Georgia reports NCAA violations in recruitment

• Fab1b

  

  Per Yahoo: http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/news?slug=ap-georgia-ncaaviolations

  ATHENS, Ga. (AP)—Georgia acknowledged breaking NCAA rules in its recruitment of linebacker Ray Drew.
  
  The school sent a letter to the Southeastern Conference saying that two former football players attended a Jan. 28 news conference in which Drew announced his commitment to Georgia, a violation of five NCAA bylaws relating to illegal contract before signing a letter-of-intent.
  
  While the ex-players aren’t named in the letter, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and other news outlets reported and photographed Randall Godfrey and David Pollack attending Drew’s news conference at Thomas County Central High School.
  
  “UGA became aware of the issue shortly after the decision was announced and articles of the decision with pictures of the announcement were posted on the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s website,” athletic director Greg McGarity wrote in the letter. “Immediately after viewing the article, UGA began to investigate the potential violation.”
  
  Drew signed with the Bulldogs the next week. The self-reported violations will likely be considered minor and handled by the conference.
  
  Georgia spokesman Claude Felton said the school had no additional comment on the violations.
  
  The 6-foot-5, 243-pound Drew was part of Georgia’s highly rated signing class, which has bolstered hopes for a program coming off its first losing season since 1996. He is expected to make an impact at outside linebacker in defensive coordinator Todd Grantham’s 3-4 scheme.
  
  According to McGarity’s letter, one of Drew’s high school teachers arranged for the two ex-players to attend the announcement “without the knowledge of the UGA’s football staff.” The AD said neither former player knew they were violating NCAA rules, either.
  
  “It should also be noted that (Drew) invited the UGA coaching staff to attend the announcement; however, the staff told (Drew) they were unable to attend because NCAA rules precluded them from doing so,” McGarity wrote. “Further, the coaching staff was unaware (Drew) invited the two former letter winners, nor did they ask who was invited since they could not attend the announcement.”
  
  McGarity said the school has been “very proactive” in educating season-ticket holders and boosters on NCAA rules, but this case exposed a gap in Georgia’s efforts. A letter has been sent to all former letter winners, especially football players, detailing what is allowed in the recruiting process. Also, the two who attended Drew’s announcement have been told not to participate in any similar activities and to check with the school’s compliance office before any interaction with a prospective signee.
  
  “UGA regrets that this incident occurred but believes this was an isolated/one-time incident with some unusual and atypical circumstances,” McGarity wrote.

  Again Yahoo didn't break it they just posted this article and Georgia self reported it.
• september63

  

  Doesnt seem like to big of a problem. David Pollack should have known better though. He works for ESPNU and in sports radio in Atlanta.
• j_crazy

  

  so the witch hunt begins.
  
  
  BURN HER!!!
• sleeper

  

  Wow. Amazing double standard between the SEC and the Big Ten. Tressel forgets about an email and gets severely punished, and Georgia illegally recruits a linebacker and doesn't get any punishment at all?
  
  I do give props to UGA for admitting this mistake, as we all know the SEC has historically covered up numerous violations(Cam Newton most recently).
• september63

  

  LOL. Tressel forgets about an email? The NCAA hasnt rules anything yet on Ga. Im sure they get slapped a bit.
  
  
  Dont even say you think this is honestly about Tressel forgetting about the email. He didnt foget, he said he was protecting his kids. That isnt forgetting. He knew what he was doing, and he was wrong. The End.
• sportswizuhrd

  sleeper;706448 wrote:Wow. Amazing double standard between the SEC and the Big Ten. Tressel forgets about an email and gets severely punished, and Georgia illegally recruits a linebacker and doesn't get any punishment at all?
  
  I do give props to UGA for admitting this mistake, as we all know the SEC has historically covered up numerous violations(Cam Newton most recently).

  So what part was illegal? The ex-players don't work for them so they have no room to tell them not to attend the news conference...
• vball10set

  living in a huge glass house, you won't see me slinging any stones
• OQB

  

  here we go again....if it's not one school it's another.
• sleeper

  

  sportswizuhrd;706471 wrote:So what part was illegal? The ex-players don't work for them so they have no room to tell them not to attend the news conference...

