UGA notebook: A secondary violation involving Bobo and, of all things, tennis
By TIM TUCKER and CHIP TOWERS
ATHENS –Georgia will bench offensive coordinator Mike Bobo from off-campus recruiting for a month as a result of a secondary NCAA violation.
The violation: escorting a recruit and his mother into the NCAA Tennis Championships on the UGA campus last spring without having them pay the $8 admission fee.
UGA athletic director Greg McGarity self-reported the incident to SEC commissioner Mike Slive in a letter last week.
According to the letter, the violation occurred when an assistant coach –- not named in the letter but identified by UGA as Bobo – and a recruiting intern were touring campus with an unnamed prospect who was in town on an unoffiicial visit.
“A member of the ticket office staff reported this incident to the compliance office,” McGarity wrote. “… The family has been notified and subsequently submitted restitution in the amount of $20.”
In addition, according to the letter, Georgia will prohibit the coach – Bobo — from recruiting off campus for 30 days and will prohibit any on- or off-campus contact with the prospect for 30 days. The dates of those self-imposed penalties were not specified.
“To prevent similar violations of this nature in the future,” McGarity wrote, “the compliance staff met with the coaching staff as well as the ticket office and event management staff regarding the provisions of NCAA Bylaw 13.7.2.4 and reiterated that prospective student-athletes may not receive complimentary admission to NCAA Championships or other postseason contests.”
If the NCAA agrees that the incident constitutes a Level II violation – the lowest level — no further action is expected.
Mitchell’s role
Cornerback/wide receiver Malcolm Mitchell’s transition back to a significant offensive role continues.
“I would say his reps on offense will increase and his reps on defense will probably decrease,” coach Mark Richt said.
Mitchell performed well at receiver in practice Tuesday but was “obviously a little rusty,” Bobo said. “He hadn’t worked at receiver hardly any — maybe 15 minutes — since we opened camp. But he’s a talented kid, and we’re going to give his ability a chance to make some plays in the game.”
Dogs in the NFL
Richt began his weekly news conference by citing the recent successes of some former UGA players in the NFL. He noted that former Bulldogs accounted for 10.5 sacks this past week (“I thought that was pretty cool”), that the Bears’ Tim Jennings leads the NFL in interceptions and that the Bengals’ A.J. Green is second in the league in receiving yards.
Richt also raved about Blair Walsh, who struggled through a shaky senior season at Georgia but is 7-for-7 on field goals for the Vikings and the first rookie in NFL history to kick a 50-yarder in each of his first three games.
“So they got him straightened out,” Richt said with a smile.
Welch before LeMay
It was something of a surprise in last week’s rout of Vanderbilt that walk-on Parker Welch was the second quarterback into the game for Georgia, ahead of scholarship player Christian LeMay.
“Coach Bobo is basically allowing [them] to compete on a weekly basis to see who earns the right to get in the game first if we get into that type of situation,” Richt said. “Parker has been doing well. Parker has been in the system a little longer, and he’s very diligent in the way he prepares as well. Coach Bobo felt like he earned the right to go in first.”
Georgia won’t use Hutson Mason in a mop-up role because the plan is to redshirt him, barring a significant injury to Aaron Murray.
Injury report
Defensive end Abry Jones missed a second consecutive practice with the sprained left ankle suffered against Vanderbilt. Defensive coordinator Todd Grantham indicated that Jones is expected to play Saturday against Tennessee, saying he’ll “be fine” and “knows the game plan of what we’re going to do.”
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186 comments Add your comment
Joey
September 26th, 2012
3:39 pm
HUH?????
It makes my day to see someone else who knows how critical Nov 6 is to the country.
Everything else, even football, is secondary, and I won’t “butt heads” with you again.
Cody
September 26th, 2012
3:41 pm
I would like to take back my cocky remarks from last weekend about how LSU was going to kill Florida and would destroy South Carolina. Our defense is still loaded, but I had made the assumption that Mettenberger was going to be a solid compliment to our power running game. He played poorly against Auburn and if he can’t solve that defense, he’s got a lot to work on. I still think LSU could beat both teams, but I gave Mettenberger way too much credit.
Joey
September 26th, 2012
3:53 pm
North Georgia Dawg, I have mentioned more than once (a lot more) about Richt’s teams losing games they shouldn’t.
The difference is now (my hope is), Grantham’s attacking style has rubbed off on Richt. He said in an interview last week that he loves his DC’s passion, and high-emotion-style, which surprised me.
