(Updated 9 p.m.)
ATHENS – Georgia’s appeal of wide receiver A.J. Green’s four-game suspension will be heard by an NCAA committee Friday, UGA associate athletic director Claude Felton said.
The appeal will be heard via conference call by a quorum of the NCAA Division I Committee on Student-Athlete Reinstatement, consisting of officials from other schools and conferences.
Asked Wednesday night if he expects a ruling on the same day as the hearing, Georgia coach Mark Richt said: “I can only hope that.”
Green, who didn’t play in Georgia’s first two games, will have to sit out Saturday’s game against Arkansas and the Sept. 25 game at Mississippi State unless his suspension is shortened.
Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino said Wednesday the Razorbacks have to prepare as if Green will be on the field Saturday, while Richt said Georgia has approached this week from the premise that Green won’t play.
“And then if it turns out he can play . . . we certainly can use him,” Richt said.
Georgia players say they’re prepared for either scenario.
“Hopefully they come back with a ruling that is favorable and he’ll be out there, but it’s not something you can bank on,” tight end Aron White said. “We’ve been preparing to where if he comes back great, but if he doesn’t we’ve got to still go out and get these games. We’re still the Bulldogs, with or without A.J.”
Cornerback Vance Cuff said a Green return would be “definitely a plus – about five pluses, to tell you the truth.”
The NCAA handed Green the four-game suspension last week for selling his Independence Bowl jersey for $1,000 to former North Carolina football player Chris Hawkins, whom the NCAA considers an agent. In several interviews, Hawkins has said that he bought the jersey as a collector and that he is not an agent.
It also would be against NCAA rules for a student-athlete to sell memorabilia to a non-agent.
In another development, the Morgan County Citizen and ESPN.com reported Wednesday that Hawkins, from Kinston, N.C., was arrested near Madison, Ga., on April 23, 2009, on felony charges of trafficking cocaine and misdemeanor charges of possession of marijuana. He reportedly has an Oct. 18 court date in Morgan County.
273 comments Add your comment
crabapplejoe
September 15th, 2010
10:40 pm
Green should be kicked off the team…and the Dawgs move on this season….we’ve got other receivers like Kris Durham who can get the job done. Green isn’t the second coming of wide receivers….he’s never had a 1000 yard college year and never will. Let it and him go….he’s nothing but a cancer at this point
ryan
September 15th, 2010
10:52 pm
I think i may know why UGA has gone down hill 1st Brian Van Gorder and 2nd ever since CMR got his big fat $3 mill contract he coach’s like i got my money who cares what you think of me
NCAA critic
September 15th, 2010
10:56 pm
ga gator-Didn’t mean to sound intelligent. Must have not had enough beer tonight-or maybe I had one too many. Anyway, I don’t understand how you found socialism in my comment. My caveat’s first point was that athletics provide money to the schools (or athletic departments). I just don’t feel that a tour of duty through Old State U. is necessary for an entertainer. I agree about the D1 presidents not wanting to give up that gravy train. Cali-PATRICK? I don’t know him or of him. BTW, I’ve reading Milton Friedman tonight-he’s not a socialist, is he?
JRW7
September 15th, 2010
11:13 pm
I agree with you UGA AJ should be kicked off the team and now!!!! He betrayed his teammates, UGA, and all UGA fans!!!!
JRW7
September 15th, 2010
11:19 pm
CMR, do something, UGA DAWGS have only 3 wins, 8 loses, against ranked teams in 2008, 2009, and 2010!!!!!!! We are going downhill fast!!!!
InMass
September 16th, 2010
12:51 am
Check out http://www.inmassmusic.com for a Great New Band!!!
Toole
September 16th, 2010
12:52 am
Don’t care if he comes back or not. he isn’t a team player. Team !st AJ!! Team 1st!
seriously
September 16th, 2010
1:32 am
Dont all of you realize its coming hard on UGA because…. .DUHHHHHHHHHH Your UGA , in the nations eyes your are the worst most troublesome program RIGHT NOW…. arrest after arrest… your star future running back just got arrested for Hitting a car being told to stay and leaving regardless.. then come to find out he shouldnt be driving …. your AD not a student athlete not a coach YOUR AD just got a DUI cheating on his WIFE… stop all this well at UNC and anywhere else.. your are the worst when it comes to arrest UGA open YOUR EYES!!!!!!
