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
dylan
September 17th, 2010
6:55 pm
This is sad I mean how the heck can a player who sold something of his be suspended four games players who to agent’s parties only get two screw the NCAA
This is not right!!!
September 17th, 2010
6:56 pm
Yes is VERY stricit on them you are full of you
Jeremy
September 17th, 2010
6:56 pm
Just not Richt’s year. Richt’s been unlucky, again.
Maybe next year will be better.
GADAWG
September 17th, 2010
6:56 pm
That figures! NCAA is just mad because they are not receiving any “kick back” from the licensed jersey. If the “agent” would have just give him 1000 cash then they slap him with a two game suspension and everything is good. Way to be professional NCAA!!!!!
jack
September 17th, 2010
6:56 pm
good enough for ga maybe that will help the players . just give them a bottle or a beer will help to get started off.
UGABugKiller
September 17th, 2010
6:56 pm
The NCAA are a bunch of inconsistent HYPOCRITES!!!
So what they’re saying today, is that KNOWINGLY taking $1800 from an agent for TWO trips to Miami is not as bad as selling your jersey to a guy who you DON’T know is agent for $1000.
What in God’s name is going on with the NCAA!!!???
When did they throw all common sense and decency out the window?
NerdCentral@NorthAve
September 17th, 2010
6:56 pm
That’s what you get for selling a jersey to a drug trafficer. What do you expect the NCAA to do?
Chris Rainey On Your Parade
September 17th, 2010
6:56 pm
BTW. AJ, Coach U M wanted me to let you know that if your interested he would like to buy your shoes from last years independence bowl?
UGA Student
September 17th, 2010
6:56 pm
NerdCentral
Before you say our program is “crumbling” because of off field behavior, you might want to make sure your boys aren’t dealing drugs and beating up their girlfriends.
This is not right!!!
September 17th, 2010
6:57 pm
Alec Ogletree did NOT play ANY Of the game I was AT THE GAME so keep lying!
wpww dawg
September 17th, 2010
6:57 pm
who cares, CMR is on the way out! not having aj is no excuse for playing the way we play! maybe this will speed up the firing process. look @florida and bama they replaced half their starters and you dont hear them complaining! they just plug in the next guy and move on! look @ boise,tcu,or utah for the next coach if one is willing to play the big boys! cmr has lost this team, and this is comming from someone who has always backed him up until this year!
GoDawgs
September 17th, 2010
6:57 pm
I agree with NERD CENTRAL. I watched a replay of Fla. and Alabama. Fla. was with Tebow. Urban was yelling and screaming and then I watched Nick saban yell and get results. Richt you are a great person but a softy for a coach. TIme to go.
RUNDAWGRUN
September 17th, 2010
6:57 pm
NCAA SEND A MESSAGE….DON’T MESS WITH OUR MONEY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jimmie
September 17th, 2010
6:57 pm
@NerdCentral@NorthAve
Little brother syndrome must be a hell of a thing, huh?
dawgdoodie
September 17th, 2010
6:57 pm
damnit!!!
Puffy
September 17th, 2010
6:57 pm
aj COST HIMSELF MILLIONS OF BUCKS WITH THIS THING. HE COULD HAVE DONE TOP 5 PICK, LOOK AT HOW FAR DEZ BRYANT DROPPED AFTER THE CHARACTER STUFF AND BRYANT LYING TO THE NCAA.
ken
September 17th, 2010
6:58 pm
Just another case of the man holding a black man down.
Delbert D.
September 17th, 2010
6:59 pm
According to the Sporting News, Chris Hawkins is also at the center of the NCAA’s investigation into the UNC football program. They will get slammed hard when this investigation is over.
wpww dawg
September 17th, 2010
6:59 pm
it is plainly stated anything over 1000 is a 4 game susp! i dont like the rule but stupid aj knew it and did it anyway! so dont blame the lame ncaa BLAME AJ!!
Pete Carroll
September 17th, 2010
6:59 pm
Hmm, didn’t know they even started investigated until 5 years after you’re gone. Interesting.
