AJC > Sports > UGA > Blog > Archives > 2007 > July > 30 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USUGA’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.
Permalink | Comments (188) | Post your comment | Categories: Football
Comments
By Vision
July 30, 2007 2:46 PM | Link to this
LOL, what did you expect him to say? “Why yes, we target UGA footballers all the time”? Only Williams and his conscience know the truth.
What I hate personally is *reading in the AJC and all other sports pubs *about the kind of citations that a ton of people get every day, including soccer moms, because the guy that got stopped by Willimas’ crew just happens to be a UGA football player.
It is ridiculous to publish a story on routine traffic tickets. This is not Hollywood and the AJC is not the papparatzi, are you?
By brandon
July 30, 2007 2:50 PM | Link to this
Give the DAWGS a break man!
By Brian
July 30, 2007 2:51 PM | Link to this
Good to see Andy has Barney’s back.
By Bill
July 30, 2007 2:52 PM | Link to this
Operating a vehicle with a suspended liscense will get you arrested every time.
By same as the rest of us
July 30, 2007 2:52 PM | Link to this
Football players should be held to the same standards as everyone else. If they break the law - they face the charges. Perhaps too many young players have Michael Vick as a role model.
By Hate for Athens Police
July 30, 2007 2:53 PM | Link to this
Athens police are out to get anyone they can. They arrest countless people on game day for stupid reason, ruin peole lives and give the city a bad repuation. I think more should be looked into these type of arrests.
By CJ2
July 30, 2007 2:53 PM | Link to this
Where did Williamson go to school? Hmmmm.
By apply_the_law_fairly
July 30, 2007 2:55 PM | Link to this
You have a suspended license… don’t drive. Duh! Why should a football player get treated differently than anyone else? Paris Hilton served jail time over her suspended license. Plenty of people in “middle-class-America” do to. You did something against the law to get your license suspended… the suspended license is called Your Punishment. If you have a suspended license, you should not be driving. If you are caught driving (and disobeying traffic laws on top of disobeying your license suspension), that is through your own poor choice(s). To jail with anyone who makes that choice!
By David
July 30, 2007 3:04 PM | Link to this
Hmm… I wonder why Richt and Williamson have such a “good relationship”
By Fire T. Moore!
July 30, 2007 3:06 PM | Link to this
Gimme a break - GUILTY! Lock ‘em up now before we have more VICKs in the NFL!!!
By Chip Towers
July 30, 2007 3:09 PM | Link to this
Vision,
As a matter of routine, we monitor the Athens-Clarke County jail log. If one of the persons listed there is a UGA scholarship athlete — or a coach or a faculty member, etc. — we check it out and report it. Is it your position that we should ignore it?
By davedawg
July 30, 2007 3:10 PM | Link to this
I don’t fault the AJC for reporting when a UGA athlete gets in trouble. What would it be like if they didn’t report it? Wouldn’t it seem weird if all of the sudden Richt suspended some players and nobody knew why? Wouldn’t you want to know why? UGA can’t comment on anything becasue of privacy laws. What if the Knoxville, Gainesville, and Columbia papers ran the stories and the AJC didn’t? Wouldn’t you think, “Hey if those other papers have articles about UGA players why won’t my hometown write about it? Maybe the AJC has a different perspective that those other papers don’t have?”
Come on people give the AJC a break. Their just reading the police blotter, thier not waiting in the bushes outside Butts-Mehre. Every other UGA beat writer in the state reported Ward’s arrest and I bet they didn’t get accussed of bias.
By Diogenes
July 30, 2007 3:10 PM | Link to this
Look, I’m a 3rd generation, red and black Dawg fan, but I always get amused when I hear some group or another claim to be unfairly “targeted” when they are busted for some offense. It seems rather elemental (though apparently not to some people) that if you choose not to commit the offense, this isn’t an issue. SPEAKING of which, I almost wet myself today laughing so hard about the NAACP complaining that Vick was being unfairly “targeted” for judgment in the media. This is the same organization that demanded blood at Duke? Oh Lord, the priceless irony (a concept I doubt they understand, anyway). And where DO these people come from that were out picketing for the same reason in front of the Dome yesterday? Are these people for real? Holy cow … . to quote Forrest Gump, “That’s all I have to say about that.”
By David
July 30, 2007 3:13 PM | Link to this
Pretty much a load of hooey … no police officer with any real sense of why he wears the uniform would have made a case against either guy - and it has nothing to do with whether or not it was a football player. Somebody needs to enhance the NEGA Police Academy’s curriculum to include proper use of the authority of the badge. There is always room for discretion, and every police officer knows it. It’s stuff like this that gets the campus police force the “barney” label.
By NASCARfan
July 30, 2007 3:16 PM | Link to this
Chip,
So you didn’t ask him to explain WHY his officer pulled someone over for passing on the right?
Because that is the fact I and many of us here have a problem with. NO ONE gets pulled over for passing on the right. That’s why this smells fishy. Also, I wasn’t under the impression that you needed a license to ride a moped, as it can be peddled like a bike, so I can understand why Caleb thought so as well.
It’s not the fact that the guys weren’t or aren’t in the wrong… it’s the ticky-tack nature of the cops pulling these guys over. Once again, Chip, PASSING ON THE EFFING RIGHT!!!???
ACCPD is out of freaking control, and it’s not just athletes, it’s students as well. I agree with Cuz and the others who say that this police department is nothing more than a racketeering, shake-down operation that uses fringe laws, and ticketable offense that NO OTHER COP IN THE STATE would ticket someone for. And they do it because athletes and students are their cash cow.
