UGA blog finds new home
Morning all. As I’ve said a couple of times this week, we’re converting this blog over to a WordPress platform and it will be a permanent move the first of next week.
Those of you who are regulars probably know that I’m not what you’d call techno-wizard when it comes to these things. But from what I understand the technology offered in this new format should make the blogging and commenting experience better for all. Of course, I’ll be learning as we go along, too. But I’m hoping to provide more pictures and video and things like that which should bring the blog more to life.
Of course, this blog is nothing without all you guys so I want to heartily invite (read: beg) you to come over to the new site by CLICKING HERE ON THE NEW ADDRESS and save it in your browsers. As of Monday, Feb. 23rd, this will be the permanent home of the UGA blog you so love or, in the case of some of you, love to loathe. If you’d prefer to copy and paste or just memorize, the new address is: http://blogs.ajc.com/uga-sports-blog/.
See at the new place!
AJC > Sports > UGA > Blog > Archives > 2007 > July > 30
Monday, July 30, 2007
UGA’s top cop defends actions
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I got off the phone a short time ago with UGA Police Chief Jimmy Williamson. I figured I’d give him a call since, judging from the comments on Georgia fan forums and from a few bloggers in this space, he and his outfit are Public Enemy No. 1 and out to bring down the Bulldogs.
The outcry resulted from the recent arrests of a couple of Georgia football players for less-than-heinous crimes. Highly-touted tailback Caleb King was cited for driving the wrong way down a one-way street on a moped. Redshirt freshman tight end NaDerris Ward was pulled over last week for passing a car on the right. Both were booked at Athens-Clarke County Jail because their driver’s licenses were suspended.
As you might expect, Williamson said his force is not targeting athletes. He said he, too, hates to read in the newspaper that Georgia football players — or UGA students in general, for that matter — have gotten into trouble with the law.
“Our police officers patrol campus every day,” Williamson said. “Most violations end up in written warnings or citations. But once an officer stops a driver and finds out he has a suspended license, then the officer no longer has a choice. He has to take them in.”
Williamson said state law mandates that a driver that cannot produce a driver’s license or has one that is currently suspended be taken into custody and finger-printed. He said the officer that arrested King was prepared to write a warning until King’s license was found to be suspended. He said Ward was informed of an unresolved traffic issue in Sandy Springs he needed to clear up.
“Just because they play football doesn’t remove them from handling the responsibilities we all have,” Williamson said. “It could be argued that it’s even more important since thet are football players. But my officers probably didn’t know whether they played football or not. And even if they did, should that make a difference? Let’s say these officers cut these kids a break and it gets back to the NCAA. Where would we be now?”
Williamson went on to say that he has a good relationship with head coach Mark Richt and Steve Greer, director of football operations. He said he calls them personally whenever his officers encounter one of their players.
“We have a good communications line with them,” Williamson said. “I don’t think anybody thinks [UGA athletes are] running amok. I’m sure these two guys are good guys. They just made a mistake. These were just moments of indiscretion, but they have to learn from them”
So do you guys buy what Williamson is selling? Did the UGA police officers involved handle these situations appropriately? And what about the laws that dictate the action of police? Is it too strict to jail somebody with a suspended license? And what about underage consumption of alcohol? Until January of 2006, that was a ticketing offense? Now violators are taken to jail.
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