I don’t know if you’ve had the chance to see what the NCAA just laid down on Syracuse, but it isn’t pretty. Read the linked article carefully, so you don’t miss this:
Among the violations found included:
• Academic misconduct
• Extra benefits
• Failure to follow drug testing policy
• Impermissible booster activityThe report also stated that “the other violations found included impermissible academic assistance and services, the head basketball coach’s failure to promote an atmosphere of compliance and monitor his staff, and the school’s lack of control over its athletics program.”
The NCAA concluded its investigation into Syracuse athletics with an infractions hearing in October. The probe stretched at least as far back as 2007. In 2012, Yahoo Sports reported the basketball program had repeatedly violated its own drug policies over a decade-long span, playing athletes who should have been deemed ineligible for competition. Boeheim initially denied any knowledge of such NCAA issues, but later said the school had self-reported some violations to the association.
The Yahoo Sports report detailed a failure to count failed drug tests and incur suspensions with at least 10 players, dating back to 2001 and including the team’s 2002-03 national championship season.
That’s right. The NCAA penalized Syracuse, not for violating NCAA drug policy, but for violating its own drug policy rules.
I don’t think Mark Richt ever intends to walk off the reservation over Georgia’s rules, but even if he wanted to, his program would get pounded for not living up to Michael Adams’ standards.
You doubt me on that?
(Meanwhile, Jimmy Williamson is feverishly checking the NCAA regs for any mention of scooters, or alleys, or middle names, or…)
Get The Picture 
Do you believe that Mark Richt has no influence over UGA’s policy? I want us to enforce whatever our policy is, I just don’t want our policy to be so breathtakingly stupid. I think Richt is fine with what it is, and particularly with regards to cannabis: that’s a problem.
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None. Zippo. De nada.
It’s a school-wide policy, not just limited to athletics.
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Hey, you are in better position than I to know, but I am stunned at your confidence. I would also wonder: do you think that Richt would soften it if he could? Judging based on everything I have seen the man say on the subject, I would say the answer is clearly no.
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Like I said in my post, I think Richt is supportive of the rules, but make no mistake, the origin of and impetus for them came from Michael Adams, and Adams alone.
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And why exactly is the same person who hired multiple Jim Harrickses bent on unilaterally making it harder for his athletics programs to comply with the rules? I am skeptical.
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Hey, don’t take my word for it.
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OK – that’s certainly an interesting article, but to your original point: “It’s a school-wide policy, not just limited to athletics.”
In what way is it a school-wide policy that any student found smoking marijuana is suspended for a minimum of 3 games? How exactly is that policy enforced on a sophomore psych major?
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I guess a student is forced to miss 10% of his classes for a first offense. Finally a punishment I can get behind!
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Here’s a breakdown of school policy.
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Based on the drug policy at Ole miss and the punishment levied, or lack thereof (no action taken for first two drug offenses, for example), its safe to say that they don’t have actual policies…more like suggestions.
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So when do they get the random screening? Are they tested through out the year?
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The school has to do the screening, or else the NCAA takes over doing that.
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Interesting piece… The first time I heard “unilateral disarmament” was from Dooley following the Kemp case, speaking of the university’s reaction.
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Are all students that are on any type of scholarship at all, be it academic or athletic, subjected to drug testing?
How about any of the Faculty etc?
What’s good for the goose, is good for the gander.
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This is response to the good Senator’s post above. Really? So if a math major gets busted for smoking weed (he won’t since the school doesn’t systematically test regular students for weed) the math major gets suspended from….math? A much different policy exists for regular students than football players IMHO whether the university suits will admit it or not. I do agree, however, that Mike Adams is to blame for the f#cked up policy.
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If the math major gets caught with pot downtown or in his dorm room (or a beer if he’s under 21), he gets suspended from school…
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Not the first time–they only call his parents.
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Maybe back when you and I were in school – things have changed a lot in the last decade…
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I remember reading before that the NCAA doesn’t care what your policy is as long as you follow whatever you’ve got on paper. I’m not really advocating any kind of change to the policy, but I wonder what the NCAA would do if Georgia revised its drug policy to make it less strict and more in line with some of the more permissive SEC schools? Would Georgia get penalized for suddenly allowing what it once prohibited? Or would the NCAA accept a new policy?
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Nothing. Lots of other schools have changed their policies.
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This^^ is what needs to be done.
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Just in time for Spring Break. Keep it clean, boys … and for God’s sake, stay away from the brownies!
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That should be no problem. There are plenty of other things to do
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I thought the NCAA was impotent, not omnipotent. And I wonder how Auburn feels.
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Auburn still feels lak dey be impotent, as a matter of fack, the mos’ impotent team in ‘Murrica.
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Regardless of the transgressions, I’m impressed that Syracuse recently decided to ban themselves from the upcoming NCAA tournament as a means of self-punishment. Of course, this was rather convenient, given that Syracuse has struggled all year near the bottom of the ACC, in which they had no chance of getting into the tournament anyway barring a miracle ACC tourney run similar to our own a few years back.
Such an absurd move would be akin to you or I getting in trouble with our girlfriend/wife, and as an act of conciliation promising them that you’ll rebuff any/all sexual advances from Scarlett Johansson for the next two years.
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🙂
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News here in Nashville about University of Tn and the athletic administration interfering with student athlete discipline. That’s about all I know at the moment, but sure there will be more soon.
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So here’s the message: if you stonewall and deny nothing happens to you (see UNC or The U) but if you cooperate and admit you get crushed (see Gurley, Todd; Green, A.J.) What was Cuse thinking? Deny. Deny. Deny.
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You need to add to that: Lawyer up, lawyer up, lawyer up.
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