NCAA rejects appeal of A.J. Green suspension (updated)
(Last updated 10:15 p.m.)
Georgia will have to play without star wide receiver A.J. Green for two more games, including Saturday’s against Arkansas in Sanford Stadium.
An NCAA committee Friday rejected Georgia’s appeal of the four-game suspension handed Green last week for selling his Independence Bowl jersey for $1,000 to a person the NCAA considers an agent.
Georgia had hoped to have the suspension shortened, but the NCAA Division I Student-Athlete Reinstatement Committee, after hearing the appeal by conference call Friday morning, informed UGA officials late in the day that the original penalty will stand.
That means Green, who sat out Georgia’s first two games, will remain sidelined for the crucial game against No. 12 Arkansas and the Sept. 25 game at Mississippi State. He’ll be eligible to return for the Oct. 2 game at Colorado.
While the original suspension was imposed by NCAA staff, the appeal was heard by a committee consisting of officials from colleges and conferences across the country. The committee rejected Georgia’s appeal without public comment. The ruling was disclosed by UGA on Friday evening.
“We respect the committee’s decision and will focus on moving forward,” athletic director Greg McGarity said in a statement.
The NCAA’s investigation of Green, a junior who is widely projected as a high NFL draft pick if he turns pro next year, began in July as part of a series of probes at a number of schools into dealings between football players and agents.
The NCAA said last week that “according to the facts of the case submitted by Georgia,” Green sold the jersey to “an individual who meets the NCAA definition of an agent,” later identified as former North Carolina football player Chris Hawkins.
The NCAA defines an agent as “any individual who markets or promotes a student-athlete.” Hawkins has denied being an agent. It also would be against NCAA rules for a student-athlete to sell memorabilia to a non-agent.
Georgia has declined to release the “facts of the case” or other related documents. In response to an open-records request from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, UGA said it would not release the documents because doing so “would directly identify one particular student,” Green. The university said that would violate a federal law protecting student education records, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
Green’s four-game suspension has drawn criticism from some Georgia fans because of another recent case in which Alabama defensive end Marcell Dareus received a two-game suspension for accepting about $1,800 in benefits from an agent. In that case, the NCAA said Dareus received a two-game ban, rather than four games, “based on mitigating circumstances.”
Another recent case, involving Middle Tennessee State quarterback Dwight Dasher, resulted in the same penalty as Green’s. The NCAA on Thursday suspended Dasher for four games for accepting $1,500 in “an impermissible loan from an individual in the community.”
Asked for comment on Friday’s ruling and the reason the appeal was denied, NCAA associate director of public and media relations Stacey Osburn said by e-mail “we do not have any further to share” beyond confirming the decision.
Georgia coach Mark Richt had held out hope that the appeal might put Green back on the field for Saturday’s game, but Richt said several times this week that the coaches were preparing the game plan on the premise that Green would not be available.
In a statement after Friday’s ruling, Richt said: “Our concentration is the same as the last two weeks, which is preparing for the next game. We’ll look forward to A.J.’s return for the Colorado game on Oct. 2.”
Green, who can continue to practice with the team during the suspension, was not available for comment.
His teammates were hoping for, but not necessarily expecting, good news on the appeal.
“It’s not something you can bank on because you never know,” tight end Aron White said at mid-week. “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.”
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704 comments Add your comment
5150 P.O.A.D
September 17th, 2010
11:07 pm
Green as a Fr with Stafford, Soph with Cox, and 3/4 Jr with a freshamn murry? AJ is truly an unknow talent.
Monkey says:
September 17th, 2010
11:08 pm
Delbert D. …I will add to that with….will the UGA dogs be out of contention by the time he comes back, if that happens then expect Richt to throw out all stops to keep his job and make a case for one more year, and AJ will be thrown to thrown to and thrown to, and beat to hell by game 12…
Tom
September 17th, 2010
11:11 pm
I’m a UGA fan but don’t forget about COLORADO game.
Monkey says:
September 17th, 2010
11:13 pm
Does the PAC 10 suck or what? Do they have anything except Oregon?
Watch out for upsets on Saturday…
Texas Tech can beat Texas
Air Force can score on Oklahoma, but can they stop Oklahoma
BYU can beat FSU if FSU does not stop the pass like last week.
Clemson can upset Auburn if Auburn plays like they did in the 2nd half against MSU
Michigan St can upset ND if they play under control for 4 quarters.
