From OnlineAthens.com
August 12th, 2016 01:42 PM
Maurice Smith will get his wish to play for Georgia.
The SEC on Friday afternoon stamped approval for the defensive back to join Georgia after granting the Alabama graduate transfer a waiver he had wanted for weeks.
Commissioner Greg Sankey made the final call after Alabama reversed course Wednesday and gave him a release. He is eligible to play this season.
The SEC had said Smith needed to show “circumstances that demonstrate a clear reason for granting an exception.”
Sankey said in a statement: “Graduate transfer rules were established with the intent to be grounded in the academic interests of the student-athlete. This conditional waiver permits Maurice Smith to receive financial aid to pursue his stated academic goals at the school of his choice while connecting his athletic participation directly to those goals.”
The SEC termed the waiver "conditional" because of provisions on the achievement of Smith's stated academic objectives.
"The standard for granting waivers has been clear and compelling evidence that there is a reason for allowing an exception to SEC rules," Sankey said. "I found, among other contributing factors, that a student-athlete who graduates in three years and exhibits a strong commitment to his or her academic future provides compelling motivation to help them achieve their goals on and off the field."
He continued: "An institution has an obligation to provide opportunities for graduate-student athletes to earn a graduate degree. Similary, student-athletes have accountability to the universities that are providing the educational opportunities they enjoy. Maurice has clearly and passionately stated his desire for a graduate degree in Public Health. The conditons of the waiver allow him to achieve that goal and provide the institution with greater incentive to make his educational interests a priority."
Smith must enroll in the Master of Public Health graduate program and earn all possible Academic Progress Rate (APR) points for each term of his enrollment. If not, Georgia may not utlilize the graduate-student exemption in football until after the 2019-20 academic year.
Smith must complete nine hours of coursework in 2016 to be eligible for the postseason. If he doesn't graduate by 2018-19, Georgia won't be allowed to request a transfer waiver for three years.
Smith becomes the second graduate transfer to come to Georgia since coach Kirby Smart’s hire, joining offensive tackle Tyler Catlina from Rhode Island. Quarterback Greyson Lambert, who started all but one game last season, arrived in the summer of 2015 as a graduate transfer from Virginia.
The decision comes on the second day of the new semester at Georgia and nearly three weeks before Georgia opens its season Sept. 3 against North Carolina.
Smith joins a Georgia secondary that has experience in returning starters Dominick Sanders, Quincy Mauger, Malkom Parrsh and Aaron Davis and key contributors Juwuan Briscoe and Rico McGraw.
The Smith saga pitted Alabama coach Nick Saban against Smart, an assistant coach under Saban for 11 years, including nine at Alabama. After Smith asked to transfer, his father said, Smith’s belongings from his locker were thrown in the trash and Smith received a text from someone in the program telling him he couldn’t eat at the facility or work out there, although that restriction later changed.
Saban ended up backing off his stance not to grant releases for transfers to another SEC school after a week of backlash for not allowing a player who graduated from Alabama in three years to go to the school of his choosing. Smith graduated on Saturday.
Saban had cited SEC rules in blocking Smith, but wide receiver Chris Black was allowed to transfer from Alabama to Missouri this offseason. Ole Miss kicker Andy Pappanastos transferred to Alabama.
"The University of Alabama vigorously defended this SEC rule for good reason and has assisted the process in every way," Sankey said. "The current rule places our coaches and administrators in untenable situations so it is time for us to address graduate transfer rules. An individual university does not possess the authority to activate that change, so adherence to these rules and the process by which exceptions are sought remain criticial for every institution in the SEC."
Smart had earlier this year restricted junior running back A.J. Turman from transferring to any SEC school or Miami to play for former Georgia coach Mark Richt. He said at the time he wouldn’t allow transfers in conference unless there are “special circumstances.” Smart said Saturday he has a different policy for graduate transfers, allowing them to go to any school.
Mississippi State athletic director Scott Stricklin and LSU’s Joe Alleva said in radio interviews this week that they are supportive of change.
“I don’t know that I’m comfortable with getting to the point where it’s complete free agency for anybody who wants to do anything, but I think the days of us sitting there and controlling where young people can and can’t go after they leave our program is coming to an end, and candidly I think it probably should,” Stricklin said on SuperTalk Mississippi.
An SEC rule adopted in 2000 says any transfer has to serve a one academic year residence if moving from one conference school to another, so Sankey said the Smith waiver "is not granted lightly." An SEC rule also states that graduate transfers must have two years of eligibility remaining.
Smith, a 6-foot, 195-pound Sugar Land, Texas native, has played in 40 college games and should compete for immediate playing time--and perhaps a starting job--at Georgia where he will be coached by Smart and defensive coordinator Mel Tucker. Tucker last season was Smith’s position coach with the Crimson Tide and Smith is very familiar with the defensive system.
Smith was the leading candidate at Alabama to start at nickel back after recording 15 tackles, a sack, a forced fumble and fumble recovery last season. He was tied for second on the team in special teams tackles last season with seven.
He has started two games at Alabama and has 38 career tackles and five pass breakups.
Smith was a four-star recruit who also considered Florida, Florida State, Notre Dame, LSU and Texas.
"Mo plays all over the place -- he plays corner, plays star, he plays money," Saban said last August, according to the Decatur Daily. "He's always been a little bit of a guy who was such a worrier about doing his job right, and now he's sort of over that because he has a lot of confidence how he does his job.”