UGA Student
September 17th, 2010
6:59 pm
This is not right!!!
Get your facts straight, Alec Ogletree played in the last quarter of the ULL game.
ryan
September 17th, 2010
7:00 pm
Man i can’t take it any more King is out now Green has to sit 2 more games what else can go wrong it like a nightmare .
StraightJacket
September 17th, 2010
7:00 pm
Remember: A.J. was NOT actually arrested, so this will NOT go on Ugag’s point total in the RACE for the 2011 Fulmer Cup!
So, … at least ya got that goin’ for ya ….
GoDawgs
September 17th, 2010
7:00 pm
We want HARBAUGH OR BOISE STATES COACH. If he can get those recruits to perform think about what he could do with UGA’s recruits.
Habitual Violater
September 17th, 2010
7:00 pm
I heard the “agent” on 790 the other day. There is NO WAY this guy is an agent. Too stupid. He could barely speak english. He would be shredded by even the least saviest GM. If you heard this guy you wouldn’t have hired him to wash your car much less run your extremely lucrative and fragile career. Apparently he’s a drug agent though. Once AJ’s back, Coach Bozo will throw the bomb the first play of every drive. Nothing like 2nd and 10 at your own 18 to help the D!
UGA man
September 17th, 2010
7:00 pm
This ruling is pretty obvious to me. The football program and AD have been a complete embarassment to the school, alumni, sec and ncaa this year. Mark Richt does not have control of his team, Damon could not control himself and AJ made a terrible decision. If we can’t police ourselves then looks like the NCAA will.
Jimmie
September 17th, 2010
7:00 pm
@Ugastudent
I know you are such a fan and love UGA and all but you DO know that Ogletree’s brother plays on the team. FYI. His name is Zander. Check the roster buddy
wpww dawg
September 17th, 2010
7:00 pm
he will still b a first round pic
DawgNation
September 17th, 2010
7:00 pm
@NerdCentral@NorthAve:
Powerhouse Arkansas team that didn’t record a single sack against ULM last week, is going to march into Athens and shut down A. Murray. Right…
Fair and Balanced
September 17th, 2010
7:01 pm
It is obvious that there is more to this extreme punishment than what has been reported. Green must have lied somewhere to somebody or something else severe enough to warrant this kind of payment.
This is not right!!!
September 17th, 2010
7:01 pm
UGA not he DID NOT you need to your right
TheTaxJacket
September 17th, 2010
7:02 pm
He’s lucky they didn’t increase it! What a GREEDY PUNK!!!!
(((( 45 – 42 ))))
This is not right!!!
September 17th, 2010
7:02 pm
it was not Alec that played it was HIS BROTHER get your fact right before you go off and say like that
Scott
September 17th, 2010
7:02 pm
Kicking Green off the team for doing something that is only illegal to the NCAA would be crazy. Then he would have to remove everyone else that has broken the law because thats worse anyway right? Doing something that is against the law is worse than doing something thats against the NCAA rules? If he does that he effectively loses his two best players in ealey and green and then he loses a s!*t ton of games and then he is criticized and eventually fired. In a sense he has to keep green to keep his job.
Courtney
September 17th, 2010
7:02 pm
Take this to court and get an injunction.
outraged
September 17th, 2010
7:03 pm
He looks like he should have said he was at the agents party and he would have only gotten 2 games.
T-Rex G.
September 17th, 2010
7:03 pm
I wish Richt has the guts(or B—-Ls) to get rid of Green. And that other loser Washing Easly. Any coach with any smarts at all knows that people like Green are trouble and are not part of a team—-he is only thinking of himself!!!!!!!!!!!!—-Get a life Richt and pull the plug and move on————–life isnt going to get any worse!!———That Easy guy runs sideways into the defense—what a loser!!!!!!!!!!!—–get rid of the punks and lets play some football man, come on. Act like you got a pair.
GoDawgs
September 17th, 2010
7:03 pm
FIRE RICHT!!! We want a coach who YELLS and has some sort of INTENSITY.
the bitter truth
September 17th, 2010
7:03 pm
if green is the difference between winning and losing, that doesn’t say much about all the other players. could it be that this is the ncaa way of dealing with a program that is too lax on it’s players? go to athens, get busted, and sit out against the louisanna school of barbers. go dawg nation, you must be proud.
