The SEC has already adopted one of Georgia’s proposals regarding transfers with ‘serious misconduct’ issues, and the Bulldogs are aggressively pursuing another one: a uniform drug policy.
UGA was in the ear of former commissioner Mike Slive, and the university made sure new commissioner Greg Sankey hears it loud and clear.
“We have vigorously argued that we should all be operating under the same standards in the Southeastern Conference,” Georgia President Jere Morehead told the Athens-Banner Herald. “I have articulated that view to the new commissioner. I think it’s important that we develop some conference-wide standards and rules, just as we did on the transfer matter that I sponsored related to the case involving domestic violence.”
Georgia’s drug policy is much stricter than other SEC schools. It’s been well publicized that a first offense results in the player missing 10 percent of the season. The second violation extends to 30 percent of the season, and the third means a dismissal from the program.
Sankey, the SEC’s new commissioner, told the Athens-Banner Herald that he expects to continue the conversation and the issue may be a topic of discussion in the future.
“As I mentioned during the SEC spring meetings in Destin, I expect we will have a continuing conversation about student-athlete conduct,” Sankey said. “The issue of uniform drug testing policies has been a topic of previous consideration within the SEC and may be among the policy issues discussed in the future. Currently, there is no timetable for completing this dialogue.”
Currently, schools develop their own penalties for themselves for positive tests and/or arrests for recreational drugs.
According to ESPN’s Brett McMurphy in 2013, Georgia, Kentucky and Mississippi State are the only three SEC schools that suspends a player for a first violation.
A graduate of the University of Florida and founder of Saturday Down South, Kevin is a college football enthusiast.
