GREENSBORO, Ga. — Amid the continuing rash of speeding-related arrests of football players, Georgia president Jere Morehead offered an endorsement of how football coach Kirby Smart and athletic director Josh Brooks handled it.
Since the Jan. 15 crash that killed player Devin Willock and staffer Chandler LeCroy, four current or former players have been arrested on speeding-related charges, including Jalen Carter for street racing said LeCroy. The latest arrest came this week, with receiver Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint accused of going 90 mph in a 45 mph zone, while weaving in and out of traffic.
“We obviously want our student-athletes to obey the law and follow the rules and regulations as we want all of our university students to do,” Morehead said. “But there is growing pain among young people. And so I’m confident that Coach Smart will continue to address these issues as they come up.
Smart said in March that Jamon Dumas-Johnson, an inside linebacker charged with racing for another incident in January, would face discipline, but did not specify what, pending charges. Smart has not yet announced any discipline for Dumas-Johnson, Rosemy-Jacksaint or receiver De’Nylon Morrissette, charged with DUI, speeding for conditions and other violations in early May.
“I know Coach Smart addressed it,” Morehead said. “But I will leave it to him to decide what he wants to say publicly or not say publicly. I trust his judgment on that.”
Morehead spoke Thursday after a meeting of the UGA Athletic Board, where it was announced that Brooks received a raise and a contract extension: six years, starting July 1, when his salary will increase to $1.025 million, increasing the maximum at least $100,000 per year, with potential incentives up to $100,000 per year.
Morehead was asked how he felt Brooks and the athletic department handled the aftermath of the crash.
“I think he’s very mature, consistent, thoughtful,” Morehead said. “We had a good relationship through that process, talking about our response. Obviously you don’t want to go through a situation like that. But if you’re going to go through it, you want to work with someone who you have a lot of confidence that they are making good decisions.
Brooks was also asked what the athletic department is doing to respond to incidents quickly.
“I think that you want as a parent, you want to look at every lever that you can try,” Brooks said. “There are obviously disciplinary measures. There are educational measures. We will look to intensify all these efforts, because I don’t think it’s just one thing that you do. There is discipline. There is education. And I think there’s no shortage of things we’re going to continue to do to correct this problem.”
UGA is one of several entities being sued for $40 million by Willock’s father in a civil wrongful death lawsuit. (Willock’s mother has yet to sue and disputes her estranged husband’s ability to sue.)
The athletic board went into executive session for about half an hour on Thursday discussing the so-called “Attorney-client privilege and work product doctrine.” Morehead declined afterward to confirm whether they discussed the Willock case, or any other details in the executive session.
(Photo of Rosemy-Jacksaint: Steve Limentani / ISI Photos / Getty Images)
