UGA’s Orson Charles mentioned in report on NCAA violations at Miami
Georgia tight end Orson Charles has been mentioned in the mess that Yahoo! Sports is reporting about the University of Miami and its relationship with a notorious booster named Nevin Shapiro. Shapiro is a convicted felon who, in several prison interviews, claims he provided impermissible benefits to dozens of Miami players and recruits.
Charles is listed among those recruits with whom Shapiro claims to have had impermissible contact. But, on face value at least, it doesn’t look like he is anything but a bystander in all this.
The bombastic report, written by Yahoo! Sports reporter Charles Robinson, merely alleges that Charles was escorted by a Miami assistant coach to Shapiro to be given “a recruiting pitch.” As we all know, Charles rather famously signed with Georgia. Shapiro is incarcerated in federal prison in Atlanta after being convicted for his role in a $930 million Ponzi scheme.
Current and former Miami players and student-athletes from all over are implicated by Shapiro and other sources in the extensive report, which includes thousands of supporting documents such as bank statements, hotel folios, cell phone records and corroborating quotes from athletes. Here’s the specific passage in which Charles is mentioned (along with several other recruits):
Among the specific incidents, Shapiro or other sources say Hurtt, Hill, Stoutland, Pannunzio and Allen all delivered top-tier recruits to Shapiro’s home or luxury suite so the booster could make recruiting pitches to them. Among the players who were ushered to Shapiro while they were still in high school: Eventual Miami commitments Ray-Ray Armstrong, Dyron Dye and Olivier Vernon (prompted by Hurtt); eventual Florida commitments Andre Debose (Hurtt) and Matt Patchan (prompted by Stoutland and Pannunzio); eventual Georgia commitment Orson Charles (Pannunzio); and eventual Central Florida commitment Jeffrey Godfrey (Allen).
A hot-link on Charles’ name carries readers to a page that provides more details of on Charles and his encounter with Shapiro, including Shapiro’s account of the meeting:
“Orson Charles was a tight end out of Plant City [High School] who was Robert Marve’s teammate. And because I had a real close relationship with Robert, Robert’s high school coach, Robert Weiner, came to Miami, Marve brought him to my house and he was with Orson Charles. I showed [Charles] my closet. The reason why I show all the kids my closet is because that’s where I had like 50 to 70 UM game-worn jerseys of all the best players in the last however long. That was our first visit. I saw him a second time and I think it was a Miami football camp.”
Charles’ name is also on a list of players Shapiro mentions that appears next to the text of the story. Again, click HERE to read the entire report from Yahoo!Sports. Here’s an Associated Press story on Charles’ connection and here’s a link to The AP report about the story.
UGA officials did not return messages sent late Tuesday night seeking comment about Charles. Wednesday morning Athletic Director Greg McGarity said via email UGA is checking into it.
If and when they respond, I suspect they will say something similar to what Alabama spokesperson Doug Walker said: “The University of Alabama is aware of the story, but we will have no further comment.”
Joe Pannunzio was the tight ends and special teams coach at Miami under former head coach Randy Shannon and is now the first-year director of football operations at Alabama. Bama’s new offensive line coach, Jeff Stoutland, is also implicated in the Yahoo! Sports report.
Charles, a junior from Tampa, is a preseason All-SEC first-team selection expected to be one of the Bulldogs’ main offensive weapons this season. He had 49 career receptions for 796 yards and five touchdowns.
We’ll try to sort all this out from Georgia’s end on Wednesday.
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356 comments Add your comment
WDE
August 17th, 2011
11:28 am
@Just making up reasons why UGA should win …your a troll with the reading comprehension skills of a 4th grader, I despise you and your ilk for the keyboard hiding cowards you are..but I never threaten you….just pointed out your a coward and a moron..now run along.
Big Ten Champs Nebraska....Dawg
August 17th, 2011
11:28 am
Another crooked UGA player.
DawginLex
August 17th, 2011
11:31 am
Lawrence Phillips just called and wants the number of a good lawyer
AltamahaDawg
August 17th, 2011
11:31 am
Flaubert, you get that Miami was the one who made the infraction , right. Charles is not ineligible becasue some school broke a rule in recruting him. Not sure why you think this invloves his eligilbility.
Do we need ot hold out Crowell? Richt broke a rule in recruiting him. Do we need to hold out any player that we reported making improper calls to during a dead period. THAT On the school. If Charles walked in the man’s mansion and looked at his stuff, THATs on Miami, not him. Let just conceed that he did, and it IS a voilation. That doesnt affect his status here.
