University Cost of Attendance Increase Will Benefit Georgia Bulldog Athletes
Georgia Bulldog athletes benefit from cost of attendance increase. The Georgia Nation rejoices.
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While frets over the quarterback position dominate conversation within the Bulldog Nation, a more ominous threat to Georgia Football has been gnawing at the psyche of Dawg fans.
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Cost of Attendance.
Behold, the University of Georgia increased its cost of attendance last spring, increasing it from $1,798 to $3,221 for in-state students and $3,743 for out-of-state students.
“We’ve been very creative in getting our number to a good spot,” Richt told the crowd at UGA Day in Atlanta as reported by Seth Emerson of the AJC.com.
Although Georgia’s cost of attendance number is still dwarfed by the cost of attendance numbers at Tennessee, Alabama and Auburn, the news is good.
But, this news is even better.
“Our president has been very involved in the whole issue of cost-of-attendance,” Athletic Director Greg McGarity said. “He has been very vocal in his concern about an uneven playing field, about the consequences that has now become evident, even in our conference, about the vast differences.”
As with the Indoor Practice Facility, the significant take away is that President Morehead gets it. The light speed progress toward the Indoor Practice Facility and its ultimate location exactly where Coach Mark Richt always wanted it appears not to be a fluke.
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Confusion continues on how cost of attendance is calculated and wide disparity exists between schools.
However, Jason Butt of the Telegraph quotes the South Carolina Head Football Coach Steve Spurrierr. “Supposedly, the federal government regulates this.”
It is a significant point. The Federal government is not the NCAA. And the Federal government controls far more University funding and policy than the NCAA can imagine. As a refresher, consider the impact of the Federal regulation commonly called Title IX.
“[Cost of attendance] is a number that has to be justified to the government,” McGarity said as reported by Emerson. “That’s the big unknown right now, is how involved will the federal government become in an area that’s rapidly gaining attention nationally.”
The Federal government is not the NCAA
Have all the shoes dropped?
A recurring quote from Richt through the winter and spring was reiterated by Butt. “There’s also some things that can be done in a creative way that is well within the rules.”
A change in University Meal Plans could also help Georgia scholarship athletes. University of Georgia Food Services new All-Access Plan with Paw Points allows students to join a meal plan that includes funding for purchases at campus retail food outlets, convenience outlets and vending machines. Could a full scholarship student-athlete receive this benefit as part of their meal provision?
Keep the creativity coming, President Morehead.