When media reports were published claiming the man accusing UGA running back Todd Gurley of accepting improper payment to autograph sports memorabilia had hired an attorney, my initial reaction to the story was one of surprise.
The first, most obvious question that popped into my head was this: Why does the guy who allegedly entrapped Gurley need an attorney?
It turns out that apparently by accusing Gurley, this person has tacitly admitted violating a Georgia law passed in 2003 that would make him legally liable for damages incurred by the University of Georgia through his deliberate causing of recruiting or regulation violations to occur.
Now the conventional wisdom of pundits in the media currently seems to be that Gurley may have played his last game for the University of Georgia. However, I’m not convinced that #3 won’t be suited up again next week for the Dawgs fairly soon, perhaps even as soon as next weekend against Arkansas.
The rationale for my thinking is simply this: unless there is a smoking gun like video of money changing hands or cashed checks showing a direct payment of cash by the accuser to the accused, how will the NCAA justify giving Gurley more than a one game suspension, considering how similar recent cases have been handled?
Reports in the media have emphatically indicated that the video allegedly showing Gurley autographing merchandise does not show any money changing hands. These reports suggest it is only the word of one accuser described as disgruntled and unscrupulous versus the best player in college football, Todd Gurley.
And most people who enjoy college football want to see Todd Gurley play.
Interestingly, it appears that Gurley’s accuser cannot repeat his allegations on the record to the NCAA without incriminating himself, which may be why he hired a defense attorney.
Unless I’m missing something, the best move for this memorabilia dealer would be to retract his accusation or simply refuse to repeat it for the record. If he’s smart, he won’t cooperate with any investigation for fear of exposing himself to the risk of personal financial loss.
Here’s why — if this guy repeats his allegations, without hard evidence to corroborate his claims, the NCAA will be hard pressed to accept his unsubstantiated allegation on face value and impose a drastic punishment…and this guy will have made himself vulnerable to civil lawsuit.
You might ask how much might the University of Georgia expect to recoup if they sued Gurley’s accuser and won? Well, consider the fact that the school spent $40,000 alone just for an insurance policy to cover their prized running back for the 2014 season.
Room, board, tuition, lost Heisman publicity — the potential damages could add up quickly.
Given this information, what is the likelihood Gurley has played his last game for UGA?
Consider these precedents set by the NCAA with their handling of similar recent cases: former Alabama players Julio Jones and Mark Ingram were let off with a slap on the wrist, donating “restitution” for allegedly accepting improper benefits. Neither player missed any game time.
Former Auburn Tiger and Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton‘s father demanded hundreds of thousands of dollars for Cam to sign with Mississippi State, but because there was no evidence Auburn paid him or that he knew of his father’s demands, the player was suspended and reinstated by the NCAA without missing any game time.
Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel of Texas A&M was only suspended for one half of one non-conference game for basically being accused of the same thing as Gurley.
Jameis Winston of Florida State University has only been suspended for one game by the NCAA for far more egregious behavior. Without hard evidence to substantiate these allegations against Gurley, it would hardly seem fair nor defensible for the NCAA to punish him more harshly than any of these other players.
After all, missing the entire Missouri game probably cost Gurley his shot at the Heisman Trophy. It should be noted that the very same memorabilia dealer making these accusations against Todd Gurley has not mentioned Jameis Winston, but allegedly has quite a few of Winston’s autographed items for sale on Ebay right along with Gurley.
Why rat on one guy, and not the other? Why pick on Todd Gurley?
As the story goes, greed is the motive. This particular individual was allegedly upset with Gurley because he wasn’t making enough profit off sales of his merchandise to suit him.
The whole sordid story poses an interesting question: does the NCAA really want to allow this precedent to be set? Do they want to allow serious allegations to ruin the college career of a player without requiring concrete proof that the allegations are true?
If this is despicable practice, allegedly coercing athletes to break the rules and then framing them, is allowed to succeed,the integrity of college sports will be called into question.
Think about it — if this sort of manipulation is allowed to succeed, how long will it be before a die-hard Auburn fan makes a similar allegation in order to get the best player on Alabama, or vice versa, disqualified right before the Iron Bowl? Or a USC fan sets up a UCLA player, or Buckeye does something like this to a Wolverine?
For these reasons, unless that proverbial smoking gun can be produced proving Todd Gurley took money for his autograph, I think the NCAA has little alternative but to reinstate him.
Even if that evidence proves to exist, the NCAA should think long and hard about revising the rules so people with an ulterior motive can get away with the malicious entrapment of a college kid. After all, college football is essentially semi-pro football, especially in the SEC.
Why can’t the players get paid for their autograph, if some fool is willing to pay for it?
The concern I have is what if TG told University officials he did and the extent of money. What moral position would University officials to include CMR have in this situation?
