According to court records obtained by ESPN, a former recruitment analyst for the University of Georgia claims that Georgia Bulldogs staff members frequently drove drunk in rental automobiles.
Victoria Bowles, who survived the deadly crash on Jan. 15, 2023, that killed Georgia staff member Chandler LeCroy and Bulldogs offensive lineman Devin Willock, has claimed that supervisors and coaches “encouraged” recruiting personnel to consume alcohol at recruiting parties with players’ families.
LeCroy, Willock, and Bowles were in the SUV that allegedly reached speeds of 104 mph while racing with Georgia defensive player Jalen Carter, who now plays for the Philadelphia Eagles. LeCroy, who had a blood alcohol concentration of.197, was driving when she lost control and veered off the road, colliding with two utility poles and two trees.
Bowles, who survived the incident but suffered serious injuries, is suing the University of Georgia Athletics Association, Carter, LeCroy’s estate, and others for damages.
According to court records obtained by ESPN, Bowles’ attorneys allege that Georgia Bulldogs staff members habitually hired vehicles after consuming alcohol during football recruiting activities. The lawyers also claim in a complaint that the Bulldogs’ assistant football coaches used cash to pay for recruiting expenses during unofficial recruiting visits, which is a potential NCAA violation.
The UGA Athletic Association has previously refuted any allegations that LeCroy was permitted to drive the rented SUV for personal use. However, the complaint includes text messages reportedly showing administrators and coaches urging employees to drink alcohol with football recruits and their families.
One specific claim states that assistant coaches and personnel, including members on the recruiting team, were permitted to consume alcohol at Kirby Smart’s home during recruiting events. After ingesting beer, the Bulldogs’ coaching staff is accused of letting the recruiting staff to leave the events while they were intoxicated.
The complaint includes a text message from Marshall Malchow, then-Director of Player Personnel at Georgia, who reportedly texted 13 Bulldogs staff members on December 14, 2019.
The lawsuit alleges that Georgia football coaches used cash to cover expenditures for unofficial recruiting visits, which is prohibited by NCAA rules. Furthermore, Bowles’ complaint accused Carter of illegally leaving the scene of a tragic collision without providing assistance or speaking with law officials.
Bowles’ attorneys claim in documents that she sustained “likely permanent disability” and over $170,000 in medical bills as a result of three lumbar fractures, five fractured vertebrae, ten broken ribs, a broken clavicle, damaged teeth, a puncture, collapsed lung, and abdominal hemorrhage.
