Posted by Chip Patterson

When the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer began investigating the Columbus (Ga.) Parks and Recreation Department, they discovered some interesting transactions involving a city-funded AAU baksetball team, the Georgia Blazers. included in these questionable transactions were possible impermissible benefits provided to two current University of Georgia athletes.

The report alleges that basketball signee Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and sophomore linebacker Jarvis Jones received financial assistance from parks director Tony Adams and lieutenant Herman Porter through a misuse of state funds. The Columbus Police Department claimed the NCAA was aware of the investigation and the parties involved, but the university discovered these possible violations along with the rest of the public.

Basketball coach Mark Fox said he was "just made aware" of the allegations on Sunday, and UGA athletic director Greg McGarity said that the department had reached out to the NCAA and SEC regarding the allegations in the report.

"UGA and the student-athletes will work cooperatively with both entities as the process continues," McGarity said in the release. Do not expect to hear much more from Georgia until the issue is settled.

In Jones' case, the report alleges that a credit card designated for the AAU basketball was used to purchase flights to and from Los Angeles (Jones was committed to USC before a neck injury kept him on the sidelines and eventually he transferred to UGA) in 2009. Even though he was signed to USC at the time of the purchases, possibly penalties could be enforced on the 2011 season. Jones is expected to be a starting linebacker for the Bulldogs in the fall, and could miss 3-4 games if the NCAA determines the the plane tickets warrant an NCAA violation. Georgia starts their season with two of the biggest games on their schedule, facing Boise State in Atlanta on Sept. 3, and South Carolina in Athens on Sept. 10.

Posted by Chip Patterson

When the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer began investigating the Columbus (Ga.) Parks and Recreation Department, they discovered some interesting transactions involving a city-funded AAU baksetball team, the Georgia Blazers. included in these questionable transactions were possible impermissible benefits provided to two current University of Georgia athletes.

The report alleges that basketball signee Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and sophomore linebacker Jarvis Jones received financial assistance from parks director Tony Adams and lieutenant Herman Porter through a misuse of state funds. The Columbus Police Department claimed the NCAA was aware of the investigation and the parties involved, but the university discovered these possible violations along with the rest of the public.

Basketball coach Mark Fox said he was "just made aware" of the allegations on Sunday, and UGA athletic director Greg McGarity said that the department had reached out to the NCAA and SEC regarding the allegations in the report.

"UGA and the student-athletes will work cooperatively with both entities as the process continues," McGarity said in the release. Do not expect to hear much more from Georgia until the issue is settled.

In Jones' case, the report alleges that a credit card designated for the AAU basketball was used to purchase flights to and from Los Angeles (Jones was committed to USC before a neck injury kept him on the sidelines and eventually he transferred to UGA) in 2009. Even though he was signed to USC at the time of the purchases, possibly penalties could be enforced on the 2011 season. Jones is expected to be a starting linebacker for the Bulldogs in the fall, and could miss 3-4 games if the NCAA determines the the plane tickets warrant an NCAA violation. Georgia starts their season with two of the biggest games on their schedule, facing Boise State in Atlanta on Sept. 3, and South Carolina in Athens on Sept. 10.

Posted by Chip Patterson

An investigation into the Columbus (Ga.) Parks and Recreation Department may have revealed potential violations regarding two University of Georgia athletes, according to a report in the Ledger-Enquirer.

Police records show that department director Tony Adams and top lieutenant Herman Porter used an unauthorized bank account to pay for flights for USC transfer Jarvis Jones. The investigation also reveals possible wrongdoing involving shooting guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (read more on Caldwell-Pope and the hardwood Bulldogs at the Eye On College Basketball).

Both Jones and Caldwell-Pope played on the Georgia Blazers, a city-funded, Nike-sponsored AAU basketball team. A Parks and Recreation employee told police that Adams used the Georgia Blazers credit card to pay for four different flights between Atlanta and Los Angeles for Jones' mother in the Summer/Fall 2009. According to the report, the total cost of all four flights was $828.40.

Jones was a highly touted recruit when he signed with USC in 2009, but a neck injury kept him from being cleared medically and led to his transfer to Athens. After sitting out the 2010 season, he is projected as a starting linebacker for the Bulldogs in the fall. As of Sunday afternoon, Georgia's compliance office stated the school had not received any information from the NCAA about the investigation. Columbus Police Chief Ricky Boren, however, said the NCAA was "aware of the investigation, allegations and actions of the individuals we had under investigation."

If the NCAA determines the purchase of the flights to be in violation on NCAA rules, Jones would likely be suspended for a portion of the Bulldogs' 2011 season. For enrolled student-athletes, any benefit of $500 or greater results in 30% withholding (from games) and repayment of the amount. If this punishment applies to Jones, he would be forced to sit out (likely) the first four games of the 2011 season.