...READ MORE HERE...
August 12th, 2016 01:42 PM
Maurice Smith will get his wish to play for Georgia.
The SEC on Friday afternoon stamped approval for the defensive back to join Georgia after granting the Alabama graduate transfer a waiver he had wanted for weeks.
Commissioner Greg Sankey made the final call after Alabama reversed course Wednesday and gave him a release. He is eligible to play this season.
The SEC had said Smith needed to show “circumstances that demonstrate a clear reason for granting an exception.”
Sankey said in a statement: “Graduate transfer rules were established with the intent to be grounded in the academic interests of the student-athlete. This conditional waiver permits Maurice Smith to receive financial aid to pursue his stated academic goals at the school of his choice while connecting his athletic participation directly to those goals.”
The SEC termed the waiver "conditional" because of provisions on the achievement of Smith's stated academic objectives.
"The standard for granting waivers has been clear and compelling evidence that there is a reason for allowing an exception to SEC rules," Sankey said. "I found, among other contributing factors, that a student-athlete who graduates in three years and exhibits a strong commitment to his or her academic future provides compelling motivation to help them achieve their goals on and off the field."
He continued: "An institution has an obligation to provide opportunities for graduate-student athletes to earn a graduate degree. Similary, student-athletes have accountability to the universities that are providing the educational opportunities they enjoy. Maurice has clearly and passionately stated his desire for a graduate degree in Public Health. The conditons of the waiver allow him to achieve that goal and provide the institution with greater incentive to make his educational interests a priority."
Smith must enroll in the Master of Public Health graduate program and earn all possible Academic Progress Rate (APR) points for each term of his enrollment. If not, Georgia may not utlilize the graduate-student exemption in football until after the 2019-20 academic year.
Smith must complete nine hours of coursework in 2016 to be eligible for the postseason. If he doesn't graduate by 2018-19, Georgia won't be allowed to request a transfer waiver for three years.
Smith becomes the second graduate transfer to come to Georgia since coach Kirby Smart’s hire, joining offensive tackle Tyler Catlina from Rhode Island. Quarterback Greyson Lambert, who started all but one game last season, arrived in the summer of 2015 as a graduate transfer from Virginia.
The decision comes on the second day of the new semester at Georgia and nearly three weeks before Georgia opens its season Sept. 3 against North Carolina.
Smith joins a Georgia secondary that has experience in returning starters Dominick Sanders, Quincy Mauger, Malkom Parrsh and Aaron Davis and key contributors Juwuan Briscoe and Rico McGraw.
The Smith saga pitted Alabama coach Nick Saban against Smart, an assistant coach under Saban for 11 years, including nine at Alabama. After Smith asked to transfer, his father said, Smith’s belongings from his locker were thrown in the trash and Smith received a text from someone in the program telling him he couldn’t eat at the facility or work out there, although that restriction later changed.
Saban ended up backing off his stance not to grant releases for transfers to another SEC school after a week of backlash for not allowing a player who graduated from Alabama in three years to go to the school of his choosing. Smith graduated on Saturday.
Saban had cited SEC rules in blocking Smith, but wide receiver Chris Black was allowed to transfer from Alabama to Missouri this offseason. Ole Miss kicker Andy Pappanastos transferred to Alabama.
"The University of Alabama vigorously defended this SEC rule for good reason and has assisted the process in every way," Sankey said. "The current rule places our coaches and administrators in untenable situations so it is time for us to address graduate transfer rules. An individual university does not possess the authority to activate that change, so adherence to these rules and the process by which exceptions are sought remain criticial for every institution in the SEC."
Smart had earlier this year restricted junior running back A.J. Turman from transferring to any SEC school or Miami to play for former Georgia coach Mark Richt. He said at the time he wouldn’t allow transfers in conference unless there are “special circumstances.” Smart said Saturday he has a different policy for graduate transfers, allowing them to go to any school.
Mississippi State athletic director Scott Stricklin and LSU’s Joe Alleva said in radio interviews this week that they are supportive of change.
“I don’t know that I’m comfortable with getting to the point where it’s complete free agency for anybody who wants to do anything, but I think the days of us sitting there and controlling where young people can and can’t go after they leave our program is coming to an end, and candidly I think it probably should,” Stricklin said on SuperTalk Mississippi.
An SEC rule adopted in 2000 says any transfer has to serve a one academic year residence if moving from one conference school to another, so Sankey said the Smith waiver "is not granted lightly." An SEC rule also states that graduate transfers must have two years of eligibility remaining.
Smith, a 6-foot, 195-pound Sugar Land, Texas native, has played in 40 college games and should compete for immediate playing time--and perhaps a starting job--at Georgia where he will be coached by Smart and defensive coordinator Mel Tucker. Tucker last season was Smith’s position coach with the Crimson Tide and Smith is very familiar with the defensive system.
Smith was the leading candidate at Alabama to start at nickel back after recording 15 tackles, a sack, a forced fumble and fumble recovery last season. He was tied for second on the team in special teams tackles last season with seven.
He has started two games at Alabama and has 38 career tackles and five pass breakups.
Smith was a four-star recruit who also considered Florida, Florida State, Notre Dame, LSU and Texas.
"Mo plays all over the place -- he plays corner, plays star, he plays money," Saban said last August, according to the Decatur Daily. "He's always been a little bit of a guy who was such a worrier about doing his job right, and now he's sort of over that because he has a lot of confidence how he does his job.”
...READ MORE HERE...
