GREENSBORO, Ga. — Amid the continued rash of speeding-related arrests of football players, Georgia president Jere Morehead offered an endorsement of how both football coach Kirby Smart and athletic director Josh Brooks are handling 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 LeCroy’s car. The latest arrest came this week, with receiver Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint charged with going 90 mph in a 45 mph zone, while weaving in and out of traffic.
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“We obviously want our student-athletes to obey the law and to follow the rules and regulations as we want all of our students at the university to do,” Morehead said. “But there are growing pains with young people. And so I’m confident Coach Smart will continue to address these issues as they arise.”
Smart said in March that Jamon Dumas-Johnson, an inside linebacker charged with racing for a separate incident in January, would face discipline, but didn’t specify what, pending the charges. Smart has not announced any discipline yet for Dumas-Johnson, Rosemy-Jacksaint or receiver De’Nylon Morrissette, charged with DUI, driving too fast for conditions and other misdemeanors in early May.
“I know that Coach Smart is addressing it,” Morehead said. “But I leave it up to him to determine what he wants to say publicly or not say publicly. I trust his judgment in that regard.”
Morehead was speaking Thursday after a meeting of the UGA Athletic Board, during which it was announced that Brooks was receiving a raise and contract extension: six years, starting on July 1, when his salary goes up to $1.025 million, increasing at least $100,000 each year, along with potential incentives up to $100,000 each year.
Morehead was asked how he felt Brooks and the athletic department had handled the aftermath of the crash.
“I think he’s been very mature, steady, thoughtful,” Morehead said. “We’ve had a great relationship through that process, discussing our response. You obviously never want to go through a situation of that nature. But when you go through it, you want to be working with someone who you have great confidence that they’re making good decisions.”
Brooks was also asked what the athletic department was doing to address the speeding incidents.
“I think just you would as a parent, you want to look at every lever you can pull to try,” Brooks said. “There’s obviously disciplinary measures. There’s educational measures. We’re going to look to intensify all these efforts, because I don’t think it’s just one thing you do. There’s discipline. There’s education. And I think there are no shortage of things we’re going to keep doing to rectify this problem.”
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UGA is among several entities being sued for $40 million by the father of Willock in a wrongful death civil suit. (Willock’s mother is not suing yet and is disputing her estranged husband’s ability to sue.)
The athletic board went into executive session for about a half hour on Thursday discussing what was called “Attorney-client privilege and work product doctrine.” Morehead declined afterward to confirm whether they were discussing the Willock lawsuit, or any other specifics of the executive session.
(Photo of Rosemy-Jacksaint: Steve Limentani / ISI Photos / Getty Images)