RicknSFla
August 17th, 2011
11:33 am
Typical AJC sensationalism at work once again. So what, Orson Charles took a tour of this guys mansion. Much ado about nothing.
PR
August 17th, 2011
11:34 am
• “Orson Charles was a tight end out of Plant City [High School] who was Robert Marve’s teammate. And because I had a real close relationship with Robert, Robert’s high school coach, Robert Weiner, came to Miami, Marve brought him to my house and he was with Orson Charles. I showed [Charles] my closet. The reason why I show all the kids my closet is because that’s where I had like 50 to 70 UM game-worn jerseys of all the best players in the last however long. That was our first visit. I saw him a second time and I think it was a Miami football camp.”
I’d imagine the NCAA and UGA will look into how Charles made it to Miami to visit with this Shapiro. Sounds like he just tagged along with Marve, since it says in the report that “Marve brought him…” As long as Shapiro didn’t pay for him to get to Miami (no where does it say that he did) and as long as Charles didn’t take anything from Shapiro (no where does it say that he did), there will be nothing to this story. From just that statement alone, it seems like Miami is in a heap of trouble, but Charles did nothing wrong. Just my take…
Bama Mike
August 17th, 2011
11:39 am
Dawgin
I agree. But it is guilty by association he has to worry about. Allegations are that recruits went to house and received money etc., Compliance is going to want to make sure he just walked in and out and will want to be 100% satisfied that is the case. Georgia’s worry is the fact he remembered OC by name.
ryan
August 17th, 2011
11:40 am
Troll city on here i am tired of the AJC and its UGA blog or anti UGA blog .
Bama Mike
August 17th, 2011
11:42 am
Marcel Dareus just walked into a house in Miami and it cost him two games. I see the same for OC. There is a benchmark to go on.
PR
August 17th, 2011
11:47 am
No Bama Mike… Macel Dareus got a trip to Miami payed for. Airfare, lodging, etc. Much different situation if Orson Charles was brought to this house by his friend Marve. If Shapiro paid for the trip to Miami, then we may have an issue. The report didn’t sound like Shapiro paid for anything though… His contact with recruits as a booster of UM will put UM in hot water. But Charles and the other kids may have done no wrong by just taking a tour of the house.
Tossed Salad
August 17th, 2011
11:49 am
If you morons would have taken the time to read the actual report as well as the individual player bios in it, you would know that the midget booster called out all the players who received cash or other benefits. His audio recordings regarding OC clearly state that all Orson did was take a tour of his house with a UM assistant coach and saw a few jerseys in the creep’s closet. If he had handed OC a nickel he would have said as much, just as he ratted out every other kid who banked on his “generosity.” Orson has ZERO to be concerned with and will not miss a single snap.
Ruff Ruff Ruff
August 17th, 2011
11:49 am
Are you all really that stupid? “Much to do about nothing” “Leave our players alone” “AJC just hates Georgia”. This is serious and if Orson Charles met this guy and as much as ate a bagel, he will be ruled ineligible. Georgia has to do its due diligence in order to make sure that Charles is eligible or it could jeopardize the entire team. You guys are such homers it is gross. And your team sucks!
cursive
August 17th, 2011
11:49 am
UGA’s Charles implicated in Miami scandal
That was the headline. Then, after reading the article OC’s role seems limited at BEST. What a headline! Got me to read it, but I feel that it is misdirecting.
Flaubert
August 17th, 2011
11:51 am
Altamadawg, reread my post. I didn’t say what OC did was a violation , I said “if it’s a violation…” and neither I nor you determine what is and what isn’t a violation. What’s wrong w/my logic?
Big Ten Champs Nebraska....Dawg
August 17th, 2011
11:54 am
You have to go back to the mid 90s to mention Lawrence Phillips…..I only have to go back to…..11:00 to reference a UGA player.
You guys need to get control of this program. Vince Dooley is rolling over in his grave.
Bama Mike
August 17th, 2011
11:59 am
PR,
Not sure on how he got there. He did stay with friends. The one difference that I do recall was there was agents on premise. Fair or not it never looks good when the word implicated and scandal are in the same sentence with your name.
MountainDawg
August 17th, 2011
11:59 am
That Shapiro vermin is like a scaled down, bush league “super-agent” like (fellow d1rtb@g Drew Rosenhaus).
TallyDawg
August 17th, 2011
11:59 am
Maybe Miami and Ohio state can have a post season game this year called the Ineligibowl.