Screw the NCAA
September 17th, 2010
7:04 pm
The NCAA is an effing joke. They CLAIM they are concerned about the student-athlete yet they don’t suspend kids who make helmet to helmet contact and injure other players. Yet, sell your jersey and you sit for four games? They are all high and mighty about kids going to classes but an athlete who has a chance of going pro cannot hire an agent? Hell, maybe all employers and recruiters should be banned from campuses and students contacting potential employers before graduation should be expelled.
Gooddawg
September 17th, 2010
7:04 pm
Today’s NCAA setup is modern day slavery. Some of these athletes come from very poor socio-economic backgrounds. They can’t have a part time job to earn some spending money but the NCAA and the schools make millions and millions of dollars in profit off these young people. How does that make sense. We need to pay these athletes a stipend so they don’t have to live like moles. The system needs to be changed. I don’t know what the UGA officials argued but is it even legal to tell an athlete that they can’t sell property which belongs to them.
Zach
September 17th, 2010
7:04 pm
The NCAA is so logical, so consistent. Whatever! What’s up with the four-game to two-game reduction for Alabama? Is the NCAA going to strip South Carolina of last week’s win because some of their players got unsanctioned financial perks by staying in a hotel at a dirt-cheap price? I understand the Massoli deal is a technical issue, but still, come on, how crazy is it that a guy who is dismissed after a burglary charge at Oregon faces no suspension when he goes to play for another team? Why the constant delays by the NCAA on the case? Why the run-around? The NCAA needs to explain their actions. The juxtaposition of these current cases is truly unsettling. There is a real belief now among many UGA fans that there is some unseen agenda at play against them. I have long been annoyed by conspiracy-minded screaming. My buddies feel that this is tied back to this 2007 day in Jacksonville, a long-held, institutional grudge against Richt and his decision against Florida. I try not to be that guy who buys into such talk. But I’m getting pulled that way more and more. By the way, why did the NCAA move to tighten restrictions on celebrations this past year? After last year’s phantom celebration by A.J. Green was flagged, there were official apologies from the SEC. And I figured the NCAA would finally relax this rule and let the players have some fun. Nope. They went the other way. We’re looking at touchdowns taken off the scoreboard in the future. What the heck? Where’s the logic?
UGA Student
September 17th, 2010
7:04 pm
This is not right!!
Are you drunk?
TheTaxJacket
September 17th, 2010
7:04 pm
*** Nesbitt for Heismen ***
Die-Hard UGA Fan
September 17th, 2010
7:04 pm
Good! What part of this do you blinded people not understand?
Agent — Gives — Football — Player — $1,000?
If you believe the “jersey” had anything to do with it other than a late thought cover, youre naive. Oh, almost forgot; now there’s the spectre of white powder in the area….
Personally, I hope Green never plays another down at the institution I once respected. They never should have appealed. That only compounded the disgrace. His teammates should smack the crap out of him.
Leroy Farted
September 17th, 2010
7:05 pm
Hahahahaha, What a LOSER !!!!!! A greedy CHUMP
smittydawg
September 17th, 2010
7:05 pm
UGA Student – Ogletree was on the sidelines the whole game against LL. He had his jersey on but no pads. It could have been a walk on wearing #9 as you can have 2 players with the same number as long as they don’t play on the same side of the ball or you heard then PA call out his twin brother Zander Ogletree who played on special teams and was a backup fullback against LL
THEMOB
September 17th, 2010
7:05 pm
UGA NEEDS TO HIRE NEW ATTORNEYS YES I’M SCREAMIN
NerdCentral@NorthAve
September 17th, 2010
7:05 pm
Richt should change his t-shirts from “finish the drill” to “maybe next year”.
dawg stuck in SC
September 17th, 2010
7:06 pm
Wrong! UGA needs to have the guts to get rid of Mark Richt. His little dainty self is the whole problem.