But the other issue, Chip, is why Carter Strickland and your AJC Sports Editor seems to think all of these misdemeanors are news, and the fact that Strickland is such a snide b******* about it.
So, I’m glad you called this guy up, but you didn’t really ask the one question we all would hae asked him: Why his cops are pulling people over for offenses that no other cop in the state would.
By rufus
July 30, 2007 3:16 PM | Link to this
They have such a good relationship because Richt knows that the police chief will see most of his players sooner or later.They probably talk daily. When you recruit thugs this is what you get. Division 1 college sports have gone to he?? over the past 20 years.
By 74 Dawg
July 30, 2007 3:16 PM | Link to this
Officers are required to is a load of crap. I know a guy who, after being offered a d.d.ride , pulled out of an apartment complex on Medlock bridge road, hit a car, had a suspended license, and was DUI. The officer gave him a ticket for failing to yield and sent him on his way… at 1:00 in the morning. Again, recently , a kid hit me,following too close. no license, no proof of insurance- he got a ticket for following too close, and drove on. Whatever the law is, the officer does have some discretion . Police are just like the rest of us, some are too easy going)or lazy), some are hard a**, and most get it right most of the time.
By TopDawg
July 30, 2007 3:17 PM | Link to this
The fact that Ward got pulled over for passing on the right sounds a little suspicious, but if in fact, he was driving with a suspended license, he should be arrested as should anyone else.
The last I heard on the Caleb King story was that he was riding a moped in the wrong direction on a one way street. Then there was a mention of the size engine and whether he needed to even have a license. Never saw anything further on that. If he was riding a moped with an engine large enough to require a license, he should be treated like everyone else. If the engine was small enough that my 11 year old son could ride it, then I don’t view it as much more than a bicycle. Should he have been charged with riding a bicycle in the wrong direction on a one way street?
By karl
July 30, 2007 3:21 PM | Link to this
Ok, driving the wrong way down a wrong way street is one thing, but passing on the right? WTF is that? He wasn’t speeding. How is that even judged as a moving violation?
By liz
July 30, 2007 3:22 PM | Link to this
UGA fans be forewarned Caleb King is not the brightest bulb in the box. I can’t imagine him being academically eligible. Don’t get to excited about this kid
By David
July 30, 2007 3:22 PM | Link to this
Hey AJC, I was pulled over last week for speeding… are you going to put that on the front page?
By Jay
July 30, 2007 3:25 PM | Link to this
Report an athlete that was driving down the wrong side of the street with a suspended license - NO! Report an athlete that was driving down the wrong side of the street intocicated -WHY? Let the university handle it swiftly and justly. If you find out that the university sweeps it under the rug then report it. The only reason the print media reports it is to increase their circulation.
By austindog
July 30, 2007 3:26 PM | Link to this
Chip, so the only scholarship athletes arrested this summer have been football players?
The officers do their duty and it’s true that UGA and Athens PD would get hammered over preferencial police treatment, but it’s the ajc that makes passing on the right a headline.
By Dawgboy
July 30, 2007 3:27 PM | Link to this
Get real people…not everybody that works at UGA and/or attends there knows all the football players. Or even cares about the sport (God forbid!) They are not gods, like you make them to be. They are 18 to 22 year olds and they do stupid stuff. Unfortunately, it sometimes get you arrested.
By Michael
July 30, 2007 3:30 PM | Link to this
Passing on the right? Driving a moped the wrong way. Walking in downtown Athens with a little buzz. You can tell that these Barney Fife wannabes have never attended college themselves. This is all stuff that you call the parents or in this case the coach. 20 laps on Monday morning would have solved all of these problems.
By Athletes serve no purpose
July 30, 2007 3:32 PM | Link to this
I doubt that the police are targeting UGA athletes, I do not however doubt that college athletes drive around with an air of entitlement. They are given cars, apartments and more from boosters and supporters and even the school. IN fact I know of one family that keeps an amazing garage apartment in their home in Athens for football players to live in free of rent. And it is a NICE place. Maybe if more was demanded of these children, they would not act liek the little thugs they are.
By colormebadd
July 30, 2007 3:32 PM | Link to this
Of course the athletes are being singled out and mistreated.
I mean, they are only driving a multi-ton machine on the wrong side of the street, perhaps drinking, and thereby putting innocent lives in danger. Let the “all american” boys run free.
It’s not like they are involved in dogfighting.
Umph.
By Ronny
July 30, 2007 3:32 PM | Link to this
Hey man, this is redickulus. These cops is clerely targetin the dawgs. He could cut some slak if he wanted to. Rules are for loosers like them Techies. Go DAWGS!!! Woof, Woof.
By Everybody Loves Caleb
July 30, 2007 3:39 PM | Link to this
UGA fans be forewarned, fans of schools that Caleb shunned will take a few seconds out of their day to post something negative about him. They are not the brightest of bulbs in the box. They are bitter, dull bulbs, with short, chubby fingers.
By jack
July 30, 2007 3:44 PM | Link to this
Jimmy is sounding GREAT…just a politician with direct lines to the Prezzz….he has not worked with tailgating…moving to kicking us off the campus….I know when those players leave the practice fields…the officers are just waiting…yes…these young men should have a valid liscense..but give me a break…
By BT
July 30, 2007 3:49 PM | Link to this
State law or not, I had an illegal mexican run a red light and hit me and another citizen. He then proceeded to leave the scene. Fortunately I caught up to the slime ball and called the cops. HE DIDN”T HAVE A LICENSE!! The Cartersville Police let him go with a ticket only, which there is no evidence that it was ever paid.