Pitbull
September 16th, 2010
5:27 am
First of all, ebay is an auction, you don’t know who you are selling to. So you can’t know if they are an agent or not. You’re selling to the highest bidder! Second, he was punished for 4 games and has already possibly cost UGA a lost game and possible SEC chanpionship. That is more than enough punishment for wanting money to buy some damn FOOD!
Old Dawg
September 16th, 2010
5:41 am
A J…you have learned your lesson. Two games of not being able todemonstrait why you are NFL material. Two games…nuff already. Sic em DAWGS.
George P.
September 16th, 2010
6:44 am
You people do not get it. Masoli was truthful and forthcoming. Green attempted to hide his actions with lies. Bigger penalty certainly deserved.
Green’s progress at Georgia in becoming a thug is certainly impressive.
PJ
September 16th, 2010
7:07 am
I’d like to give a big shout out to AJ “The Man” Green. Thanks for all the pre-season smack talk…..thanks for the smack talk after we got our butts whipped in SC. Thanks so much AJ! Thanks to the tune of 0-1 in SEC. MORON!
Jeff
September 16th, 2010
7:10 am
I wonder if AJ is smart enough to know that most of us (and I am talking real UGA fans) hoped that instead of silly appeals that send the wrong message to the team- he would have made a huge statement and dismissed him from the team. AJ croc tears and appology were a slap in our face. AJ is only sorry that he got caught.
Fred in Columbus
September 16th, 2010
7:20 am
Maybe there is more to this than we have been told.
Hunker Down
September 16th, 2010
7:40 am
Most people seemly based on the blogs I have read think the NCAA was not equalible in the 4 game suspension of Green especially compared to the 2 game suspension of Darius which seems to have been a more malicious act by the Bama player. The kid at Ole Miss, Masoli, who originally was declared ineligible by the NCAA, they have since did an about face as they or more likely someone else brought to their attention that they were wrong in their ruling and the kid was qualified under their own set rules. Sounds like it could of been a potential of a lawsuit had they not over turned their errant intial ruling. Now however, the NCAA can hand down thier sentence to Green and even though in my humble opinion the time does not fit the crime UGA would have to abide by their decision. It will be interesting to see the outcome by the NCAA when no repercussions seemingly exist against the NCAA if they stick to their guns and enforce a 4 game suspension. It will tell me alot about the NCAA and the powers within based on the decision coming forth.
Dawgs Tell
September 16th, 2010
7:46 am
Why all the talk about A.J. .We have a ball game Saturday!!! He is not a one man team!!! Let’s move on and take note that some players only think of themselves. I’m sure A.J will regret this two years from now making millions in the NFL. Yea Right!!!!
Patrick
September 16th, 2010
8:03 am
Geez… there are some seriously ignorant people on this blog.
dawgfan13
September 16th, 2010
8:12 am
Georgia football is so irrelevant right now. the only thing people know about the program is how many arrest they have had the past few years. Its not pretty! If another incident happen in Athens where a player is getting arrested, Richt will be fired because not only has he lost control over the program but they are losing games now.
Chris
September 16th, 2010
8:29 am
LADawg, I do infact have a college education, so I know exactly where you’re coming from.
College athletes do not deserve the right to be paid for playing college sports. Playing college football is, and should be in all sports, a pre-requisite for playing at the next level. I know the universities make all the money, while players get nothing, and that might seem unfair. However, what is unfair is the college athlete that doesn’t take advantage of the free education they are offered, and then are like “Oh poor me, I’m not getting paid for playing a sport I love.” I’m sorry, but I don’t feel their pain and never will. I know too many people that deserved more of a chance than some of these athletes but never got that chance because of circumstances beyond their control.
College athletes have it made, and those that break the rules should be punished severely.
You are right about one thing though, it is all about the money. Without it, these athletes would never have a chance. If they are good enough, they will be rewarded for those 3-4 terrible years of playing football at the collegiate level with an NFL contract.
