Gurley sits until November 15th. At least.
Todd Gurley, University of Georgia football student-athlete, must sit a total of four games, or 30 percent of the season, for accepting more than $3,000 in cash from multiple individuals for autographed memorabilia and other items over two years. Gurley, who acknowledged violating NCAA rules, must repay a portion of the money received to a charity of his choice and complete 40 hours of community service as additional conditions for his reinstatement. Gurley will be eligible to play on Nov. 15.
In determining the appropriate reinstatement conditions, a 30 percent withholding condition is consistent with precedent in similar cases.
Makes you wonder why Georgia thinks there are grounds for an appeal. Unless the school simply wants the virtue of saying it did everything it could. Going through the motions like that should give us a ton of comfort as we debate the merits of full disclosure to the NCAA. Again.
Chopped off at the knees by an organization for violating a rule even the NCAA’s president admits needs to be reassessed. Honestly, were I him, I’d seriously question the point of returning this season.
Nick Chubb – strap it up, brother.
Get The Picture 
4 games was not unexpected. Wasn’t sure why everyone thought he’d be back this week.
LikeLike
STFU
LikeLike
Need anger management help?
LikeLike
It is if you thought they only had him on $400. I didn’t realize we were going to go Kojak on his ass and dig up as much as possible. I guess I should have because that’s what we do. No one looks better being bad, or worse being good (I can’t figure which one) than we do at UGA. In a few months Jimbo and Gus will be on the recruiting trail talking about the thugs at UGA. FN classic.
LikeLike
I just assumed everyone would realize it was going to be more than $400. Never made sense that it was a one-time deal.
LikeLike
If you didn’t think we would go all Kojak on our own player, you haven’t been paying attention for the last 14 years.
LikeLike
Precisely…although I would submit that the root of the problem really dates back closer to 17 years, when it became apparent that Vince Dooley would no longer be allowed to guide the athletic department’s culture/policies.
LikeLike
Because we were told it was 400 bucks. I think that impacted our collective expectations. However, Im not complaining. I think keeping a lid on the amount was a solid PR move.
LikeLike
The thing that pisses me off is that even in the federal court system that has some of the most draconian sentencing options possible you get credit for what they call “early acceptance of responsibility”. That is to say if you don’t waste judicial resources and time by putting the government to a trial you get a small reduction in your sentence. BUT, if you are going to get the max sentence no matter what you do, F**K IT, let’s have a trial, what does it matter? (not that this is a criminal matter but the punishment analogy is apt).
LikeLike
Point being this totally incentivizes lying and de-incentivizes truth telling. If you needed positive proof the NCAA is run by morons, this is it. I would have been happy with a 3 game suspension but jeez louise, give some folks some credit for being stand up about this.
LikeLike
Exactly!!
LikeLike
And those who lie about getting paid are hardly punished at all.
LikeLike
Say AMF to Georgia and the NCAA Todd!
LikeLike
Gurley’s best move would be to hire an agent (as Hershel did) and throw the NCAA under the bus. As a huge DAWG fan, I would hate to see it, but Todd should look forward to the NFL.
LikeLike
If I were Todd Gurley’s lawyer I would advise him to leave school and get ready for the NFL combine. I would also (as his spokesman) begin an all out assault on the NCAA in the media and seriously consider filing suit against the NCAA in an O’Bannon type case seeking to outlaw the NCAA rule against athletes signing autographs for money and seeking damages, possibly in a class action.
LikeLike
+1 – I hate it for the team and the fans, but Todd should look out for himself and what appears to be a secure financial future for his family.
LikeLike
Sueing the NCAA works for me. Actually I think UGA should consider it.
The Dawgs have never gotten an even break from the NCAA, the SEC; or the SEC Officiating Crews. Sour Grapes ???.
IF, A Major IF, we beat both UF & KY., I think Gurley should come back for Auburn & a chance at winning the Easr (& the SECC). Lose one &
Gurley should be long gone.
LikeLike
proper analysis 39. If we win the next two he should and will come back because Championships matter to champions. If we lose either and will not be SEC East Champs TG II is gone and should buy is Mom a house.
LikeLike
Meanwhile, in Tallahassee..
LikeLike
Meanwhile at Butts-Mehre…
LikeLike
THIS I’m sure the administrators in the athletic department are all patting themselves on the back for a job well done.
They’ve become confused about the meaning of integrity in a system without any.
LikeLike
Already commented on the previous post, but let me reiterate that the NCAA sucks donkey balls and Gurley should definitely start training for the draft.
Admission gets you four games. Lying gets you back on the field.
LikeLike
Oh, and I expect the NCAA to grant our appeal…the week of the Auburn game.
LikeLike
haha. Wait, that’s not funny. not at all.
LikeLike
40 hours of community service?? Lol! Pound f’n sand!
LikeLike
What possible legal ground do they have for the community service bit? There was no crime committed and they’re not a legal body. Isn’t that a gross overstepping of boundaries on their part?
LikeLike
+1
LikeLike
The only thing I can figure is that Gurley doesn’t have the money to repay the full amount. So the NCAA said “Ok, you only have to pay back part of it, the rest can be made up in community service.” That’s purely speculation on my part though. But if Gurley were able to pay the full amount back, gotta think the community service wouldn’t have come into play.
LikeLike
Why does he have to pay anything back? Is this common practice? Have other players paid back money they received for selling autographs?
LikeLike
I don’t know the legalities of it. I do know this and Emerrett’s comments yesterday and are just rubbing it in. “Look at us! We’re still very much in control.”
LikeLike
He should sign autographs for 40 hours. Maybe the NCAA would reduce his suspension if he agreed to do so and let them sell the autographs and keep the money.
LikeLike
I think signing autographs for free is a terrific idea. But anything with an ncaa logo gets turned away – to hell with ncaa getting one more cent out of TGIII.
LikeLike
He should sign autographs in exchange for a donation to non-profits that support sexual assault victims in Tallahassee & Gainesville. Or Cecil Newton’s church…
LikeLike
As you so aptly point out, full disclosure really gets you nowhere with the NCAA. If he truly wanted to play, the best thing to do is to not say anything. Let the one person (I assume) that has come forward say he paid him $400, and then sit for 2 games. If the NCAA is going to act like it is a law enforcement agency, then the students they “protect” must be advised as if they are talking to a law enforcement agency.
LikeLike
Exactly. It was great of UGA to get Todd an attorney. They should have hired him one before they asked him any questions. What a cluster.
LikeLike
Doing that would have kept Todd on the field but would have cost the Athletic Department more money.
Clearly, a violation of “The Georgia Way”.
Another win for The Reserve®.
LikeLike
I wonder if it stipulates which games he sits. Maybe we could play him Saturday and sit him for the Charleston Southern. Other teams seem to manipulate suspensions and punishments. Couldn’t we?
LikeLike
It does say “or 30%” of the season. That’s something worth considering.
LikeLike
Never help someone get you in trouble.
Just dont do it. Dont answer questions, dont incriminate yourself. Lawyer up.
LikeLike
yep
LikeLike
This came up back when Ogletree and Rambo were suspended for 4 games, that maybe we could pick and choose. Richt eventually reiterated that suspensions are served immediately until they are completed, there’s no option of picking and choosing games, even if we’re the ones who levied the suspension (our policies don’t allow it). And with this being levied by the NCAA, I’m sure there’s no option at all.
LikeLike
How many hours of community service does one receive for rape?
LikeLike
As long as you deny it, zero.
LikeLike
Other than Chubb, what’s up with Sony and Keith? Are they good to go?
LikeLike
The grapevine in Athens says Sony is done for the year. I hope it’s wrong.
LikeLike
Your grapevine is wrong.. unless you meant Keith. Sony is practicing but likely won’t play. Keith might not come back at this point.
LikeLike
Good, I actually told the guy that yesterday,
LikeLike
I dont understand. If he admitted to taking over 3k all along, why did the school think he’d be back Saturday? And why are they now appealing?
Did he take 400 or 3k? If it’s 3k all along then wouldn’t they have expected 4 games? The rules clearly state that. If uga knew it was in excess of 400 all along then they should have expected 4 games and there would be no point in an appeal. AJ Green got 4 games. Something must have changed. Just wish i knew what the hell was going on. Theories?
LikeLike
I gave you my “theory” for two days and this matches it. This is not a surprise. When everyone (me included) was expressing angst for not having heard sooner, my take was that it was for a longer punishment based upon more than receiving $400, but I wanted to hear what it was, no matter the extent (the word I used throughout one post).
None of this is a surprise. The entire affair matches logically with what just happened in the NCAA reply. It’s over.
I propose that we shape our anger toward crushing the idea that a rival asshole can control our fate and the fate of our player in the upcoming game in Jax. I would like all the anger funneled to team play on the field to wipeout the lizards and FU fans’ last hope this season and into the next.
