You may remember this.
Fred Gibson needed some quick cash. He didn’t want to wear jewelry on his fingers. So, he saw nothing wrong with selling his Southeastern Conference championship ring for $2,000.
“It’s my ring,” the Georgia receiver said. “I should be able to do with it what I want.”
Instead, Gibson and eight teammates from the Bulldogs’ first SEC championship team in 20 years were declared ineligible for violating NCAA rules by selling their 10-karat gold rings just a couple of months after getting them.
To be reinstated, the players will have to reimburse the school for the cost to recover the rings, which were sold to a single broker and wound up being peddled on eBay.
“They’ll definitely pay a price,” athletic director Vince Dooley said Thursday.
… School president Michael Adams delivered a stern warning to an athletic program still reeling from scandalous reports of payoffs and academic fraud on the men’s basketball team. The Bulldogs withdrew from both the SEC and NCAA tournaments, and coach Jim Harrick was forced to retire.
“My patience, the patience of the faculty, and the patience of most of our supporters is exhausted over this continuing improper behavior by athletes,” Adams said. “I am disappointed and I expect corrective actions to be taken.”
Leave it to Michael Adams to equate selling a ring with academic fraud. But I digress.
The players weren’t penalized, because the NCAA didn’t have a specific rule about ring selling. At least not at that point. But a rule was created in response.
… The rule against selling gear while playing in the NCAA is a relatively new one. It was created after nine football players at the University of Georgia were caught selling championship rings and a jersey on eBay in 2003.
At the time, the closest relevant rule was one that said players could not use their name and reputation to earn money, through selling autographs, for example. So, the nine players were not penalized, but they brought the issue to the NCAA’s attention.
Now, players who sell gear can face ineligibility or temporary suspension.
All of which brings us to the here and now.
Former Alabama Crimson Tide running back Keilan Robinson’s 2020 championship rings are listed for sale by a Las Vegas pawn shop for $60,000.
Robinson transferred to Texas from Alabama last year. He was not on the Crimson Tide’s active roster in 2020, having opted out due to COVID-19.
The SEC, Rose Bowl and College Football Playoff championship rings are being sold by Gold & Silver Pawn Shop — home of the TV show “Pawn Stars.”
Robinson’s name and number are inscribed on the rings.
A clip from the show covers the sale of the rings, which were brought in by someone named Jon, who says he was gifted the rings by his uncle. It’s unclear how the family came into possession of Robinson’s rings.
It’s only within the past year that current college athletes have been able to sell merchandise without risking their eligibility.
Is that right? I’m genuinely curious. It doesn’t seem to be, at least according to this tweet.
Anyone profess to know where the truth lies here? I’d hate to think all that Georgia Way hand wringing has gone for naught.
“Rings gather dust”….
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No clue coach! On another note; any smoke to the Virginia, North Carolina, FSU, Clemson – coming to the SEC? We are rapidly approaching “it just means a little less” slogan.
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As I told someone who emailed me about that yesterday, it’s coming from a guy who runs a swimming magazine. I think you can safely disregard it.
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Now if it came from a tennis magazine, it would be a different story entirely.
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Every time I read “Michael Adams” I want to go kick that guy’s ass.
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I’m exhausted of reading his name. He can go die in a car fire.
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Screw Michael Adams. He gives pompous asses a bad name.
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Yes he was a pompous ass, but he did get us on the path to Mark Ritch. That said I to would like to punch him in his smug face!
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He got us Mark Richt after giving Donnan another year that he “forgot” to tell Dooley (Donnan’s direct boss) about. And then he proceeded to shackle Richt when the conference was accelerating around him.
Oh yeah, he also brought in his buddy Jim Harrick.
FMA
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Fred Davidson gave UGA Rugby the Rugby field. That SOB took it away, the boys still play on it but not total ours anymore. Hoping Josh will step up and right the wrong.
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When I was young I saw a 1981 Clemson National Championship ring for sale in a Augusta pawn shop. Thought it was sad then and still think it is sad now.
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Anything Clem related is sad.
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I think Fred was right way back when…if it’s your property you should be able to sell or gift it as you please. And the feckless NCAA along with college administrators needs to stop sending mixed signals to these young men. Now that NIL is a commodity and we have long established property laws in this country, you can’t say to an athlete you can sell your name image likeness but you gotta keep that ring or jersey forever. Fans of a program may not like it, but just like if I wanted to sell a tractor and my neighbor didn’t like it…it’s my property to do with as I see fit, the neighbor and the fans can go pound sand.