Bottom line: Be it Athens or Cartersville, it is the discretion of arresting cops to take someone in, write a ticket or issue a warning. I’m sure these officers as well as the chief get some kind of a sick kick out of bringing in the young & foolish dogs. They also had a good laugh after Towers hung up the phone.
Just remember that justice is all too often still crooked and politically motivated.
By Lex Luthor
July 30, 2007 3:50 PM | Link to this
Richt should expell any of those who break the law. This team needs some discipline!
By tim
July 30, 2007 3:51 PM | Link to this
Athens cops are the worst in the state. They arrest people for anything. They have the highest cop to population ratio. Some of the police in the city are good people who I know and respect but a lot of them are dumb rednecks with anger issues. So many cops with nothing to do creates a lot of the issues. Drinking at 19 or 20 is done by most everyone and should not be a reason to arrest anyone. I guess these dumb a* politicians figure it’s ok to die for your country at 18 but not ok to drink IN your country.
By Huh?
July 30, 2007 3:51 PM | Link to this
How stoooopid do you have to be to drive on a suspended license? There’s dumb. Then there’s Dumber. Then there’s the guy who claims they are out to get him when he keeps making dumbererer decisions.
By this is gooberville
July 30, 2007 3:52 PM | Link to this
Dear Ronny, Vision and the rest of you illiterate, uneducated goobers:
You are the reason why people make fun of the South. Learn to spell before posting you goobers.
By Granitedawg
July 30, 2007 3:52 PM | Link to this
What’s all this stuff about passing on the right? What is the Georgia law on this? Why not publish everyone’s name in Athens who does these things,instead of just the athletes. Treat ‘em all alike !!!!
By rondog
July 30, 2007 3:52 PM | Link to this
First of all, you eggheads, Jimmy is not the chief of ACCPD, he’s chief of UGA PD, note the difference? Secondly, the passing on the right was, I believe, a citation written by ACCPD, (Athens Clarke County P.D.) so go ask their chief why the young man was cited for passing on the right. I imagine they will tell you that it is AGAINST THE EFFING LAW!!! Enforced? Not much, but it is the law.
By Lex Luthor
July 30, 2007 3:54 PM | Link to this
All of you who think its wrong to football players for breaking the law: ANY OF THE REST OF US WOULD HAVE BEEN ARRESTED! I guess Vick should be slapped on the backside and told not to do it again. Being able to stap on pads and run around in a field doesn’t make you above the law. Driving on a suspended liscense is an automatic trip to the pokey, cut them slack? I bet if Vick had been burned when he was younger he wouldn’t have been dumb enough to bankroll a dog fighting operation.
Grow up and get real!
By Money Booster
July 30, 2007 3:54 PM | Link to this
Wow, I guess the fans that delivered the wheel barrel of petitions to Adams over the Dooley “retirement” have hurt the school’s wallet. Players are now getting pulled over on mopeds instead of Escalades? Tough times at the cesspool.
By FLORDIA OVER UGA
July 30, 2007 3:55 PM | Link to this
I got a good idea. Since you UGA puppies are still crying for over the years we continue to beat your mutts to the dirt road backside, you don’t like the NAACP, and Caleb King, get rid all of your black players and go 4-7 like Vandy. You and the state of Georgia suck. The cops need to arrest the whole UGA student enrollment period. I’m about to give you some knowledge you minor and punks on this borad. 1.David Greene is a third string qb and you still praise him. 2.David Pollack is in a neck brace. 3.Fred Gibson is a whinner. 4.Odell Thurman is a crackhead. 5.DJ Shockley and Herschel Walker should had gone to Clemson in the first place. 6.Your records will always be 8-3 and 9-2. 7.One national championship and don’t count 1942 that you shared with Norte Dame. 8.Georgia is Georgia. Loser! 9.Never have any play makers. 10.Mark Richt is going back to FSU.
Florida Gators Rule Class of 1997 Bring all the black players here so we can continue to beat your mutts.
We are go paper bag UGA like Michael Vick beats dogs
By Wade
July 30, 2007 3:55 PM | Link to this
Williamson went to Georgia you idiots. Why would he sabotage his own schools team.
By James
July 30, 2007 3:56 PM | Link to this
Boo Hoo Hoo! These guys have been coddled all their lives. Welcome to the real world. Why aren’t a good portion of them in Iraq or Afghanistan anyway? Because they let real men fight for their freedom. With a war against terrorism going on how can these guys look themselves in the mirror each day ? I went to Georgia AFTER I served in Vietnam. I would recommend they follow a similar course in serving their country.
By SanDiegoJacket
July 30, 2007 3:57 PM | Link to this
Chip
Whatever you do don’t ask the UGAG football players to pass the written driving exam…..where are the tutors when you need them?
By Josh
July 30, 2007 3:58 PM | Link to this
Passing on the right? Does that mean he was on a multi-lane road and passed a car in the right lane? Or does it mean that he was on a two lane road, and passed a car by going off the road?
By Hal
July 30, 2007 4:00 PM | Link to this
A few things to note… 1)Yes it has to be reported by the media outlets 2) Yes, if the law dictates the situation then they probably have to go to jail 3) No, I do not believe that Barnes should have been locked up though, for god’s sake, he wasn’t throwing empty beer bottles thru windows on campus… he was walking home. 4) Just because a few kids get into trouble doesn’t mean the T Moore, Firman Bischer, or Schultz should call an end to the run amok football program. It is absolutely absurd some of the charges columnist and opposing fans alike hurl towards UGA athlete when a larger percentage of the student population at every school includint Tech runs into similar problems in college. To be honest, some of the crap that gets said is just embarrasing!
By "GOOD" Dawg
July 30, 2007 4:01 PM | Link to this
I believe Williamson is right ! Other people have to have a valid license so why not our football players?