I agree with you totally the guy obviously ain’t very smart and was more worried about ruining this young man career and life and the season of the rival school to his alumni and jump right into it without looking at what could and should happen to him but it’s people like this guy that makes so much hate in this world today and I hope Todd learned a valuable lesson for this and grows from it and the jer that caused it will suffer he has ruined his business and life in the state of GA and anywhere else people remember what a piece of trash he is and the ncaa should reinstate todd bc no one else missed as much time as he has already
I have asked all along where’s the solid proof & no one seems to have an answer. I think the NCAA ruling on this is ridiculous and it should be removed. With all honesty, my gut feeling tells me the idiot in Rome GA set this whole thing up whether to set up a name for himself or monetarily make money for his business which I understand is now closed – not sure if that’s true or not.
I think Todd Gurley should still be considered for the Heisman Trophy if the ‘higher eshelon’ will finally point their finger at the true guilty party ~ the low life in Rome! “GO 3” We’re right there with you!
What an excellent article! I agree with everything that you said. This is at best a bad situation for the NCAA if the choose to try to drop the hammer. (OCD note, there is a small typo in this sentence. “I’m not convinced that #3 won’t be suited up next week for the Dawgs fairly soon, perhaps even as soon as next weekend against Arkansas.”) suited up next week should be suited up again.
Thanks, Bob. Fixed.
I hate typos, and appreciate you catching it.
I wouldn’t worry too much about this, Bobby.
Gurley had no obligation to incriminate himself. The University retained counsel to represent him individually.
Coach Richt surely didn’t get specific and ask Todd how much money he took, if any. He probably just asked if he took any money. Todd may get suspended additional time by the coach if he lied to him, but that’s all conjecture at the moment, pure speculation on what we don’t know, but may have happened.
Coach Richt is probably the most moral coach in college football, and a strong disciplinarian — but this isn’t rape, theft, using drugs, or breaking any laws. I submit to you that the NCAA is in a far less moral position to condemn and penalize Gurley more than the other examples I listed, such as Johnny Manziel, because that very same organization has reaped billions of dollars in revenue from selling the very crap Gurley has been accused of signing for money. Seems like blatant hypocrisy to me. Even if they don’t do it now, they have in the past.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/2013/08/08/mark-emmert-ncaa-will-halt-jersey-memorabilia-sales/2632985/
Maybe it is time for this particular “non-profit” to lose their monopoly — why should Todd Gurley relinquish the rights to his own likeness so others may profit, but he can’t?
One correction for your piece. The NCAA did not suspend Winston, FSU did and only after a public outcry over the original half game suspension.
Sorry to hurt your feelings Bob Zen, but you have a typo in your sentence too. You used the instead of they. And John’s response to you has a serious grammatical error. I appreciate YOU catching it should be I appreciate YOUR catching it. And so it goes with correcting folks. But agree with your article.
In my humble opinion, the exact $400 amount (causing him to miss only 1 game, $400-700=2 games) seems odd. If the guy wanted Gurley out for the season, all he had to do was say he took $701. Seems to me that this guy wanted him gone for 1 game, and he got his wish. Nothing anyone can do can take that back now. If the claim holds any weight whatsoever, it makes sense that it would’ve been a Mizzou fan. If he wasn’t happy with the return on his “investment”, why would he say $400? Maybe to boost sales for a player who could possibly never play again? This entire deal stinks of a set-up/lie to me….and I’m not a UGA fan in the slightest.
Great work! I agree totally with your points. If I were Todd’s lawyer, I would be preparing to make this a test case for something bigger if the NCAA decides to push back. The first step would be to make accusations that the hundreds of athletes who have autographed items for sale made money off off those autographs. How can these college students be expected to control and discern between the ones who are selling and the ones who are legitimately looking for a souvenir for their current hero. There are any creative ways to let the institution manage the sale and subsequent revenue from these activities that can be a win-win for athletes and school. The NCAA has always been a political organization and like our own elected politicians, the choices they make sometimes make you scratch your head because they evolve from taking sides and not working for a unified solution. That is the case with the NCAA. I also want to point out that institutional leaders (presidents, ADs) are what make up the core NCAA. Therefore, we can’t view this as an NCAA versus schools situation. In the end, we are somewhat left with an environment that can be likened to indentured servitude not unlike the way grad students are treated in their Assistantships in the hard sciences.
Molly,
My editors will only work on my books. The mistakes on my blog are entirely my fault.
Mea culpa.
You guys spell/grammar checking one another has got to be more annoying than my iPhone’s auto spell check being wrong half the time. Shut the $&@# up for gosh sakes! Geez…
a persons signature is their own-it takes a lot of work to get to the point where a signature becomes valued-this work started long before exposure to the ncaa-why does our society continually embrace hard work and capitalism except when it comes time for the smalltime poor working man to collect on his efforts-what is needed is a special prosecutor to go after the ncaa like they have done past corrupt political figures
Great article! Let’s hope the NCAA gets it right! I agree this sets up for a whole nother can of worms to be opened! Thanks for sharing!
The best writing and explanation that I’ve seen on this situation to date. I appreciate your work and the facts that you have laid out. By principle, it is very important to see Todd Gurley return to his rightful position on the UGA active roster and starting backfield, and to the top of the leaderboard in the race to the Heisman Trophy, and it also important… at least, in my opinion… to see that the University of Georgia Athletics retain its position as a department of integrity and principle. As you have it laid out, both should be accomplished in a way that allows everyone associated with UGA to proudly hold their heads high. It’s still great to be a Georgia Bulldog!