LikeLike
I think it also plays into the reason the scumbag who ratted out Gurley retained an attorney. He knew that UGA was looking into the entire history of Gurley selling his autograph and that it was all coming to light. He had no leverage to keep the University from coming after him by threatening to release more details and lawyered up thinking they would come after him.
I’m still ridiculously disappointed in Gurley for doing this even though I disagree with the rule he violated. If he needed money that bad, why not take an unsubsidized Stafford loan, he’ll be making enough money next year to pay it back with a sliver of one check.
LikeLike
There’s likely a book full of rules regarding loans of any type. Otherwise, players all over the country would be loading up. It would make the current nationwide tab of billions in student loans look tiny.
LikeLike
Guys, I just don’t understand the thinking of “If I were him I’d go ahead to the NFL.” He made a mistake. I’m sure he feels badly about the pinch his teammates are in, and I’d bet he wants to help them win. In 10 days, he’s reinstated and he’s the starting RB for a potentially top-10 team poised to make an unprecedented run. I think we underestimate Todd’s desire to be great. Todd did not have the look of a guy mailing it in. He looked like a guy ready to lead a team to a championship.
UGA fans are angry at the NCAA, and that anger would turn quickly to Todd. I just don’t think that’s in his make-up. I don’t understand how it’s any different than having a bum ankle for 4 games. You don’t mail it in after that. I don’t think that’s anywhere in his mind. That’s not how teammates think, and I think Todd wants to be a good teammate, especially now.
LikeLike
How much money do other people make from a bum ankle?
Ask Lattimore what one play can mean.
LikeLike
That’s just not thinking the way players think. You’re not promised anything anywhere. It’s bad thinking to go that route. He’d be drafted, but not as high. There’s not a chance in the world he goes that route. Not how Todd is wired, and we should be proud of that.
LikeLike
You mean his draft position will be harmed by him being healthy?
LikeLike
His draft position will be harmed by not continueing to run and stay in shape. You can work out so much, but your body needs the practice of your professional career running the ball against competition that’s afforded by staying at UGA.
LikeLike
Why? The draft experts have said there’s enough film of TG3II running over, through, and around people to prove to the NFL that he’s ready now. Nothing is going to change between now and April whether he plays another down or not.
LikeLike
Never having been in the arena, I can’t say I think like a player, but as a non-player, I think the decision would hinge on what you were coming back to play for. We win the next two games, and we’re in the playoff hunt, I sure hope he’d want to come back and be a part of that. But if he elected to go ahead and start training, I can’t say as I’d blame him. Selfishly, as a fan, I hope he’s back for the Auburn game tanned, rested and ready.
LikeLike
And rusty.
LikeLike
The 40 hours might take some of the “wired”ness away. It’s in 2 weeks. I don’t know how he could do this, attend class and practice anyway; therefore, he wouldn’t be academically eligible for the playoffs. As Senator said in his first post on the subject: it’s over.
LikeLike
I wouldn’t blame him one bit if he decided to just start training.
RBs don’t have long careers in the pros generally, and saving the wear and tear of up to potentially 6 more games, with only one being a true gimmie, while finally being able to sign with an agent and not worry about money again? The fact that he hasn’t says a ton about how much he values being a great teammate, but again, I don’t think that many folks would blame him.
LikeLike
Man with how some people bitched about how selfish he was for signing autographs and taking money I can’t imagine how much they would bitch if he just mailed the rest of the season in. That shit storm would be massive.
I tend to agree with sUGArdaddy though, Todd doesn’t seem wired that way. I’d expect him back ready to run over someone at Auburn.
LikeLike
The idea that he should quit the team and start training for the NFL is the dumbest I’ve heard in a while. We still have some very, very large goals at play, especially if we win the next two games without him. Believe it or not, that actually might mean something to Todd.
LikeLike
We who?
LikeLike
75 hours of community service? Sorry, but if I’m him, I’d rather put that into draft prep.
It’s one thing to love the school and your teammates. It’s another to pretend the punishment makes sense.
LikeLike
Initial report I saw was 40 hrs…….is it actually 75? If we win both of the next two games, I could see Todd wanting to come back. If we lose one, that motivation probably goes away. If, heaven forbid, we lose both of them, I’ll be mad if he DOES come back. Nothing really left to play for.
LikeLike
Brain fart on my part. But I wouldn’t do the 40, either.
LikeLike
Ok next question then is…….do the 40 hours have to be completed prior to his reinstatement?
“Gurley, who acknowledged violating NCAA rules, must repay a portion of the money received to a charity of his choice and complete 40 hours of community service as additional conditions for his reinstatement. Gurley will be eligible to play on Nov. 15.”
If that has to be completed between now and the AU game, really more likely at least a couple of days before the AU game so the NCAA has time to verify, that’s a pretty small window of time given the schedule of the players during the season.
LikeLike
I think lobbying on behalf of the players union should count for community service.
LikeLike
If it’s not, he should put it off until after the final game, then declare he’s going pro.
LikeLike
Exactly, and the NCAA knows that too, which is why I’m worried he has to get it all done prior to reinstatement. That’s not a lot of time.
LikeLike
40 hours of community service is difficult to get done with a regular 9:00-to-5:00 job and a generous deadline in which to complete it (trust me on this). For a college football player to do 40 hours within 17 days would absolutely require him to miss either class or practice…and/or do at least some of the community service work on Saturdays.
LikeLike
I’m surprised Senator. All of you are acting like “communuty service is to join the weekend crew thrown in jail for whatever and are out picking up trash.
Todd Gurley still has that presence with kids and organizations such that he could use that community service, channeled by umbrella community needs, to make a difference in many lives in this unique circumstance.
At this point, cynicism should be discouraged. Can’t believe you took that road, Bluto.
LikeLike
Why should Gurley prop up a system even Emmert says should be changed? Talk about cynicism…
LikeLike
He should by all means do all the community service that he wants. He should do exactly 0 hours of it as punishment.
LikeLike
This is exactly right. The NCAA just dramatically changed my POV on this whole situation with that insulting community service nonsense. It’s one thing if a voluntary “amateur” organization wants to punish a member in the context of that organization’s activities – e.g., you can’t come to meetings or whatever.
It’s quite another thing to put yourself in the position of the state and demand “penance” for an infraction, not a crime.
I hate to say it, but solely on the basis of the community service, Gurley needs to tell them to eff off. Especially in light of the fact that they let cheaters, sex offenders, etc go unpunished and masquerade as upstanding student athletes.
Makes me sick.
LikeLike
Only come back if the Dawgs win the next two. then you have some potential championships to play for. Lose either one and get ready for the NFL.
LikeLike
Does he have to complete community service before playing again? If not, drag feet until season over, then AMF.
LikeLike
Like he would actually even have to do a minute of community service. Do you know how easy it will be to get someone to sign a piece of paper saying he did it, especially if you’re Todd Gurley and everyone knows this is bogus anyways? Yeah it’s complete bullshit but maybe, just maybe, the kid cares enough to want to leave with some rings. I promise it’s not as far-fetched as it’s being made to be.
LikeLike
No, you are being selfish for wanting him to come back and play in effort to help your favorite team win; his health and NFL draft stock be dammed. NFL GM’s have publicly stated that his draft stock has actually risen due to the lack of wear and tear and given his chances of getting hurt are practically zero. Not sure if you’re aware, but the shelf life of an NFL RB is insanely short…something like 2.5 years on average.
LikeLike
Reporting of what NFL GMs are thinking or doing with their drafts and pretty much anything about a player’s draft stock often turns out to be complete BS. Just ask Johnny Football.
Think that NFL GMs won’t start asking about how much the guy loves football? How dedicated he really is to his team and teammates? What’s going to happen when we give him his money?
LikeLike
You mean like they all said on the record about Clowney “taking plays off” his junior season? Look at how much that hurt his draft stock…
LikeLike
Slam dunk.
LikeLike
“NFL GM’s have publicly stated that his draft stock has actually risen due to the lack of wear and tear”
This is a bold statement to make without providing a link
LikeLike
Hear, hear!
LikeLike
Senator linked it a few weeks ago – but let’s face it, his draft stock isn’t probably moving a lot regardless of what he chooses. And frankly, exactly where he’s drafted is a bit of a crap shoot depending on the teams’ needs and is perhaps a secondary concern for him right now anyway.
I am sick about this ruling, less for the Dawgs than for Gurley. The community service bit makes him out to be a criminal, and that’s so many kinds of wrong.
LikeLike
This has absolutely nothing to do with me. This is about Todd possibly wanting to leave with one, maybe two, rings on his fingers. Why is that so hard to understand?
LikeLike
I disagree. Imagine buying a car worth the same amount as your entire future income. Then imagine you only put liability coverage on the thing. Would you drive it up to Athens for the Auburn game? Remember to drive it really hard because “we have a lot of big goals” here.