Bama Mike
August 17th, 2011
12:00 pm
Nebraska Dawg
LOL
Patrick
August 17th, 2011
12:00 pm
Big Ten Champs Nebraska… you just lost all credibility. You do realize Vince Dooley isn’t dead, right?
Atlanta87
August 17th, 2011
12:01 pm
Did Vince Dooley die?
ryan
August 17th, 2011
12:02 pm
It looking like its not going to be as bad as we thought we may get lucky here so keep your fingers crossed hopefully Jarvis Jones 2.0 .
AJC will not take UGA Insider posts
August 17th, 2011
12:02 pm
I have written some good ones this morning however this rag won’t take it b/c it can’t take criticism. Yet it can slander OC, Israil Troup and Ray Drew with no problem at all. Not to mention the slews of other over the years.
Anyways, I have had enough and I am done with AJC after 10 years.
Have a good season to all you guys and girls except anyone who works within the AJC.
PEACE OUT!!!
ps HUNKER DOWN YOU HAIRY DAWGS AND GO TO *** AJC!!!!!!!!
PR
August 17th, 2011
12:04 pm
Bama Mike – This is how the Dareus situation is different than this issue with Orson Charles…
“In early September, the NCAA suspended him [Dareus] for the first two games of the season in addition to requiring him to pay back the $1,787.17 received in impermissible benefits to the charity of his choice”
Bama Mike
August 17th, 2011
12:04 pm
Patrick
Have you seen him lately. Along with Gene Stallings and Pat Dye they are all pretty creepy. Dr. Tom pretty close to crossing over as well. So close enough I guess.
ryan
August 17th, 2011
12:06 pm
Charles not facing suspension it appears we might be in the clear thank god .
Atlanta87
August 17th, 2011
12:06 pm
I guess you can’t really say Bear Bryant is dead either. At least not to Bama fans anyways.
Bama Mike
August 17th, 2011
12:09 pm
PR
The two game suspension was for just being there. His elgibility for the remainder of the season hinged on the payback. OC can argue it happened years ago and he was only a high school junior. Darius was going into his junior year of college.
Un-Tank
August 17th, 2011
12:09 pm
I wonder if most of the Bama ‘tards getting a kick out of all this are even bright enough to realize that some of the dirty assistant coaches mentioned in the report are now on staff at your school. I’d be worried sick about the contact these douchebags have had with players on my own squad.
ryan
August 17th, 2011
12:09 pm
Breaking News Orson Charles is cleared of any wrong doing Go Dawgs !
AltamahaDawg
August 17th, 2011
12:10 pm
The flaw in the logic is the same flaw that causes you to ignore my twice explanation of the difference between a school committing a recruiting voilation and a PLAYER doing something that causes him to be ineligible, I guess. Why are we going around in circle here?
I get that you said IF. Thats why I said, ok just take the if out, and I”LL say it’s all true are rumored. (to make the point that it doesn’t matter).
Big Ten Champs Nebraska....Dawg
August 17th, 2011
12:10 pm
You all think this is much ado about nothing as Charles did not sign with Miami…..Why is that? Because he got a better deal for signing with UGA?
ugadawg2005
August 17th, 2011
12:11 pm
The problem here isn’t the article itself. Everyone doesn’t read the articles. The problem here is the headline grabbing. There is a picture of Charles on the front page and the following headlines around it:
UGA’s Charles implicated in Miami scandal
Report indicates booster recruited TE
Booster says he provided illicit benefits
Charles allegations | ‘Canes practice
This is the jounalistic intergrity people complaint about at the AJC. They use defamatory headlines and hide the truth in the middle of the article.
Bama Mike
August 17th, 2011
12:11 pm
When did Bryant die?? Last I heard he was pumping gas in Conyers.
WDE
August 17th, 2011
12:11 pm
@Bama Mike how is the Tide Nation taking the news that Joe Pannunzio is now the director of football operations at the University of Alabama and is one of the coaches that Shapiro names as well as Jeff Stoutland who is now the assistant head coach and offensive line coach at Alabama.I bet the Barners are wild with glee on this??
Big Ten Champs Nebraska....Dawg
August 17th, 2011
12:12 pm
@ Patrick…..You do realize it was a joke. You just perpetuated the stereotype of dumb UGA fans. Way to go.
auburngal
August 17th, 2011
12:13 pm
So, who is the bagman? I mean if Charles went from Miami to UGA, UGA must have paid him, right? So, come on, who was it? Herschel? Vince? Ray Goff (I hear he’s made a mint with his Zaxby’s franchises)….
