The Georgia Bulldogs began the 2011 college football season by losing their first two games versus the Boise State Broncos and the South Carolina Gamecocks. Since then, the Bulldogs have won five in a row and seem to be on a roll. The Dawgs have only lost one conference game, and find themselves currently tied with the Gamecocks for first in the SEC East. For UGA to win the SEC East, they need the Gamecocks to lose another game in the SEC, which is likely since they are decimated with injuries and still have to play Tennessee Volunteers, Florida Gators, and Arkansas Razorbacks. They will also have to face those opponents without their best player, RB Marcus Lattimore. UGA still has Florida, Auburn Tigers, and Kentucky Wildcats left on their SEC schedule. Florida currently finds itself in a similar situation as South Carolina with key injuries to quarterback John Brantley and RB Jeff Demps. Auburn is extremely young and inconsistent. Their offense has struggled badly in the last three or four weeks. Kentucky is Kentucky, and they should be an easy win for UGA.Georgia has one of the easiest SEC schedules this season because they did not have to play LSU Tigers, Alabama Crimson Tide, or Arkansas. Georgia's remaining SEC schedule is also easier than the Gamecocks remaining SEC games. Georgia does, however, have to play the Gators next weekend, which has been a hurdle Georgia has rarely been able to overcome in the last 30 years. Will the Georgia Bulldogs win the SEC East?
Posted by Chip PattersonAn 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."
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 Jerry HinnenRussell Wilson is set to announce his decision today, but even if he chooses Auburn (and the indications are currently that he will not), he'll be far from the only ripple on the SEC's current "transfer market."Because two former five-star recruits announced this past weekend that they would be looking for new homes outside their current residences in the SEC East. One of them is former Georgia offensive line signee Brent Benedict, who will be leaving the Bulldog program for the ubiquitous "personal reasons." The other is defensive end Chris Martin, who transferred to Florida last year after signing with Cal in spring of 2010. But after redshirting last fall, Martin will leave Gainesville without having played a down for the Gators, either, and will reportedly be looking for a transfer destination closer to his Aurora, Colo. hometown.The good news for Will Muschamp and Co. is that thanks to the bounty of riches from that loaded 2010 Gator class, Martin might not be missed much; with Ronald Powell, Sharrif Floyd and their friends around, the Florida line should be able to shrug off the loss, even of a player who was viewed by nearly every recruitnik in the country as one of the 2010 class's best prospects at any position.That's not the case in Athens, though, where the Dawg offensive line was already thin and has just gotten thinner. A redshirt freshman who had dominated at the high school level before a senior-year knee injury, Benedict was expected to land on the Georgia two-deep at right guard in 2011 with an eye towards starting in 2012.But according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, "differences over how much and what kind of off-season training he should be doing" arose between Benedict and the Georgia staff, and he elected to move on. Even after the loss of Benedict (and fellow transferee A.J. Harmon, and ACL victim Trinton Sturdivant), the Bulldogs have enough talent and experience to weather the storm on their depth chart ... if their projected starting lineup can stay healthy and productive. But after the past few seasons of underachievement up front, that's a big "if," and one on which the fate of the SEC East might rest.
Because two former five-star recruits announced this past weekend that they would be looking for new homes outside their current residences in the SEC East. One of them is former Georgia offensive line signee Brent Benedict, who will be leaving the Bulldog program for the ubiquitous "personal reasons." The other is defensive end Chris Martin, who transferred to Florida last year after signing with Cal in spring of 2010. But after redshirting last fall, Martin will leave Gainesville without having played a down for the Gators, either, and will reportedly be looking for a transfer destination closer to his Aurora, Colo. hometown.
The good news for Will Muschamp and Co. is that thanks to the bounty of riches from that loaded 2010 Gator class, Martin might not be missed much; with Ronald Powell, Sharrif Floyd and their friends around, the Florida line should be able to shrug off the loss, even of a player who was viewed by nearly every recruitnik in the country as one of the 2010 class's best prospects at any position.
That's not the case in Athens, though, where the Dawg offensive line was already thin and has just gotten thinner. A redshirt freshman who had dominated at the high school level before a senior-year knee injury, Benedict was expected to land on the Georgia two-deep at right guard in 2011 with an eye towards starting in 2012.
But according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, "differences over how much and what kind of off-season training he should be doing" arose between Benedict and the Georgia staff, and he elected to move on.
Even after the loss of Benedict (and fellow transferee A.J. Harmon, and ACL victim Trinton Sturdivant), the Bulldogs have enough talent and experience to weather the storm on their depth chart ... if their projected starting lineup can stay healthy and productive. But after the past few seasons of underachievement up front, that's a big "if," and one on which the fate of the SEC East might rest.
