Praise the Lord and pass the 4-star linebacker

[dixiehack]

Here's a new twist, even by SEC standards. Why make an in-home visit when you can go to meeting and try to tithe your way into a top recruit? Cecil Newton only wishes he had thought of this one.

http://blogs.ajc.com/recruiting/2012/01/25/mark-richt-is-going-to-church-with-states-no-1-uncommitted-football-recruit/?cxntfid=blogs_recruiting

UGA coach Mark Richt is going to church on Wednesday with the state of Georgia’s top uncommitted prospect, Josh Harvey-Clemons.

Richt’s church visit will count as his in-home visit with the 6-foot-5, 200-pound linebacker from Lowndes High School. Harvey-Clemons has UGA, Florida and Florida State in a three-way tie and will announce his decision on National Signing Day (Feb 1.).

Richt, who is known for his Christian beliefs, won’t be the first college coach to attend church services with Harvey-Clemons at a small Baptist church in the Clyattville area of Lowndes County.

“[Will Muschamp] came to our regular service about a month ago; I guess Coach Richt doesn’t want to let Coach Muschamp beat him out with going to church with us,” said Josh’s grandfather, Woodrow Clemons, with a laugh.

It created quite a stir when Florida’s coach showed up at church last month. “We gave everybody a heads up, and they were surprised to see [Muschamp],” Clemons said. “And the collection plate was equally surprised.”

Full disclosure time. I used to cover Lowndes High many moons ago. I won't say I was close to the Clemons family (which somehow has produced football players for LHS practically since the doors opened) but I liked the kids from the family that I covered, and they had a good reputation in the community. Forced to make a guess, I would say that they're on the up-and-up here. But this still looks plain awful, and I would expect the NCAA to nail shut this loophole after this recruiting season.

 

[bigpern23]

What's the loophole? Story says it counts as Richt's in-home visit. Am I missing something?

 

[dixiehack]

Read the second quote about Rev. Muschamp's implied tithing.

 

[Versatile]

To tithe is to give 10 percent of your salary before taxes. Nothing more, nothing less. Now that we've got that covered, carry on.

 

[Bob Cook]

To tithe is to give 10 percent of your salary before taxes. Nothing more, nothing less. Now that we've got that covered, carry on.

I presume it was more than a tithe. Actually, it wasn't a tithe, in the sense that Muschamp probably didn't fill out an annual pledge form for the church.

Yeah, what is the NCAA legality of this? Can a coach shower the player's church with money? Give big bucks to the Boys Club where he hangs out?

 

[black dude with pompano]

Although that quote raised eyebrows, I think it meant that the church was more crowded than usual because of the presence of a coach and thus, donations were up that week.

 

[Versatile]

To tithe is to give 10 percent of your salary before taxes. Nothing more, nothing less. Now that we've got that covered, carry on.

I presume it was more than a tithe. Actually, it wasn't a tithe, in the sense that Muschamp probably didn't fill out an annual pledge form for the church.

Yeah, what is the NCAA legality of this? Can a coach shower the player's church with money? Give big bucks to the Boys Club where he hangs out?

You think Muschamp gave more than $400,000 to this church? To land a four-star linebacker?

 

[Bob Cook]

No, but the quote makes it sound as if the church got a slight windfall that week from Muschamp.

 

[Versatile]

I'm only here to correct the usage of the word tithe. And to roll Tide.

Nick Saban doesn't recruit linebackers who are afraid of God, though. He recruits linebackers whom God is afraid of.

 

[User 11148]

To tithe is to give 10 percent of your salary before taxes. Nothing more, nothing less. Now that we've got that covered, carry on.

I presume it was more than a tithe. Actually, it wasn't a tithe, in the sense that Muschamp probably didn't fill out an annual pledge form for the church.

Yeah, what is the NCAA legality of this? Can a coach shower the player's church with money? Give big bucks to the Boys Club where he hangs out?

If it's not a donation to further a recruit's athletic endeavors (directly or indirectly), and the recruit does not directly benefit from the donation, it's my understanding it would pass muster so long as it wasn't intended (wink wink) to entice the recruit.

 

[Pancamo]

Alabama upgraded the facilities at Dr. Phillips HS prior for bowl practices in 2010 and I'm sure it had nothing to do with Bama recruiting two 5-star recruits from the school. Rules are made to be skirted.

 

[Johnny Dangerously]

Roll tithe.

 

[Bodie_Broadus]

6-5, 200 and he is a linebacker?

 

[Steak Snabler]

Nick Nolte was doing this years ago in "Blue Chips."

 

[deskslave]

Apparently it wasn't just church. Richt also went to JAIL with Harvey-Clemons.

No, not in an attempt to get a leg up in the Fulmer Cup. Apparently the kid's a licensed bail bondsman with his grandfather's company, and he got called to go get someone out. Richt decided to tag along.

http://blogs.ajc.com/recruiting/2012/01/26/ugas-mark-richt-goes-to-jail-to-meet-top-football-prospect/

 

[dixiehack]

You'll never guess who committed to Georgia on ESPNU this morning but can't get Guardian Grandpa to sign the LOI ...

 

[novelist_wannabe]

Well, the bail bondsman angle explains why grandpa favored Florida ...