Bluemonster
September 17th, 2010
11:13 pm
AJ is lucky he isn’t suspended for the entire season. The harm he has brought to the program this year eclipses what he has done for the program, He may very well go down as one of the biggest busts in UGA history. All the talent and never capitalized on it due to injury and stupidity. Until Richt quits tolerating this crap the thuggery will continue.
Delbert D.
September 17th, 2010
11:15 pm
The NCAA did not create the BCS or its predecessor, the Bowl Coalition. The Bowl organizations themselves did that. The NCAA does not recognize the BCS or Bowl Coalition with the exception of including the statistics in their records.
On the other hand, the NCAA includes the NIT as a subsidiary organization and includes all NIT financial information in its annual annual financial reports.
Common Sense
September 17th, 2010
11:16 pm
Richt has lost the last 3 straight against ranked opponents at home.
I don’t see the trend changing.
Time for a new coach peeps.
5150 P.O.A.D
September 17th, 2010
11:17 pm
Tom do you mean that big bad 3-9(09) Colorado team? You better worry about what 1-10(09) Idaho State will do to the dawgs the week after the Gators slap the mutts around. Well, the good thing is the new UGA VIII will be introduced to the UGA fans before the Idaho State game.
Richt is in Trouble
September 17th, 2010
11:18 pm
We cheat, steal, hit & run and yet don’t win Championships!!! What’s up with that Coach Richt? At least when USC, FSU, and Miami were cheating and were known for hoodlums they still won Championships!
Common Sense
September 17th, 2010
11:18 pm
Yea, AJ Green IS a bust.
I saw his twitter apology.
Truly pathetic.
Can he even tie his own shoes because he damn sure can’t write proper English.
JELLO JOCKITCH
September 17th, 2010
11:18 pm
Let’s get JOE TORRE for our Coach……i.e. baseball.
Delbert D.
September 17th, 2010
11:19 pm
Monkey says – Are you in the “Sack Schultz” pool? I went 13 out of 15 last week, but I’ll take 10 out of 15 and be feeling okay this weekend.
Common Sense
September 17th, 2010
11:19 pm
????
Bluemonster
September 17th, 2010
11:19 pm
I missed his twitter apology so if someone has it please post it
circa 2007
September 17th, 2010
11:21 pm
season was over last Sat around 1:30pm…We’re done. 2014 is the year! trust me.
5150 P.O.A.D
September 17th, 2010
11:22 pm
I think DORA the EXPLPORA is running around in my Pants. It must be late or I have had too much Jack and not enough Ice.
Bluemonster
September 17th, 2010
11:23 pm
Its time for AJ Sanks, errr AJ Durham, errrr AJ Carter, errr AJ King you get the idea…..to leave town
ATLSUX
September 17th, 2010
11:23 pm
fire the whole university! Go Green!
Monkey says:
September 17th, 2010
11:24 pm
Delbert D…I did not get in..keep kicking butt brother……we may need to take you to Vegas…..
Common Sense
September 17th, 2010
11:24 pm
AJ Green Twitter “apology”
Iwanttoapologizetomyteamand fans. As I go thought this it will be a learning experiences for me But I want to thank my fan for the support.
Bluemonster
September 17th, 2010
11:25 pm
That twitter apology is worth a 3 game suspension itself
5150 P.O.A.D
September 17th, 2010
11:25 pm
C S really is that what AJ tweeted?
something fishy
September 17th, 2010
11:26 pm
You should know by now that the ncaa is composed by a bunch of phony old men. ncaa stands for No Class At All the same as some of the bloggers that use the UGA name to pose as UGA students or supporters and saystupid things like dismissing AJ or firing Coach Richt. These people are just as gutless as the ncaa. All thes bloggers should be banned from AJC blogging for at least 4 years.. Creeps
go tanyard!
September 17th, 2010
11:27 pm
maybe AJ Tanyard Creek will swallow up the Hogs passing game! woo!
Rob
September 17th, 2010
11:27 pm
It truly is hilarious how all of you UGA crybabies are blaming this on The NCAA or the lawyers or even on Richt. The problem is A J Green – he did something he knew he wasn’t supposed to do, and now he’s paying the price. It’s his fault, and he needs to take responsibility – and the rest of you idiots need to shut up, sit back, and watch the mediocre dawgs go through another subpar season (which you will then blame on Richt and Bobo and everybody else but the players).
5150 P.O.A.D
September 17th, 2010
11:27 pm
If that is waht he tweeted he would have been better off trying the Damon excuse. Do you know how I am? I am a big time UGA player! I can cry if that will help.