In the 2011 SEC Championship Game, the LSU Tigers will play the Georgia Bulldogs in the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, GA. This is the first of many polls covering the game and is just asking who do you think will win?
The Dawgs are 2-4 so far this season and looked awful in both their wins and losses. The score from their recent game against Tennessee may suggest a beat down, but if you actually watched the game you know it was sloppy. The win against UT may calm the calls for Mark Richt's job, but they are far from gone. This team has too much talent every year to not be competing for National Championships regularly. If you follow recruiting, then you know exactly what I mean. Even if you don't believe recruiting sites are accurate, they aren't this off either. Multiple top 10 recruiting classes tend to yield championship caliber teams, however, this has not been the result for Georgia. The Dawgs have had good teams, but never a team with a realistic shot at a BCS championship. Yes, they finished second in the polls one year, but weren't in the Championship game because they didn't win the SEC. One of the year's the Dawgs did win the SEC, they were beat down by West Virginia in the Sugar Bowl. Something just isn't clicking and I believe Mark Right is to blame. He may be a great man and this should be acknowledged. The fact he adopts so many needy children is something to be admired by us all. However, this is college football and he's paid millions to bring the Dawgs Championships. There is too much talent on that team to be 2-4. I think it's time the Dawgs should part ways from Mark Richt!!! Am I right or am I wrong?
COLUMBUS -- Columbus police interviews conducted during an investigation of the Parks and Recreation Department reveal that director Tony Adams and top lieutenant Herman Porter may have jeopardized the amateur status of two Georgia athletes who played on the Georgia Blazers, their city-funded, Nike-sponsored AAU basketball team.Police records show that an unauthorized bank account controlled by Adams and Porter was used to pay for flights to and from Los Angeles for Jarvis Jones, a two-sport star at Carver-Columbus who played football for one season at Southern California, and for the cell phone bill of the mother of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, a five-star shooting guard from Greenville.NCAA rules do not allow amateur sports organizations to provide expenses for athletes in excess of actual and necessary travel, room and board, apparel and equipment for competition and practice. Columbus police chief Ricky Boren said the NCAA was “aware of the investigation, allegations and actions of the individuals we had under investigation.”It is NCAA policy to refrain from discussing an ongoing investigation.Asked if Georgia has had any contact with the NCAA regarding the status of Caldwell-Pope or Jones, Georgia director for compliance Eric Baumgartner said, “I have not received or heard of anything.”Jones signed a football scholarship with USC in February 2009. He sprained his neck during his freshman year and was not cleared medically by the USC training staff, prompting his transfer to Georgia last June. He redshirted in 2010 but is a projected starting outside linebacker for the Bulldogs this season.Caldwell-Pope is a McDonald’s All-America shooting guard considered Georgia’s best basketball prospect in years. He recently qualified academically and is reportedly already in school. The NCAA has recently punished players for extra benefits provided by AAU coaches. In the spring, Baylor basketball forward Perry Jones was declared ineligible after an investigation determined that while he was in high school an AAU coach provided his mother with three 15-day loans that did not total more than $1,000. The loans were repaid in a timely manner, but the NCAA also determined that the coach paid for the player to travel to a professional preseason football game in San Diego, a trip valued at $4,100.Perry Jones was suspended from Baylor’s first-round Big 12 tournament game, a loss to Oklahoma, and must sit out the first five games of the 2011-2012 season to complete his suspension.On June 1, 2010, police interviewed Shelley Stephens, a Parks and Recreation employee for 10 years. Jones, whose mother lived in Richland, had lived with Stephens after his mother gave her power of attorney. Stephens told police investigators that after Jones signed with USC in 2009, Adams used the Georgia Blazers’ credit card belonging to Porter to pay for four different flights between Atlanta and Los Angeles for her and Jones: From Atlanta to Los Angeles on June 1 at a cost of $339.20. From Atlanta to Los Angeles on June 17 at a cost of $144.60. To Atlanta from Los Angeles on Sept. 17 at a cost of $175.00. To Atlanta from Los Angeles on Oct. 9 at a cost of $169.60. The total cost of the flights was $828.40.Stephens chose not to comment on the issue. Jones could not be reached.Also during the investigation into the Georgia Blazers, investigators attempted to speak to Caldwell-Pope on Aug. 3, 2010. According to police reports, he wasn’t at his mother’s house in Greenville, but his older brother had a contact number to reach him. Kentavious, who was at his father’s house in Atlanta, spoke on the phone with police officers. When they tried to set up an appointment to speak in person, he hung up the phone.During the investigation of the Parks and Rec Department, police subpoenaed Verizon for information about a cell phone bill paid for by the unauthorized Blazers bank account. It belonged to Rhonda Caldwell, Kentavious’ mother. One of the four numbers on the account was the same number given to police as Kentavious’ cell phone number.The Verizon subpoena revealed a payment for $280.90 on July 27, 2009, made for Rhonda Caldwell’s phone bill using Porter’s credit card and money from the Blazers’ bank account.Caldwell-Pope, Adams and Porter could not be reached for comment. A message left for Adams’ attorney, Shevon Sutcliffe Thomas, was not returned.Porter’s attorney, Manny Arora, said, “I think the government investigated into every aspect and if there were other issues, I’m sure they would have come up, as contentious as the case was. But we really just want to put everything behind us. We’re on misdemeanor probation for a little while and we just want to get it over with and move on.”
