Dooley Admits Professors May Have Felt Pressure

ATHENS, Ga. —  University of Georgia Athletic Director Vince Dooley admitted Thursday that academic officials may have felt pressure from the athletic department to keep academically deficient athletes in school.

In a written report to the board of the University of Georgia Athletic Assn., Dooley said his staff never knowingly pressured academic officials but their efforts on behalf of some athletes “could have caused certain university officials to feel pressure.” He said he regretted any misunderstanding.

“I remain convinced that no rules were actually broken. In hindsight, however, it becomes obvious that we could have avoided some of the problems had we been more sensitive to the intricacies of the academic decision-making process and had urged student athletes themselves to take a more active role in the solution of their individual problems,” Dooley said in the report.

Dooley also said he will hire an assistant athletic director to oversee the academic progress of the school’s athletes.

The action follows a widely publicized trial of a lawsuit filed by former Georgia instructor Jan Kemp, who was awarded $2.57 million in damages after telling a jury she was fired by two university officials for protesting preferential treatment for student athletes.

The lawsuit prompted the Board of Regents to order an invesitgative audit of the remedial program, which employed Kemp. The audit included allegations that academically unqualified athletes were admitted to the school, that athletes were encouraged to take easy courses instead of pursuing a degree, and that athletic officials pressured academic officials to give athletes preferential treatment.

In the report to the athletic association board, Dooley said the athletic staff never “intentionally influenced anyone to make decisions contrary to the exercise of good, sound academic discretion.”

The athletic board held a closed meeting, but Dooley’s report was released to reporters.