Oh, it is so terrible! Go get back under that rock LAdawg!
savannadawg
September 16th, 2010
8:45 am
UGA as an instituttion needs some gonads. And as well as these other institutions with violations that are NOT program killers. HOW IN THE WORLD DOES AN ALABAMA PLAYER< WHOM ACTUALLY HAD CONTACT WITH A TRUE AGENT GET OFF SO LIGHTLY???????????????????????????????
how2fish
September 16th, 2010
8:49 am
Chris “I know the universities make all the money, while players get nothing, and that might seem unfair. ” WTF “seems” unfair on what planet is there even any doubt? It must be grand to be you..take advantage of a free education..newsflash big guy there not a damn thing free about it. I’m sure you just skated thru college no stress no fuss, grades and the girls came easy. I had it a little harder father passed my freshman year and I had to pay my own way…and for me classes were tough I worked two jobs and studied my butt off just to pass made pretty good grades but it was a struggle…and my burden was nothing compared to the demands of a D-1 football player…there weren’t legions of folks just waiting for me to have a beer too many. get in a fight with a girl friend etc. There were no 5am wake up calls to do mat drills before I started classes..no constant pressure to produce on the field and then deal with class, and lets not forget be a damn saint while I was doing all that…its an education Chris it’s not free.
Notso Fast
September 16th, 2010
9:09 am
The question is had anyone ever told him that he could not sell his jersey??If so, then he should live with the 4 games, if not then he now knows and 2 games is enough.
Ruff Ruff Ruff
September 16th, 2010
9:23 am
We are the victims here. Ruff Ruff Ruff. AJ has been suspended for four games, so how dare the NCAA take its time to decide on an APPEAL!! Ruff Ruff. The NCAA should cater to our demands. Ruff. We have a national championship and we are better than Tech!! We are the victims. Ruff Ruff. AJ doing deals with drug dealers is no big deal. Ruff.
Richard Beater
September 16th, 2010
9:29 am
I dont see a problem here. Someone is making million of dollars every year off of selling college players jerseys. These guys should be getting revenue share anyways…NCAA needs to get a life
Mediocre
September 16th, 2010
9:36 am
You know you are a mediocre team when one player can be the difference in losing a game, or a season as some UGA supporters suggest. UGA has to recruit a little better, but needs to “coach up” a lot better if they want to make it to the SEC championship. One player shouldn’t derail a season.
Sautee Dawg
September 16th, 2010
9:48 am
Chris,
Your logic don’t add up. If you get a parking ticket should your driving privledges be revoked? A.J. Green didn’t break any laws by selling his jersey which is a point that most are overlooking. He broke an NCAA rule. His jersey, and the $1000.00 was donated to a charity.
LAdawg is right NCAA acts as plantation owners. If the NCAA was getting the $1000.00 for A.J. Green’s jersey they would probably set him up a shop somewhere on Milledge Avenue.
NCAA governs alot like the IRS. They both hate competition.
Whatever
September 16th, 2010
9:50 am
The same whiners on here would be the first ones in line to chastise another schools player if they did the slightest thing wrong. But when it’s one (sorry, seems more like 50) of their players its a conspiracy by the NCAA because they are such meanies to Georgia while sticking up for every other program in the country.
You are ALL hypocrits. No wonder UGA will always be a mid-tier SEC program. Get your house in order and start pulling your weight instead of dragging down the rest of the conference.
Gary
September 16th, 2010
9:51 am
Ga Gator, how many of the diamond earings do you think are real. Some of the ones the guys wear would cost over 10 grand based on the size alone regardless of quality. I am sure as a gator fan you have been to the mall and shopped at the fake gold chain store. Those gold chains and fake earings go great with a gator jersey and jean shorts. I see tons of guys with that look. Pretty sure most of the bling we see is not real. Add a couple of low budget tats and you are ready for game day in gainesville. Its the swamp because of the smell not the location.
Gary
September 16th, 2010
9:54 am
Hey Mediocre
SO how many games did Oklahoma win last year when their star went down? How good was Florida when Tebo got hurt. What happened to Ok State after Dez god kicked out. Hwo did Texas do last year with out their star. Your and idiot. Get off the blogs and watch golf.
bama fan
September 16th, 2010
9:55 am
Many of the same UGA fans that were crying for Bama to receive the death penalty a few years back and telling everyone how right the NCAA was to “police” their sport, are now protesting the penalty issued to AJG. You can’t have it both ways. Isn’t it funny how our opinions change based on circumstances that include us! But, I agree that the penalty for AJ was too strong, unless there are things that we don’t know about, which I suspect. However, we all should be able to agree that the NCAA has major flaws in the way they do business! Even though AJ made a mistake to do what he did, the case should been handled in a timely fashion so that he and his team could prepare and move on. What if your parents handled discipline with you in that way? Good luck in the appeal and to the DAWGS on Saturday.