COLUMBUS -- Columbus police interviews conducted during an investigation of the Parks and Recreation Department reveal that director Tony Adams and top lieutenant Herman Porter may have jeopardized the amateur status of two Georgia athletes who played on the Georgia Blazers, their city-funded, Nike-sponsored AAU basketball team.
Police records show that an unauthorized bank account controlled by Adams and Porter was used to pay for flights to and from Los Angeles for Jarvis Jones, a two-sport star at Carver-Columbus who played football for one season at Southern California, and for the cell phone bill of the mother of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, a five-star shooting guard from Greenville.
NCAA rules do not allow amateur sports organizations to provide expenses for athletes in excess of actual and necessary travel, room and board, apparel and equipment for competition and practice.
Columbus police chief Ricky Boren said the NCAA was “aware of the investigation, allegations and actions of the individuals we had under investigation.”
It is NCAA policy to refrain from discussing an ongoing investigation.
Asked if Georgia has had any contact with the NCAA regarding the status of Caldwell-Pope or Jones, Georgia director for compliance Eric Baumgartner said, “I have not received or heard of anything.”
Jones signed a football scholarship with USC in February 2009. He sprained his neck during his freshman year and was not cleared medically by the USC training staff, prompting his transfer to Georgia last June. He redshirted in 2010 but is a projected starting outside linebacker for the Bulldogs this season.
Caldwell-Pope is a McDonald’s All-America shooting guard considered Georgia’s best basketball prospect in years. He recently qualified academically and is reportedly already in school.
The NCAA has recently punished players for extra benefits provided by AAU coaches.
In the spring, Baylor basketball forward Perry Jones was declared ineligible after an investigation determined that while he was in high school an AAU coach provided his mother with three 15-day loans that did not total more than $1,000. The loans were repaid in a timely manner, but the NCAA also determined that the coach paid for the player to travel to a professional preseason football game in San Diego, a trip valued at $4,100.
Perry Jones was suspended from Baylor’s first-round Big 12 tournament game, a loss to Oklahoma, and must sit out the first five games of the 2011-2012 season to complete his suspension.
On June 1, 2010, police interviewed Shelley Stephens, a Parks and Recreation employee for 10 years. Jones, whose mother lived in Richland, had lived with Stephens after his mother gave her power of attorney.
Stephens told police investigators that after Jones signed with USC in 2009, Adams used the Georgia Blazers’ credit card belonging to Porter to pay for four different flights between Atlanta and Los Angeles for her and Jones:
From Atlanta to Los Angeles on June 1 at a cost of $339.20.
From Atlanta to Los Angeles on June 17 at a cost of $144.60.
To Atlanta from Los Angeles on Sept. 17 at a cost of $175.00.
To Atlanta from Los Angeles on Oct. 9 at a cost of $169.60.
The total cost of the flights was $828.40.
Stephens chose not to comment on the issue. Jones could not be reached.
Also during the investigation into the Georgia Blazers, investigators attempted to speak to Caldwell-Pope on Aug. 3, 2010. According to police reports, he wasn’t at his mother’s house in Greenville, but his older brother had a contact number to reach him. Kentavious, who was at his father’s house in Atlanta, spoke on the phone with police officers. When they tried to set up an appointment to speak in person, he hung up the phone.
During the investigation of the Parks and Rec Department, police subpoenaed Verizon for information about a cell phone bill paid for by the unauthorized Blazers bank account. It belonged to Rhonda Caldwell, Kentavious’ mother. One of the four numbers on the account was the same number given to police as Kentavious’ cell phone number.
The Verizon subpoena revealed a payment for $280.90 on July 27, 2009, made for Rhonda Caldwell’s phone bill using Porter’s credit card and money from the Blazers’ bank account.
