Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson dismissed the possibility of the school fining players out of their cost-of-attendance stipends Monday. It surfaced as an issue last week, when Virginia Tech and Cincinnati coaches spoke about the possibility of fining players for infractions such as missing class or study hall.
“We won’t be doing that, I don’t think,” Johnson said at his weekly news conference. “I haven’t thought much about it.”
Beginning this semester, Division I schools can give scholarship athletes a stipend to cover personal expenses. Schools have long been able to cover tuition, room, board, books and fees. The NCAA passed the legislation in January. Tech’s stipend is $2,000, which is on the low end among power-five conference schools. The total follows federal guidelines and is set by individual schools.
After a strong reaction against the practice on social media, Virginia Tech shut down its fine system. Cincinnati coach Tommy Tuberville said he was considering withholding scholarship money for players who violate team rules or don’t meet academic requirements.
Johnson joked that Tech couldn’t entertain the notion because “our stipend’s not big enough.”
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