Gary
September 16th, 2010
9:59 am
The NCAA does not care at all about Georgia or their record. They do not have an agenda. They are trying to battle a forrest fire with a squirt gun. The do not have the people or time to trully police the system so they make a big statement decision to use fear and intimidation. Imagine if a cop cracked your skull for speeding instead of getting you a ticket. Only has to happen to a few people and you would start slowing down. That is the way the NCAA operates. Again, their is not consperacy. They could care less about Richt Green or UGA.
Mike
September 16th, 2010
10:16 am
NCAA is full of crap. As soon as he is out of school, he could take that same jersey and sell it. If you can’t sell it, you can’t sell it. No matter what.
Chris
September 16th, 2010
10:19 am
How2fish, I didn’t have a free education. I had to pay my way through college. All I know is if I had the skills to play a collegiate sport, and a Univeristy was willling to give me a scholarship to play that sport, do mat drills, get up at 5am, and keep good grades, I would have been thrilled at the oportunity.
College players should not get paid. I don’t understand why that’s hard for some of you to figure out.
jake
September 16th, 2010
10:21 am
tell me what a 2,3, or 4 game suspension means. does the rule book sat it has to be the FIRST 4 games? why can’t you pick the games a player has to sit out?
jake
September 16th, 2010
10:23 am
dogs season is over. sc will not lose 2 sec games.can’t believe i waited 8 months for this crap.
John
September 16th, 2010
10:28 am
The NCAA is a joke! Why is it taking them so long to hear his appeal when it took just a couple of days to hear Masolis???? That punk has TWO felonies and they let him play THE FIRST GAME! Whos balls does Richt need to stroke to get AJ a chance to play??
jake
September 16th, 2010
10:32 am
if aj had done this at fla. or sc. he would have gotten an “atta boy.”
how2fish
September 16th, 2010
10:35 am
jake you want some cheese to go with that whine??
how2fish
September 16th, 2010
10:40 am
Chris I never said a word about paying players..my point if their supposed “free education” is anything but free. And I think most of the players are trilled to be doing what they are doing but its a heck of a lot harder row to hoe than most college students have. And sorry I should not have painted you as having it “easy” after rereading your post I still don’t like the tone but I had no right to take that shot my apologies.
jake
September 16th, 2010
10:47 am
how2fish you got a warped sense o’ humor. you probably been told that anyway.
how2fish
September 16th, 2010
10:49 am
jake as a matter of fact that is correct…your “atta boy” comment cracked me up by the way.
sam clemens
September 16th, 2010
11:02 am
what is all this river boat talk about anyway. the ncaa =lawyers. now is it not odd that you never hear them investigate the cheerleaders? you know some things are going on there, oh yea they do not get paid to cheer. let us just ban football then the ncaa will have nothing to do. let me get back to my lectures on comedy.
GA_WISHER-WATCHER
September 16th, 2010
11:09 am
Too bad for all. It all starts way before college. Kids hang with drop outs who say no need for serious sports, diploma or degree; sell drugs, have money, gold grills, old cars with $2k wheels. The college athlete has nothing until the NFL or NBA comes calling … and only if they do. It is sad. I hope AJG works his way outta the current mess and learns from his mistakes.
how2fish
September 16th, 2010
11:15 am
sam clemens I just have to ask…what in the world was the point to that riverboat ramble?
a nony mous
September 16th, 2010
11:33 am
GO KENNESAW STATE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Liven Up
September 16th, 2010
11:41 am
Let the Redcoat Band play Dixie and put some life in Sanford Stadium!!!!!!!
SEC Mike
September 16th, 2010
2:52 pm
The players get their ear rings from the same place as Chad Ochocinco (Claires) they are located in almost every American Mall. It’s cheap bling, less than $10 . People only think its real because an athlete is wearing it. College kids are in there all the time picking up fake bling.
haters are skaters
September 16th, 2010
3:31 pm
friday afternoon hearing??? any doubters that aj plays are clueless. the ncaa is looking for some good press out of this one.
looking forward to seeing #8 on sat.
UGA WR A.J. Green’s Suspension Appeal to be Heard Friday. « The Blog Hawgs
September 16th, 2010
5:08 pm
[...] by Adam Butler on September 16, 2010 If successful (and the NCAA renders a quick decision) Green could play Saturday versus the Hogs. My money is on the All-American wide receiver [...]
The Exterminator
September 16th, 2010
8:56 pm
Proof positive why NCAA athletes should get a stipend on top of their scholarship, so they don’t have to resort to crap like this. I know EA Sports NCAA ‘11 makes money off AJ’s likeness.