Georgia running back Todd Gurley (3) celebrates with fans after defeating Kentucky 59-17 in an NCAA college football game on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2013, in Athens, Ga.The NCAA announced this morning that Georgia junior tailback Todd Gurley 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 the past 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, when the Bulldogs host Auburn.
The NCAA determined that a 30 percent withholding condition was consistent with precedent in similar cases and that "additional withholding was strongly considered because the violations occurred over multiple years with multiple individuals and the student received extensive rules education about the prohibition of receiving payment for autographs. However, the university's due diligence in its investigation and the student's full disclosure of his involvement in the violations were factors in not imposing a more severe withholding condition."
Georgia submitted Gurley's reinstatement request last Wednesday. The NCAA said it requested additional information last Friday, which it received from the university on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 26.
Georgia announced this morning that it will seek an immediate appeal. A membership committee which oversees the reinstatement process will review the appeal this week, and that committee can reduce or remove the conditions the staff has imposed, but cannot increase them.
For more information, read Thursday's Times Free Press