Caldwell-Pope, Adams and Porter could not be reached for comment. A message left for Adams’ attorney, Shevon Sutcliffe Thomas, was not returned.
Porter’s attorney, Manny Arora, said, “I think the government investigated into every aspect and if there were other issues, I’m sure they would have come up, as contentious as the case was. But we really just want to put everything behind us. We’re on misdemeanor probation for a little while and we just want to get it over with and move on.”
June 27, 2011 ATHENS, Ga. --- The University of Georgia Athletic Association is aware of the recent matters involving Bulldog football player Jarvis Jones and basketball signee Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, according to Director of Athletics Greg McGarity. McGarity said his staff has contacted both the Southeastern Conference and the NCAA. The UGAAA and the student-athletes will work cooperatively with both entities as the process continues. No further comments will be available until the matter is resolved.
June 27, 2011
ATHENS, Ga. --- The University of Georgia Athletic Association is aware of the recent matters involving Bulldog football player Jarvis Jones and basketball signee Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, according to Director of Athletics Greg McGarity.
McGarity said his staff has contacted both the Southeastern Conference and the NCAA. The UGAAA and the student-athletes will work cooperatively with both entities as the process continues.
No further comments will be available until the matter is resolved.
The Georgia Bulldogs and the Florida Gators face-off this weekend in their annual contest in Jacksonville, FL dubbed the World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party. The Dawgs enter the game 5-2 and 4-1 in the SEC with a chance to win the SEC East. Florida, on the other hand, is 5-3 and 2-3 in the SEC. All the Gators will be playing for is pride and bragging rights in the rivalry game. As the week moves along, I will be updating and adding to this post with important information concerning the game such as injury reports and the Vegas odds. Florida vs Georgia: Who Wins the World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party?Related Poll: Florida vs Georgia: Who Has the Hottest Girls?
In week 2 of the college football season, the Georgia Bulldogs host the South Carolina Gamecocks "between the hedges" in Athens, GA for the first SEC showdown for either team. The Bulldogs looked and played horribly in week 1, and were dominated in the national spotlight in the Atlanta Superdome by the Boise State Broncos 35-21. The loss has led Georgia fans to call for Head Coach Mark Richt's job. Georgia's offense was not terrible, but it was one dimensional versus the Broncos as the Dawgs rushing attack was shutdown for most of the evening. QB Aaron Murray played decent. He completed 16 out of 29 passing attempts (55.2 CMP%) for 236 yards, 2 touchdowns, 1 interception, and a QB rating of 139.4. However, he was sacked 6 times for -33 yards rushing and was constantly being hurried. The Broncos defense controlled the line of scrimmage as did their offensive line. The statistics from the game show the Dawgs rushed for 137 yards, however, this is misleading because Senior RB Brandon Boykin had an 80 yard TD run in his only carry. If you take that run out of the stats, the Dawgs were only able to get a total of 57 yards on the ground. True Freshman Isaiah Crowell played okay. On 15 carries, Crowell picked up 60 yards rushing. Crowell was good at running the ball, but struggled picking up blocking assignments.The Gamecocks, on the other hand, won their first game versus the East Carolina Pirates 56-37. The score may show a blow out, but the game did not start that way. The Pirates led 17-0 with ten minutes left in the 2nd quarter. Coach Steve Spurrier named Conner Shaw as starter of USC's first game, but after falling behind by 17 points he called on his senior quarterback, Stephen Garcia, to bring them back and get the win. Garcia played well throwing for one touchdown and running for two. He gave them the spark they needed.RB Marcus Lattimore played up to expectations. He ran for 112 yards and 3 touchdowns. He also had 33 yards receiving on 3 receptions. If he has a good game against the UGA defense that gave up 127 yards to the Broncos, then the Dawgs are in deep trouble because he is way more talented than any running back on Boise's roster. South Carolina also had 4 turnovers in their game against East Carolina. The UGA defense needs to get takeaways and give their offense good field position. If they are able to do that, then as long as the running game makes some improvements and Murray plays as good as he did against Boise the Dawgs will have a chance to win. If the defense is also able to marginalize Lattimore, the upset will happen. Teams make the most improvements between weeks one and two of the regular season, and Georgia fans need to hope Coach Richt and staff were able to fix their line play before this game. In my opinion, the Dawgs have a very slim shot of winning. They will have to do all of the things mentioned above, and I don't think they have the time and the right coaching staff to get the job done. As three point favorites and the #12 team in the nation, I expect South Carolina to win if they can avoid all of last week's turnovers.
Larry King
March Madness
Natasha Fame Leslie
Ryan Seacrest
Sanu Dellafiore
John Armstrong
Fred Hanna
Georgia Hester
