Zero tolerance

Here’s a helluva quote:

“You have to know that, man, early in the season if you face Georgia you’re going to face them the last couple of years half cocked and not at full strength,” said ESPN analyst Kevin Carter, a former Florida defensive lineman…

And here’s another one, from He Who Won’t Be Missed:

Federal law continues to ban marijuana use, but since that NCAA study, voters in Colorado and Washington legalized marijuana last year. Such changes in society haven’t moved outgoing UGA president Michael Adams to move to change policy at the university.

“We’re not in Colorado, we’re not in California, we’re not in Oregon,” Adams said earlier this spring. “We’re in Georgia. When I took this job, I agreed to uphold the laws of the state of Georgia. I’ve tried to do that. And I happen to think in Georgia in this case is a better law for the health of society. … I think we have a sound policy.”

Okay, fine.  A question, though – if this is about upholding Georgia law, then why has Georgia pushed for a uniform drug penalty approach across the entire SEC?

Yes, that was a rhetorical question.  We Georgia fans already know that virtue is its own reward.

36 Comments

Filed under Crime and Punishment, Georgia Football

36 responses to “Zero tolerance

  1. cube

    Another question – which is more important to the powers that be at UGA, grandstanding about athletic department drug testing or grandstanding about maximum police enforcement of every tiny violation you can think of?

    And is either more important than chest thumping about athletic department profit margin/surplus?

    Yes, that last one was a rhetorical question too.

    Good post Senator.

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  2. Bulldog Joe

    No large institution would be petty enough to continually damage its reputation and put itself at a competitive disadvantage just to compensate for the past transgressions of its leader.

    Wait…

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  3. DawgPhan

    The testing policy is what it is. No big deal. I dont even mind the combination of harsh penalties and starting the season short handed. Guys are going to miss time, get injured and the next guy has to be ready. What I hate is that this combination of big game to start the season and UGA having players out is the meme for the entire summer.

    It makes us look bad, when we should be looking good because of the policies. I just hate we constantly create the opportunity for someone to take a cheap shot at us for doing the “right thing?: .

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    • Jimmy Williamson

      Yeah. What really gets me is that UGA isn’t adapting to its own actions. If we’re going to test kids over the summer and suspend them for the first game of the year, why are we scheduling OOC opponents where we need all hands on deck? Play Buffalo right out of the gate and make sure we have everybody we need to start SEC play.

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  4. Lorenzo Dawgriguez

    Is there a bigger horse ass than Michael Adams in the entire country ? He is to academic integrity what Carrot Top is to classy entertainment.

    Does everyone still remember his imaginary offer from Ohio State that got him a raise? Thanks for nothing, Leeburn and Purdue

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    • DawgPhan

      I will point to Gordon Gee at that same Ohio State.

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      • Gee’s often foolish, but at least he’s never had an active hand in an academic scandal.

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        • DawgPhan

          Gee has certainly been very close to his fair share of scandal and often times threw himself right in the middle of it. I couldn’t care less about Adams role in Dooley, Harrick, or Evans.

          The difference is that Gee actually brought in more than a billion dolalrs during his tenture. Adams wishes he could have done that. I wish Adams could have done that.

          Of course Adams raised more money than anyone in the history of UGA and the next president will probably raise more than Adams.

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          • I couldn’t care less about Adams role in… Harrick…

            I’m genuinely sorry to hear that.

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            • DawgPhan

              I am sure you are….

              Harrick was a decade ago. How long you want me to hold a grudge over something I consider to be non-sense anyway. Cheating in a PE class? $300 money order? Hotel charge errors…heavens me…I do declare…

              /eyeroll

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              • “Hold a grudge”? LOL.

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                • Mayor of Dawgtown

                  I though the bigger problem from Adams re: Harrick was Adams’ over-reaction. He basically destroyed the BB program in a transparent attempt to save his own job. UGA basketball still hasn’t fully recovered and maybe never will.

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                • 81Dog

                  “at this point, really, what does it matter?” or, “this is old news, we’ve all moved on.”

                  this is what people say when they want to change the subject and they don’t really have any defense for the current topic.

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                • The bigger problem for Adams re: Harrick was the required Presendential seal of approval to bring in both Harrick Jr (the source of most violations) and Tony Cole. He signed off on both. Of course, he had to sign off on Harrick Jr because he used the same loophole created for Todd Donnan as QB coach, which used the loophole opened by his wife, Mary Adams on staff. Adams fingerprints are on Harrick a helluva lot more than just the overreaction to NCAA problems at the end.

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  5. paul

    We can point to the policy all we want. It’s like telling a cop the speed limit shouldn’t be 70 when he pulls us over doing 90. Doesn’t matter. The speed limit Is 70. And we know it. The policy is what it is. Everybody knows it. You know it, I know it and the players know it. Stupid is as stupid does. Place the blame squarely where it belongs. On the players who smoke dope. Period. That said, I couldn’t be happier that Adams is leaving.

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    • Hackerdog

      I think the problem is the selective enforcement. The speed limit on I-285 is 55mph. But there aren’t any cars going that speed. Even cars in the far right lane are going 65mph. So, if you drive 70, you’ll be going the common speed. However, if a policeman drives past 3 cars doing 80 in order to pull you over, and then explains that they only enforce the speeding laws for blue minivans, I think you would have a legitimate complaint over getting a ticket.

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  6. What about the laws for personal use of business expense account? What about that o’ Mr. High and Mighty?

    Mikey, just go, Be gone with you…

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    • Mayor of Dawgtown

      A state senator got prosecuted and sent to the pen for doing exactly what Adams did vis a vis the improper expense thing around the same time that Adams was doing what he did without any consequences. At minimum a deal should have been made for Adams to resign at that time to avoid prosecution.

