University of Georgia Athletics
We must be a program that values character, responsibility and discipline above championships, with the idea that students who possess those attributes, along with athletic talent, will produce more success in the long run rather than a team full of the biggest, fastest or quickest student athletes that are a high academic and societal risk.
We must require our student athletes to meet the basic standards of society and the University of Georgia. Those standards include obeying the law, going to class, giving an effort in academics and conducting themselves like responsible young adults. We must make it clear to our student athletes that they are high profile representatives of the university, our alumni, our traditions, their parents and our fans. We are constantly in the spotlight at the University of Georgia. When we err, it is front page news.
We can honestly tell a recruits parents that we will help their child become an educated, productive member of society. We do not have to give up on the idea of winning just because we place a higher value on character and doing things the right way.
We must have a staff of head and assistant coaches that buy-in to the total person --- not just as an athlete, but as a student and a person. Anything short of 100% dedication of the coaching staff to these students in all areas of their life is unacceptable.
There are those who would argue that an intelligent, disciplined and motivated student athlete can be even more valuable than his or her athletic talent alone would predict. When we see other programs take a shortcut to the top by bending and breaking rules, we will have to remember that they will eventually suffer the consequences of their actions and that our eventual success will be even sweeter because we achieved it the right way.