UGA withholding comment until later today on Penn State ruling
Like everybody else I suppose, I was fascinated and a bit overwhelmed by the news out of Penn State this morning. Jeff Schultz offered his opinion on the ruling and people have been commenting on it on AJC.com all day.
When this whole sordid story first broke, I wasn’t sure if the NCAA would weigh in or whether it would even have the authority to do so. Obviously we found out the answer to that with this morning’s stern rulings.
To summarize, Penn State was:
- Fined $60 million (approximate amount of one year’s football revenue), which will be used to endow a fund for child sex victims;
- Given a four-year bowl ban;
- Had 40 scholarships taken away over four years;
- Vacated wins since 1998;
- Gave current Penn State players permission to transfer without losing eligibility.
Penn State signed a consent form accepting all the terms, so that is pretty much that.
Obviously, sanctions of this magnitude will have far-reaching effects. It is sure to change the safeguards and checks and balances utilized at all major college sports programs in the country. UGA already does a very extensive background check on all the sports professionals it hires. That’s why there’s often a delay between the time we hear about imminent hires and when they’re actually announced.
Only minutes after the ruling was handed down, I contacted Georgia Athletic Director Greg McGarity to get his thoughts and observations on the situation. He declined comment until later this evening when he’ll address reporters at the Greater Atlanta Bulldog Club meeting at Cobb Galleria (5:30 p.m. social hour, 7 p.m. program). Same thing for head coach Mark Richt, who actually declined comment about the whole affair this past week at SEC Football Media Days. So check back for their comments tonight.
In the meantime, I’ve already been asked if I thought any of Penn State’s players might consider transferring to Georgia. Obviously the Bulldogs don’t bump into Penn State in recruiting very often. However, Deoin Barnes, a defensive end from Philadelphia, chose the Nittany Lions over Georgia in 2011 and was redshirted this past season. I hope you’ll forgive me but I don’t think feel it would be appropriate to contact Barnes or any other Penn State players for a while. But it is going to be interesting to see how this thing plays out.
NCAA President Mark Emmert said the executive committee considered giving Penn State the death penalty but in the end chose not to. I’m not so sure.
What do you think?
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88 comments Add your comment
Augusta dawg
July 23rd, 2012
12:51 pm
First. Let’s just kick it off
ben
July 23rd, 2012
12:51 pm
I don’t think they’re allowed to contact Penn State players. The players have to contact UGA.
Bull
July 23rd, 2012
12:52 pm
Get some of their O Linemen
dawgman
July 23rd, 2012
12:52 pm
We need some former Nittany Lion offensive lineman!
Bob in Buford
July 23rd, 2012
12:52 pm
The Death Penalty would have been appropriate.
dawgman
July 23rd, 2012
12:53 pm
And we would be one of the very few schools with scholarships to offer some of the better Penn State players
dawgman
July 23rd, 2012
12:54 pm
A lot of schools would already be at their 85 limit with less than 2 months until the first game.
dawgman
July 23rd, 2012
12:54 pm
Maybe that will work in our favor, maybe not.
straight dope
July 23rd, 2012
12:55 pm
OK, I forgive you.
ozzfest
July 23rd, 2012
12:59 pm
McGARRITY’S WHOLE LIFE IS “NO COMMENT”….THE DUDE SHOULD HAVE AN ATTORNEY FOR A BODYGUARD, ONE THAT CAN ACTUALLY ANSWER A QUESTION INSTEAD OF HAVING TO “CONSULT WITH THY THINKTANK”.
WesDawg
July 23rd, 2012
12:59 pm
I understand your sentiment, but you can’t wait too long to offer PSU players
since fall practice begins soon.
HABDAWG
July 23rd, 2012
1:03 pm
I’m not sure that this won’t be worse than the death penalty. I’m sure several kids wil transfer and their program will suffer far longer than the 4 year bowl ban. However that is a far shorter time than the victims will suffer from all that has transpired @ PSU.
The sad part is that this action by the NCAA will do nothing to impact any of the peolple who brought all of this about. Of course what else culd we expect from the NCAA, always a day late and a dolar short.