By PauldingDawg
July 30, 2007 4:03 PM | Link to this
In my younger wilder days 5 years or so back, I was let go on 2 offenses that UGA athletes have been BOOKED and POSTED BAIL for. One night in Buckhead, I was walking down the street with a beer, and was very politely told to poor it out and throw it away. I wasnt’ taken to jail and booked. On 2 occastions, I was pulled over after getting a ticket that I had failed to pay (automatic suspension). On both occastions, I was out of state, and told to take care of the matter immediately. I’ve never known ANYONE to be pulled over for passing on the right, or on a moped outside of Athens-Clarke County in my life. I don’t think they target athletes, I think they target EVERYTHING….Reminds me of a certain Corey Smith song: “But, for every cop who thinks his badge is a crown, this song’s for you, and I’ll never bow down”. STOP BARNEY CLARKE COPS.
By tim
July 30, 2007 4:04 PM | Link to this
CHIP TOWERS, make sure to tell Williamson that everybody knows that Athens cops are the worst in the state. They have to arrest everyone they can so they can finance a department the size of Atlantas in a small college town
By 2N4YEARS
July 30, 2007 4:08 PM | Link to this
CHIP “As a matter of routine, we monitor the Athens-Clarke County jail log. If one of the persons listed there is a UGA scholarship athlete — or a coach or a faculty member, etc. — we check it out and report it. Is it your position that we should ignore it?”
YES. You shouldn’t waste space on paper or this site for silly offences like this. Underage drinking is about as petty as I would go. Sounds like the UGA Police have NOTHING to do.
By Vision
July 30, 2007 4:10 PM | Link to this
No, Chip, I don’t think printing every traffic stop of a footballer is newsworthy over time. Report it if the guy is DWI and I have no problem with it. Reporting the routine stop-ticket is just reporting that Joe Blow got a ticket.
I acknowledge that I am trying to live a pipedream that is unlike today’s “if it bleeds it leads and by the way, gets more web hits” mentality when it comes to reporting college athletics.
The quest for increased web hits is no doubt why we get the sensationalized lead ins too.
By the way, it is even less interesting to read about Georgia Tech students getting traffic tickets.
By Luke
July 30, 2007 4:10 PM | Link to this
I am an alumnus of the University of Georgia and furthermore I donate yearly to the Athletic Association for tickets. It saddens me that these players are taking their god given talents so flippantly. I do feel it is the coaching staff’s duty to keep the players in line but on the other hand all of these athletes are adults. If you break the law and get caught I don’t feel sorry for you no matter if you’re George Bush or my next door neighbor. If it takes losing games due to suspensions to wake these young men up then so be it. I know it stinks but NO ONE should be above the law. If you don’t like it I hear Florida State is always looking for “hot” talent.
By Lex Luthor
July 30, 2007 4:11 PM | Link to this
When Overtaking and Passing on the Right is Permitted [§40-6-43] The driver of a vehicle may overtake and pass upon the right of another vehicle only under the following conditions: • When the vehicle overtaken is making or about to make a left turn; or • Upon a street or highway with unobstructed pavement of sufficient width for two or more lanes of moving vehicles in the direction being traveled by the overtaking vehicle [§40-6- 43(a)(1,2)]. If otherwise authorized, the driver of a vehicle may overtake and pass another vehicle upon the right only under conditions permitting such movement in safety. Such movement shall not be made by driving off the roadway [§40-6-43 (b)].
By Neutral
July 30, 2007 4:11 PM | Link to this
Just have a question…. Do you have to have a license to be on a moped?
By MikeGSU
July 30, 2007 4:13 PM | Link to this
What do you guys expect these cops to do? If they let them off and people find out how bad is that gonna look to the rest of the NON-UGA public. People make mistakes, so what. They arent being suspended. Move on people. Be more conserned about your “Savior” Matt Stafford being creamed because of his inexperienced O-Line this year than this petty crap. You’ll have alot more things to be crying about once football season starts. Like UGA’s 6-6 record
By Chip Towers
July 30, 2007 4:17 PM | Link to this
Regarding the reference to “moped,” I actually need to double check that. I know that is the way it was originally reported but Williamson referred to it as a “scooter.” As those of you who have been around the program can attest, a lot of these guys drive these scooters, which are basically small motorcycles with small seat and flat foot platform. Anyway, they require tags and registration and all and, obviously, require a valid license to operate. But I’ll double check and see if that is indeed what we’re talking about or one of those legit mopeds, which are essentially motorized bicycles.
By tenndawg
July 30, 2007 4:17 PM | Link to this
I don’t really think that the cops are “focusing” on busting UGA players. The real problem lies with the university and city policies. They are making the police crack down so hard on stupid little things, that they are slowly ruining Athens. I’m not young anymore, but not that old either at 29, but I used to enjoy spending the night in Athens in going out after a game. My wife and I tried after a couple of games last year, but downtown is just not what it used to be. It’s really a shame what the PC and Adams crowd have done to this once great party city.
By Hello
July 30, 2007 4:17 PM | Link to this
Whatever happened to just writing a ticket to someone for a traffic infraction? Why do they have to run in and book every student (or just athletes?) that committ a traffic violation and have them brought up for bail?
Sometimes police officers are actually understanding. When I was a freshman at UGA, I turned the wrong way on Sanford drive in a CAR and got pulled over. I explained to the cop that I was a freshman new to campus and didn’t know it was one way and didn’t see the sign. He told me to be more careful and turn the car around and let me go with the warning. Of course I was not an athlete and the cops had more of a serve the students welfare attitude then.
