The Process 1, Michael Adams 0

If Kirby Smart never accomplishes another thing during his time as Georgia’s head coach, he still deserves a commemorative plaque mounted somewhere in Athens for having a hand in this:

There are changes in store to the University of Georgia Athletic Association Substance Abuse Policy.

In a summary obtained by 11Alive, the new policy appears to remove the former stipulation that any arrest regardless of the outcome in court automatically counted as a violation of the Substance Abuse Policy.

According to the 15-page document dated Sept. 1, there are now two levels of violations which now apply to student-athletes attending school at UGA.

They are:

Level 1 — “Defined as possession, use, or facilitating the possession/use of alcohol.”

Level 2 — “Includes, but is not limited to, any violation involving the operation of a motor vehicle after consumption of alcohol and/or the use of drugs, acts of violence while using alcohol or drugs, destruction of property, disorderly conduct, or intoxication level that requires medical treatment or results in medical being called, even if treatment is refused, and any drug violation.”

Any violations of the Level 2 variety are considered violations of the Substance Abuse Policy.

Georgia athletic director Greg McGarity deferred comment when reached by UGASports until the complete UGA student-athlete handbook could be obtained via open records.

News of the changes came to light following the Dec. 4 arrest of Bulldog linebacker Natrez Patrick and wide receiver Jayson Stanley.

In my wildest dreams, never did I think this was a possibility.  I would love to have heard the Come-to-Jesus meeting somebody had with Morehead about UGA’s substance abuse policy.  (I’d settle for somebody getting a quote from Adams about having one of his perceived major accomplishments watered down, though.  I guess Georgia’s done with lobbying for drug policy at the SEC Spring Meetings.)  There’s nothing like a national semi-final game to make bureaucrats focus.

What’s that?  Oh, hells yeah, they’re playing.