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  7. Go Dawgs!

    I respect President Adams’ reverence for the laws of the state of Georgia. Nowhere is it codified in Georgia state law, however, that institutions of higher learning have to drug test athletes. And nowhere in Georgia’s constitution or its legal code is the University of Georgia charged with enforcing Georgia’s drug laws. UGA chooses to have a stringent drug testing policy. I’m not even saying that’s a bad thing necessarily, I am proud that we take things more seriously than Florida, et al. However, I am definitely calling bullshit on Mike Adams’ claim of just being a humble citizen trying to live life under Georgia’s laws.

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  8. WillTrane

    More mariajuana is grown in California and Kenturcky than is used in Colorado, Washington, and Oregon combined. Kentucky is in the SEC. Now tell me again what is their policy on drug testing. Only the athletes in Athens bear the brunt of enforcement, everybody is unknown and gets a pass.

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  9. Macallanlover

    While I can support any UGA President’s to uphold the laws of the state and pledge to enforce a safe, and orderly, environment for students, Mike Adams is a hypocrite whose departure cannot get here fast enough. I do not agree with the laws regarding marijuana and feel the plant should be treated similar to those regarding alcohol and tobacco, but it is the law. If the public wants to change it, they can do so at any time. While the law should be upheld, the testing of athletes should be no different from the general student population, and that is where we are wrong at UGA.

    I do not support ignoring failed tests, nor selectively choosing which games suspensions should be applied to based on importance of the contest. UGA should be held up as an example of how programs with integrity operate. That said, students (and citizens) smoking/possessing small amounts of marijuana should be treated more like those who jaywalk, or don’t choose to fasten their seatbelts. This is a chicken poop regulation that exists only to allow one group of voters to impose their preference over another just to control lifestyle choices. Bad behavior because of over indulgence of alcohol or mj should be punished relative to its severity but smoking a joint, or a 20 year old having a beer is an offense not worthy of law enforcement’s time. Treat the entire student population the same as we do athletes and these issues will go away….along with the officials who adhere to such minutiae.

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    • Treat the entire student population the same as we do athletes and these issues will go away….along with the officials who adhere to such minutiae.

      Spot on, Mac.

      And if Adams is so concerned about upholding state law, why isn’t Georgia drug testing all of its students?

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      • It is bullshit I tell you! I would like to conduct a class for all College Football players on how wonderful sweet Mary Jane can be for your pain joints, muscles, mood, and most of all the softening of the heart. It is all in the attitude.

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      • paul

        Because all those other students aren’t responsible for putting 90,000+ butts in seats six or seven times a year. Believe me, if our other students were bringing in that kind of cash flow, they’d be getting tested.

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      • Hank

        Or its employees?

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        • paul

          Employees are drug tested during the hiring process. Their criminal and credit histories are checked. Their status for the first six months of employment is probationary. This means they may be terminated for any (or no) reason. After that six months, employees in certain types of positions may be randomly tested while others won’t be tested without cause. It depends on their job responsibilities.

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          • Hank

            No they are not. They are to sign a form that says they would pass a test, they are not tested. I have never heard of a random test, or even the possibility of one.
            Everybody’s employment in GA is at will, so probationary means nothing.

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      • 79dawg

        I must have missed the part in the University President’s oath of office where he swears to uphold the law – what a crock. It’s not like he’s an elected official thank gawd…

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    • Cojones

      Way to go, Mac!

      Think we could get’em to set aside a little “Smoke’em if You Got’um” Room?

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      • Macallanlover

        No, the do-gooders would have a problem with folks enjoying themselves. No lighting up, no salt on the table, no Big Gulp drinks, no Sacharrin, no Red Dye boiled eggs, etc., etc. Now I don’t have an actual “room”, but pretty much enjoying your life like Burger King, your way, is allowed at my place. Course Mikey isn’t invited/allowed.

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  10. Dog in Fla

    No one could have predicted that Dear Leader’s beliefs would be narrow-minded wrapped in zero tolerance inside a dogma

    “Prior to entering higher education, Adams held a number of political positions. He served as chief of staff for Senate Minority Leader Howard Baker 1975-1979 and as an aide to Governor Lamar Alexander of Tennessee 1980-1982. Adams was the Republican nominee for the United States House of Representatives in 1980 for Tennessee’s Fifth District, but he lost the general election to Democrat Bill Boner…. To support himself during the OSU years, he served as minister at the Indian Springs Church of Christ in Columbus.”

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_F._Adams

    Some observers think what DL is going to miss most is signaling the Grand Prix start* of random drug testing after each Spring Break**

    * http://media.cmgdigital.com/shared/lt/lt_cache/thumbnail/908/img/photos/2012/08/10/d0/a0/ugaboard_0225_CC10_1374989a.JPG

    ** http://25.media.tumblr.com/9cd1071cfb542d711c6235220d59a8bd/tumblr_mm90hgMrM21s4kw7eo1_500.jpg

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  11. Bulldog Joe

    Regarding UGA’s desperate drug policy plea to the SEC to “save us from ourselves”, McGarrity had this to say:

    “That really didn’t gain any traction anywhere.”

    Godspeed, UGA.

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  12. Cojones

    Can’t we all just get along, pass a doobie and mellow out….uh…….my apologies for starting ahead of you guys.

    And, God, help us to scourge the rest of these sumbitchies who run around, smoking pot, nailing young women and drinking their booze in a weird , but effective, way while going to UGA. And most of all, get those guys who are doing that and making good grades. If God wanted us to enjoy ourselves, why would he send us to college and Universities of higher learning?

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