I think if Murray continues to protect the ball as he has so far this season, Richt will let Bobo and Murray attack, and if so, this year may turn out to be some good fun, and great success.
Georgia’s defense prepares to bring Alec Ogletree, Bacarri Rambo back into fold | UGA sports blog
September 26th, 2012
3:55 pm
[...] Notebook: Bobo docked 30 days recruiting for secondary violation [...]
North Georgia Dawg
September 26th, 2012
3:57 pm
Joey, he really said that?? Great, I am very surprised to know that Richt said that. We need his intensity out there, especially considering that Tennessee has two very good receivers. Luckily their defense does not appear to be very good at this point in the season and as you said, when Murray protects the ball, he can be elite. Our receivers have been very good this season and now with Mitchell coming back should be even better.
Joey
September 26th, 2012
4:27 pm
Richt said it – in response to a question about the Franklin/Grantham thing from a year ago. I’ll see if I can find it – there was more. Who says a leopard can’t change its spots?
HUH?????
September 26th, 2012
5:18 pm
“It makes my day to see someone else who knows how critical Nov 6 is to the country.”
DAMN STRAIGHT!!!!!!
HUH?????
September 26th, 2012
5:19 pm
“Hey, at least we got something in common…”
True dat.
bobdawg
September 26th, 2012
6:06 pm
U know auburn buys Scam the QB and nothing is done…..admitted by dad….and
ga takes a pair to tennis…..1 month……
seems not to balance out….????
Bobo was wrong but seems as if the punishment does not fit the crime….
PT
September 26th, 2012
6:55 pm
Speaking of Bobo, what happened to all the Bobo haters? It’s amazing how the presents of a running game can change the effectiveness of an offense. Georgia’s offense is quite balanced now with the running and passing game. Bobo sure did get awful intelligent with his play calling once Gurley and Marshall arrived. Idiots
Huh?
September 26th, 2012
7:14 pm
PT…if UGA loses a game, then Bobo go back to being an idiot. Winning cures all…deservedly so or not.
GT black
September 26th, 2012
7:38 pm
Athens ifs full of red dirt…. $20.00 reported $20,000.00 flows under the table…
PT
September 26th, 2012
7:46 pm
I wasn’t speaking so much of winning as to the fact that Bozo can produce and average of 40 points a game. Heck, if Georgia had scored again against Vandy (which they could have), then they would have 50 points in back to back games. That has not been done since 1913?
Huh?
September 26th, 2012
7:51 pm
PT…I understand…I’m just saying that if UGA wins, people lay off the coaches…but if they lose, stats do not matter…people start calling the coaches idiots.
Mike Franklin
September 26th, 2012
7:59 pm
There will always be two noteworthy tyrannies above all others, in the annals of human history. One will be the Spanish Inquisition and the other, the NCAA.
Mike Franklin
September 26th, 2012
8:01 pm
PS – Why does GT hate UGA so much? The bitterness associated with this fine institution is really troubling. Perhaps the governor should institute a study to see if there is a danger from Tech that could eventually lead to some form of domestic terrorism?
PT
September 26th, 2012
8:05 pm
The consistency of the decision process of the NCAA reminds me of that of the NFL replacement refs.
WestOfAthens
September 26th, 2012
8:20 pm
So it is obvious now. CMR covered his bases, with Todd Grantham surely suggesting this.
Suspensions being in the past, excellent coaching, superb coaching.
SEC HBTD
UGA OC Mike Bobo commits NCAA no-no; banned from recruiting for a month | CollegeFootballTalk
September 26th, 2012
8:49 pm
[...] the Atlanta Journal-Constitution: The violation: escorting a recruit and his mother into the NCAA Tennis Championships on the UGA [...]
BB's
September 26th, 2012
9:14 pm
I am a GT fan, and I always pull against UGA. But this is another example of crap with the NCAA that should not be news. It’s not the same as a concert. It is an athletic event on the campus where the kid is visiting. The NCAA rules are ridiculous. Not a big fan of Bobby Knight, but he once volunteered to rewrite the rulebook, and promised it would be less than 100 pages. I say let him.
RHall55
September 26th, 2012
9:49 pm
OK….Kool Aid Drinkers….UGA won the College Title for arrests several years ago, then last year with transfers, this year with suspensions, and now following up w/ de-commits: !) Tramel Terry 2) Derrick Henry 3) K Priester 4) Kelsey Griffin 5) Trenton Brown…..who’s next??? No NC for this staff w/ those kind of issues!!!! Not enuff depth….misses out on too much top notch talent….and can’t keep them all once they are there!!!
