Either he or his coach called the Presser. Chip in the Prep Zone or Recruiting Blog was just doing their job by covering the story. I believe many of the secondary violations would get by if it were not for the SLOBBERING for a SCRAP of football news obsessed fans (myself included) didn’t want/need our sport fix 24/7.
Nachos the barn burner
March 14th, 2011
5:36 pm
hahahahahhahahahhahahahahha
Bana Fan
March 14th, 2011
5:38 pm
Speaking of violations..my cousin is coming over for dinner.
rw
March 14th, 2011
5:38 pm
Is it a secondary or major violation if a recruit breathes the same air as a current or former player while on an official recruiting visit?
BuzzGT
March 14th, 2011
5:39 pm
Sounds like a silly rule. Rules are needed but at some point you have to say enough is enough.
UGASlobberknocker
March 14th, 2011
5:41 pm
rw..that is only a secondary violation unless they fart..then its a major violation.
schmeckdawg
March 14th, 2011
5:43 pm
rw
March 14th, 2011
5:38 pm
Is it a secondary or major violation if a recruit breathes the same air as a current or former player while on an official recruiting visit?
Current=Secondary Former=Major…I think! Wait, as a matter of fact, let me check with the NCAA on that one, they could have changed it or made one up since this morning!
GR82BAG8R
March 14th, 2011
5:46 pm
All Richt did was use a creative approach to impress a prospective RB. If this is a violation, then what Tressel did should warrant the death penalty for THE Ohio State University.
schmeckdawg
March 14th, 2011
5:46 pm
Is it a violation to say that the NCAAholes are a bunch of violators?
0ld timer
March 14th, 2011
5:47 pm
Tim tucker just has these big bold headlines cause they sell papers.He has a knack for trying to get ahead of Schultz on blog numbers.
Mr. Dawg
March 14th, 2011
5:49 pm
Reading this story is a violation. Oops.
But seriously, all these rules and stuff are out of control. How can any coach keep up with them all?? The NCAA needs to wake the hell up and realize the bigger things going on, The stuff with Pryor, Cash for Cam, (former) Auburn players robbing people, Tennessee sending hookers to recruit, FL having stalkers on the team, TN players beating up a cop…but Georgia is somehow the baddest of all.
UGASlobberknocker
March 14th, 2011
5:50 pm
If a college player gets a lap dance at the strip joint, .is that a violation of the simulation rule?
just wondering.
woebegong
March 14th, 2011
5:52 pm
I can’t figure out if this blog is a testimony of how much UGA haters really hate UGA or maybe if a lot of these stupid comment bloggers need a life. I see people from Tenn. Florida, 2 schools in Alabama, 1 school (the competition?) from Georgia, Ohio and I probably missed a few so speak up and let me know.
It is sort of like when you were in elementary school. You always tried to give the one you liked most, a hard time so she/he would know you were paying attention to them, and really had a crush on them.
Now, I want you to know that the Georgia athletic administration thanks you all for all the love and support, you show on these blogs. We would ask you though, to please be careful when you are salivating on your keyboards as you could recieve a mild shock, or worse yet, (this would be a true crusher) ruin your keyboard so you could no longer type your adulation for UGA on these truely important blogs.
Oh by the way, UGA will be reporting another secondary violation soon. It seems the little bulldog that Crowell had with him during the taping, had to pee and since it was on a UGA maintained building, he violated the NCAA rulebook, by not promptly cleaning it up, and it probably influenced Crowell to sign. After all, if the dog feels comfortable enough to pee on UGA grounds, this is a sure sign to me that UGA is blessed. It is a sign that UGA cares.
I think half of you didn’t even read the story attached, but I am not surprised, since this is a major news break, for all the UGA haters out there. I am just glad the dog didn’t drop a load on the floor, or the NCAA would have probably called that a gift and unnecessary inducement.
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO DAWGSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
jasont13
March 14th, 2011
5:54 pm
The NCAA has some weird rules. You can not include a recruit in a formation, however you can have them don a jersey with their anticipated number, walk through the tunnel that is simulating game day, and have their name introduced over a loud speaker as if it were game day.
Very interesting.
Lester Miles
March 14th, 2011
5:54 pm
TIM TUCKER yOU HAVE BEENAROUND JEFF AND MARK TOO LONG AND THINK IT IS YOUR DUTY TO DIG UP DIRT ON UGA. WELL IT IS NOT. Don’t sink further into the septic tank with this stupid self destruction. You have been the one blogger at ajc that normally report sports and not impersonate a supermarket gossip comunmist. But this kind of garbage is just that. Save yourself from being ASSociated with Jeff and Mark. Haave a geat day.
Lester Miles
March 14th, 2011
5:56 pm
BEEN AROUND reports columnist
NorthGaDawg
March 14th, 2011
5:57 pm
The NCAA at it’s best. This is pure nonsense. Why don’t they worry about real issues.
Andrew
March 14th, 2011
5:58 pm
Unreal. Un fricken real.
Stinger2
March 14th, 2011
5:59 pm
Delta Stewardess: Did you retire before the airline industry changed your title to Flight Attendant? Was that back in the 1960`s? Guess you have cashed many SS checks? Keep kicking and happy retirement.
PR
March 14th, 2011
6:00 pm
The NCAA is a freaking joke. They won’t do squat about this. College athletics continues to be a game of who can break the rules and get away with it.
Stinger2
March 14th, 2011
6:04 pm
Someone mention CMR used a “creative approach” to impress a prospect. Yes he did. CMR does a lot of this kind of stuff. Maybe he should host all recruits with a Fish Fry.
If they were hungry and liked fish, they would be impressed.
Lester Miles
March 14th, 2011
6:05 pm
Neutered Fan How do you know Coach Richt knew this was a vkolation since no play was simulated. I didn’t know this was a violation and I know everything except this. Have a great day. No balls.