Maybe it will help to prevent something like this from happening at another University.
PaulPaul
July 23rd, 2012
1:08 pm
This almost amounts to a death penalty. I think the penalty is appropriate because someone should have helped these kids and they chose not to. Paterno knew about this and did nothing. The statue needs to go because he is guilty of letting this pedophile back on campus after knowing what was going on. It makes it more apparent there are things more important than winning football games.
Thank God for people like Mark Richt and all the rest of the good coaches out there who would never conceal something like this.
jbo
July 23rd, 2012
1:17 pm
Personaly, I think they came down to hard. If it would have been female students/athletes, he wouldn’t have got as much and the school wouldn’t have been punished as much. Then again, homophobia is in sports.
tenn.DAWG
July 23rd, 2012
1:18 pm
This is just as bad as the Death Penalty, if not worse.UGA should jump on this quick,they are in the best position to take players with their depleted roster.
JB
July 23rd, 2012
1:19 pm
Check the OL. We need help and numbers. What if they have a big nasty or two with two years under their belt at say 6′6″ and 320 ready to play?. We’ve got the best inside scoop in the country with their former S&C coach from last year now on the Dawg Staff. Go for it Richt!!!!!!!!
JB
July 23rd, 2012
1:21 pm
And I feel they got the death penalty. The 4 year 10 player ban reduction means they will be actually 6, 7 years recovering.
Red Stick
July 23rd, 2012
1:22 pm
The penalties are severe and it will be years before Penn St will be relevant again.
Geaux Tigers
Go SEC
JB
July 23rd, 2012
1:27 pm
Happy Valley will now be known as Death Valley.
North Georgia Dawg
July 23rd, 2012
1:31 pm
Like others have posted, we are under the scholarship limit, so let’s offer some offensive linemen and maybe offer their placekicker. He was 14 of 17 on field goals!
1999Dawg
July 23rd, 2012
1:31 pm
Great point by JB about us needing lineman and possibly having a PSU connection. Let me add that playing for a coach with as much integrity as Richt could also make UGA attractive… Not to mention the lure of playing in the SEC and immediate playing time.
UGA Insider
July 23rd, 2012
1:39 pm
To make an analogy of how badly UGA is depleted Penn State will only be allowed to have 65 scholarship players each year. Commentators said Penn State cannot compete with those type numbers.
UGA currently has 69 and under no probation.
What in the hell?
UGA Insider
July 23rd, 2012
1:44 pm
If you are a player at Penn State I ask you to look at UGA. In 2013 there will opportunities at nearly every position and our roster will be flooded with freshman… perhaps as many as 40. UGA is also losing several Juniors to the NFL and at the moment we only have 69 scholarships so we have room for you. Please do not contact Greg McGarity because he will have no comment… Please contact the former Penn St strength coach.
DGD!
July 23rd, 2012
1:51 pm
The death penalty is not appropriate in this situation. I dont understand why it is even being mentioned. The players were not responsible for this. The fans were not reponsible for this. Hell even the administration save a select few such as some board members, paterno and the coaches and the AD. Paterno is dead so nothing can be done about that. But anyone who knew and or allowed this stuff to continue to go on should be treated the same as sandusky in my opinion. They should be the ones to get the death penalty. None of them who are still alive should ever be allowed to see the light of day. The wins have been wiped out, the statue removed and so should any reference to paterno or anything representing his coaching career. But once again the NCAA has punished people this had nothing to do with. The current coaches and players did not commit the attrocites. And by the way dont we have paternos strength and conditioning coach on staff? Just sayin
JB
July 23rd, 2012
1:53 pm
McGarity like Obama. ( the private sector is doing fine comment) The UGA football program is doing fine. We have lost 28 players other than graduation and early NFL and haven’t beat a really good football team in 3 years, but everything is fine. McGarity reminds me of Baghdad Bob telling the news media that they were not under attack as out planes were bombing on TV behind him…LOL
Will
July 23rd, 2012
1:56 pm
Is UGA on some kind of double secret probation? Is it true we only have 69?