I think they run students (and especially athletes) in so they can feel important and all sit around the next day, read the newspaper while eating doughnuts and drinking coffee, and pat each other on the back because they got another one.
Now they all remind me of Barney Fife and I hope to God they are only allowed to carry one bullet in their shirt pccket. Otherwise some student is really going to get hurt by these morons.
College used to be fun at times before these jerks got so serious. We had panty raids every Spring quarter and the UGA police just made sure nothing got out of hand. We had over 100 streakers one night and no one got hauled off as far as I know. Now these stupid prats would call out the National Guard if that happened.
These cops take themselves too seriously and the UGA Chief of Police and his administration need to be replaced by people who are a little less caught up with themselves.
If Mike Adams cannot cool off the UGA cops then he needs to go too. He doesn’t have that good a track record anyway; all the way from purchasing that $300,000 desk when he was hired, to getting his wife a position over there, to over ruling the AD and making the university hire his good buddy and Saturday night dinner companion, Jim Harrick.
Adams has about ruined that school and it is time the Board of Regents ran his sorry butt off. If they don’t then the next Governor needs to start replacing the Board’s members.
By Matty P
July 30, 2007 4:18 PM | Link to this
Florida over UGA: Congratulations on your team’s athletic ability on the field, really that’s great. But do not come on here like you know anything about the UGA student population or the state simply based on what you hear. I graduated from UGA this past year and I met plenty of people with more class in the tips of their fingers than I would argue you possess in your whole body. Football success is fun to talk about and enjoy but spare yourself some embarrassment with all that junk. Way to go on misspelling your own state. Slow down the fingers a little.
By brad
July 30, 2007 4:22 PM | Link to this
Rufus, your an idiot. 20 yrs ago, football players got away with most everything. You didn’t hear about it because they were protected. Everyone is up in arms over traffic violations. Big deal. At least they aren’t violent crimes. We are hearing about it because the media needs something to print. We should all be glad it is a bunch of petty crap.
I don’t think that they should be arrested and finger printed for this stuff but Big Brother is watching and looking for bigger fish. So, if they can get everyone on record even for the slightest of infractions, they will.
As for the UGA Police, they themselves are young and discression is not something that their bosses are ready to let them use. They are told to do things a certain way and that is how they do them.
By ol sport
July 30, 2007 4:24 PM | Link to this
I am so amused by the number of bloggers on here that have obviously never set foot in a college classroom, or failed to learn what they tried to teach them in high school. The spelling, the English, the lack of knowledge is just amazing. The police are out there for a reason. You break the law, you pay the price. If you aren’t old enough to drink and you are going to do it anyway, stay home for goodness sake! Who is the stupid one here. I did the same stupid things in college that these kids do today. I was one of the lucky ones that didn’t get caught, though. Be glad those underpaid, overworked folks on all police forces everywhere, are there. With the rampant crime that goes on today, what would it be without them. Everyone would have a gun!!!! Not just those that want to beat the system. Bill Cosby tells it like it is, folks. I am as big a booster as there is when it comes to the Dawgs, but these are minor infractions. Don’t lose your minds over it. I would ask the AJC this - when did you check the other police bookings for Tech students, Emory students, etc.?
By jjw
July 30, 2007 4:26 PM | Link to this
School is a place to learn and the UGA athletes taken in by the Athens police don’t appear to be learning very fast…book’em!
By Clay
July 30, 2007 4:27 PM | Link to this
One thing that’s clear is that most of the posters here have never worn a badge and they express opinions without first informing themselves. A custodial arrest is standard for driving with a suspended license. While you may or may not need a driver’s license to operate a moped depending on the particular moped’s engine size, you can’t drive it the wrong way on a one-way street whether you’re licensed or not. Jimmy Williamson has a bachelor’s degree from—newsflash—UGA. He also has an associate’s degree and a master’s degree. http://www.uga.edu/columns/040823/news-williamson.html His predecessor, Chief Chuck Horton, also had a master’s degree and played ball for the Dawgs. Another newsflash—a lot of UGA cops are Bulldog fans. Most are UGA students or grads. The fact is, these football players broke the laws and the UGA cops…Oh My God!!!…ENFORCED the laws. How dare they?!!! Athletes are not entitled to special treatment, and neither are we as readers. These players were not unfairly targeted—they drew attention to themselves. The next time some drunk fan starts harassing you at a game, I guarantee “Andy and Barney” will be there to bail your unappreciative, Monday morning quarterbacking a*******es out. Show the UGA cops the respect they deserve.
By tenndawg
July 30, 2007 4:30 PM | Link to this
I have to agree with Nascarfan on one of points. Who in hell gets pulled over passing on the right? I pass on the right all the time. The cop should have pulled the guy over that GOT passed on the right because he was going too slow in the left lane! If the police would actually enforce the law that says the left lane is for passing only (or faster traffic), then we would have a lot less wrecks on our roads. People passing on the right can cause problems because the other motorists are not ready for it, but if the cops would ticket the person in the left lane, maybe they would get out the way and not make people have to pass them on the right. Hint, if you’re ever driving in the left lane and get passed on the right, then you are breaking the law, just the same as the other guy. Get the hell out of the way! Sorry for the off topic rant, but slow people in the left lane is one of my biggest pet peeves.
By rachel
July 30, 2007 4:32 PM | Link to this
I know if I was caught driving on a suspended license I would go to jail and so would everyone else. What are these people crying about. Grow up!
By AltamahaDawg
July 30, 2007 4:33 PM | Link to this
The NCAA sniffing around for possible preferential treatment would be a much larger problem than a traffic citation showing up in the paper. And if wrong way scooters make the news, you dont think letting football player blattently break the under 21 driving laws wouldnt?