LikeLike
Looking for a silver lining here. As much as this feels like a body blow, in the back of my head I can’t shake the idea that this forces our coaches and players to be aggressive and keep playing the way we have the last couple of weeks.
I would come back if I was Gurley either. There is no financial upside for him there – only a huge risk.
LikeLike
LikeLike
Unbelievable…. Are Marshall and Michel seriously not ready until Kentucky? We need someone with speed to back Chubb up. If they were healthy the story means nothing to me but more laughs at how behind the times the NCAA is. BC of our depth issue this sucks. Haters is always a brutal game. At least we have another reason to play with “a chip on our shoulder”…. Hahahaha.
F*ck me
LikeLike
If we knew it was $3k why in the hell did we move JJ Green back to CB?
LikeLike
Because we were told it was two games and then ….
LikeLike
You’d think by now that UGA would have figured out enforcing the most indefensible of NCAA rules actually could cost them a lot more money (mainly a lesser bowl) than whatever memorabilia sales to which Butts-Mehre feels entitled.
The NCAA is wretched, but I’m just as angry at UGA for throwing its players under the bus – piss tests after spring break, acceding to Jimmy Williamson’s reign of (t)error, the Green and Gurley sagas. All this petty shit that isn’t even an issue elsewhere.
LikeLike
+1,000,000
LikeLike
Well put. Best post I’ve seen on these issues: concise, passionate, and — sadly — 100% accurate.
LikeLike
+1M – so true, the way UGA handled this situation is a complete clusterfuck and proves the old adage “no good dead goes unpunished”
LikeLike
Totally agree. It’s not like our athletic department doesn’t have its own previous experience to understand that cooperating with the NCAA will get you nothing. It only gives an organization that a) doesn’t have subpoena power evidence and b) desperately needs to look “tough on crime” the ability to make an example of you.
What if you UGA says, “Screw you, we are playing him. You can’t drop heavier punishment on us when you have yet to do anything about Auburn / UNC / FSU / Miami / etc. Call us when you can truly say that you aren’t singling us out for punishment because we are actually playing by the rules.”
LikeLike
To follow up on my earlier post, I don’t view UGA as a hapless victim of the NCAA, but as a hapless accomplice. UGA is acting as the leading advocate of the NCAA’s overriding mission: monopolizing athletic revenues. As several people have pointed out over the past few weeks, the NCAA really can’t do anything unless a university does it for them. Overzealous, bureaucratic Dudley Do Rightism simply supports the overarching institutional goal of complete control of its “property.”
Despite the fact they’re biting off their nose to spite their face, to the university and the NCAA, to give an inch on the Gurley case would mean giving up everything. Losing a plum bowl assignment is not something the UGA administration wants, but it will do so if it thinks it can continue to monopolize revenue over the long term. And, yes, they’re fighting a losing battle, but they are still fighting.
LikeLike
I understand your sentiment and completely agree that the university is not a victim here. But it seems like they have already done what they wanted to do with regards to monopoly with sitting him for 2 games. Why accept 4 at this point?
Also, with the weight of the legal system and public opinion (and now even Emmert saying that these rules need to be reevaluated) showing that these rules are going out the door, why take the PR and short term monetary hit for something that isn’t going to have any long term benefits? Seems really idiotic to me.
LikeLike
I agree. This is where UGA’s zeal to enforce NCAA rules comes around to bite it in the butt. Well, mostly the players’ and fans’ butts.
LikeLike
So, where is the incentive to a player to tell the truth? The 40 hours community service is further rubbing TG’s nose in the dirt. Moreover, kid needs money so he sells autographs and to be eligible again he needs to pay money to a charity within 18 days. Guess he will have to go the Auburn QB route and steal the restitution.
Serious question, not rhetorical. Has any player other than A. J. Green and Todd Gurley been suspended for selling memorabilia?
LikeLike
Uh… a bunch of guys at Ohio State are waving hello. Covering it up got their coach fired as well.
LikeLike
Manziel missed a half a game.
LikeLike
And Newton had to sit out a practice or two.
LikeLike
Retroactively, as if it didn’t happen.
LikeLike
Actually, Newton sat out practice ONE DAY for his father shopping him to Missy State for $180K. He signed with Auburn when Missy State didn’t come forth with the $$ with at least an implication that money was paid by Auburn via deposits into the account of the Church where his father was pastor/owner. The SEC and NCAA buried their heads in the sand and basically conducted no investigation. End of case. But then, Auburn didn’t browbeat Newton into confessing and then allowed him to be thrown under the bus by the NCAA like Georgia did with Gurley.
LikeLike
“The SEC and NCAA buried their heads in the sand and basically conducted no investigation.”
That’s an interesting history you got there.
The reality is the NCAA investigated AU for over a year and found nothing.
http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/7093495/ncaa-finds-no-major-violations-auburn-regarding-cam-newton
You guys just need a better class of bagman.
LikeLike
Our biggest sin was not having a former (and current) athletic department employee sitting in the NCAA Enforcement Director chair.
But don’t let that get in the way of believing your fairy tale.
LikeLike
The fairy tale where nothing happened?
You need a better class of cheater.
LikeLike
Maybe gurley admitted to taking 400 initially then was questioned by the ncaa about seperate past transgressions on monday, then owned up to those as well…
Even if that’s what happened, I still don’t understand the appeal. 700+ equals 30% of season. It’s very clear. UGA clearly thought he had a chance to play this saturday. Why?
LikeLike
To keep angry bloggers at bay.
LikeLike
I saw one commenter claim there was a secret deal for a 2-game suspension since we were such good boys.
LikeLike
That just goes to show you can never trust a municipal figurehead but at least he was half right.
LikeLike
Not to mention he was/is a half-wit, too. 🙂
LikeLike
DawgFaithful, maybe it was a ploy by the admin to whistle thru the graveyard, make the NCAA think benevolently, cross their fingers that public angst would influence the NCAA’s decision and the 2-game sit would be enough. That makes sense to me. The appeal will work toward each part of the punishment, not just playing time.
Folks, don’t get me wrong. We all hurt together for our Alma Mater, but not facing what has come down will hurt us all in the end. Who wants to blog-fight over an opinion of what someone else’s career move decision should be? Why separate him from our team and mind since the punishment is well known and befits the rules observance we have done thus far? Pull your hair out, put ashes all over your body and get the hell over it quick. While we debate attitude, the rest of the SEC is still hunting our tail and trying to put this team out of business.
Is it so hard to divert your anger to the upcoming game, to understand a rival game is coming up and with a team that should be beaten and crammed into the stadium dirt because one of their fans has succeeded to knock our best player out of competition?
I’ll guarantee you that I know some FU fans who have nothing to say about this matter and are hoping our team isn’t aroused to the point that punishment will be meted out on the field. It’s time now to quit twisting our hat in our hand and get friggin’ angry about this game.
LikeLike
I mean, for Gator fans it’s lose-lose. Either an angry, motivated UGA team whips them, or they squeak by based on D, and Foley uses the upset win as justification for keeping Muschamp around.
LikeLike
The hypocrisy of allowing players to play while they have more autographed stuff out there is mind blowing. I guess we should count ourselves “lucky” they did not decide to vacate our wins since he did it last year too. That was sarcasm.
LikeLike
Not really. Penalty could have been much worse. Our integrity and response is likely the only thing that prevented that.
~~~
LikeLike
$5 says Texas A&M and Auburn’s ADs are having a good laugh at Greg McGarity today.
LikeLike
I’m picturing it looking something like this:
LikeLike
He’s pretty terrible, so they were probably laughing at him before today too.
LikeLike
First job for Gurley’s agent next week– Land a nice 6 figure contract with Bic Pens. Seriously– drop out, hire agent, prep for draft while resting hand to sign $30+ million dollar contract next summer. It would be foolish to put so much on the line now.
LikeLike
What kind of alum are you?
Everybody – School First!
LikeLike
NFL GM’s are basically imploring him to sit out to maintain/elevate his draft stock. Just based on that alone, he’d be an idiot to return.
LikeLike
LikeLike
ESPN has reported that the NFL has considered Gurley’s suspension to be a positive development. I’m sure that we would hear that kind of narrative around the draft. But it wouldn’t be NFL people pushing it.
LikeLike
LikeLike
I’m a greedy, selfish bastard. I want the fact that I existed to mean something.
– Harry Chapin
LikeLike
Harry had a tad more money than Gurley.
LikeLike
Ya can’t take it with you.
One report quotes his widow saying soon after his death — “only with slight exaggeration” — that “Harry was supporting 17 relatives, 14 associations, seven foundations and 82 charities. Harry wasn’t interested in saving money. He always said, ‘Money is for people,’ so he gave it away.” Despite his success as a musician, he left little money and it was difficult to maintain the causes for which he raised more than $3 million in the last six years of his life
LikeLike
He couldn’t take it with him?