JB
July 23rd, 2012
1:56 pm
DGD………….This is like the death penalty. It’ll take 10 years to recover.
Mark (another one)
July 23rd, 2012
1:56 pm
It’s hard to put a proper punishment together for an organization that systematically attempt to hide this issue rather than protect children. The NCAA had to take action and it needed to be harsh. I believe they met that challenge.
UGA Insider
July 23rd, 2012
1:58 pm
Chip,
McGarity doesn’t want to comment because he is afraid you are going to ask him about our low scholarship numbers. Please remind him that we are allowed to have 85.
Jim Bean
July 23rd, 2012
1:59 pm
Mike McQueary was the last QB with a win at Penn State. Ouch.
DGD!
July 23rd, 2012
2:01 pm
It may be worse than the death penalty for the fans. They will still have to watch JB. You are certainly correct though
JB
July 23rd, 2012
2:03 pm
I feel for the students, alumni and fans of Penn St who have done nothing wrong, but their beloved football program has been blown up. I agree with the tough punishment, but put yourself their place, a selfish place, but they have lost something they love.
GT Alum
July 23rd, 2012
2:12 pm
JB -
I don’t know how much I feel for the students, alumni and fans of Penn St. Many of them seem to just not get it and have rallied around PSU and Joe Pa. I think the ones who get it will suffer but will understand. The ones who don’t will feel greatly wronged, but I don’t know that they deserve much sympathy.
DGD!
July 23rd, 2012
2:13 pm
I just wish the NCAA brain trust would figure out a way to punish the people who commit the violations and not always the school. Players taking money from “boosters” coaches dirty deeds etc. The school always pays so the fans always pay. Meanwhile coaches and players move on with no punishment
DawginLex
July 23rd, 2012
2:27 pm
Might get a recruit or two for 2013 and beyond but most likely, the players for 2012 will stick it out, especially upperclassmen
They have little size on the OL except for a right tackle that is 306
Our OL players are rated higher and are younger
Lowcountry Bulldawg
July 23rd, 2012
2:30 pm
Penn State will take 10 years to recover. The recruiting for the next two years will be tanked, then it will take the next three- four to really sell the program to kids that wanna play for championships at some point in there college career. The “Death Penalty” has essentially been given.
Chip I also appreciate the understanding you are currently showing in reaching out prospective PSU football players who may look to transfer. The situation is such a mess that I honestly do not know how I would feel about Richt trying to “lure” two-three kids away from PSU. Honestly I would hope the kids stick together and use that motto so many are preaching “We are Penn State”.
MikeD
July 23rd, 2012
2:31 pm
UGA presently has 75 football players on scholarship.
Check out http://uga.rivals.com/content.asp?SID=878&CID=387116
Dawg-Gawn
July 23rd, 2012
2:33 pm
“That which does not kill us makes us stronger” ~ Friedrich Nietzsche
Faith conquers fear and evil that is in this world.
Sandusky went from Penn State straight to the State Pen, where he belongs, and where his Karma patiently awaits him.
North Georgia Dawg
July 23rd, 2012
2:34 pm
DawginLex, we have more size but we may need the quickness those linemen have or at least the depth if Houston isn’t cleared to play this year. They have said Houston should be fine for this season, but nothing definitive has been announced.
DIT
July 23rd, 2012
2:39 pm
@MikeD – What on earth are you providing facts about UGA’s scholly’s for? Now the people that claim, through just their own knowledge, thatUGA only have 65-69 scholarship players on the team have to make up something else against UGA.. L.O.L.
GTDog
July 23rd, 2012
2:41 pm
Is it possible that the NCAA might be trying to get college athletics under control? Perhaps we’ll start to put the “student” back in
student-athlete”, because I can assure you it’s been gone a loooong time…
fishook dawg
July 23rd, 2012
2:42 pm
The death penalty would have affected too many other people outside of Penn State. Every opponent scheduled for this coming year and beyond, would loose all that revenue from the games being canceled. Revenue counted on to run their athletic programs. The way the NCAA handled this does more for what they wanted, which was to punish Penn State.