Unfortunately for the Bulldogs, the first four games of the season include two of the biggest matchups on the schedule. Georgia plays Boise State in a "neutral" Georgia Dome for the Chick Fil-A Kickoff in Atlanta on Sept. 3, then hosts the defending division champion South Carolina Gamecocks in Athens on Sep. 10. In another down year for what many consider a winnable SEC East, that early-season showdown could once again prove to be a pivotal outcome for the division race come August.

BRIEFLY: Georgia head coach Mark Richt announced on Sunday that redshirt freshman Brent Benedict is no longer a member of the football program. There was no official statement from Benedict, but the release stated the offensive lineman was leaving for "personal reasons."

Posted by Chip Patterson

An investigation into the Columbus (Ga.) Parks and Recreation Department may have revealed potential violations regarding two University of Georgia athletes, according to a report in the Ledger-Enquirer.

Police records show that department director Tony Adams and top lieutenant Herman Porter used an unauthorized bank account to pay for flights for USC transfer Jarvis Jones. The investigation also reveals possible wrongdoing involving shooting guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (read more on Caldwell-Pope and the hardwood Bulldogs at the Eye On College Basketball).

Both Jones and Caldwell-Pope played on the Georgia Blazers, a city-funded, Nike-sponsored AAU basketball team. A Parks and Recreation employee told police that Adams used the Georgia Blazers credit card to pay for four different flights between Atlanta and Los Angeles for Jones' mother in the Summer/Fall 2009. According to the report, the total cost of all four flights was $828.40.

Jones was a highly touted recruit when he signed with USC in 2009, but a neck injury kept him from being cleared medically and led to his transfer to Athens. After sitting out the 2010 season, he is projected as a starting linebacker for the Bulldogs in the fall. As of Sunday afternoon, Georgia's compliance office stated the school had not received any information from the NCAA about the investigation. Columbus Police Chief Ricky Boren, however, said the NCAA was "aware of the investigation, allegations and actions of the individuals we had under investigation."

If the NCAA determines the purchase of the flights to be in violation on NCAA rules, Jones would likely be suspended for a portion of the Bulldogs' 2011 season. For enrolled student-athletes, any benefit of $500 or greater results in 30% withholding (from games) and repayment of the amount. If this punishment applies to Jones, he would be forced to sit out (likely) the first four games of the 2011 season.

Unfortunately for the Bulldogs, the first four games of the season include two of the biggest matchups on the schedule. Georgia plays Boise State in a "neutral" Georgia Dome for the Chick Fil-A Kickoff in Atlanta on Sept. 3, then hosts the defending division champion South Carolina Gamecocks in Athens on Sep. 10. In another down year for what many consider a winnable SEC East, that early-season showdown could once again prove to be a pivotal outcome for the division race come August.

BRIEFLY: Georgia head coach Mark Richt announced on Sunday that redshirt freshman Brent Benedict is no longer a member of the football program. There was no official statement from Benedict, but the release stated the offensive lineman was leaving for "personal reasons."

Posted by Chip Patterson

The 2010 season was not kind to the Georgia Bulldogs.  In the most winnable SEC East in recent memory, the Bulldogs finished their season with an embarrasing 10-6 Libery Bowl loss to Central Florida and a 6-7 record.  It was the program's first losing season in 14 years, and the worst season in Mark Richt's head coaching career.  Luckily, the slide has had little effect on the fundraising efforts for the athletic program.

The Athens Banner-Herald reported that as of midday Tuesday the Hartman Fund (the fundraising initiative tied to season ticket priority) had raised $22.4 million, just slightly less than $22.7 million from last season.  The deadline for donations was Febrauary 15.  While the total may be less, the number of donors actually increased from 13,705 to 14,002.  Athletic director Greg McGarrity called the numbers "encouraging."

“There was not an outcry of our supporters that were jumping ship,” McGarity said. “You’re certainly going to have a small percentage that say that we just don’t care to follow the team any further, we’re frustrated, blah, blah, blah. You’re going to have that with our economy as it is."

But there are plenty of reasons for Georgia fans to have faith in the Bulldogs turning 2010 around.  First would be the way they finished the regular season in 2010.  If you toss out the bowl game Georgia won 5 of their last 7 contests, and averaged 41.0 points per game in that stretch.  Aaron Murray grew comfortable with the starting position once the season got underway, though admittedly a lot of that could have had to do with A.J. Green being back in the lineup.  