By AJC home team haters
July 30, 2007 4:36 PM | Link to this
AJC hate the home teams and home team players. DAWG FALCON, TECH, BRAVES HIGH SCHOOL. LOOK AT THERE ACTION!
By NICK
July 30, 2007 4:38 PM | Link to this
Why is it that every time a black athlete is “pulled over” by the police, for breaking the law, his license is suspended? Is this another crime that, like drug dealing, murder or dog fighting, is accepted within the black community? Do blacks feel that they are “owed one”, therefore they should not have to follow the same laws as everyone else? Most of these kids nor their mother’s even own a car, so how in the hell can one get his license suspended anyways? How come you never hear of Emory student/athletes ever getting into trouble? HHHmmmm………….
By ArthurBlank
July 30, 2007 4:39 PM | Link to this
If Richt would stop recruiting undesirables to thUGA, there would be nothing to worry about. I guess integrity doesn’t apply, huh?
By j
July 30, 2007 4:41 PM | Link to this
I can’t believe this made it to a blog. Bunch of f’n losers. If you’re going to make it spicy, at least throw the race card!!!! Wasn’t at least one of them black? It’s like watching the ignorant fools protesting the Vick case. Un-edumacated fools. We’re not going to support the Falcons unless VICK plays. We’re not going to by season tickets unless VICK is let off. The only way these folks can afford season tickets if for me to pay my Fulton County/City of Atlanta taxes for all of the father-less babies.
We need to be discussing immigration, pollution, curing disease, money issues. Not loser sports.
FWIW: How do you get a Ga. grad off your front porch? Pay him for the pizza…
By Truth
July 30, 2007 4:42 PM | Link to this
I have children in Athens and they say that the UGA Police are aggressively targeting EVERYBODY. Much of it is related to the alcohol death last year and the resultant crackdown on student behavior.
A friend’s daughter got an underage drinking ticket a few weeks ago when they stopped her TAXICAB. The Dawgs are just gonna have to toe the line, I don’t think it is worse for them than for the average UGA student.
By You didn't have to make a phone call
July 30, 2007 4:45 PM | Link to this
What is just as funny is the headlines that the AJC puts on these “less-than-heinous crimes” …
You didn’t have to make a phone call to get a response on that questions … like the player that was “jailed” for his motor vehicle infraction …
By Clay
July 30, 2007 4:47 PM | Link to this
Brad,
The next time you call someone an idiot, you might want to say “you’re” instead of “your.” You might also want to try “discretion” instead of “discression” when you’re slamming the cops for their inability to make their own decisions. Following these grammar lessons will lend more credibility to your opinions.
Unbelievable…you just can’t make this stuff up.
By CA
July 30, 2007 4:48 PM | Link to this
This was taken from the State of Georgia’s web site regarding licensing:
Mopeds
A moped is any motor driven cycle with an engine not exceeding 50 cubic centimeters (3.05 cubic inches) that can propel the cycle at a speed not to exceed 30 miles per hour (MPH) and does not require clutching or shifting.
Mopeds are exempt from the provisions relating to the registration and licensing of motor vehicles.
Rules to operate mopeds on Georgia roads and highways:
1.Must be 15 years of age and have in their possession a valid driver’s license, instructional permit or limited permit. 2.Must wear protective headgear (motorcycle helmet). 3.No tag is required. 4.Every person operating a moped upon a roadway must obey the same traffic laws governing drivers of motor vehicles. 5.May not use limited access highways or other roadways where the minimum speed limit is above 35 mph.
I recently graduated from UGA and can tell you that the scooters that a lot of the football players ride around in are more like a Vespa than a moped, which I believe you do have to be licensed for. Does anyone actually ride a moped anymore?
By Dave
July 30, 2007 4:49 PM | Link to this
This is a little off-point, but it’s just ridiculous that the drinking age is 21. You can die for your country, but not drink a bud.
IF the drinking age were 21 as it should be, the UGA and especially Athens cops would have virtually no one to harrass.
But we now live in a NANNY country that continues to postpone and/or strip away responsibilites. Is it any wonder that kids are becoming hapless adults that live at home until they’re 30?
By Officer on Duty
July 30, 2007 4:49 PM | Link to this
The old “once I find out your license is suspended its out of my hands” routine is bogus and an outright lie. Unless there is a warrant for the suspect its the officers discretion whether or not to charge him for the driving on suspended or other traffic violations. Police officers (i know, I am one) let people go all the time for various reasons.
Those officers in Athens have a hard on for the UGA football players for some reason. Somebody needs to get to the bottom of why. I promise you at no other major SEC program do the university police arrest a guy driving a moped on a suspended license. That is a joke.
By Gene
July 30, 2007 4:51 PM | Link to this
Jim Donnan was allegedly fired by Michael Adams for lax discipline of his players. It seems like Richt is recruiting and pampering “entitled” athletes. One of the thugs who beat the young people at Lake Alatoona was a player at Murray State in Kentucky. He was off the team the next day. Driving without a license also means driving without insurance. Jails in Georgia are full of these offenders. It appears that Adams’ social programs are not working. Perhaps Richt should ask the coach at Murray State how to deal with these problems.
By HELLINAHANDBASKET
July 30, 2007 4:52 PM | Link to this
I live up in that area and for so long UGA and its staff and players have enjoyed freedom from the law, meaning they could get away with just about anything because they are UGA. So now that the Chief is being fair and holding them accountable for their bad behaviour for the good of the people of this area their only defense is ‘he’s picking on us”. All the charges are valid and the Chief has acted well within the law, the rest of us cannot get away with the things these guys do so why should they? Fair is fair and they should be held responsible and not think they can get away with anything just because of being a UGA player, that is whats not fair. It right that the Chief wants to protect the citizens and does not put one’s rights about another.