JoeyHanie
July 23rd, 2012
2:42 pm
Im thinking O-Lineman and some db’s?
old dog
July 23rd, 2012
2:47 pm
Hopefully an o-lineman or two will look our way……………..
recruitnik
July 23rd, 2012
2:53 pm
Mcgarity is a coward. No comment my butt. You come out and say how sorry you are to see what happened and then “we want your players”..
Ole Big Dawg
July 23rd, 2012
2:56 pm
Folks talking about P State players and lineman…big 10 caliber would not cut the mustard …our boys generally in past yrs have been higher rated and much bigger. Position coach needs to coa cv h em up. See what Will Friend can do this yr
shankit
July 23rd, 2012
2:56 pm
I think I would take the death penalty over
having my legs and arms cut off, and then
thrown into solitary confinement for a decade or two.
DawginLex
July 23rd, 2012
2:57 pm
Penn state has a senior center 295 LBS
Another tackle 306
The rest are 285 range. Would not help much
My guess is they all stay at Penn State in 2012 and the exodus will be among recruits for 2013
chris
July 23rd, 2012
2:58 pm
I think they would have benefited better by the death penalty. They could have started over in a year or two and had a fresh start. So what if it took them a couple years to get decent players to come in and bring the program back….They aren’t going to be good for a decade with all these sanctions anyway. If I’m the ACC, I might would even approach them about changing conferences and totally starting anew.
As far as possible players to come to UGA…..All I want is O Linemen ready to play. I think we are pretty good at most other positions.
MikeD
July 23rd, 2012
2:59 pm
@DIT – Don’t know what I was thinking. I will try not to clear the water anymore. L.O.L.
shankit
July 23rd, 2012
3:02 pm
Gonna be hard, demoralizing for the Penn State players going into
somewhere like Columbus, where their values and morals are so high.
flo-ri-duh
July 23rd, 2012
3:03 pm
If I was a player at Penn State I would have been already looking around. UGA was recruiting a TE that committed to Penn State and I think he was the #1 rated TE in the country. He is from Pennsylvania. Pittsburgh “U” should really be after these guys, I feel sorry for the players still on the team but they can transfer without penalty; however if they are jrs. or srs it may be to late for them to transfer academically since you usually have to be at the school you graduate from your last two years.
falcon fred
July 23rd, 2012
3:04 pm
Next trip for Mr. Emmert should be to Athens, GA. 50 arrests should be worth some sort of penalty(s). Lack of institutional control. Smart people would say yes.
Old Dawg
July 23rd, 2012
3:07 pm
O-lineman. If they wanna come, they should be welcome with open arms.
And, if they were accepted at Penn State, their academics are pretty good (at least it’s been that way in the past).
This is worse than the death penalty, though I was in favor of it. This is a Branding/PR nightmare that won’t go away.
old dog
July 23rd, 2012
3:09 pm
@DawginLex,
Respectfully, I ain’t worried ’bout the size of the line…..just if they can block! (Refering to your comment about the size of Penn-State limemen.) Our o-line (against the better teams) is gonna be exposed like your back-side in a hospital gown! They can get better, but this year they our our achilles-heel. I don’t care how many we send to the pro’s, they have a hard time as a unit. Hopefully it will get better, but to compete with ‘Bama and LSU, we need help now!
Abnerish
July 23rd, 2012
3:18 pm
I sure hope we look to PSU to help fill our scholarship gaps. We would be stupid not to. Especially at OL.
JB
July 23rd, 2012
3:26 pm
Mark and McGarity would say ” we are fine. We need not look at PSU for any possible help at positions we are low on. We would advise these young men to honor their commitment………GEEZ.
Penn St Lineman
July 23rd, 2012
3:27 pm
Of course I want to go the the most irrelevent program in the SEC.
JB
July 23rd, 2012
3:28 pm
Tech is in the ACC, Penn St lineman, just so you’ll know.
P_The_Ricker
July 23rd, 2012
3:33 pm
Opportunity of a lifetime for both UGA and OL & DBs from PSU to transfer to UGA w/out having to sit out a year.
Opportunity of a lifetime for both parties!!
