Here are comments from Georgia Tech President G.P. “Bud” Peterson, athletic director Dan Radakovich, football coach Paul Johnson and NCAA Infractions Committee chairperson Dennis Thomas from Thursday’s news conferences. The NCAA announced earlier in the day that the Yellow Jackets would have to forfeit their 2009 ACC title in football for minor violations after failing to fully cooperate with NCAA investigators looking into those violations.
Peterson
On Tech’s honesty: “Georgia Tech is committed to integrity of its athletic program including full operation and support of the NCAA.”
What would he have done differently? “We could have been more aggressive in our investigation. Had we known then what he know now, we could have acted differently. At the time we took appropriate steps. ... We acted in good faith.”
Did anyone intentionally mislead anyone? “I don’t believe anyone did anything or took actions to hinder or impede investigation.”
Radakovich
On Tech’s honesty: “There was no intent to influence testimony. We cooperated fully during process.”
On the results: “We don’t agree with the report and its findings.”
His emotions: “Not a proud day for me. Georgia Tech should not be placed in a position where its integrity is challenged.”
On what’s next: “We disagree, but we will move forward.”
Johnson
On if he was surprised when he learned that Demaryius Thomas and Morgan Burnett could play late in November 2009, just before the game against Georgia. The NCAA was still investigating the duo: “I wasn’t aware of what was happening because I wasn’t involved in the process. I knew they had been interviewed when the NCAA came in. I had no idea what was said in the interviews or what was going on. We found out that Wednesday or Thursday that they were eligible to play. As far as we were concerned, we just went with the attitude that until somebody told us differently they were playing. Dan came in on Wednesday afternoon and said they are both cleared.”
On the results of the punishment: “I understand why our administration did what they did. It’s frustrating when you aren’t directly involved in something, and it effects you in such a big way.”
On what he told the team this week: “I told them that sometimes things that happen aren’t fair. The neat thing is it doesn’t affect our football team moving forward: No postseason ban, no scholarship limitations, no loss of anything that way so it doesn’t affect the guys that are here. It’s disappointing that the guys that played so hard in that game doesn’t get to see the fruits of their labor. But you use it as a learning experience.”
On if this affects his desire to remain at Tech: “No, not at all. As I said, I understand why our administration did what they did given the information they have. I have a lot of respect for Dan and Dr. Peterson. They made decisions based upon what was available to them at the time. I’m not going to second-guess them now.”
Thomas
On Tech’s attitude during the investigation: “The school’s lack of cooperation compounded the seriousness of this case.”
On Tech’s decision to let Thomas play in the last three games: “From the committee standpoint, there was enough evidence to warrant Georgia Tech to hold the student-athlete out of competition until the information could be complete and that the student-athlete’s eligibility could be verified or not.”
On the need for cooperation: “When you don’t cooperate, it really jeopardizes the whole process. It could have been secondary.”
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