LikeLike
Todd Gurley can leave just as John Denver did, but Todd will have the foresight to know he is not coming back.
Whatever his decision he makes, I stand behind him.
LikeLike
*
Oh if a man tried
To take his time on Earth
And prove before he died
What one man’s life could be worth
I wonder what would happen
to this world
-Harry Chapin
LikeLike
We’ll learn later this week: The NCAA was ready to hand down the 2 game suspension and McGarity successfully lobbied them up to 4 games.
LikeLike
…and community service. Our a.d. is a shrewd negotiator.
LikeLike
I talked him up from $400 to well over $3,000 and asked him to match it with a private donation. He gave me community service instead.
Wait…
LikeLike
But at least we can pretend that the Jan Kemp, Jim Harrick, and red panties incidents never happened, right? I mean throwing Gurley under the bus gives us the moral high ground, right?
LikeLike
Maybe we did it to save the swim team
LikeLike
You joke, but McG swapping and extra two games susp. for TG to get back Bauerle isn’t nearly as far fetched as it should be…
LikeLike
Yes. The legal and administrative costs were approaching the four-figure range on Jack’s case. We had to do something.
LikeLike
Hire an agent and start preparing for the draft. No reason to risk injury for 4 more games.
LikeLike
So I have a question: What’s the biggest NCAA suspension handed down in the past 5 years? I’m biased, but I don’t recall seeing many 4 game suspensions. Now UGA has two for people who sold their own shit.
How the NCAA can let this juxtaposition against what’s going on at FSY stand is beyond me. The only rational explanation is they prefer to put their heads in the sand, and won’t do anything unless a sacrifice is presented to the alter, like we did.
If anyone knows where I could find this info, I’d be grateful.
LikeLike
Really they allowed the Ohio State players to play in their bowl game. I don’t understand their logic.
LikeLike
Because it was important for a sweater-vest Tressel to beat a Hog-riding Petrino
LikeLike
They basically cut the Okie at WR for the whole season…well, right after he scorched us.
LikeLike
Playing by the rules especially with NCAA, UGAAA, and McGarity does not cut it. Gurley should just walk away. Let UGA gets back its loss revenue by squeezing Bryan Allen dry to the cleaners. LOL
LikeLike
gets = get
LikeLike
Serious Question. If boosters can pay for Nick Saban’s mortgage and property taxes, can we find a way to pay for Todd Gurley’s donation?
LikeLike
non-legal expert opinion here: one’s a player, one’s a coach. totally different situations.
LikeLike
Right. The only people the NCAA forbids profiting from their work is the players.
LikeLike
What if I pay Reverend Drew $1,500 to officiate at a wedding. He could then loan the money to Todd for 6 months or so.
LikeLike
Senator – as a fan of gallows humor, this is rich. Two different approaches to player eligibility will collide 11/15. I would like to believe that karma would weigh in and provide the UGA faithful a reward for doing the right thing, but history – more importantly, UGA history would say that we’ll not come out on top.
LikeLike
Isn’t he also on the bowling team? Maybe serve the suspension there… Just sayin’…
LikeLike
Footballers are wired to play. That’s why the sport has such a problem with concussions. Just because that is how they are wired, it doesn’t mean that playing is in their best interest. Part of the solution to concussions is protecting the players from themselves. The same applies here. Why risk your future to make another dime for this corrupt organization? Playing for pride is for 12 year-olds.
I appreciate that he has pride and loves this team, but someone needs to get in his ear and tell him to protect himself and put his future above playing out the string this year. There are other players who can handle it. He should move on and prepare himself for an NFL career. He probably won’t, but he should.
LikeLike
So assuming Georgia wins the next two games, why on earth would he not want to come back and play for an SEC and potentially national title?
LikeLike
And if he breaks a leg that costs him millions, what do you say then?
LikeLike
With that logic, why play at all? After he shredded Clemson, he should have feigned injury and walked away.
LikeLike
maybe not feign injury as that would hurt his draft stock, but insert “hire an agent” instead
LikeLike
Why play at all this season? Why not just demonstrate your ability for a season and then work out for two years? Why even play football at all? After all, there’s the risk of concussions, early onset of dementia, broken necks, death from an undiagnosed heart problem, etc.
LikeLike
What’s so funny about this is that if the NCAA had gotten off its ass and passed full COA rules a couple of years ago as so many solemnly promised, you wouldn’t be asking these questions.
LikeLike
Using that logic, he should have just sat out the whole season, like that writer said about Clowney last year.
LikeLike
I’m not saying that. There’s a big difference between playing out your junior year in its entirety and three games – one of which is against Charleston Southern.
Also, nobody was asking him to prop up enforcement of an archaic rule at the beginning of the season. Now they are. Why is it his responsibility to help the NCAA at this point?
LikeLike
UGA is paying for an insurance policy against that very risk.
LikeLike
The payouts are merely a portion of his future earning potential. Only $5M if an injury ends his career. That’s not even the amount he’d get for his first contract, much less the total he could earn over the course of his career. If he has a career-ending injury, I imagine there would be pretty high medical expenses associated with it. The insurance would not come anywhere close to making him whole. It’s better than nothing, but don’t buy into the idea that he has nothing to lose.
LikeLike
Senator, Gurley has already expressed his interest in returning to the team. It is possible that has changed with an additional two games. However, without making this a “you haven’t been in the arena” comment, I think you are greatly underestimating Gurley’s commitment to his team.
LikeLike
I’m not. I’m not predicting what he’ll do. I’m saying what I’d do were I in his shoes.
LikeLike
Don’t sell yourself so short.
LikeLike
you think he’s a tremendous slouch?
LikeLike
I’ve argued ad nauseum here that one (UGA, Gurley indirectly) should abide by the rules of a voluntary organization (NCAA) they belong to.
However, when affiliation with an organization ceases to benefit you, and when it’s not a charitable organization with a mission you believe in, and when it may cost you dearly and out of all proportion to the service it provides (entertainment) the community, and when it has insulted you with a community service penalty analogous to punishment for a criminal act (which you did not commit)…
…screw it.
Toddspeed, Gurley.
I wish Georgia would quit the NCAA in February. I mean it.
LikeLike
Better yet, I wish the SEC and the other 4 major conferences would withdraw from the NCAA and form their own organization–call it the American Collegiate Athletic Association. Turn the NCAA into another NAIA.
LikeLike
Yep, but they want the $$$$$ from March Madness. That’s the only thing that keeps the Power 5 under the governance of the most corrupt organization in American sports.
LikeLike
Senator, in answer to your question about a broken leg, may I remind you that he is insured?
LikeLike
That’s right. If he breaks a leg hes insured. And it’s not just 3 games. It’s at least 4 and potentially 7 total. If we beat UF and UK, he’ll definitely want to come back and compete. Thats ultimately why players play.
LikeLike
Will he go higher in the draft if he plays in an SEC championship game? Will he get a bigger signing bonus for a playoff appearance? No. He is risking his financial future and getting only pride in return. That is not a good business decision. If he blows out his knee, but wins a title, who is going to chip in to pay the loss of his future NFL earnings? Nobody. He will be left to fend for himself. UGA fans may idolize him forever, but they won’t pay his mortgage for the rest of his life or take care of his family. Pride is for 12 year-olds.
This is a business where millions of dollars are at stake. I watched the 30 for 30 on The Boz last night. It was gripping as most 30 for 30’s have been. But it completely reiterated the idea that it can all end suddenly. If he had a shot at the Heisman, then that’s something else because you are immortalized nationally. But, that is gone. If you are a guy that has locked up a first round status, and you play a position with the shortest shelf life, why would you risk it?
LikeLike
I will preface this by noting that I have no idea what motivates Todd Gurley. However, it seems to me he would be playing for joy. For the experience of accomplishing something with his friends and teammates. Everything doesn’t come down to dollars and cents.
LikeLike
Playing for joy is great. That’s why I play golf. That’s why some people play church league softball. But you won’t find many MLB players risking their careers to play softball. And you’re suggesting that Gurley risk his pro career for the joy of entertaining us and lending credibility to Emmert’s reign. He might do it. But it wouldn’t be smart.
LikeLike
No, I’m not suggesting that he play for anyone but himself and perhaps his teammates. I’m offering an explanation of why he would want to.
LikeLike
um, there’s a major difference between church league softball and SEC football. They’re not even in the same ballpark.
LikeLike
most professional athletes contracts specifically prohibit them from playing any sport other than their profession,prohibit pick-up basketball,motorcycle riding(Ron Gant)
If I was choosing a player to draft I want a team player and not a “me first” kind of guy. If he does not come back for these teammates I doubt he stands up for his professional ones. So taking the me first route as opposed to the team first route actually could cost him in the draft. Lower draft pick equals smaller bonus, If we’re in the hunt for the SEC he plays ,if we’re not he sits,IMHO
LikeLike
If that’s the case, maybe he’ll come back for his senior season.
