Georgia quarterback Hutson Mason is looking forward to giving the ball to tailback Todd Gurley, but he has to wait one more week before Gurley’s return.ATHENS, Ga. — Saturday’s visit to Kentucky will be the ninth game of the season for the Georgia Bulldogs and the fourth without junior tailback Todd Gurley, who was suspended by the NCAA for receiving money for signed memorabilia.
It’s the final game Gurley must miss before returning next week when the Bulldogs host Auburn. Georgia won its first two games without the former Heisman Trophy favorite but couldn’t claim a third last Saturdfay in Jacksonville, falling 38-20 to Florida.
“I don’t think any of us have had the feeling that Todd let us down,” senior quarterback Hutson Mason said Tuesday. “It’s just kind of one of those things where it’s the biggest struggle for college athletes right now. You’ve got somebody coming up and offering you thousands of dollars, and you don’t come from anything or have the money to do the things you want to do.
“As a college athlete, it’s hard to say no to that. Everyone just kind of puts himself in Todd’s shoes, and no one really knows whether they would say yes or no to that. It’s a tough situation to be in.”
The Bulldogs won at Missouri and at Arkansas without Gurley, who was suspended by the university on Oct. 9, and then had an open date before learning last week of the NCAA’s ruling. Athletic director Greg McGarity said Tuesday that an email was sent to Georgia’s compliance office on Oct. 7, and it was followed by a videotape of Gurley in a car that McGarity described as “bothersome.”