Tailback Todd Gurley has been suspended for an alleged violation of NCAA rules, UGA announced this afternoon.
“I’m obviously very disappointed,” said UGA head football coach Mark Richt. “The important thing for our team is to turn all our attention toward preparation for Missouri.”
UGA has not released any additional information, so we can only wonder what the alleged violation is. More than likely, it has something to do with compensation or autographs.
Back in 2010, wide receiver A.J. Green was suspended four games after it was found he sold his 2009 Independence Bowl jersey to an individual the NCAA deemed to be an agent.
At this point, it doesn’t look like Gurley will play Saturday against Missouri unless UGA can investigate the matter quick enough.
With Gurley likely out for Missouri, Georgia will have to lean on Nick Chubb and Brendan Douglas. Sony Michel and Keith Marshall remain out with injuries.
UPDATES
6:10pm ET
Bruce Feldman of FOX Sports reports that “the investigation is looking into whether Gurley accepted extra benefits for his likeness with memorabilia brokers.”
6:15pm ET
Seth Emerson of Macon.com reports that “the investigation involved whether Gurley received money in exchange for his autograph or use of his likeness.”
7:08pm ET
Athens Banner-Herald reports the same and has some quotes from a source in the memorabilia industry.
7:20pm ET
From SI.com:
SI.com has learned that a person confirmed to Georgia’s compliance office this week that he paid Gurley $400 to sign 80 items on campus in Athens, Ga., one day this past spring. The person claimed to have a photo and video of Gurley signing the items, but neither the photo nor the video showed money changing hands. NCAA rules require schools to immediately declare a player ineligible if they discover a violation has been committed. Schools may then apply for the player’s reinstatement. Reached by text message on Thursday afternoon, Georgia athletic director Greg McGarity declined comment.
8:35pm ET
TMZ reports that the alleged video of Gurley signing autographs is being shopped and that Gurley received around $2000.
11:30pm ET
SBNation reports that the autograph dealer has been trying to get Gurley suspended since Sept. 30 when he sent them an email.
View Comments (10)
APRIL FOOLS..... please.....
I will be so glad to see CMR GONE! Hearing the violation was self reported by UGA!! Unreal. No other coach would treat the situation this way. We kicked a kid off the team for stealing a $43 phone charger this week. Florida has a potential rapist playing, fsu has a guy playing who has been investigated for rape and convicted of rape, auburn has a qb who was arrested for marijuana possession. I'm not arguing that these kids are innocent. I'm arguing that Richt alone has UGA playing under a different set of rules than any team in the country. These are 18-22 year old kids who are going to screw up. I wouldn't send my son to play ball for Richt based on the fact that if he makes a mistake which we all have, he will be kicked out of school and have his name dragged through the mud nationally instead of disciplined in house and given a chance to work his way back onto the field.
Sorry C.C. Lesters, it is NOT 04/01/2014, you will have to wait until 2015 for that date. LawDawg007, The Coaches have to draw the line somewhere and I am pretty sure that there are plenty of kids that played at UGA that committed petty mistakes and still played both past & present. I am glad that Coach Richt is a Christian man who tries to weigh each situation individually and punish accordingly.. Don't let this stop you DAWGS on Sat. just concentrate on the game and play your best; Gurley is not the only good player on the team and if you ALL DO YOUR BEST YOU CAN WIN THAT GAME.. Goooo Dawgs; WOOF, WOOf, WOof, Woof, woof!!!
@ lawdawg
The dumbest comment on the internet. OF COURSE kids make mistakes, THEY should be punished! Idiot, you really think carrying a ball so your school can win a GAME is more important than right are wrong?!GTFOH
What exactly is right and wrong? The NCAA will make millions off of Gurley during his playing career, yet they will suspend him for 2,000 dollars. That being said why isn't the person being prosecuted. He/she obviously intentionally went after this kid and in turn made a profit off of him.
Why admit to selling the material, then turn around and report it? Seems sketch and the NCAA's handling of these issues are only punishing the players. is that right?
How about this scenario. Gurley is a 20-40 million dollar man in May of next year at the draft. He knows UGA is going nowhere this year in fact with or without him by the November 1stUGA will not be in the top 25. He is the whole team on offense and therefor a high risk to suffer huge damage. thus goes a ton of money just like the kid RB from South Carolina a few years ago.So....... think about it!!!!
We should just give Auburn's lawyers a call. They will make it right!!!.
@lawdawg, I got you. If the rest of these pups would actually read your entire post, they wouldn't have felt the need to be heard just for the hell of it. Yes, they are young and yes, they will make mistakes BUT if you want to compare those mistakes with those of which other players have made, does the punishment fit the crime? @lemondrop87, do you hear yourself or is Siri writing for you? If you feel that way then let's just get rid of Gurley, send him to a team that will appreciate him since according to you GA isn't doing and isn't going to do anything this season ANYWAY...GET YOUR LIFE! Roll on over to ALABAMA! Again, these are young men playing the game they love to play, and what the school is paying them to play, and let's be real, not just for the school, but for the fans! So Richt, are you really doing this to teach Gurly a "manly" lesson of right or wrong or is he getting the credit and the glory from the fans that you believe you should be getting for having him, so you can have your turn to be RELEVANT before the fans really turn on you?!?!
You do realize the reason he is suspended is that is an NCAA rule, not because of Richt. Anytime something like this is brought forward the NCAA rule is the player has to be immediately suspended until the investigation is done, the school is also allowed to go ahead and ask for the players reinstatement. Everyone jumping all over Mark Richt when this was out of his hands, check the rules people before you go bashing the coach... Example look at Johnny football last year, he was immediately suspended for the same thing, and only wound up missing like half of a game because of course they couldnt prove anything.
Knee grows