By GW
July 30, 2007 4:57 PM | Link to this
13 UGA students were caught for buying fake IDs thru the mail. Only one, a football player, had his name reported by the media. NUFF SAID!
By Odell Thurman
July 30, 2007 5:02 PM | Link to this
Thanks for the support for UGA players on this message board. We deserve it.
By Lolo
July 30, 2007 5:03 PM | Link to this
I don’t think the UGA cops target football players in particular..they target anyone with a pulse (or those who are questionable to have a pulse on game day).
I know one of the cops personally and he is a major geek who loves to assert his authority.
The campus cops are not so much protecting people as they are making life a whole lot more stressful when people are just trying to have a good time. They avoid the real crime.
By james
July 30, 2007 5:13 PM | Link to this
When I went to Georgia I used to ride the bus around campus quite often. It was always the athletes who were the most obnoxious, loud and rude - especially the football players. If I were King there would be no scholarships in college football anyway. Student/althletes period ! What a joke. These guys need a good tour in Iraq !
By Chris
July 30, 2007 5:17 PM | Link to this
Please help! Help me understand black people. Why all the protests regarding Vick? How can the SCLC and NAACP be so racist and get away with it? Isn’t it funny that when the WHITE Duke players we being accused and NAACP and racist Jackson and Sharpton were AGAINST them also, calling them guilty? Now there is a “protest” at the Dome this coming Sunday? I hope you darky’s know how stupid your people are making you look. Burn in he_l Vick and the NAACP.
By Bert Lawson
July 30, 2007 5:17 PM | Link to this
Dawg fans:
The 60’s and the 70’s are long gone. Everyone has to obey the Law, even Football players. Can you say Mike Vick?
By NASCARfan
July 30, 2007 5:24 PM | Link to this
Chris,
I hope you have fun in hell, because that’s exactly where YOU’RE going.
You’re not allowed into heaven with that kind of hate in your heart.
Unless you hate Carter Strickland, then the Lord will understand. Heh.
By OrangeMan
July 30, 2007 5:28 PM | Link to this
Hilarious. Let a Vol player or a Bama player get arrested and Dawg fans pounce with their smarta$$ comments and laughter. But let it happen to their own and let the whining begin.
Boo Hoo, their picking on our players.
If I get caught passing on the right side of the road, putting other motorists in danger, I expect to pay the price.
Hilarious.
By DirkDawggler
July 30, 2007 5:32 PM | Link to this
I’m in law enforcement and to say that anyone is being targeted is absurd. None of this would would have come to light if the individuals in question would not have been operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license. It’s breaking the law, plain and simple. Hopefully, a lesson will be learned from this and those kids (it’s what they are) will use better judgement next time.
By Seth
July 30, 2007 5:33 PM | Link to this
My own experience with the ACC proved that they are a bunch of power-seeking jerks. No doubt they get off on bringing in athletes. In fact, there is likely some sort of “quota” on the number of football players that they must bring in each month.
When I was a student, I had some egotistical cop pull me over late one night on suspicion of DUI. Now I had been the sober driver that night and only had one 2 drinks over a 3 hour period. Still he hassled me on the side of the road for 30 minutes conducting a sobriety test and said I failed because I was insubordinate. He bragged the whole way to the station about me counting towards his DUI “quota”. But like I kept telling him, I wasn’t drunk and the breath-alizer test proved it. Then the a-hole had the nerve to encourage me to look into a future in law enforcement while he took me back to my car.
I’m telling you, these cops are looking to land a UGA player to boost their resumes. Why can’t they be normal people and provide warnings in the instances where no harm has been done.
By casual observer
July 30, 2007 5:35 PM | Link to this
It is embarrassing to see the AJC issue such a story. The news media shouldn’t be so blatant with their sensationalism. The questions at the end of the article could have come right out of a script for the Jerry Springer show.
By Ima Punkhater
July 30, 2007 5:36 PM | Link to this
Oh yeah, the police are supposed to just overlook these spoiled, pampered, idolized, useless atheltic punks and only ticket honest working stiffs! Thats what they expect as spineless coaches,parents, and school admins have caved in to them all their useless lives.
Of course, the UGA morons who would sell their mother to win a game would forgive the pompus jock jerks if one of them pi**ed on their (fans) shoes.
By Police Officer
July 30, 2007 5:37 PM | Link to this
Officer On Duty -
You better check Title 17 of the criminal code about display of license in lieu of bond. You are required by law to arrest anyone and make them post a bond for a traffic offense if they can not produce a valid license. In addition, it lists offenses such as DUI, etc. that require you to make an arrest whether or not they have a valid license or not.
Do officers sometimes disregard this particular law? Yes. However, it is done in violation of the code of criminal procedure.
It sounds like you need to review a little before you post false information.
A person driving with a suspended license, or no license, can not display a valid license in lieu of bond. Therefore, they go straight to jail no questions asked according to OCGA 17-6-11.
As far as the passing on the right citation, I imagine it means they drove off road to pass someone. i.e. probably up on a sidewalk. However, I could be wrong about that.
In addition, people need to stop perpetuating the myth that the left lane is passing only and that people must move over. They only have to move over if they are driving slower than the posted speed limit.
