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
Alex Jones
September 17th, 2010
9:06 pm
It’s a conspiracy!!! Surely the Illuminati must be involved!
mike
September 17th, 2010
9:07 pm
i will say go dawgs and good luck against hogs..i am sick of off field bs….really tired it helps no
one but espn talk show ……………………………………holes
DDPO
September 17th, 2010
9:07 pm
Yeah Leg Humpers, this is the NCAA’s fault. They made him sell his jersey. Green knew the rules, rolled the dice and lost. Green has let his teammates down. End of story.
I’m sure he’ll “tweet” us an update before the game.
jack e. row
September 17th, 2010
9:08 pm
Maybe this hurts A.J.,s draft status with the NFL and he will have to come back for his senior season.Or maybe A.J.will be sorry that he hurt his team’s chances and he feels he let them down and he will come back for his senior year.
blah
September 17th, 2010
9:09 pm
clemsons quarterback can sign a million dollar contract with MLB and can still play college football but A.J cant sell his own jersey for 1000 dollars. NCAA is a joke
Delbert D.
September 17th, 2010
9:10 pm
Well, there is the NAIA, or there could be a new organization.
Rules, or no rules? There have to be some rules.
Form conference leagues under ownership of the NFL? How would that work?
The Olympics used to be all amateurs, and now they are mostly professional athletes in the big events.
What about the whole idea that these are institutions of higher learning?
Embarrassed UGA grad
September 17th, 2010
9:10 pm
A lot of you should consider what you are posting before you hit submit. Some of the “fans” of UGA that I see post on here often need to remember that what you post is a direct reflection on the University. Do NOT spoil the image of the University and our alumni. You must remember that UGA is an academic institution, not just a football club that hosts games on Saturdays. The college was there before a single football was tossed around.
CLEVON LITTLE
September 17th, 2010
9:11 pm
North GA Retiree , YOU are missing the (larger) point. The POINT is not that he was suspended for breaking a rule, or that he would be the difference in the outcome of a game. The POINT IS that the rule was there in the first place. A player has to be removed from HS for 3-yrs to go to the NFL, and needs to go to college (or play ball somewhere) to do that. The ‘rules’ are in place before they arrive, so they really have no choice in the matter, and I believe it is morally WRONG to make millions on these guys while telling them that they can’t sell their own cloths. Tell me, wonder how much money the NCAA makes of players like GREEN by selling hundreds & thousands of the #8 jersey?
5150 P.O.A.D
September 17th, 2010
9:11 pm
TML I can buy a coffee mug with USC on it but it also has the Offically Licensed Sticker on it. Doesn’t that mean the NCAA gets a cut?
TML
September 17th, 2010
9:11 pm
…and to add to all this…if you think leaving the NCAA is the cure to all your ails, if you even THINK about paying players, FEDERAL law states that if you want to pay the football players, you also have to pay the women’s volleyball players, the women’s basketball players, the women’s soccer players, etc., and have to pay them the same as the football players. It’s called Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (look it up). I wonder how that tremendous athletic budget surplus at u[sic]ga would start to look once you went down THAT path…
Beast from the East
September 17th, 2010
9:12 pm
Embarrassed,
Well said. We all have fans that seem to forget that from time to time.
Alphare
September 17th, 2010
9:12 pm
UGA players, now do you see what UGA will do for you if you are in trouble like dealing with agents, profiting like a pro-player etc? your coaches and your school will do whatever they can to get you off the hook. They will appeal on your behalf, they will hire lawyer for you.
So UGA players, keep doing what you have been doing, like stealing helmets, hit and run, dealing with agents. The entire school will be on your side if you are in trouble, because the school cares nothing but wins. Without you guys, they cannot win! You are the stars, not the school administrators, not coaches, it’s you who win the games! You can do whatever you want as long as you can help them win.
Gainesville Dawg
September 17th, 2010
9:13 pm
Yes, AJ should receive consequences for his actions, but there should consistency of the punishment between all athletes. That is what has gotten everyone so upset. Plus it seems that there is nothing that can be done about the NCAA’s decision.
Also, PLEASE keep Mark Richt’s Christian faith out of the blogs. You are evidently heathens for even alluding to it.
Come on, you Dawg fans!!!!!! Lets pull for the DAWGS!!!!!!!!!!! or if you are not, then go to downtown Atlanta and pull for that other state team on their blogs.
CLEVON LITTLE
September 17th, 2010
9:14 pm
Embarrassed UGA grad , when did you graduate? Bet you benefited from nice buildings & Grade A+ professors from the millions that the football team bought in. Perhaps you might want to think before you type. Good day.
Please stop with the homer accusations already!!!
