Georgia head football coach Mark Richt was the first Southeastern Conference (SEC) coach to openly voice his opinion on the league's new transfer rule.
While the SEC will no longer accept transfer student-athletes with "serious misconduct" on their records, Richt told the Associated Press he hopes there will be room for "discretion" in certain circumstances.
"I think there's some wisdom in that but you've also got to have some discretion to make sure we're not keeping guys from having a chance that deserve a chance," he said. "I think it's set up to work that out."
The SEC became the first major collegiate athletic conference to adopt such a transfer rule and theirs is aimed toward blocking transfers from student-athletes with sexual assault and domestic violence on their record. The SEC passed the rule Friday during their Spring Meeting sessions in Destin, Fla.
The SEC already has particularly stringent bylaws related to the NCAA's rule allowing college graduates with athletic eligibility remaining to transfer without penalty. In light of Everett Golson passing over the SEC due to his past academic punishment, the league has expressed interest in either altering their own rule or having all Power 5 conferences adopt uniform policies.
The SEC's new rule appears to be related to Alabama's acceptance of Jonathan Taylor, an offensive lineman who was dismissed at Georgia. Taylor's dismissal came after he was charged with felony aggravated assault and domestic violence. Alabama later dismissed Taylor when he was again arrested for domestic violence, this time in Tuscaloosa.
Georgia was then involved in another high-profile college football transfer, welcoming former Virginia quarterback Greyson Lambert to the team. Unlike Golson, Lambert had no roadblocks by the SEC's bylaws and was allowed to transfer to Georgia without issue.
Lambert, a graduate with two years of eligibility remaining, told ESPN he chose Georgia, but Richt told the Atlanta Journal Constitution he do no more than confirm their interest in the QB.