LikeLike
Sure, because it’s the same thing.
LikeLike
That’s what everyone is telling me in this comment thread. 😉
LikeLike
Senator, this is the time to rally the troops, not blow cynicism up everyone’s ass.
LikeLike
Eh, even if the majority opinion became ‘gurley should walk’, doesn’t it make his return all the more beautiful? And if he does walk: good, he has every right. It’s a win-win.
LikeLike
“If he blows out his knee, but wins a title, who is going to chip in to pay the loss of his future NFL earnings?”
Didn’t I read on here a few days ago that UGA has paid the premium on an insurance policy that will pay him fairly handsomely if that happens?
LikeLike
It pays $5 mil if an injury ends his career. It pays $2.5 mil if he “slips in the draft” due to an injury.
LikeLike
If he quits now, can UGA get part of that premium refunded? You can bet McGarity’s cheap ass will ask.
LikeLike
Hmmm. Now that you mention it…
LikeLike
Bryan Allen can potentially be a national hero (or a goat) down there in Florida come Saturday. LOL
LikeLike
If he saves Muschamp’s job, they will hate him more than we do.
LikeLike
Teams will say to recruits, UGA does protect their athletes from NCAA, they bury them together.
LikeLike
If I’m Gurley. I quit school today, get an agent, call a press conference wherein I state my intention to declare for the draft, put the NCAA on notice that any further proceeds gained from my name/likeness from this moment forward will guarantee a lawsuit, and encourage all other draft eligible althletes to consider doing the same in protest of the hypocrisy and injustice perpetrated by the NCAA.
LikeLike
+$100,000,000.00 of future earnings.
LikeLike
I’ve had it with the UGAAA. There is a point at which an organization is just too damn stupid to exist. After every case in which a school actually defended its players the NCAA folded. Hell Miami told them they would sue the hell out of them. UGA not only sent Todd to the executioner, they furnished the rope. You know when the dealer made the accusation, the UGAA did not just say OK it’s $400.00 lets report that. No they called Todd in and after the it will be better if you tell the truth BS they got him to do the right thing for the UGAA. The kid came clean. The damn UGAA shold be ashamed. The press is condemning Jimbo by the press doesn’t pay Jimbo. Jimbo asked Winston and Winston lied at which point Jimbo DGAS. He now comes off as a true players coach and the school is all in with him. Great now win the 2014 Good Sportsman Award but are really the laughing stock of the whole college sports community.
I hope I live to see the day that the NCAA is gone but it’s going to be the lawyers who have to kill it. The damn schools are part of the problem, not the solution.
Thanks Todd for giving us you time and talent but for heaven sake don’t put yourself at risk for Georgia, the fans or the damn college football system that is so corrupt.
LikeLike
Teach UGAAA some lesson.
LikeLike
Another spot-on post. I agree with everything you say here.
LikeLike
“it’s going to be the lawyers who have to kill it.”
In related news, Steve Patterson grew paranoid and Mark Emmert’s feeling alright
LikeLike
“Jimbo asked Winston and Winston lied at which point Jimbo…”
No, I don’t think you have that straight. Why would Jimbo, or CMR for that matter, call a player in and ask that question. What should happen is that a coach should counsel a student to seek counsel before answering any questions, then the coach sits it out and says the Compliance Dept. has this one. Investigating this isn’t my job and until I hear from them that my player has done something wrong, then he is eligible. CMR called Gurley in and asks for the truth. CMR gets the truth and then has too much integrity to not pass on what TG has “confessed”. UGAAA doesn’t act wisely in the players or their own best interest.
LikeLike
NCAA’s message to the youth of America: “See kids? Never do the right thing. Never come clean. You are much better off lying.”
LikeLike
Ignorance is bliss.
LikeLike
NCAA’s message to Football Programs across America: “See what we did with Georgia again? Suckers. Never lay down and fully cooperate with the NCAA. You’re much better circling the wagons and telling us to fu$%k off”
LikeLike
Or else you’ll get a paddling and then be sent to bed without any pudding
LikeLike
Off topic…but kind of on it. Are you breaking visitor records today Senator?
LikeLike
This could be used as a battle cry for the team (anger against the NCAA) and destroy everybody else they play.
LikeLike
Add him to both the swimming and the cross country rosters. Let him serve his two games Friday before the Florida game.
LikeLike
That’s what we get for having a super honest Coach and an Athletic department that remain archaic and naive.
LikeLike
People need to start taking and assigning personal responsibility. Todd Gurley caused all this. He is the one I’m pissed at. He broke the rules, he knew the rules, knew the repercussions, etc…. It doesn’t matter what the rule is and if you think it is just or not. If you want to play college football, this is what you have to do. If you don’t, you are being selfish and you are putting your team at risk. It doesn’t matter what the rule is. And if its true that he broke the rule repeatedly, over a prolonged period of time, I’m even more disappointed in him. I’m also a little mad about the fact that this ruling seems to come as a surprise to UGA, considering they are appealing. But thats beside the point. And the merits of the rule in question is an entirely different matter.
LikeLike
You are 100% percent right, that’s the reason why I’m one of the few ones here already encouraging him to leave and declare for NFL, I think he may have figured it or someone has whispered such to him.
LikeLike
Proof that some people are sheep at heart and will defend the shepherd at all costs. It doesn’t matter that the NCAA is a corrupt organization enforcing illegal rules. We can’t let these kids live their own lives.
LikeLike
LikeLike
So you think all college players should just start selling their autographs to anyone who will buy them, and then not get to play another down of college football????
LikeLike
Hey, if they all did it, there’s no way the NCAA could suspend all of them.
It’s like how the huge number of speakeasies helped get rid of prohibition. (But to hear some here, we should have just never tried to drink during that period, because “rules are rules, no matter how dumb they are.”)
LikeLike
And you think they are not all already doing it? L. O. L.
LikeLike
Yes, I think all college players should sell their autographs to whomever wants to buy them. And I think the NCAA should follow the law and allow them to do it.
And I think anyone who sees a stupid, illegal rule and then complains about the people who fail to abide by it, rather than the corrupt bureaucrats who enforce it, should shut the hell up.
LikeLike
WAKE UP, SHEEPLE!
LikeLike
So if you don’t think its a just rule, you are free to break it? And you shouldn’t get punished for it?
LikeLike
I was being sarcastic.
LikeLike
Hell, Studawg, most people here can’t see that they are putting one player ahead of the team and the school. Look out for the 3rd guy on your left. He has a pitchfork behind his back. The guy next to him has a big hemp rope with a noose in it. The NCAA, an organization created and fostered by the Div-1 schools to oversee all rules created by the schools, is the villain .
Shoot the friggin’ messenger! Quick! Chees! – where has your logic gone, folks?
LikeLike
Studawg, did you happen to speed on the way to work this monring? Or did your rigidly obey the limit, all the way to work?
LikeLike
The difference in speeding and signing autographs:
(a) there is an unwritten rule in our society that says it’s okay to speed a little bit, and the cops are complicit with that rule, and 99% of society has agreed to it; this is not the case with signing autographs for money.
(b) when you speed and get caught, you are the only person who has to pay the fine; it doesn’t affect anyone at your church, or at the Rotary, or at work, or dramatically affect the future of anyone in your house.
(c) when a mature person speeds and gets caught, does he scream and pitch a fit and go to court and talk about how unfair the cop was, and how this shouldn’t happen to him, how many other speeders don’t get caught, etc, etc, or does he pay the ticket and go about his business?
Gurley agreed to be a cfb player, he knew the rule, and he broke it. I don’t think he should be in this (NCAA) organization any more because it’s no longer useful to him, and I also think the community service bit is total garbage over-reach into his off-the-field life, and I also think the NCAA is upside down in terms of consistent investigation and proportional application of the rules, and I think they’re sending a lousy message with this ruling. But Studawg is basically correct.
LikeLike
(a) This is the best of your points, although I think it’s fair to say 99% of society assumes and agrees that college football players are being compensated under the table somehow, whether it’s a $100 handshake, buying game used gear, or buying autographs. The overwhelming public reaction is that Gurley is getting screwed.
(b) If I speed on my way to a career changing sales presentation, and I am pulled over and detained, which causes me to miss the presentation, would that affect my company obtaining an account? And my family income? Quite possibly, yes? So, I should never speed on the way to a presentation. The team did not have to pay a fine, but they suffer the consequences (or pick up the slack like they have), just like my “team” at work and at home would if I missed a presentation, particularly if I was given an extreme punishment, like…
(c) When a mature person gets pulled over, he pays the fine. He doesn’t go to jail (normally). Todd Gurley has paid his fine. 2 games. 4 games is like putting him in jail. I get I’m speaking in relative terms, but so to are you. My point is he broke an innocent rule and should pay an innocent fine. For a “crime” that the “law” says needs to be revisited and has been struck down in an actual court of law.