DawginLex
August 17th, 2011
12:13 pm
Hey Nebraska moron, you still want to compare Orson Charles to Lawrence Phillips?
Suck on that hater
Bama Mike
August 17th, 2011
12:13 pm
Untank,
That is why we are not you. We never worry. We are who we are because we have, can and always will.
DawginLex
August 17th, 2011
12:14 pm
I ate a hot dog in Macon at the counter at Nu Way weiners with Bear and elvis last month
Big Ten Champs Nebraska....Dawg
August 17th, 2011
12:16 pm
@ Dawginlex
How can you call me hater when you use such angry discourse?
Grow up son.
Tide Rising
August 17th, 2011
12:16 pm
Cali Dawg
August 17th, 2011
12:33 am
Not too worried, but I would be a bit concerned if I was a Bama fan. Sounds like this is just the beginning of a big mess for Pannunzio and Stoutland. They may not be involved, but at the rate the NCAA works… it’ll linger on and on and on…
Sorry Cali Dawg but Stoutland and Pannunzio are in their first year at Bama and were only recently hired in the offseason. Nothing for us to worry about except that Stoutland and Pannunzio may be in trouble personally. Worst comes to worse we may have to let them go but we will suffer no fallout as far as sanctions go. This is all Miami.
Charles is a different story. If he accepted any impermissable benefits he will suffer a couple of games suspension similar to AJ Green and Dareus.
DawginLex
August 17th, 2011
12:16 pm
Nebraska
how can you be so stupid?
Randall "Pink" Floyd
August 17th, 2011
12:16 pm
“Georgia is aware of the article mentioning Orson Charles and has been in communication with the NCAA. There are no issues with UGA or eligibility issues with Orson Charles. UGA will have no further comment regarding this matter.”
Ding, dong. The witch is dead.
Bama Mike
August 17th, 2011
12:17 pm
WDE
I am sure there is concern. University made a no comment statement and you never get anything out of Saban at news conferences. Where do you begin on something as enormous as this involving potentially over 100 players and coaches combined. My thought suspend them and sort it out.
Nuff Said
August 17th, 2011
12:18 pm
“The University of Georgia is aware of the article mentioning Orson Charles
and has been in communication with the NCAA. There are no issues with UGA or
eligibility issues with Orson Charles. UGA will have no further comment
regarding this matter.”
Atlanta Gator
August 17th, 2011
12:18 pm
There is only one thing worse than a cheat, and that’s a rat. The Hurricanes program looks like it’s about to get what it deserves, but I find it grotesque that someone with the character and background of Nevin Shapiro is the source. But, I suppose that’s how these things work; not every college football program has a regional bank president to finance the program’s illicit recruiting practices. Some programs have to make do with an ordinary felon.
I doubt that Orson Charles and the Dawgs have anything to worry about. The Hurricanes, on the other hand, are about to get their unseemly practices exposed. Long overdue.
hotdawg
August 17th, 2011
12:18 pm
Why is the AJC reporting the news about some criminal MENTIONING the name of a UGA player who has had an exemplary career at UGA so far. Florida had three or more players mentioned and Alabama had a couple of coaches mentioned. So far, there really is NO STORY; however, if such questionable reports are to be made, the AJC should be even handed.
For at least the past ten years and during many prior years, UGA has attempted to run a clean athletic program, unlike North Carolina, Georgia Tech, and Miami of the ACC.
Big Ten Champs Nebraska....Dawg
August 17th, 2011
12:19 pm
That’s your best retort?
When you get to high school, they teach you better ways to respond in a hostile manner.
Just making up reasons why UGA should win
August 17th, 2011
12:19 pm
WDE
August 17th, 2011
11:28 am
@Just making up reasons why UGA should win …your a troll with the reading comprehension skills of a 4th grader, I despise you and your ilk for the keyboard hiding cowards you are..but I never threaten you….just pointed out your a coward and a moron..now run along
You wish you had my education, job, life and sports contacts. I guess you must be off today from your job patrolling the trailer park.
I will continue to point out blatant untrue statements and the biased posting of folks like you who never attend an actual game outside of your local high school team or your beloved bulldawgs home games when someone gives you a ticket. Doubt if you have ever paid for ticket or been part of an alumni association, and you relive your pee wee and jr high and high school days through your posting for UGA on these blogs. Have a nice day. You are one day closer to the beginning of the month when your next check arrives from the government.