September 17th, 2010
9:14 pm
Jello…I cant comment on Saban’s character. I do know that he waited until after the season to quit the Dolphins…even if he lied about it. Even if a midseason hire won a BCS championship in his second year, would you feel confident that he would ever spurn any other offer? How do you job hopping plays in a recruits living room with parents? What do you think the teams recruiting against you would say? “How can I be sure you will be there all 4 years, when you quit on your last team midseason?”
DDPO
September 17th, 2010
9:14 pm
DAWGINNYC -
What’s the phone number for an Athens bail bonds company? A few football players might read this blog in jail…
SonofaDawg
September 17th, 2010
9:14 pm
Tech fans might not want to post here, So. Miss just scored and is leading Kansas 14-3!
5150 P.O.A.D
September 17th, 2010
9:15 pm
blah Clemson’s QB SIGNED a CONTRACT he will not receive a penny until he goes to Spring Training. He WILL get money later now while he is in college. He can get loans based on his future earnings but I think the NCAA has rules on that as well.
dbc
September 17th, 2010
9:15 pm
I don’t know how many times I’ve used A.J. Green over the years as an example of an athlete who conducts himself “the right way.” Now it appears that the one constant, the one bright spot of this UGA team is just as corrupt and dishonest as the rest of the troublemakers. CMR has known the real story now for a month, he’s just not saying because his a$$ is on the line. And if you don’t think there’s more to this story than meets the eye, then you’re just plain stupid. If Richt had anything between his legs he’d suspend A.J. for the season, red-shirt him and let him have next year to prove himself to his teammates, coaches, fans, school and to NFL execs, who just automatically shaved 5 mil off of any potential signing bonus due to character issues. Hope the 1000 clams was worth it A.J. To CMR, I can hear him already in the postgame interview: “Well even though we’re 1-2, we’re thankful we still have our season ahead of us. All of our goals are still attainable, it’ll be just a tougher road to get there. Our guys are disappointed, but I’m confident we’ll bounce back with a great showing on the road at Miss. State.” Hand me a bucket.
Delbert D.
September 17th, 2010
9:15 pm
I say Alex (”the Illuminati”) and CokeHog (”Cry Havoc! and let slip the hogs of war”) should get special recognition awards for this blog.
TML
September 17th, 2010
9:17 pm
@5150 P.O.A.D – it may be licensed by the school itself but not by the CLC/NCAA. I don’t know for sure because we’ve never dealt with a non-CLC school. It could be that since they control all of their own copyrights, they deal directly with the NCAA with that. I’m not sure when it comes to non-CLC schools. I doubt it, however. You must remember that Southern Cal is a private school and therefore has pretty much TOTAL control of their image (not even having to worry about [California] state laws, like most schools).
Harold
September 17th, 2010
9:17 pm
UGA ‘83 Does anyone else ever wonder who all these people are that post on this blog? Hopefully you are all just fans and not actual alumni of The University of Georgia. Otherwise I would hope you could spell better
WELL SAID!!!!!
mangy and flea bitten
September 17th, 2010
9:17 pm
@embarressed…..oh no…thUGA is a football school where studying occasionally breaks out. Richt has no winning option here-disclipine a kid who breaks the rules and all the alumni and fans would call for his head. As lomg as the win column gets a check mark each week, no cares how embarrassing the chosen ones of thUGA act.
5150 P.O.A.D
September 17th, 2010
9:18 pm
TLM you are right! I would love to see the GYM DAWGS get the real MONEY because thay Win Championships while the football team can’t even win the SEC east. Nothing hotter than a 4′9″ GYM DAWG all ICED up Driving a Pimped out SUV rolling on 22’s. HAHAHA That would kill the football players for sure.
The Ghost of Wally Butts
September 17th, 2010
9:19 pm
Lost in all of this is the fact that one of our, so called, stellar players apparently thought no more of his game jersey than to sell it for some quick cash….
….in another time…when honor mattered…the jersey would have been an heirloom handed down to the next generation…
Until the next press conference confessing the next arrest, pass me a bucket to throw up in.
80Dawg
September 17th, 2010
9:21 pm
To you Tech fans: Follow your team you losers!!!!
Embarrassed UGA grad
September 17th, 2010
9:22 pm
CLEVON – You obviously missed the point I was making. UGA athletics does bring a positive influence on the university’s well-being. Why does that make it alright for fans to shine a negative light on the university with their hateful, distasteful, and embarrassing comments. It takes a lot of work to build an image, and very little to tear it down. Remember that. Like I said earlier, no university no football team. Keep it in perspective.
Bottom Line
September 17th, 2010
9:23 pm
Main thing we UGA fans need to do is:
1. Recognize AJ is out.
2. Recognize that CMR is in. Like it or not…it is the fact. Agree with previous guys. Richt can retire here if he wants. I support that. Rather have Richt than anyone else out there coaching right now. At least he does not tell lies.
3. Rally around the troops. We need the support of everyone to get through what may be a difficult year. Constructive criticism is great–bloated phrases filled with venom is not.
