You know what’s great? Knowing people. It’s what really makes life special. Why wait in line, when your friends are at the front of it? Why actually go through a complicated admissions process, when your dad’s friend is on the board?

Why pay for tickets to a football game, when you know a guy on the team, and he can easily get you a couple freebies?

That’s what former Georgia quarterback Matt Stafford did for a November game between the Falcons and Broncos last season. He hollered at Jay Cutler, New Bears Lord And Savior, and was granted four tickets to the game. No biggie, right?

Well, since the NCAA is involved, it’s a small deal, and Georgia self-reported it as a secondary violation. From the Athens Banner Herald:

The Georgia player told athletic department officials that he had known Cutler since his junior year of high school and had maintained a relationship by phone and text messages. The player said he texted Cutler for tickets for the Broncos’ Nov. 16 game at the Georgia Dome.

The players that got tickets, valued at $40 each, donated that amount to the Boys and Girls Club of Athens.

“We had to pay the money back for the tickets, which is fine,” Chapas said.

This article later goes on to state that at the SEC meetings in the spring, Georgia athletic director Damon Evans tried to push for an NCAA rule change to allow student-athletes to get tickets from friends and former teammates, instead of doing so under the table. It “failed miserably.” Because, really, think of the horror that comes from a friend giving you free tickets!

Secondary violations are silly by nature: a coach gives out a free t-shirt to a recruit, someone makes an extra phone call … so this situation certainly fits the bill. But I’m sorry, I’m just not comfortable living in a world where Jay Cutler’s name is dragged through the mud for being a nice bro.

Where’s the humanity in that?

HT: Dr Saturday