  
  I'm not the NCAA, that is up to them to decide what is legal or illegal. I just find it funny there aren't threads blowing up like crazy for UGA's violation but there is a shit storm about OSU.
• se-alum

  

  sportswizuhrd;706471 wrote:So what part was illegal? The ex-players don't work for them so they have no room to tell them not to attend the news conference...

  
  It's dumb, but they cannot have any contact with the recruit no matter if they work for the University or not. This same thing came up with Reggie Bush during USC's recruitment of McKnight. Pretty sure it's a minor violation, as it should be.
• karen lotz

  

  is this georgiachatter.com?
• Speedofsand

  

  Godfrey and Pollack are media now. Pollack has been media for years. The way the kids these days make big deals out of announcing, I don't see why it would be against any stupid rule for anyone to attend other than college coaches who recruited him.
• se-alum

  

  I think the thread was made to further expose the Yahoo witch hunt with their "investigative" reporting. This shouldn't even be news.
• karen lotz

  

  Speedofsand;706514 wrote:Godfrey and Pollack are media now. Pollack has been media for years. The way the kids these days make big deals out of announcing, I don't see why it would be against any stupid rule for anyone to attend other than college coaches who recruited him.

  
  
  Because as former players, the NCAA views them as representatives of the program, I think. Same thing happened with Cris Carter recently? Its not a major violation at all but you really can't open that door to let former players in.
• Heretic

  

  karen lotz;706510 wrote:is this georgiachatter.com?

  
  You only can wish, Mr. Atlanta Braves fan!!!!
• karen lotz

  

  Heretic;706529 wrote:You only can wish, Mr. Atlanta Braves fan!!!!

  
  
  There would be so many threads about McLouth if that were the case...
• Heretic

  

  karen lotz;706534 wrote:There would be so many threads about McLouth if that were the case...

  
  
  
  He's running straight into your heart! xoxo
• Speedofsand

  

  karen lotz;706525 wrote:Because as former players, the NCAA views them as representatives of the program, I think. Same thing happened with Cris Carter recently? Its not a major violation at all but you really can't open that door to let former players in.

  
  Thats correct, I still think its a stupid rule. Restricting a person from attending a press conference is dumb compared to the wining and dining that goes on before the kids announce.
• karen lotz

  

  I think I just found my avatar for baseball season. Thank you.
• karen lotz

  

  Speedofsand;706544 wrote:Thats correct, I still think its a stupid rule. Restricting a person from attending a press conference is dumb compared to the wining and dining that goes on before the kids announce.

  
  
  True, but who is to say that Drew had already made up his mind? What if having those two guys there ultimately persuaded him to pick Georgia? Like I said, you can't allow them there or else it opens it up for every other school to have their former stars around recruits.
• wkfan

  sleeper;706448 wrote:Wow. Amazing double standard between the SEC and the Big Ten. Tressel forgets about an email and gets severely punished, and Georgia illegally recruits a linebacker and doesn't get any punishment at all?
  
  I do give props to UGA for admitting this mistake, as we all know the SEC has historically covered up numerous violations(Cam Newton most recently).

  Please ....do not talk anymore.
• se-alum

  

  karen lotz;706553 wrote:True, but who is to say that Drew had already made up his mind? What if having those two guys there ultimately persuaded him to pick Georgia? Like I said, you can't allow them there or else it opens it up for every other school to have their former stars around recruits.

  Also, these former players could possibly also be boosters for their University. It's just a slippery slope if you have no rule in place to combat against it.
• Fab1b

  

  karen lotz;706510 wrote:is this georgiachatter.com?

  
  No but some non OSU fans can't get it through your heads that this is an Ohio based board!
• karen lotz

  

  Fab1b;706581 wrote:No but some non OSU fans can't get it through your heads that this is an Ohio based board!

  
  I was replying to sleeper's post about the lack of comments on Georgia and the numerous threads on Tressel/OSU. I'm well aware this is an Ohio based board.
• karen lotz

  

  se-alum;706575 wrote:Also, these former players could possibly also be boosters for their University. It's just a slippery slope if you have no rule in place to combat against it.

  
  
  Yep exactly.