Thanks again…
Great Article ! Go Dawgs, Pray for fairness & Justice ‘
big tom tom, You could not be more correct. The Not A Clue About Anything boys have been ripping off college athletes for years. The power and the money all goes to the schools, coaches and this criminal organization. The NFL supports it as NCAA football saves them millions acting as their minor league scouting department without costing trhem a dime-All the while taking the high road of moral indignation about preserving the purity of college sports. I could go on and on about the many ways that college athletes are abused, but I just had a nice meal and if I think about this any more, I will throw up. I hope that Tod Gurley will step up and sue the NCAA for not allowing him to share in the profits that his name generates for these thieves.
I was joking with a buddy if mine about how insane it is to say someone’s signature does not belong to them. Although I’m not famous (yet), I pinned my signature when I was about thirteen years old. I’m quite sure most of these guys knew how to write their names before signing their letters of intent. Anyways, we were joking to have every college athlete suspended indefinitely for signing their homework/schoolwork. There is no telling how much you can get for a signed rough draft on the black market.
I’m thinking he has loads of J. Winston memro, and if he can repeat as heisman/NC QB, his items will go through the roof, financially speaking. Todd is just in the way to his BIG payday. The guy is such a douche bag!
How is it that no one mentions Clowney regarding autographs?
Can we just get him back for Arkansas?!?!?!?!?!?!
I am a die hard UGA fan…Most of my whole family went to UGA including myself.
I was raised in South Georgia and the games are more than games to me. They represent
My heritage….family. I think the NCAA should change some oftheir
Outrageous rules…. Think about it….these guys are talented( not invincible) and they come
To these schools to give their all and play for these teams…they cannot work…they live
Eat and breathe football. These kids don’t get paid to play
College football and may not have family that can give them a dime to even
Buy a hamburger…. Buy clothes…. Or even pay to get a haircut. This article was great! Not just because I am a Georgia fan and an a “gurley girl “… I think his punishment for the information
That they have is a bit harsh. I am hoping TG will be back with the team soon. MY 4 year old
Son admires him and looks up to him. These players
are major role models
For children! Mine even chose no 3 for his his t- ball jersey….These allegations need to be handled fairly!!!!! sorry for my typos or incorrect grammar if any is found. I’m typing on 2 percent battery! GO DAWGS!!!!
It appears to be a setup by the dealer. However, all colleges and the NCAA should take the following action. If they find merchandise being sold on ebay of current players they should be going after the seller.
However a better solution would be , I believe the NCAA should quit such pickeness. It should be organized to sell memoribillia for current players but all of the money for each school be put into a pot and divided among the current players for spending money at school. The other players that dodn’t have a real marketable name should just help make life easier for the ones that have to sit and sign merchandise. Yes players get a great scholarship but for four years you are tied to the coaches every whim. You are involved are working for the sport 365 days a year. There is no time as well as it is not allowed. Where are most kids suppose to come up with two to three hundred a month spending money. Lets get real, You easily spend that much on a few dates a month.
I shared a link with my friends to this article because it points out that Bryan Allen has not delivered any PROOF that Todd Gurley accepted money from him. Accusations without proof can ruin lives! And, as a memorabilia dealer Allen knows there is a law against anyone soliciting NCAA players’ memorabilia for profit. His stated reason for coming out of the woodwork NOW, that Gurley’s stuff started losing it’s value – in other words he thought Gurley was making him a less profitable CROOK – is ludicrous! I have been a Georgia Bulldog football fan for decades & I think Todd Gurley is a phenomenal player who is thrilling to watch. But I will say this, if the investigation uncovers concrete proof of Gurley breaking the NCAA rules, then let the chips fall where they may; but hopefully fall in line with the chips of other players with similar infractions in the past. Whether or not the NCAA rules are fair about players profiting from their public image isn’t the real crux of the matter at this point: Rules are rules until they are changed. That’s an issue that needs to be addressed in some way, but it has to be separated from the guilt or innocence of Todd Gurley at this moment in time.
If the autograph business brings in enough money so that I can hire a $1,000/hour attorney then I’m in the wrong business. The memorabilia people that I’ve talked to don’t make enough to hire any attorney let alone one of the most high profile attorney’s in the state. Now if I remember correctly Gurley’s accuser said his autograph business in recent times has been bad. How can this guy with an admittedly declining business hire this high priced lawyer and then disappear? Gurley’s accuser is clearly short on morals but I’m sure he knew when he gave the video to the media it shows him breaking the law. My guess is that Gurley and his accuser are pawns in a much larger battle. Good article!
Gurley knew the rules. The coaches likely remind them of the rules daily. Two people can’t keep a secret so any player should not be shocked when revelations fly.
The State of Georgia wisely made the law that will make most grifters, looking for fame, money or to just a harm major team, think twice about tempting these still young and very gullable men.
Punishment is in order, but it should not destroy a player’s college career. If the players are needing extra money they should sign for the draft. Most college coaches make great effort to instill integrity in their players. College is the pathway to adulthood for these talented kids.