dirty
EOG Master
Spying in football a tradition
By CARTER STRICKLAND
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 09/19/07 Athens ? Back in the early '80s when Georgia was rolling and Florida was just rolling over, every advantage possible was trying to be gained by the latter over the former.
To that end, a clandestine trip took place. Two Gators graduate assistants were sent to Athens to get a peek at Georgia's practice. The pair never fell into the view of Georgia coach Vince Dooley and never was caught red-handed.
<!--endtext--><!--endclickprintinclude--><table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" width="175"><tbody><tr><td><table bgcolor="#cccccc" border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" width="170"><tbody><tr><td><table bgcolor="#ffffff" border="0" cellpadding="9" cellspacing="0" width="168"><tbody><tr><td class="body">RELATED STORIES
</td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td><table bgcolor="#cccccc" border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" width="170"><tbody><tr><td><table bgcolor="#ffffff" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="168"><tbody><tr class="railscreen01"><td>Your Turn</td></tr></tbody></table><table bgcolor="#ffffff" border="0" cellpadding="9" cellspacing="0" width="168"><tbody><tr><td> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody><tr> <td colspan="2">
</td> </tr> </tbody></table> <script language="javascript"> function clickVote() { document.pollForm.buttonClicked.value = "yes"; document.pollForm.PageId.value = "poll_vote_submit"; document.pollForm.submit(); } function alert1(){ document.pollForm.buttonClicked.value = ""; } </script> <form method="post" action="/poll/poll/poll/take_poll/PollRefresh.jsp" name="pollForm"> <input name="PageId" value="poll_vote_submit" type="hidden"> <input name="pollID" value="18517" type="hidden"> <input name="page" value="take" type="hidden"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody><tr> <td width="100%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=-1] Do you think Mark Richt's decision to close practices will make a difference in Saturday's game at Alabama? [/SIZE][/FONT] </td> <td align="right" height="15" width="46">
</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" valign="top"> <input name="choice" value="55134" type="radio"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=-1] Yes [/SIZE][/FONT] </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" valign="top"> <input name="choice" value="55135" type="radio"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=-1] No [/SIZE][/FONT] </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2">
</td></tr> <tr> <td align="center" width="100%"> <input value="Vote" name="vote" type="submit">
[FONT=arial,helvetica][SIZE=-2]Voter Limit: Once per Hour
View Poll Results [/SIZE][/FONT] </td> </tr> </tbody></table> </form> </td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><!--startclickprintinclude--><!--begintext--> That is until the Al Capone-like bookkeeping of the Florida athletics department came under scrutiny. During an NCAA probe into all things illegal, a transgression was discovered.
The two graduate assistants had used the regular coaches IDs in an attempt to recoup expenses. That was the only way the spying incident was uncovered. In fact, in all there were 13 spying incidents by Florida uncovered from 1980-82, according to NCAA records.
"[Spying] is nothing new," Dooley said. "It's just there is more awareness now because of what happened [with New England's Bill Belichick]."
Georgia football has reached DEFCON status this week. For the first time in his career, coach Mark Richt has shut down practice from all prying eyes. He said he's not sure the policy will continue the rest of the season, but that if it were solely up to him, it would.
Whether it is a bunker mentality remains to be seen. "We wanted some privacy," Richt said. "I think probably we are always concerned every week about people watching practice."
But this week Georgia decided to do something about it. And this week Georgia just happens to be playing Alabama, whose coach just happens to have worked for Belichick. Belichick was fined by the NFL for spying in a game two Sundays ago.
"You just don't know what can come out," Richt said. "We wanted to get it as tight as we could get it."
Richt was asked Tuesday if he believed another team had knowledge of his plays before the game. The coach avoided that direct line of questioning and instead offered this:
"Everybody is a little bit paranoid that a little bit of information is getting out that could make a difference," he said.
Quarterback Matthew Stafford was asked if he felt the defense was tipped off on the fourth-and-2 play that failed miserably against South Carolina and said, "I don't know."
