This is bullshit:
On Thursday August 19, 2010, Assistant Director of Athletics for Compliance Paul Parker
received a telephone call and an e-mail from a fan informing him of comments posted on
Facebook by Dede Campbell. The comments inferred that Ms. Campbell was befriending
and possibly buying gifts for some of the University’s football student-athletes, including
football student-athlete Terence Barnes. Similar e-mails were also sent to Director of
Athletics Dan Radakovich and Senior Associate Director of Athletics Paul Griffin.
The compliance staff immediately interviewed Barnes about whether he accepted items from
Dede Campbell. Dede and Archie Campbell are representatives of University’s athletics
interests because they previously were football season ticket holders and contributed to the
Athletic Association. Barnes reported that Dede Campbell “friended” him on Facebook, and
they began conversing. He said the Campbells took him and a friend to the Georgia
Aquarium and bought them lunch at the Aquarium.
The compliance staff also interviewed the Campbells. The couple admitted to taking Barnes,
along with a friend of his, to the Georgia Aquarium. The couple also admitted to buying
Barnes and his friend a hot dog and two drinks (a total value of approximately $64 for tickets
and food). The Campbells also stated they provided Barnes with a bag of non-perishable
items (a total value of approximately $10). The Campbells reported that they believed they
could provide these items because they were no longer season ticket holders and no longer
were boosters. They apologized for their lack of knowledge and stated that they had no
intention of violating any NCAA rules.
The University conducted an interview and rules education session with the Campbells and
Barnes. Barnes was declared ineligible, paid $74 to a charity of his choice, and was
reinstated. The Campbells were issued a cease and desist letter from providing any benefits
to student-athletes in the future. They were not disassociated due to their sincere belief about
not realizing they still retained booster status and their extreme remorsefulness over the
violation (See Exhibit 7-1).