Rick James
September 26th, 2012
10:24 pm
@RHall55
OK….Kool Aid Drinkers….UGA won the College Title for arrests several years ago, then last year with transfers, this year with suspensions, and now following up w/ de-commits: !) Tramel Terry 2) Derrick Henry 3) K Priester 4) Kelsey Griffin 5) Trenton Brown…..who’s next??? No NC for this staff w/ those kind of issues!!!! Not enuff depth….misses out on too much top notch talent….and can’t keep them all once they are there!!!
—————————————————————————————————————————–
And through all of that they still beat Tech 10 out the last 11 and 25 out the last 32 games..Obviously something is being done right.
Huh?
September 26th, 2012
10:35 pm
Rick James…if beating Tech is your only criteria for doing things right, then yes…UGA has been a big success.
UGA OC Mike Bobo commits recruiting violation, banned from off-campus recruiting for a month | Saturday Down South
September 26th, 2012
10:48 pm
[...] the AJC: “To prevent similar violations of this nature in the future,” McGarity wrote, “the [...]
legionaire
September 27th, 2012
4:09 am
The NCAA is worthless. This is why every school should be allowed to have a slush fund of say $5,000 to cover incidental expenses for recruits and families i.e. a tank of gas, tickets to a tennis match, airline tickets for an emergency trip home etc.How about some common sense.
MTM555
September 27th, 2012
6:20 am
That just goes to show you that Bobo does not make the right calls. He has got to go. Can we chant Bobo Got to Go!!!!!!
fan
September 27th, 2012
6:46 am
anybody notice in the article that Richt smiled when walsh set the record kicking fg? so they got him straightened out? where the hell were you mark baby? no coaching obviously.
UGA OC Mike Bobo commits recruiting violation, banned from off-campus recruiting for a month – Georgia – Dawg News
September 27th, 2012
6:48 am
[...] the AJC: “To prevent similar violations of this nature in the future,” McGarity wrote, [...]
Joey
September 27th, 2012
8:02 am
“…but if they lose, stats do not matter…people start calling the coaches idiots.”
*****************************************
It doesn’t just happen in Athens, Huh?
Last season, there was a firemuschamp.com website, UT went to the SECCG in ‘07, then fired its coach after ‘08 mainly due to fans uprising (and Dooley is as good as gone too), Texas Mack Brown is on the hot seat. Shula couldn’t beat Tubberville and had to go, then Tubberville had to go, Chan Gailey had to go, etc, etc.
Hey college coaches make huge money, and they better win, or they will be unpopular.
Georgia’s Offensive Coordinator Mike Bobo Suspended From Off Campus Recruiting Over Two $8 Tennis Tickets | The News Sports Guru
September 27th, 2012
12:15 pm
[...] offensive coordinator Mike Bobo has been suspended from off-campus recruiting for one-month after committing a secondary violation. He brought a recruit and his mother into the NCAA Tennis Championships, without having them buy an [...]
REMINGTON
September 27th, 2012
12:27 pm
OH MY GOODNESS….SUCH DAMAGE TO THE MIGHTY BULL DOGS
eagle 1
September 27th, 2012
1:05 pm
The kid and his mom probably didnt even want to go to the tennis match! How many football players demand to see the tennis facilities? They were probably just tourning campus.
GTBobby
September 27th, 2012
2:26 pm
I think GeorgiaTech…Yes, thiis Cenurty leads the nation with Two Major Ncaa Probation and is currently on a 4 year probation. It’ the new Tech tradition! How about them Bugs!
Georgia offensive coordinator banned for recruiting violations - Gamedayr : Gamedayr
September 27th, 2012
3:54 pm
[...] Bulldogs offensive coordinator Mike Bobo has been benched in the corner. According to the Atlanta Journal Constitution, Bobo is suspended from any involvement with off-campus recruiting for [...]
GA, Stupid is as Stupid does...
September 27th, 2012
7:50 pm
So it says the tickets were $8 per ticket, yet GA send a $20 invoice….
I know you bulldog fans are hayseeds, but can’t you apply simple math?
This has nothing to do with any other school in the SEC, this is ALL you…
You make Forrest Gump seem smart….
Michael L. Buckner Law Firm Weekly NCAA Compliance and Enforcement Round-Up « Michael L. Buckner Law Firm
September 28th, 2012
9:39 am
[...] UGA notebook: A secondary violation involving Bobo and, of all things, tennis [...]