By Seth
July 30, 2007 5:41 PM | Link to this
Whoa Chris…you need to chill out big buy. That kind of hate only makes things worse for everyone. Now I too think the “Reverend” Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson are opportunist that misguide and misrepresent their race, but don’t feed the fire. Definitely there was a time when a black would be convicted without a trial, but those days are gone. The only convictions handed out early today are by the media. That said, the FBI doesn’t often indict unless there is some strong proof of guilt. That’s all I’m saying…
By GatorStud
July 30, 2007 5:48 PM | Link to this
I heard that Mark Richt is thinking of holding at least 1 weekly practice at the Clarke County jail due to all of his players that are constantly in the slammer. Is this true? If so, it would save time and money, since the team could eat prison food that night and also get a cheap place to sleep. Plus, Richt could work with the other cons on football strategy for their prison team.
By Police Officer
July 30, 2007 5:48 PM | Link to this
Another question I’d like to pose to Chip and the readers of the AJC-
To get a suspended license as an adult, you have to:
Commit and get convicted of a serious traffic offense such as DUI.
Commit multiple traffic offenses to get a points violation suspension.
Get arrested for DUI and refuse implied consent/blow over the legal limit.
Fail to pay child support after repeated warnings.
In the old days, drive without insurance - now they suspend your tags.
Fail to appear on previous traffic charges.
All of these show an irresponsible person behind the wheel. They’ve had their license suspended and think they are “too good” to follow the rules or think they deserve an exception.
Why WOULDN’T you want these people to go to jail?
By Kdogg
July 30, 2007 5:49 PM | Link to this
This isnt just about football players. I was one of many fans last year ticketed for open container while ON campus. I just happened to cross a street. The officers were waiting for people to make the mistake and ticket them. No warning, just watched us do it then wrote up the ticket. I have been going to games for years and this has never been a ticketed offense. This act ALONE proves the city police dept is targeting the football program. I do not know what vendetta they have against the football program but it doesnt take much to realize how things have changed. As a student at UGA my apartment complex was targeted time and time again by auto break-ins. But the police dept refused to do anything about it. They were difficult and unwilling to help. Ask any student or alumni , I am sure there are tons of similar stories. But sure enough, come gameday or any situation involving a player and they are the most active police force in the nation. Its time someone does something about this!
By OrangeMan
July 30, 2007 5:51 PM | Link to this
Those officers in Athens have a hard on for the UGA football players for some reason. Somebody needs to get to the bottom of why.
No, Officer on Duty, somebody should get to the bottom of why a police officer would pick and choose of who goes to jail or who doesn’t for committing the exact same offenses.
Pretty, blond female with no license? That’s OK babe, better run along. Yound black man with no license? That’s against the law, boy, you’re going to jail. The cops best friend’s son with no license? That’s Ok son, better get on home. Somebody from out of state with no license? That’s against the law, you’re going to jail.
You know the way it works, so quit your bi!chin’.
By Jeff
July 30, 2007 5:55 PM | Link to this
I am not doubting Chief Williamson intent. He probably has not ill feelings or intent towards UGA football players. His officers, no doubt in my mind, do treat the athletes(and frat boys) different than they treat others. It’s a fact. I saw it all the time in my UGA days. Others can say what they want to say, but I saw it.
The UGA football players are of no different “caliber” of person than UF, UT, Auburn, etc players. Does no one find it odd that this is the ONLY SEC school that is seeing football players being arrested? It’s a fact. These guys have a bullseye on their chops that the UGA campus police just love to bust.
Chief Williamson, you’re probably a decent fellow. Your officers are, for the most part, dweebs that have an exe to grind against athletes and the Greek system.
By Slobbered Onbydrunk
July 30, 2007 6:05 PM | Link to this
While you are writing tickets for these pampered and petted jocks how about writing tickets to these slobbering,foulmouthed, stumbling, mumbling,drink spilling on decent citizens, by jock wannabee rumheads!!!!
Now, that would be the ticket. Oh, thanks to the man who punched out one of these drunken immature morons at a game last year.
By godawg
July 30, 2007 6:07 PM | Link to this
Driving with a suspended license or outstanding violations is wrong and not very smart. If you do it, be prepared to suffer the consequences. Pretty straightforward. Pay your fines, get your license in order and move on.
By jim
July 30, 2007 6:08 PM | Link to this
Chip, what I would like to see is an investigation by you on both of these players to tell the whole story. By this I mean information that includes not only the police reports, but also statements from both of the players to get their version of what happened and why. I would also like to know more about the suspended license. Why they were suspended and if the players were even aware their license had been suspended. Also report on the effect this will have on them as the state of GA has different rules for different age groups under 21. Reporting the news from the police blotter is fine but if you had stated you would follow up to get all sides of the story plus background information that lead to this, I believe you approval rating would improve.
By Chris
July 30, 2007 6:13 PM | Link to this
Funny how nobody could answer my question.
By ab
July 30, 2007 6:14 PM | Link to this
UGA aside, passing a car on the right should be a license-suspending crime in GA. If the police were to enforce this, as they do in Germany, we wouldn’t have morons driving 55 in the left lane everywhere.
By JAMES STEWART
July 30, 2007 6:22 PM | Link to this
driving a moped. I did not know u had to have a license to drive a moped and i bet king did not know. driving a bycycle with a small motor on it it would be insane to let hom get away with that crime. its ok to sell dope but dont drive a moped. u r a dangerour criminal and could cause a lot of harm to the public. let me walk accross the street and pick up some crack that guy need the money
By Kady
July 30, 2007 6:26 PM | Link to this
The real question which why Chip didn’t find out is…”why are the DL suspended?
By James
July 30, 2007 6:34 PM | Link to this
For all of you commentators who keep calling the UGA Police Officers “geeks” why don’t the “Greeks” and “Athletes” wa