I agree with most of what you say in the last paragraph except I think he comes back to play later on.
I believe he should have been punished, but I believe the punishment is extreme relative to the nature of his “crime” and relative to the public sentiment and reaction. If you went to jail for speeding, the public sentiment would be that you got screwed by an overzealous enforcer for a generally agreed upon gray area. If Gurley got popped for signing autographs and lost everything he had worked for, the public sentiment would be (and is) that he was getting screwed by an overzealous enforcer for a generally agreed upon gray area. Even opposing fans are sick over his suspension.
LikeLike
A nice, thoughtful reply, Puffdawg!
But the point people are usually trying to make by comparing Gurley’s infraction with speeding is that it’s a law we all break. However, while we all “speed”, we tend to only speed within a socially acceptable range of the posted limit + 10mph or less. And so we’re not violating the social contract, and so we almost never get tickets for this kind of speeding.
In fact, we don’t condone speeding in a school zone, or speeding 30 mph over the limit, or other extremes.
Your point about (b) above suggests in your scenario you were speeding beyond the usual speeding allowed by the “social contract” – got the attention of a cop for being faster than the other cars on the road – and so being outside the acceptable norm you must shoulder all the blame for missing the meeting because you left your house too late.
(c) You’ll have to show me where others who were caught red handed like this received lesser suspensions. I certainly wouldn’t doubt it, though – the Alabama memorabilia shop comes to mind. I certainly haven’t heard that they’re investigating Winston’s sequential signings, so I do agree they’re wildly uneven in their enforcement.
I somewhat agree with the last paragraph, but I think the public frustration is an emotional one because Gurley’s a good kid and fun to watch and makes our favorite sport a lot more fun, and we think the rule’s about to change. I don’t see how signing things is a gray area. A lot of people get away with a lot of things for which the NCAA would cite them or a cop would arrest them.
A flourishing underground economy does not equate to the same kind of ambivalent enforcement the cop who lets hundreds of “5mph speeders” pass by his radar gun every day.
LikeLike
And I suppose you would support a policeman giving you a ticket for going 56mph in a 55 zone? It’s the law, right?
LikeLike
No, but there’s a level of flexibility to speeding that doesn’t exist with the rule Gurley violated. The rule doesn’t state you can accept $50 for your signature but no more. It’s either/or. You either accepted money or you didn’t. A better analogy would be a policeman giving me a ticket for making a left turn on red at 3:00 am when there’s nobody else on the road. And while I would be irritated that I was caught, I would certainly deserve the ticket.
LikeLike
You wouldn’t deserve the ticket. The point of traffic laws is supposed to be safety, not revenue generation for the state. If nobody else is on the road, then you wouldn’t be endangering anyone if you drove 100 mph through a school zone in the wrong lane. But if a cop more concerned with revenue than safety gave you a ticket for violating the letter, but not the spirit, of the law, at least the spirit of the law is acceptable.
The NCAA doesn’t even have an acceptable spirit of the law. The rule says that college athletes should be the only people in our society who can’t profit from their own name and likeness. There’s nobody who supports that concept. And many former players have stated that everybody violates the rule. And other players have been implicated for breaking the rule with little or no penalty. But Gurley gets caught and now some argue that a severe punishment for violating an immoral rule is fair.
LikeLike
Yes, I would deserve the ticket for knowingly violating a duly enacted law. That the cop may use his discretion and let me off with a warning or simply look the other way does not mean I didn’t deserve the ticket. As for Gurley’s punishment, it is the penalty called for in the language of the rule. Others violate it with impunity because there is no proof. There clearly is in the Gurley case. I don’t agree with anyone saying that the punishment should be more severe than it is, but the idea that two games was sufficient punishment when the rule clearly states it should be four is nonsense. Your opinion on the morality of the rule is irrelevant.
LikeLike
“One has not only a legal but a moral responsibility to obey just laws. Conversely, one has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws.”
LikeLike
Colonist 1: “Man, these taxes are a back breaker. I can barely afford to pay them and feed my family.”
Colonist 2: “Yea, but those are the rules. Rules are rules. Can’t break them, regardless of any context surrounding them. God save the King.”
LikeLike
Colonist #3: “Let’s rebel against the crown.” Colonist #4 (Colonist Greg McGarity): “Arrest that man! He confessed to me that he wants to overthrow the crown!”
LikeLike
King violated unjust laws,
mandatory and inescapable for all citizens,
at his own expense,
to benefit others,
with society-wide benefits positively disproportionate to the suffering he would endure
Gurley violated an unjust rule,
of a voluntary (but admittedly monopolistic), escapable organizaion,
at the expense of himself and many, many others,
to benefit himself primarily,
with certain negative repercussions for those affiliated with UGA,
negatively disproportionate to the gain he would receive.
LikeLike
While it’s inartful to compare Gurley to civil rights leaders, it’s equally inartful to excuse unjust rules because the rules exist in a voluntary organization. As you admit, the NCAA is the only game in town. So, Gurley doesn’t have the option of either being a millionaire NFL player, or being a millionaire software tycoon.
To suggest that Gurley choose between abiding by unjust rules or go back home and make the best of his prospects in Tarboro is akin to saying that he should eat cake.
LikeLike
plagiarized from Gandhi or at least paraphrased / I tend go go with Thoreau.
LikeLike
I agree that it is Gurleys fault and I would be 100% behind CMR if he didn’t give Gurley the chance to return. I love watching the guy play and I hate that we have lost him for this long, but rules are rules. You don’t have agree with the rule for it to be a rule. Gurley thank you for the things that you did and you were a blast to watch, but you are no longer a part of this team. This should be the stance taken.
Its sad to me to see the people saying to keep your mouth shut about things that you have done wrong. We are not FSU or AU. If thats how they want to handle things then they are failing as they succeed. College is a very important time in these guys lives and I for one am glad to see them being shown the right way to handle things. What can Gurley take from this…You do something wrong a penalty comes along with it.
I am as big of a Georgia fan as anyone on this board and I have taught my kids to be as well. I want them to follow the Dawgs when they get older just like their Dad. The reason that I teach them to love the Dawgs is because we don’t take the “keep your mouth shut” approach. We are an honest program, and we did/do things the right way. I take pride in pulling for a school like that, and teaching my kids to as well.
Sorry for the “Old School” way of thinking, another good thing about being the son of a preacher man.
Fire away
LikeLike
Richt has let kids who have broken the law, sometimes in serious ways, return, but you’re okay with him never letting Gurley play again because of an NCAA rules violation? Good Lord.
I guess since the school has violated NCAA rules on a number of occasions, you’d be okay if they shut the athletic program down.
Man, didn’t your daddy ever preach the value of a little tolerance?
LikeLike
Personally, right at this moment I am in favor of shutting down the Georgia football program, firing all the employees at B-M and starting all over in about 5 years with an entirely different group of AA members and employees. Georgia needs to give itself the death penalty since it is so enamored with doing the NCAA’s bidding.
LikeLike
You know, I just noticed: Butts-Mehre = BM. As Gordon Solie would say, indeed.
LikeLike
So all punishment for any improper act at your house lasts forever? Are your grown children still in time out?!?
LikeLike
Best thing would be to move on. Let it go. It is done. NCAA made their easy decision. How long did it take them to do that. If they had the report in hand and it was proplery compiled and documented. Those asses could have made a decision in less than an hour.
It is now a roster and game planning issue. Go to UF and UK and pour on the damn points. Do not even take to the press in any form or fashion. Close ranks, close the doors, and open up the play book. Let the Dawgs talk on the field.
Best to silence any reference to Gurley via news media. Make plays and let us see who is on the Dawgs side.
I like Todd Gurley. What happened is sad and troubling for him. But he learned a huge life less very young. Trust and business. Young men make poor decisions when caught in a moment and do not see the consequences. Do I fault him. No. I understand. Hell, I can look back at my own life and those in my family.
As for the 3 SEC games. Nothing fair there to begin with. 4 games on the road. Thanks for that SEC. Take a peek at some of those other schools schedules in recent years.
Next 11 days will roll by fast. But they can be fun if they play well and win out. And they can do that.
Yeah I want to see Todd bust a few against Auburn and Tech. Sure he would too. So would many in the SEC and the NCAA fan base.
Relax Todd. Get ready to run wild again. We want to see it. man.
LikeLike
+1 Well said.
LikeLike
Nice reality post with passion. We need that right now.
LikeLike
While I wouldn’t blame him if he quits, I hope he comes back. It would be nice to see the Dawgs win the next two while getting better without him and then have him return and running pissed off at Auburn. The fact is, Georgia is better with him and I would love to have him available if Georgia makes the post-season.
LikeLike
I hope the coaches remind the team that a UF fan made this a public thing for $ & to help UF try to win this weekend.
LikeLike
Anybody got Al Sharpton’s phone number? Considering the half-game suspension Manziel got, maybe the Rev. should chime in!