As far as any other underhanded tactics: "I haven't experienced it too much in college, people being all over plays over and over again," Stafford said. "They might get lucky once."
South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier intimated after the game that the failed fourth-down play needed to be thrown away and that he had seen it years before.
As for an opponent coming in and watching practice, Richt highly doubts that would happen.
"I would be shocked," Richt said. "You would have to hire somebody to go and act like he is somebody else, and I don't think they would do that."
Oh, really?
"I know from an experience standpoint because I served as chairman of the [American Football Coaches Association] ethics committee for many years," Dooley said. "We have had coaches and schools before our committee, some of whom were accused and not found guilty and others that were accused and found guilty for illegally watching practice."
In one case, coaches were stashed on the eighth floor of the school library, watching practice and writing down plays.
Sometimes, people who don't mean to hurt the program, and even some from within the program, might say something they learned to a friend that could wind up helping the other team.
"I have done some things or planned some things and ended up not using it, thinking that when I was planning it, so-and-so could have been watching," Richt said.
At Southern Cal, the nation's top program, everybody watches every practice.
"Why not?" USC spokesman Tim Tessalone said when asked about having practices open. "[Head coach Pete Carroll] embraces having media, family, friends USC supporters, local community, VIPs at practices.
"We play in front of 92,000 every Saturday, so having anywhere from several dozen to several hundred people at practice each day isn't a distraction," Tessalone said. "It helps with our focus, actually. It is just what we do."
If Richt had USC's players, he might be the same way.
"Their guys are so good it just doesn't matter [if a spy sees practice]," Richt said. "That is part of the reason why."
Richt said Georgia's scores are so close ? the 16-12 South Carolina score was one he pointed out ? that winning and losing is decided by a much narrower margin.
"A lot of times it is one play," Richt said. "If they get a one-play advantage it could cost you.
"The reality is, it is big," Richt said. "What we do is big. People care, and winning and losing has a profound effect on people's careers and everything else, and sometimes it's a case of loose lips sink ships."
Spying in football a tradition | ajc.com
By CARTER STRICKLAND
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 09/19/07 Athens ? Back in the early '80s when Georgia was rolling and Florida was just rolling over, every advantage possible was trying to be gained by the latter over the former.
To that end, a clandestine trip took place. Two Gators graduate assistants were sent to Athens to get a peek at Georgia's practice. The pair never fell into the view of Georgia coach Vince Dooley and never was caught red-handed.
<!--endtext--><!--endclickprintinclude--><table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" width="175"><tbody><tr><td><table bgcolor="#cccccc" border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" width="170"><tbody><tr><td><table bgcolor="#ffffff" border="0" cellpadding="9" cellspacing="0" width="168"><tbody><tr><td class="body">RELATED STORIES
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</td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td><table bgcolor="#cccccc" border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" width="170"><tbody><tr><td><table bgcolor="#ffffff" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="168"><tbody><tr class="railscreen01"><td>Your Turn</td></tr></tbody></table><table bgcolor="#ffffff" border="0" cellpadding="9" cellspacing="0" width="168"><tbody><tr><td> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody><tr> <td colspan="2">
</td> </tr> </tbody></table> <script language="javascript"> function clickVote() { document.pollForm.buttonClicked.value = "yes"; document.pollForm.PageId.value = "poll_vote_submit"; document.pollForm.submit(); } function alert1(){ document.pollForm.buttonClicked.value = ""; } </script> <form method="post" action="/poll/poll/poll/take_poll/PollRefresh.jsp" name="pollForm"> <input name="PageId" value="poll_vote_submit" type="hidden"> <input name="pollID" value="18517" type="hidden"> <input name="page" value="take" type="hidden"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody><tr> <td width="100%"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=-1] Do you think Mark Richt's decision to close practices will make a difference in Saturday's game at Alabama? [/SIZE][/FONT] </td> <td align="right" height="15" width="46">
</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" valign="top"> <input name="choice" value="55134" type="radio"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=-1] Yes [/SIZE][/FONT] </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" valign="top"> <input name="choice" value="55135" type="radio"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=-1] No [/SIZE][/FONT] </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2">
</td></tr> <tr> <td align="center" width="100%"> <input value="Vote" name="vote" type="submit">
[FONT=arial,helvetica][SIZE=-2]Voter Limit: Once per Hour
View Poll Results [/SIZE][/FONT] </td> </tr> </tbody></table> </form> </td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><!--startclickprintinclude--><!--begintext--> That is until the Al Capone-like bookkeeping of the Florida athletics department came under scrutiny. During an NCAA probe into all things illegal, a transgression was discovered.