People criticizing the size of the PSU OL and no apparent need by UGA obviously don’t understand the concept of depth and the fact that UGA is presenlty operating at a roster of only 69.
Jville Dawg
July 23rd, 2012
3:34 pm
I don’t get where everyone keeps saying the NCAA was weak with what they did or that it doesn’t punish those directly involved. Well how could they?
Sandusky is on trial and will get his through the legal system
Joe Pa is dead
The President was asked to resign along with other board members who were aware.
60 mil isn’t a small chunk of change, not to mention the money they’re going to lose in merchandising revenue – don’t really see anyone rushing out to buy Penn St gear anytime soon. The bowl sanctions are going to cost them addtional revenue annually, and with only 15 ships per year for the next 4 years – they may not have been given the death penalty, but they are in critical condition and on life support.
I think the NCAA did what it could to hammer the school without destroying the players’ careers in the process. I like the fact that for once the NCAA thought of the players. Great move in allowing them to transfer if they choose without having to sit out or lose eligibility.
I’m usually a pretty harsh critic of the NCAA but in this instance I think if punishment was to be handed down it was firm and fair to all those concerned.
Anyway – While we’re all caught up in the hoopla surrounding this, I hope everyone that reads this will take a moment and say a prayer for the victims and their families. Their pain and suffering should not get lost in any of this, because after all THEY are the ones that really matter in all of this. I personally think the families should have been allowed to meet with NCAA and have a hand in the deciscion making process regarding the punishment. Afterall it would be hard to argue with whatever punishment the families of the victims came up with and would put to rest all the controversy, but like most things where a governing body is concerned, common sense rarely prevails.
Ted Striker
July 23rd, 2012
3:42 pm
My alma mater does not need to be known as an institution that poaches players because of tragedy. That’s foul tasting to my sensibilities.
Now…if a kid announces his intent/desire/interest in leaving Penn State, maybe you contact him if you want him. To find out if his interest is mutual. However the kid has to make it known he wants to go elsewhere.
Otherwise your integrity is lacking.
Orl Dawg
July 23rd, 2012
3:45 pm
Penn State usually doesn’t have DB’s who can compete in the SEC; however, they always have smart, fundamentally sound, hard-working O-lineman. UGA should target a few of those. Redd is a very good RB that would bolster our depth and he could make an instant impact. I would like to see the Dawgs give him a look as well.
DawgDays
July 23rd, 2012
3:47 pm
Chip I agree that UGA doesn’t bump into Penn State recruits often, but the pipeline may be greased better than in the past with John Thomas coming from Joe Pa’s staff to be our strength and conditioning coordinator. Not sure what the rules are on coaches contacting the Penn State players, but we have as good of a connection with Thomas as anybody it would seem!
bucket
July 23rd, 2012
3:48 pm
We just need to let this thing play out over the next week. I’m sure some of the better players are examining options and I am sure a certain S&C coach @ UGA will be in the loop if some of them start looking elsewhere. This COULD be a silver lining in having a few scholies open right now.
GT Alum
July 23rd, 2012
3:58 pm
falcon fred -
The problem with claiming lack of institutional control is that the school is punishing and dismissing these guys, even pulling back offers. While I don’t believe it’s all attributable to the Athens police and Richt/UGA being so tough, it’s hard to say there’s a lack of control when the offenders are being punished.
As many folks have pointed out, it’s not like these are kids that other schools are not recruiting saying these guys are liabilities for their off-field behavior. It’s almost like they think they can get away with more stuff at UGA.
Withholding Statement
July 23rd, 2012
4:17 pm
See ya at the social hour.
AltamahaDawg
July 23rd, 2012
4:18 pm
That’s not a very thought out argument that being low on player is the equivalent of having scholarships limited.
The first most obvious difference is that UGA is actually going to use the room to recruit MORE player next year, so the long term affect is no even comparable.
Secondly, the NCAA doesn’t go to the penalized team and ask “which player would you like to cut loose, starting at the bottom”. Obviously , nobody wants to be low in numbers, but when they were player that were questionable contributors, (as with Georgia) that’s the one to be without. In PSU’s case, the numbers are spread out over good, bad, and ugly. “Limited” to 65, means they have 65 including those that might not work out and leave too. Nobody is ever going to say “we are better off without that guy” in thier case.
