College Football

[Quillback]

This is the aspect of big time college sports that tick me off, schools, networks and advertisers are raking in the cash and they suspend one of the top players in the game for $400.

[ruthead]

Yeah, why not be happy about it. It might be a stupid reason to get suspended, and if it is what they are saying it is then I really think it is stupid. But he knew the rule, broke it, and now has to live with that. Even though the rule is ignorant and the punishment for that is even worse. Seems he's made somebody mad.

Yea the somebody thats mad at him is the little guy that stands on his shoulder and says "Don't do it. It's against the rules. It's wrong. Is the risk really worth the reward?"

He was the leading Heisman candidate.

He did it.

He broke the rules.

He knew it was wrong.

He's paying the price.

He's out.

And Yes I would be saying the same thing if it was Marcus Murphy or Matty. Just because he brings in buches of money with his abilities doesn't mean the rules don't apply to him.

[stlfisher]

It is stupid that college athletes cannot get jobs or market themselves. Unless they have rich parents they are broke for the most part. At the same time it is a rule and incredibly stupid for Gurley, in the wake of the Manziel fiasco, to risk it. However, I hate the fact he will be out against Mizzou. If we somehow manage to win the East I can already hear the excuses....

And the running backing taking his spot is pretty darn good.

[Al Agnew]

Rules are rules even if they are stupid rules. I'm sure the coaches stress to the top players that if you break the rules and get caught you're going to suffer for it. These guys apparently think that since they've skated through high school and into college being pampered and adulated that they can do things without suffering the consequences.

The NCAA is seldom even-handed and often incompetent when it comes to enforcing the rules, but it does make sense that they "make examples" out of top players who break rules. Heck, do you think the third string fifth year senior defensive tackle is going to get a lot of chances to make $400 off autographed memorabilia? The better the player is the more chances they have to make some money on the side, so why not go after the big boys?

The biggest quibble I have with the NCAA is the time it takes them to "investigate" and make a ruling on these things, and meanwhile the player is in limbo and the rest of the team suffers. The NCAA makes a lot of money itself, and probably if they'd get rid of some bloated bureaucracy and hire more investigators and make it a priority to handle investigations promptly the whole process wouldn't leave such a bad taste in your mouth.

[Wayne SW/MO]

I agree it's an old rule and well known. It's bad for GA becasue they aren't all that great this year and now they lost 75% of their offense.

As far as Mizzou goes, they'll play with players that have followed the rules and that means without DGB, so no tears for GA.

OK canned a 5 start recruit due to start at running back also.

Eventually FL ST will have to can Jameis if they want to maintain credibility, it's just that all we know is it will come up, just don't know when.

[ozark trout fisher]

To make comparisons to DGB or Jameis Winston is really irresponsible. Todd Gurley is accused of making money from an autograph. Not in the same stratosphere as the accusations of violence against Winston and DGB, and Winston has been suspended for all of one game his entire college career.

Also another wild incongruity: Jameis Winston played while being investigated for rape. Todd Gurley can't play while he's being investigated for accepting a few $20 bills. Makes total sense.

I realize that neither were found guilty for their crime (though in DGB's case, most weren't left with a lot of questions) but for all we know, it may turn out that there isn't enough proof that Gurley is even guilty of this. Then what? You ruin his Heisman campaign and possibly UGA's season due to some hotshot vying for attention? I wouldn't rule that out.

So yes, I'm guiltily happy about this as a Mizzou fan. But as a football fan, this is total crap. Something has to change to keep these things from happening every time the NCAA feels like its time to prove some inane point.

[Wayne SW/MO]

To make comparisons to DGB or Jameis Winston is really irresponsible.

Bull hockey. Little Lord Jameis is a screw up looking for a place to land. It doesn't really matter if they get caught breaking an NCAA rule or a law does it? It's somewhat accepted that they represent the school and most schools don't want to look like reform schools.

[ruthead]

Now ESPN is reporting Gurley received payment for over 500 autographed items. Probably more than the $400 figure.

[Feathers and Fins]

Bottom line is sooner or later the POWER 5 will break away so they can pay athletes and get out from under the NCAA rules. each year the hatred of the NCAA grows more and more and the Power 5 could easily do it and come up with their own uniformed rules and punishments for violations and give us great Universities and Great sporting events.

http://time.com/3479821/college-payers-compensation-payment/

[BATCAB27]

Bull hockey. Little Lord Jameis is a screw up looking for a place to land. It doesn't really matter if they get caught breaking an NCAA rule or a law does it? It's somewhat accepted that they represent the school and most schools don't want to look like reform schools.

Yeah, stupidity is stupidity, no matter how you slice it up. As for the game this weekend, Vegas apparently doesn't think it hurts GA as Mizzou opened as 3 point dogs and still are....