The two graduate assistants had used the regular coaches IDs in an attempt to recoup expenses. That was the only way the spying incident was uncovered. In fact, in all there were 13 spying incidents by Florida uncovered from 1980-82, according to NCAA records.
"[Spying] is nothing new," Dooley said. "It's just there is more awareness now because of what happened [with New England's Bill Belichick]."
Georgia football has reached DEFCON status this week. For the first time in his career, coach Mark Richt has shut down practice from all prying eyes. He said he's not sure the policy will continue the rest of the season, but that if it were solely up to him, it would.
Whether it is a bunker mentality remains to be seen. "We wanted some privacy," Richt said. "I think probably we are always concerned every week about people watching practice."
But this week Georgia decided to do something about it. And this week Georgia just happens to be playing Alabama, whose coach just happens to have worked for Belichick. Belichick was fined by the NFL for spying in a game two Sundays ago.
"You just don't know what can come out," Richt said. "We wanted to get it as tight as we could get it."
Richt was asked Tuesday if he believed another team had knowledge of his plays before the game. The coach avoided that direct line of questioning and instead offered this:
"Everybody is a little bit paranoid that a little bit of information is getting out that could make a difference," he said.
Quarterback Matthew Stafford was asked if he felt the defense was tipped off on the fourth-and-2 play that failed miserably against South Carolina and said, "I don't know."
As far as any other underhanded tactics: "I haven't experienced it too much in college, people being all over plays over and over again," Stafford said. "They might get lucky once."
South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier intimated after the game that the failed fourth-down play needed to be thrown away and that he had seen it years before.
As for an opponent coming in and watching practice, Richt highly doubts that would happen.
"I would be shocked," Richt said. "You would have to hire somebody to go and act like he is somebody else, and I don't think they would do that."
Oh, really?
"I know from an experience standpoint because I served as chairman of the [American Football Coaches Association] ethics committee for many years," Dooley said. "We have had coaches and schools before our committee, some of whom were accused and not found guilty and others that were accused and found guilty for illegally watching practice."
In one case, coaches were stashed on the eighth floor of the school library, watching practice and writing down plays.
Sometimes, people who don't mean to hurt the program, and even some from within the program, might say something they learned to a friend that could wind up helping the other team.
"I have done some things or planned some things and ended up not using it, thinking that when I was planning it, so-and-so could have been watching," Richt said.
At Southern Cal, the nation's top program, everybody watches every practice.
"Why not?" USC spokesman Tim Tessalone said when asked about having practices open. "[Head coach Pete Carroll] embraces having media, family, friends USC supporters, local community, VIPs at practices.
"We play in front of 92,000 every Saturday, so having anywhere from several dozen to several hundred people at practice each day isn't a distraction," Tessalone said. "It helps with our focus, actually. It is just what we do."
If Richt had USC's players, he might be the same way.
"Their guys are so good it just doesn't matter [if a spy sees practice]," Richt said. "That is part of the reason why."
Richt said Georgia's scores are so close ? the 16-12 South Carolina score was one he pointed out ? that winning and losing is decided by a much narrower margin.
"A lot of times it is one play," Richt said. "If they get a one-play advantage it could cost you.
"The reality is, it is big," Richt said. "What we do is big. People care, and winning and losing has a profound effect on people's careers and everything else, and sometimes it's a case of loose lips sink ships."
Spying in football a tradition | ajc.com