Withholding Statement
July 23rd, 2012
4:23 pm
Jarvis Jones transferred from Southern California
in a somewhat similar probation situation.
G.P. Burdell
July 23rd, 2012
4:27 pm
So do you think the NCAA will distribute the $60M to the victims/families? I think not, but would be appropriate.
AltamahaDawg
July 23rd, 2012
4:30 pm
well not exactly. Jones couldnt get medical clearance to play for USC, and transfered. And had to use a RS year, not immediate.
Really?
July 23rd, 2012
4:31 pm
I heard saban loaded a bama pickup truck with hookers/boosters daughters and cash and is on his way to happy valley.
Ole Big Dawg
July 23rd, 2012
4:45 pm
Falcon Fred…you make yourself look silly…things are being taken care of the right way in Athens Ga
KD
July 23rd, 2012
4:46 pm
At this stage in the year, I woul think that most players transferring will probably sit out a year to get accustomed to the play book. With UGA only having 69 scholarship players and with the Senior class we have and possibly losing a lot of Juniors to the NFL, UGA might be near the death penaty without doing anything wrong, except recruiting correctly !!
AltamahaDawg
July 23rd, 2012
4:48 pm
In related news, several 3rd string football players at the University of Alabama suddenly developed unexplained medical ailments this morning.
AltamahaDawg
July 23rd, 2012
4:50 pm
what juniors are you guessing will leave?
pete van weird
July 23rd, 2012
4:51 pm
So much nonsense. What do we do next, punish the catholic church for the transgressions of a few? Please.
MYDawg
July 23rd, 2012
5:06 pm
AAll o the sudden the hiring of Penn States strength coach looks genius!
50 arrests in 4 years
July 23rd, 2012
5:08 pm
Saw the 50 arrests thing thrown around on this thread. Once again, I will ask for documentation, or will assume you are either ignorant in this area, or are just trying to run down UGA with false information.
Frank Lane
July 23rd, 2012
5:25 pm
I think that their victories for 1982 should be vacated and UGA declared the National Champ that year. Sandusky was there then I think.
RedBone
July 23rd, 2012
5:40 pm
So are we the 1981 National Champs now?
Scott
July 24th, 2012
12:26 am
Harsh? Maybe..maybe not enough. Personally think they should’ve permanently disbanded the football program for years. To all those who turned a blind eye with an eye on the exploitive ‘business’ of college ball- should have banned them being involved in college or any sports ever again. Really? You have the guts to say it was too harsh? Tell that to the victims..sorry about your revenue loss. What a scum bag along with everyone who was complicit. So Sorry you can’t reap endowments from a bunch Of good old boys who could give a hoot about education. What a joke, id be ashamed of going to a school better known for its sports than its academics. Omg think of all the lost tailgating and beer consumption ..seriously it’s a game, get a grip. And then get an education from a school that values education more than its football program. We should bring the scarlet letter back as a tattoo for the whole football dept. staff, of course they all knew. Disgusting, deplorable.
Keith
July 24th, 2012
7:12 am
No Comment-
Keith
July 24th, 2012
7:13 am
I dont have a comment now but I will have at 5pm after I “lawyer up”
Joe
July 24th, 2012
7:15 am
Its really ashame we didnt play PSU in a bowl game, we could have made ourselves feel better with geting a win over a top 20 team. WOW- that would have made Murray look a bit better since more than likely it would have been an interception he threw that was the difference.
KJ
July 24th, 2012
7:13 pm
“Saw the 50 arrests thing thrown around on this thread. Once again, I will ask for documentation, or will assume you are either ignorant in this area, or are just trying to run down UGA with false information.”
Ignorance and false information from the trolls? Well I never….
Butter Bean Floyd
July 24th, 2012
8:59 pm
So what if UGA were able to land some Penn State players? Our inept coaching staff wouldnt be able to coach”em up anyway!
amanda
July 29th, 2012
11:08 pm
Batting Cages