Monkey says:
September 17th, 2010
11:27 pm
I think my apology on page 5 was better…AJ feel free to use it….
Bluemonster
September 17th, 2010
11:28 pm
something fishy it appears that you are blogging as well……I’m just saying……AJ put himself before the team and deserves what he got. Sorry you think it isn’t deserved but if you break the rules you have to pay consequences-unless you are a member of a union
Delbert D.
September 17th, 2010
11:28 pm
Idaho St. will be beat up when they play Georgia. They have Montana, Weber St. and Montana St. in the previous 3 weeks. All of those teams are in the FCS top 25.
Common Sense
September 17th, 2010
11:29 pm
I ran across a YouTube video entitled “Is Caleb King is the next Heschel Walker?”
That people, is damn funny.
Caleb King couldn’t carry Jasper Sanks jock strap.
That too, is damn funny.
5150 P.O.A.D
September 17th, 2010
11:29 pm
Something Fishy? Is that what Damon said when he got a good whiff of your red panties?
Really does anybody know if Mrs. Evans has filed for Divorce yet?
Delbert D.
September 17th, 2010
11:30 pm
AJ’s “fan” being Chris Hawkins?
RINGTHEBEELL
September 17th, 2010
11:31 pm
the BOZ was right THE NCCA IS COMMUNIST!!!!
Monkey says:
September 17th, 2010
11:32 pm
One question ….What movie did Mark Richt take his Bulldogs to see tonight?
EAT, PRAY, LOVE
OR
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKCSnDGECL4
NCAA3b20
September 17th, 2010
11:32 pm
Just wanted to say that I had no intention of investigating Green for a jersey sale until I got into Athens and realized he never went to Miami.
5150 P.O.A.D
September 17th, 2010
11:34 pm
It is just a rumor but I hear Barbra Dooley is selling her Gameday Worn Orange Panties to help pay for the Vol players court fines and fees.
Delbert D.
September 17th, 2010
11:34 pm
That’s it for me. Many games to watch tomorrow. Got to sleep when I can get it.
Hurt Dawg
September 17th, 2010
11:35 pm
Obviously Green was not forthcominbg during the investighation. The Alabama kid had more agreidious infractins, but he wasx honest and was granted lienancy. Green cheated adn then lied.
RINGTHEBEELL
September 17th, 2010
11:35 pm
Crowell Can RUN the rock,did you see that tonight!!! I hope we get him!!!!!
5150 P.O.A.D
September 17th, 2010
11:36 pm
Who is the NCCA? Damn, I thought we defeated most of the communists and just have the Socialists in Washington to defeat now.
Pu Pu
September 17th, 2010
11:36 pm
Kick these guys off the team, they don’t deserve to wear the red & black.
Raze
September 17th, 2010
11:37 pm
Something’s up when Bama gets off with a 2 game susp and Georg gets a 4 game.
Common Sense
September 17th, 2010
11:37 pm
@ 5150 P.O.A.D
Yup, that’s what he posted. Simple copy and paste.
@ Rob
I’m not a UGA crybaby…. AJ f_ c]{ ed up and is paying the price.
So’s the whole team
I’m just sick and damn tired of every conceivable problem/excuse plaguing my beloved UGA.
PUT A WINNING PRODUCT ON THE FIELD.
WE CAN PRAY ABOUT IT LATER RICHT.
WIN BABY, JUST WIN.
5150 P.O.A.D
September 17th, 2010
11:37 pm
Ringthebell Why go to UGA when BAMA is knocking on the door? The Great Senior O-line is doing so well now I just know that in 2 years Crowell will love running behind a redshirt Soph. line for sure.
Tru Blu
September 17th, 2010
11:38 pm
SEC hasn’t favored Georgia with anything in years, neither has ESPN, or the NCAA.
Rattler
September 17th, 2010
11:38 pm
This becoems yet another ecuse for a medicore year.
Pago Pago Dawg
September 17th, 2010
11:39 pm
He let his team down, a great guy! The DAWGS don’t want Southern Miss either….
Minny Silver
September 17th, 2010
11:39 pm
You can kiss the next 2 games goodbye. Ark wins, MSU beats LSU and Georgia back to back.
Jack
September 17th, 2010
11:40 pm
Do me favor folks, no more artcles on the AJC about AJ Green, it’s 4 games, see you in Colrado when Georgia is 1-4.
Frankie
September 17th, 2010
11:42 pm
SC, NC, BAMA are all facing NCAA suspensions, so Georgia can’t use that as an excuse.