The notion that I’ll shout and scream for my rights but then turn around and try to deny other folks the same rights is bs. Those athletes that won rings busted their asses in practices and games…they earned it…the fans did jack shit in comparison. I’m a sentimental old fool and would prefer they keep their rings, but honestly it’s none of my business.
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Froze, I’ve been a little busy lately so I’m slow with this comment, and I’ll quote John Prine “I hate graveyards and old pawnshops” because a fan buying a player’s championship ring to wear to the tailgate? Shit man, it’s just sad all the way around.
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There ain’t no shame in making sure the bills get paid and chasing Mrs. Got around the floating stabbin cabin, more power to you, sir. Agree, that’s a needle dick move to buy someone else’s glory. If an athlete got down on their luck and someone bought it to help them out, and gave them their ring back that’s a classy move. But we know better and we all know that having the right or ability to do something doesn’t always mean we should do it…sometimes a little discernment is in order. Btw, if you ever see my trophy shelf it’s adorned with little league trophies, worst bowler trophy, couple 4 putt awards etc. The only ring I ever dropped coin on was an engagement ring back in the 90’s, and every year I get reminded I spent too little on it.
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Yeah, but things change over time. I made payments on Mrs. Cowdog’s original, made the last payment two weeks before the day. It was tiiiiiny.
Now that itty bitty stone sits in the middle of a rather gaudy affair that suits her much better.
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The $60,000 number is hogwash. If you watch the show, Rick buys championship rings and never wants to sell them. I’m guessing he puts an outrageous price on them to keep the rings in his shop.
On the issue at hand, there’s no reason an athlete shouldn’t be able to sell his own personal property as long as all of the taxes are appropriately paid.
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Considering that the NCAA allows a maximum of $415 to be spent on a championship ring, yeah, that number is on the outrageous side.
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Make players pay for their rings and I think you solve the problem entirely. I think the NCAA issue is that the player receives the ring for free from the program. By selling the ring, the player has been indirectly “paid” for playing.
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Hmmm… so much for paying with all that blood, sweat and tears.
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Like you say in a separate post this morning, no one’s holding a gun to anyone’s head.
And, about the NCAA: why do we castigate them for not coming up with guidelines to deal with NIL, then scream at them for enforcing the rules they actually do make?
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It’s like riding a bike.
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You have a point as long as one ignores the hypocrisy and inconsistencies of their rules along with their abject failure at any type of clear, consistent enforcement. I therefore choose to continue to mock and ridicule, consistent with my chosen skill set.
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Why did a kid who opted out of the season get any rings?
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The most NCAA thing ever would be to declare the Alabama 2020 season null and void retroactively for a player selling his rings that didn’t play. If there’s a Gawd in heaven… I’d even listen to Pawl after that decision came down. The gnashing of tooth (yes singular) in Alabama would be incredible.
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It’d be awesome if UGA beat Bama twice with this putting some players at for games this season.
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?????
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And for once I’d agree with the Bammers moaning, “Pawwwwwlllll! It ain’t right!” It’d feel strange, like a pair of trousers with the wrong hang, but I’m sure I could smirk my way through it.
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It would be great.. but Bama privilege is a real thing.
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I’ll admit I’m an old dinosaur, and they can sell them if they are so inclined. What I don’t understand is why they would want to? Are they that hard up for money? Or is it something else? To me, they would be keepsakes for life, and something I would leave to my family and offspring after I’m gone to remember me by. YMMV.
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Weed & Tats ain’t cheap, bro!
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Speak!
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In this case, I can see why the player sold them. Not on the active roster and getting the spoils of victory feels a little bit like stolen valor. I’d be embarrassed to show it off, especially if I transferred. It would be a painful reminder of what I missed out on.
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Visit the shop while Rick is out to lunch and see Chumley for a huge discount.
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Lock him up!
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I’d forgotten that Alabama’s semifinal last year was in the “Rose Bowl” despite being played in Jerryworld down in Dallas. Man, that would suck to earn a spot in the Rose Bowl and not get to actually play there. That was one of the best sports experiences of my life, eclipsed only by seeing Kirby and Co. lift the trophy in Indy back in January.
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Arlington
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Let me just say that the NCAA would rather piss on an electric fence than enforce anything against any player ever again. This rule has been made mute by the anti-NCAA climate and judges that want a piece of their butts. Short of killing an opponent on the field of play the NCAA is out of the player suspension business.
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