The WakeyLeaks scandal involving confidential information about Wake Forest has embroiled another coach.
Georgia announced on Thursday that special teams coach Shane Beamer was fined $25,000 and reprimanded for his involvement in the incident while he was an assistant under his father at Virginia Tech back in 2014.
“While at Virginia Tech, I was contacted by (radio analyst) Tommy Elrod the night before our game against Wake Forest in 2014. I had known him for several years through coaching circles so I did not think it unusual he would be calling me,” Beamer said in a statement. “During these communications, however, he told me about a few plays that he said Wake Forest might run during the game on Saturday. I did not share this information with anyone, including our student-athletes, anyone on the coaching staff, or my father, nor did we use the information in the game.
“I realize I made a serious mistake in judgment by accepting the information and failing to notify officials at Virginia Tech of the communications. I sincerely apologize to Virginia Tech, Wake Forest, the ACC and the University of Georgia for my mistake. I am truly sorry.”
Athletic director Greg McGarity and Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart also issued statements saying they were disappointed in Beamer’s actions.
The move to fine Beamer for his actions at another program is somewhat unusual in a case like this and the amount of the fine is quite hefty even with the coach’s six-figure salary at the school. Virginia Tech and Louisville, two of the ACC programs involved in receiving information in the case, were fined the same amount as an institution by the ACC office.
Either way, just when you think you’ve heard the end of the WakeyLeaks saga, it pulls you right back in and something says this probably isn’t the end of it either.