Another reason that Georgia fans are not concerned with the state of the program is Richt's success on the recruiting trail.  Once again, Georgia's recruiting class ranks among the best in the nation, finishing at #6 nationally according to MaxPreps.com.  Richt battled for key recruits all the way to national signing day, and when touted running back Isiah Crowell had to make a decision: he reached out for the Bulldog(s).  Literally.

Georiga will also still be Georgia.  Despite the frustrating season, it is difficult to imagine a diehard fanbase like that jumping ship so quickly.  As long as the Dawgs are suiting up on Saturdays, there will be fans between the hedges to yell "Sic Em." 

Posted by Chip Patterson

Joe Tereshinksi, the new strength and conditioning coach at Georgia, has a difficult task ahead of him in 2011. He must beef up a Georgia team that got shoved around in the trenches in 2010.

"The film doesn’t lie,” Tereshinski recently said in an interview for Macon.com. “I’m the video coordinator, I see every play. Yeah, we were not winning the line of scrimmage. And our goal now is we’re going to see how far we can develop these kids from their hips to their glutes to their quadriceps.”

The interview was conducted by Seth Emerson, who also runs Bulldogs Blog - a popular Georgia football website. Emerson took some pieces from the interview that he did not include in the story, and posted them on his website. One of those pieces included some statements about Georgia's strength set up. He did not necessarily blame the Bulldogs' poor conditions for their struggles, but he refused to ignore the connection.

Tereshinski says one factor that hasn’t gotten much notice is that because of construction, the team has been moved to a different weight room, and for the previous 18 months had been largely operating out of trailers. They didn’t have much room for equipment: No dip bars, no incline presses, and some other machines.

“Last year’s team was very limited, really because of the facility, of what they could get done," he said. "So we were very weak in our triceps. We were very weak in our upper chests. So what happens is now that we have our full weight room capacities we’re really going to be able to develop our bodies fully.

“That did affect this team. Because Georgia did not have anything that it was used to having. Now we have an unbelievable weight room, and we have everything we need.”

If Bulldogs fans are willing to accept less than standard facilities as an argument for their poor start, then they will have high expectations for a change at the start of 2011. But even with the construction, it is amazing to think that a program with the prestige of Georgia would ever be put in a position to have training facilities that are less advanced than a local YMCA. Surely someone in the athletic department could arrange some kind of deal with a local gym or high school to ensure that the Bulldogs are able to get the same strength training they would normally receive in their own facilities.

Posted by Chip Patterson

Georgia wide receiver standout A.J. Green has been widely assumed to be as good as gone after the completion of the 2010 season with the Bulldogs.  Green is considered the the top wide receiver in the potential draft pool by most scouts, and among the top ten overall selections on most draft boards.  However, Green says that the looming NFL lockout could play a role in his decision to declare for the draft or return to Athens for his Senior year.  

“That’s really gonna play a big part in my decision,” Green said in regards to the draft and the potential lockout. “Because if they’re talking about a lockout, there’s really no point in me leaving.”

Green also made a point earlier in the season to mention that he felt like he owed something to the Georgia fans for missing the first four games of the season due to NCAA suspension.  Green is 20 academic hours away from getting his degree, something he says has been a goal of his since setting foot on campus.  But Green also admitted that playing the NFL has been a life-long dream, and acknowledges his final game in a Bulldog uniform may be coming soon.  He will not make a decision either way until after Georgia's bowl game, should they make the postseason.

Posted by Chip Patterson

The Georgia Bulldogs have turned their season around since a 1-4 start that had fans in Athens calling for Mark Richt's head and scratching their own.  But after rattling off three straight wins that have all included 40+ point performances by Georgia's offense, the Bulldogs are preparing to make an improbable run at an SEC East Division title.  The improvement has been visible on both sides of the ball, but the offensive production can be credited as arguably one of the most pivotal factors in Georgia's turnaround.

Which is why the thought of not having leading rusher Washaun Ealey for Saturday's annual battle with Florida in Jacksonville evokes concern from Athens.  Ealey suffered what was called an MCL sprain during the middle of the fourth quarter of Geogia's 44-31 victory over Kentucky.  Fear not Dawgs fans, Ealey will play against the Gators.  He said so himself.

"It's really nothing," Ealey said Tuesday night. "It's basically just a bruise."

Ealey went on to refer to his knee as "100 percent," and deflected any concern that being held out of some drills on Tuesday has anything to do with his playing status for Saturday.  Of course, having a sore knee is not surprising after his 28 carry, 157 yard performance that included a school-record five rushing touchdowns.  After sputtering a few weeks ago, Ealey bounced back with 123 yards against Vanderbilt before his career day against the Wildcats.  The sophomore entered the season with high expectations, and Saturday will provide the opportunity to write himself into the hearts of Georgia fans with a victory in Jacksonville.
 

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