Great effort by UGA fans

[Rockthecasbah6 0]

As much as a I criticize UGA fans, I think I should be the one to post this.

ajc.com > Sports > UGA

Dogs fans show heart, but . . .

NCAA won't let them pay for dad's trip to game

By CHIP TOWERS

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Published on: 08/11/05

ATHENS — A group of Georgia football fans took up a collection to pay for a Boise State player's father to fly from Baghdad to see his son play against the Bulldogs in Athens.

But the NCAA rule book got in the way.

Dan Miller, father of Broncos sophomore guard Tad Miller, is a retired police lieutenant who is training Iraqi police officers.

When Sam Hendrix of Signal Mountain, Tenn. — "suthndawg" to his fellow Georgia fans on the Dawgvent, an Internet message board — read a story in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution about the Millers, he started an online movement to raise the $2,700 it will cost Dad to make it to Sanford Stadium to see his son play in the home opener Sept. 3.

"Within moments of suthndawg's post, there were 25 to 50 people who offered to pledge money," said Ryan Crowe, a 25-year-old legal assistant from Atlanta who offered to collect and distribute the funds. "It just took off from there."

But when Crowe checked with the two schools, he was told the UGA fans' generosity would be a violation of NCAA bylaws regarding extra benefits and expenses for student athletes and their families.

"Ironically, by providing this money, these [Georgia] fans would in effect become Boise State boosters," said Amy Chisholm, UGA's assistant athletics director for compliance. The NCAA defines a booster as "a representative of an institution's athletics interests."

NCAA spokeswoman Gail Dent did not have an immediate response to questions about the situation Wednesday.

"Makes no sense to me," said Hendrix, a 56-year-old marketing consultant. "It just hits me that twice in a week, these people have lost touch with reality."

The NCAA caused a furor when it ruled last week that member schools' Native American mascots would no longer be allowed at championship events.

Word of the Georgia fans' good intentions — and their being thwarted — spread quickly via the Internet.

"It was such a nice and giving gesture, I almost felt embarrassed," said Kathy Miller, Tad's mother, who lives in Boise, Idaho. "We appreciate it so much. But we want people to know that the company Dan contracts for pays for his R&R every six months, and this will be his first time home since January. So his travel is taken care of."

"Perhaps they can collect money to send some underprivileged kids to the game or something," she added.

Kathy Miller said the family received other overtures from Georgia fans. One offered to host a party for the family when it arrives in Athens. Miller said she is running everything by Boise State's compliance office.

Said Crowe: "Us Georgia fans love our football but, as a collective group, we're pretty hospitable people."

[SouthLink02 8]

I am very, very shocked the AJC didn't put a negative spin on this AND still wrote it up

[AUesquire 1]

The NCAA spokesperson did not have an immediate response. What an absolute joke this organization has become.

Way to go Dawg fans. Classy gesture on your part.

[War Eagle 96 10]

I wonder how the UGA fans will feel about falling all over themselves offering this kind of stuff once Boise State beats them by 20.

[WarTiger 3,923]

We get a morning show on 98.1 THE TICKET mon-friday called the morning wrap. They were talking about this this morning, and basically through conversation decided to start a pledge drive to bring this gentleman back for the game...When i got out of the car they already had pledges for $650.00 and they need $2700.. Pretty cool, i think...

[DCTiger 0]

I would like to start a collection to send Gail Dent to Baghdad. I'm in for $20.

Wait. That bill has Andrew Jackson on the front, who fought in the Creek war AND the Seminole war. I guess the 20-spot has been banned by the NCAA by now.

[WarTim 3,457]

Very classy gesture by the dawg fans indeed. The NCAA strikes again. I wonder why Fulmer TOLD the NCAA to do this?

[SouthLink02 8]

I wonder how the UGA fans will feel about falling all over themselves offering this kind of stuff once Boise State beats them by 20.

173570[/snapback]

[Tigermike 3,055]

A gesture like this makes sense and we all know the NCAA has larger fish to fry. The ban on Indian mascots is on the front burner just now.

[RadioWryn 0]

http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sports/u...5/11gafans.html

Registration may be required, but you can get around it at bugmenot.com ..

Can the NCAA do anything right? Another PR hit.

[Draven 0]

The NCAA is out of their collective minds but I will say bravo to the fans for the effort.

[AUloggerhead 2,253]

Gotta admit -- it was a classy move on the part of the UGA boosters to try to take up the collection to bring in the BSU player's father. An even classier move by the player's mother to suggest the collection go towards bringing some underprivileged kids to the game.

The NCAA? Two big PR disasters in one week. I think the only way they can recover is for that ole bammie wood tick Gallion to start making some more noises sbout lawsuits.

[SKCAUB 0]

Just yesterday I wrote a blistering e-mail to the morons at the NCAA, over the mascot thing. I told them that I was urging the President of AU and also the SEC to pull out of this crappy org, and set up our own skeds (even if we have to play just each other), and our own TV deals. I've had it with them...and it's time to move on!!!