LikeLike
Allocate the $3,000 to each of the four schools he does not play against. Send thru the NCAA office, with a memo…”kiss my f…….g ass, and to hell.”
Perhaps UGA should adopt a policy it will not play a team if that team has a player still under investigation and is not suspended pending clearance and punishment.
LikeLike
Exactly as expected.
As TAMU, FSU, Alabama, Auburn, and myriad others have demonstrated in recent years, programs consistently get rewarded for keeping non-criminal (and, in some cases, even criminal) matters quiet and in-house.
Georgia follows the NCAA’s “guidelines” by self investigating, preemptively suspending, and self-reporting, and Georgia consistently gets punishment on top of punishment, in addition to the more insidious stain of an artificially diminished reputation among those who don’t closely follow the program.
It is cute and admirable and a good example for Georgia to do those things. But it continually places Georgia at a self-imposed competitive disadvantage when literally ALL its competition is ignoring the NCAA and keeping their best players on the field.
LikeLike
Yes. Of course, this philosophy with the NCAA is consistent with our other self-imposed, stricter-than-required approach re over-signing, marijuana, minor criminal or behavioral transgressions, etc. We put ourselves at a competitive disadvantage relative to our conference members and look bad from a national standpoint in the process.
Bottom line is that, for better or worse, we don’t belong in the SEC.
LikeLike
I agree with every aspect of your reply except the last sentence, and I may only disagree with that due to a misunderstanding of your meaning.
But yes, Georgia ABSOLUTELY undermines itself in every way — notably in terms of public perception — with its litany of stricter-than-everyone-else athletic department policies, its overzealous and spotlight-craving local police force, and various other local obstacles which don’t exist elsewhere.
What is most infuriating about all this is that nearly all of those obstacles were CREATED by the very administration which ostensibly wants its teams and players to succeed. Insane.
LikeLike
My last comment re the SEC is my reaction to Georgia’s outlier position relative to the rest of the conference with respect to all the off-the-field crap to which you refer. It’s like the Sesame Street song (I’ve got a couple youngsters), “One of These Things is Not Like the Other.”
Our administration wants it both ways–the money and athletic prestige of the SEC AND the sanctimonious rules, regulations, and (their determination of) the moral high-ground of….I don’t know….the Ivy League, the NCAA bitch-boy. I don’t know, as a fan I’m just sick of wearing the martyr shirt, while the rest of the SEC pats our back with their championship ringed hands (and snickers at what suckers we are) .
LikeLike
That being the case, I agree with your entire position.
LikeLike
Spot on.
LikeLike
Sucks we don’t get to see him play these two games. If we only have one loss when Auburn rolls in, things will be mighty exciting in Athens when #3 gets back on the field.
LikeLike
“If” #3 gets back on the field.
LikeLike
Why would you think otherwise?
LikeLike
Not a foregone conclusion Todd will want to come back to play in this scenario.
I hope he has enough loyalty to the team to do it, but he is getting expensive legal advice now so who knows?
LikeLike
I just hope the team has the same reaction today as they had the Thursday before Missouri. I sure as hell don’t. This extention stings even more. If I was in sports booking, I would have decreased the spread on Ga/Fla as soon as this ruling came out this morning. I find it hard to accept that Johnny sat a half, Winston is still playing, but Gurley’s out 4 total.Concerning whether he should even play again for UGA, remember last year how gassed he was when he returned from injury? So how effective will he actually be for the AU game? The entire situation sucks: the way the UGAAA apparently handled our side of it, the NCAA ruling, just all of it. But it’s Georgia. Things seem to work out like this for us ( i know, sour grapes…)
LikeLike
The line is still between 10 and 13.
LikeLike
The spread opened in Vegas with Gurley out.
LikeLike
I love the “rules are rules” people. The only way bad rules get changed are for people to stand up and say “I’m mad as hell and I’m not taking it any more.” To be so stupid to think that a rule made by the universities for the universities would ever be changed by the universities without some either civil disobedience or lawyers is just being to dumb to breath. The NCAA could have accepted the judges ruling in O’Bannon and resolved the matter but they are in scorched earth mode. They are like big tobacco, we know we are going to lose but lets put it off as long as we can and make as much money as we can until we have exhausted this screwed up legal system that allows for as many bites of the apple as you can afford.
Yea “rules are rules” I would really like to see your 1040’s.
LikeLike
And not a one of them ever had alcohol before 21 (or 18 if they’re a bit older) or had any other substances ever, because those are the rules.
LikeLike
But Gurley didn’t stand up and say that. You think he was planning on broadcasting the fact that he took money for his autograph and he is proud of it? He took money in secret. He actually just perpetuated the enforcement of those rules by doing what he did.
LikeLike
Of course he didn’t. I’m yet to see a national pundit defend the NCAA’s position on amateurism regarding selling autographs. Every one of them agrees that the NCAA’s position is a disgrace. It’s only the schools and people who refuse to think for themselves that support rules like that.
LikeLike
are we back to the “Todd Gurley is a national hero standing up for injustice by taking autograph money” meme? He’s a good kid. He made a bad decision to break a rule that, while stupid, is still being enforced, and it’s cost him AND HIS TEAM the ability to play in some pretty big games. I’m sure he’s suffered as a result of his mistake, it’s certain the NCAA is hypocritical in its decision to punish him while others skate, he’s not a bad kid, but…..actions have consequences.
I hate it for Gurley. I hate it for UGA. But he made the choice to do what he knew he shouldn’t. When you do stupid shit, you have to be lucky every time; the NCAA only had to be lucky once to punish him for it.
You don’t like the rule? Change the rule. Ignore the rule, and you are choosing the consequences if you get caught.
LikeLike
Exactly. Some people seem to have a hard time grasping that.
LikeLike
And some people have a hard time seeing the world as it is, rather than as the morality play they wish it were.
Basically, the NCAA is the cop in the local park, standing beside the “Keep Off the Grass” sign. And Cam Newton, and Johnny Manziel, and Jameis Winston, and a thousand other kids walk right by the cop and sit on the grass. And the cop waves at them sitting on the grass and acknowledges the the sign is stupid and will soon be changed. And then Gurley walks over to join the others and is arrested.
Most people would see that situation as unfair. Simpletons will simply see a person who broke a rule and feel warm and fuzzy that their wise and benevolent overlords will capriciously protect the notions of amateurism and fair play (between the lines) lest the world spin off its axis.
LikeLike
I’m not really sure how this was standing up to a bad rule. Gurley’s out for 4 games total, paying restitution, and doing community service or not playing another down of football in college. If the University would have stood up and told the NCAA to screw themselves that might have meant something. As it stands, it’s a kid who broke a rule knowingly and he, his team, and the fans suffer for it. Bullshit rule to be sure but this accomplished nothing for him. Maybe it brings pressure for the rule to be changed but it doesn’t appear so at present.
LikeLike
There is a right way and a wrong way to change things. He did it in secret to get paid, not to change a rule. He knew it was wrong and tried to hide it. if it were “Civil Disobedience” it would have been him letting people know what he had done. So, yeah, I’m a “Rules are Rules” guy. You don’t like the rule find the right way to get it changed! Don’t hide it and then after you are discovered become the hero…Which he is not doing, others are making him a hero.
Gurley admits he did wrong…His word “WRONG”.
LikeLike
Agree 100%, people want to complicate this issue but thats what it boils down to.
LikeLike
I never promised anybody I wouldn’t drink before I turned 21, and never joined an organization that asked that of me. I also didn’t volunteer for an extremely public job that had several million people expecting me to represent them and their school. I think Georgia fans have been pretty understanding and decent to Gurley, all things considered.
LikeLike
You lived in a society that set the rules of behavior down in the law. If you wanted to drink at a young age, you should have renounced your citizenship and moved to a country where that was legal. After all, living in this country is voluntary.
LikeLike
I agree with 69Dawg. For every overzealous Barney Fife, there needs to be a Sheriff Andy Taylor to restore common sense.
LikeLike
Perhaps UGA is appealing because the punishment was not enough.
With no vacated wins, the Athletic Department still faces the possibility of having to pay for post-season travel expenses to a place too far for the players to drive themselves.
LikeLike
It can’t get any worse via appeal…can you read?
LikeLike
😉
LikeLike
Step back and look at the facts as they emerge and sequence of events:
UGA begins investigation and Gurley admits he took money. Reportedly there is also a traceable money trail that spans two years.
In light of this, UGA goes for full disclosure and throws itself on the mercy of the rules committee in the hope of leniency and the possibility of Gurley being eligible again sometime this season.
I don’t know how else they could had handled it with. He did it. There is evidence he did it. Even worse, he did it repeatedly. All in all, the penalty could have been a lot worse. Just need to suck it up and kick ass without him. Fuck Florida.
LikeLike
agree
LikeLike
Nice post godawg. Fuck FU indeed!
