AD Confirms Former Tech QB Calvin Booker Named In NCAA Report

ATLANTA -- The unnamed former student athlete accused in a NCAA infractions report is former Yellow Jackets quarterback Calvin Booker, Georgia Tech Athletics Director Dan Radakovich confirmed to Channel 2 sports director Zach Klein.

According to the report, the findings of which were released Thursday, a former student athlete working for an Atlanta-based sports agency was with wide receiver Demaryius Thomas and safety Morgan Buett when $312 in clothing was handed out. Radakovich said Booker is the ”agency employee referred to in the report.

In Georgia Tech’s 53-page response to the NCAA on March 17, the school said on one occasion, Thomas received a $10 black T-shirt, a $32 Atlanta Braves hat, two jackets worth $85 each, a $55 pair of jeans and tennis shoes worth around $45.

On Nov. 19, 2009, the day the NCAA interviewed Thomas, Booker was banned from Tech's campus. The NCAA said Tech had information connecting Booker to a sports agency but didn't follow up on it.

"Nevertheless, the institution apparently thought this information was sufficiently reliable to take action against the former football student-athlete," the NCAA said in the report.

Radakovich told Klein the ban is in place while the investigation continues, ”erring on the side of caution. Tech named RFL Sports as the Atlanta-based agency in its response to the NCAA.

"The university believes that the AGA (Agent, Gambling and Amateurism) staff must have had some information that suggested Booker worked with RFL Sports," the school said.

RFL was operated by (Richard) Kopelman and Terry Bolar, but Bolar told the school in January that he dissolved his relationship with Kopelman because ”he did not want to be involved in an agency that was being investigated by the NCAA," according to Tech.

Kopelman denied employing Booker. He told Klein, ”Calvin Booker has never worked for me.

But a Georgia Tech athletics official told Klein he has seen Kopelman and Booker together numerous times together on Tech’s campus, including at Tech’s 2009 Pro Day. Some schools, such as the University of Georgia, allow agents to attend ”Pro Day, but Georgia Tech does not.

A source close to the school’s football program told Klein, ”Kopelman was at our 2009 Pro Day and telling all these NFL scouts they have to work out Michael Johnson as a tight end. We had to kick him out.

Kopelman represents Johnson, a close friend of Booker. Booker said Johnson introduced him to Kopelman.

”I met Richard through Michael Johnson. Richard was my agent when I tried to get into the league (NFL)," Booker said.

But he denied being a runner for him.

”Richard couldn’t afford me if I was a runner. I don’t run, said Booker.

Tech said they have twice requested to interview Kopelman, but he refused both requests. However, Kopelman’s legal counsel recently reported that Kopelman gave authority for him to tell the university that Booker never worked for him or RFL Sports in any capacity.

Kopelman told Klein he ”heard something a while back from the NCAA and referred them to my lawyer. I never heard anything back.