mark richt should break the rules

Check this out from the AJC's college recruiting beat writer, Michael Carvell:

the headline - "UGA's Mark Richt should break the rules in the name of academics"

And I couldn't agree more. Check out the story (it's a one-minute read).

The snippet is this: UGA has recruited a blue-chip lineman, Chris Burnette, who also happens to be in the running to be the valedictorian of his graduating class. The stud lineman apparently is a stud student, carrying a 5.12 GPA with about a month of class left. From an earlier story I read it sounds like he decided to skip graduating early to play in spring practice (and try to earn a higher spot on the depth chart) in order to stay in high school, get the grades and graduate first in his class.

Richt, supporting Burnette's decision, told him if he graduated #1 and got to speak at his graduation ceremony, then Richt himself would attend his graduation.

Until the NCAA threatened to slap UGA and Richt with a recruiting violation for it.

Well, Coach Richt, I'm okay with this violation. Do the right thing; show strong support for academics. And, in effect, show the NCAA how they've got their priorities all wrong.