LikeLike
Finally, somebody gets it. The rest of you can hold your breath, be mad at the NCAA and encourage Gurley to walk away. That’ll show ’em……. Personally, I want UGA to win the rest of the damn football games and Gurley owes it to his team mates and the fan base to get his ass back in the game.
LikeLike
Sorry, but Gurley owes nothing to the fan base. He owes an apology to his teammates, which I’m sure he has done. His teammates probably don’t think he’s done a darn thing wrong. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have been holding up the 3s Up sign at every opportunity.
If he comes back to play, great. I’ll welcome him back with open arms and be proud of him for it. If he doesn’t, I won’t blame him because he has a future in the NFL to protect and a family to provide for.
LikeLike
Well, the fan base is what supplies the demand for the autograph that he got paid for.
LikeLike
So what? He doesn’t owe anything to any of us who haven’t been “inside the arena.” Does he owe an explanation/apology to his coaches and teammates? Yes. If he’s an honorable young man (which I think he is due to one of my daughters’ interaction with him on campus this summer during a camp she attended), I would bet he’s done it already.
LikeLike
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=5525330
Here’s all you need to know, folks: ” Alabama defensive end Marcell Dareus has been declared ineligible for two games for accepting nearly $2,000 in improper benefits during two trips to Miami”
smh
LikeLike
Yea at the same time AJ Green sell a jersey for 1000.00 and gets 4 games. Rules are rules except when they are not.
LikeLike
Gurley signs autographs for $, now he has donate time to community service; if he had 40 hours he could have gotten a job and not needed the $ from autographs. Gurley signs autographs for $. now he has to repay a portion of the money that he most likely doesn’t have anymore and he doesn’t have the time to get a job; Gurley signs more autographs to pay back $? Brilliant well thought out plan from the NCAA.
In the meanwhile Emmert cashes his check, smiles and has his driver carry him home.
LikeLike
Not only does he have to pay some back, he has to pay it to charity. So a charity can profit from his autograph but he cant? Got it… all clear now NCAA
LikeLike
My bottom line right now…I freaking despise those sanctimonious, hypocritical bastiges that make up the NCAA.
I don’t care what they or any other schools say and lie about, UGA players always get nailed harder.
LikeLike
What a lot of pointless and ignorant speculation (to go along with confident, but WRONG assertions) over the last three weeks. Surprise….there was no secret deal, there was no rubber stamp, there was no gentlemen’s agreement.
Georgia did what Georgia does….genuflect in front of the NCAA with incriminating evidence in a folder and asks mercy and leniency. And the NCAA does what it does to Georgia (and anyone else who’s foolish enough to do things the “Georgia Way”–Is there anyone?): They flex, take their time, and punish without leniency or mercy. And the rest of the SEC laughs their asses off.
This is AJ Green redux. So much for lessons learned.
LikeLike
This. Would love to see a poster on gameday of McGenuflect kneeling at the alter of the NCAA. We are all upset because we were afraid the AJ Green thing would play itself out again…then for a second we fooled into thinking that maybe we learned our lesson and things would be different. Jokes on me I guess.
LikeLike
The folks saying that Gurley should quit on the team at this point are just that, quitters. Gurley ain’t quitting. He’ll be back for AU and tear them a new one.
LikeLike
I’m sure you believe in the tooth fairy too.
LikeLike
What? I’m also of the opinion that Gurley has every right to call it a day, and possibly would if I were in his shoes, but he won’t. He’s going to come back.
Let me know what’s under your pillow Nov. 15th, I guess.
LikeLike
I don’t think people are saying he should quit on the team. I am saying he should protect his self interest and avoid a huge financial risk. Why stop at Auburn, are you calling him a quitter if he goes pro after the season?
LikeLike
Two different scenarios, IMHO.
We shall see….we knew he was gone after this season….this year’s suspension came out of the blue.
LikeLike
You are full of shit.
LikeLike
Haven’t noticed that anyone mention the Heisman and I’ve got to think he’s still a candidate. A good finish to the season and he could still win it. I understand the argument that he could get hurt but he might not. There may be considerable payoff for him in coming back, potential championship, individual honors and awards, just being one of the guys and contributing to this team. Seems like a lot of upside to me.
LikeLike
Heisman?! No one is mentioning it because it’s not even a reasonable possibility at this point. Missing two games, Heisman was a major stretch. Missing four game, zero chance.
Still, I’d be very surprised if he didn’t come back. If for nothing else, to play with this teammates (who he’s let down) and fight to win a championship (optimistically).
LikeLike
Maybe when this finally wears off after Sat’s game, everyone can return to Todd returning. Gnashing teeth from frustration is counter to what my doc says. I may have to take some “meds” in early afternoon.
Think I’ll go to the porch swing, look at the wildlife visiting (on the lawn,on wild land between and on the lake) and contemplate the rest of our Dawg team member’s gut check for the upcoming game. Betcha a coot going about it’s business will let me know there is more to this life than angst over one player’s future.
LikeLike
I’m really looking forward to Mary Grace Silverspoon’s blog post about this latest development.
She conflated him with criminals, and the NCAA treated him as such. She must be thrilled by this.
LikeLike
I’m not a lawyer, nor did I read all 240 posts, so if I’m dredging up a previously touched on topic – ya’ll keep your britches undwadded.
Senator, why couldn’t Gurley have filed for an injunction preventing the NCAA from declaring him ineligible based on the results of the O’Bannon lawsuit?
LikeLike
That’s a fair question, and I’ll add one to it, with the same caveat about not reading every post:
Why didn’t UGA call in an attorney for Todd as soon as we got wind of the allegations and before questioning Todd? Under the advice of counsel, Todd’s response surely would have been to avoid self-incrimination, forcing UGA to rely on others’ testimony in the investigation. And no one outside of Todd, to my knowledge, can establish that he signed autographs in exchange for money. Then, if UGA submitted any sort any sort of incident report to the NCAA, it would have to be to the effect that it was unable to make any determination of wrongdoing. The advantage of this approach is that no one has to lie, which is surely something that the UGAAA values. You can’t cover up what you don’t know.
LikeLike
Here’s an answer to all your questions….It ain’t the “Georgia Way.” It seems pretty clear at this point that Georgia’s handling of these situations is this: Coach Richt confronts player regarding any allegations and unless player lies to Richt’s face or Richt “indicates” that he really doesn’t want to know the truth (not going to happen). The truth comes out, compliance gets involved, and it’s all over. Richt told us as much during a press conference last week, basically said his approach is “tell the truth and take the punishment.” Sounds like Mettenberger tested the tell-the-truth part and immediately got kicked off the team when a different story emerged.
This representation after-the-fact is a total fucking joke. Based on our approach, we are the best friend of the incompetent, toothless, and petty NCAA. We do all their dirty work (using the Coach’s integrity and his relationship with his players) against the team to enforce the NCAA rules.
LikeLike
I just wonder if it is integrity so much as it is Richt covering his own butt.
LikeLike
Because the judge’s ruling applies to players in the 2015 recruiting class.
LikeLike
If UGA does not win the National Championship this season, it just tells you that the luck of Richt is on it again, playing second fiddle at all times or worse, never at the top of the mountain. UGA fans can dream of winning it all at the start of the season, but as long as Richt’s luck does not change, it will never happen. Can happen this year?? His luck need to drastically change.
LikeLike
I feel very strongly that it is in this young man’s best interest, nay the best interest of humanity, that he be suspended until – at least – November 16th.
It seems to me that would be the proper thing to do.
LikeLike
They only said Todd Gurley could return for the Georgia-Auburn game.
They didn’t say which team he would be playing for.
LikeLike
Best post of the night!!
LikeLike
+1
LikeLike
Refreshing to see a man who can put aside self-interest.
LikeLike
This has been very entertaining. It’s refreshing to know that there are so many non-Christians on this site. Remember what Jesus said “Let him that is without sin cast the first stone.” You guys have been throwing boulders. If Gurley was a lily white rich kid cough Johnny Football and signed for money just because he got a kick out of screwing with the man then I’d be all for tarring and feathering him. Gurley is not white and he is not even middle class wealth wise. You “rules are rules” guys would be the assholes that wanted to punish people that steal to feed their families. He’s worked for our pleasure for two years and 5 games, if he quits God speed. Now go back to dreaming of UGA winning the MNC because it is one dream you will never realize. Failing an Ebola outbreak in Alabama and Mississippi we have zero chance.
LikeLike
Yes, zero chance. Or, as some of the guys who get paid to actually know these things would say, “this best chance of any other team in America.”
http://mweb.cbssports.com/ncaaf/eye-on-college-football/24773954/vegas-sportsbook-considers-georgia-favorite-to-win-title?v=1&vc=4
The number of UGA fans who continue to sell our team short is amazing.
LikeLike
69dawg, I think you just got owned.
LikeLike