4. Really…do we want the Boise State coach? Really? Do we really want a former NFL guy as our HC? Really? Do we really want BVG as our representative? Really? We have a coach. IT is exciting to have an experienced coach that is still so young. He is offensive genius. As much as I like Bobo and hope he stays around. I wish Richt would take over the offense–run it and be more hands on on defense as well. Make Bobo assistant HC–give him more administrative stuff and let CMR light a fire under the offense.
Glory Glory
September 17th, 2010
9:24 pm
401st!!
Delbert D.
September 17th, 2010
9:24 pm
@Gainesville Dawg – And who are you to judge the character of people only by your own philosophy?
5150 P.O.A.D
September 17th, 2010
9:24 pm
80dawg there are other teams fans on here besides just tech and uga. Get over yourself or move to a lil city that just talks about gardening tips. If you don’t want THE BIG CITY info then go read the ABH and the Clarke county police blotter for you UGA news.
Glory Glory
September 17th, 2010
9:26 pm
WOW
Southern Miss is NOT helping Georgia Tech’a case right now.
Beast from the East
September 17th, 2010
9:26 pm
How in the world did Tech lose to Kansas? They’re getting hammered 21-3 at the half to Southern Miss!
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
September 17th, 2010
9:27 pm
Bobo now has an excuse for another week of conservative play calling
Dawg
September 17th, 2010
9:27 pm
No Count Athletic Association. AJ would have been better off by going to Florida and getting a little extra cash and would have been out only two games. I have no respect at all for anyone who works for NCAA. They may be getting a little extra cash under the table for making a stupid call like this.
You people are funny
September 17th, 2010
9:29 pm
If Richt had anything between his legs he’d suspend A.J. for the season, red-shirt him and let him have next year to prove himself to his teammates, coaches, fans, school and to NFL execs, who just automatically shaved 5 mil off of any potential signing bonus due to character issues.
Character issues? You act like this guy commited a crime. He made a huge error in judgment but let’s not carried away. I seriously doubt the NFL will “shave” anything off his earning potential.
5150 P.O.A.D
September 17th, 2010
9:29 pm
Tech was BAD against Kansas for sure. Kansas is Bad, but be a lil carefule dawg fans! Don’t you guys have to TRAVEL to Colorado? How did that Travel to OSU work out for you guys too? When betting on the NFL always bet against the East Coast team traveling out West to play a game. 98% of the time you will win that bet.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
September 17th, 2010
9:30 pm
Pass the Conservative playbook 101 please
Delbert D.
September 17th, 2010
9:30 pm
“Southern Miss is NOT helping Georgia Tech’a case right now.”
I don’t think Georgia Tech is presenting a case right now. They have to be concerned only with the game tomorrow. They better be…
Doug Patterson
September 17th, 2010
9:30 pm
I think it is time to tell AJ to move on to the NFL. Obviously he knew what he was doing was wrong and could have a major impact on the school and team. He made a decision that affected everyone of his teammates and the goals they set at the beginning of the year. It is time to fully move on without this very selfish young man. By the way, he is not a kid, he is a young man and should be fully held accountable for his actions. GOOD BYE AJ!
MS Bully
September 17th, 2010
9:30 pm
I hate we will not be able to see Green play in Starkville. Just look what the NCAA is doing to Recardo Sydney at Mississippi State if you want to see someone getting screwed. He already sat out all last year in basketball and has to miss the first 9 games this season. Screw the NCAA!!
SonofaDawg
September 17th, 2010
9:31 pm
Damn techies, You guys really do suck! So. Miss is plucking the jayhawks
ryan
September 17th, 2010
9:31 pm
You guys on here are nuts to say just fire everybody Green did this to him self fire McGarity you go to be kidding me .
MS Bully
September 17th, 2010
9:32 pm
How did Georgia Tech get beat by Kansas? Southern Miss. is not good of a team this year and tehy are kicking Kansas tail.
poopdawg
September 17th, 2010
9:33 pm
A NC grad lawyer worked this case for the NCAA against AJ. Wonder if the buyer (from NC) and the lawyer had prior history?
Objective Sports fan
September 17th, 2010
9:34 pm
Tech beat themselves against Kansas…that’s how it happened.
BTW, I’m neither a UGA or GT fan. Just watched the game as a college football fan.
Sanford Drive
September 17th, 2010
9:36 pm
South Carolina > Georgia > Southern Miss > North Dakota State > Kansas > Georgia Tech.
That really sucks being the caboose on that train.
5150 P.O.A.D
September 17th, 2010
9:36 pm
Maybe UGA and McGarity will look at the Flowery Branch High School football coach, SHAW. His son went to TECH and now is the QB at Ga Southern and his other son is the QB in waiting at USCeast under The Darth Visor.
bake
September 17th, 2010
9:36 pm
i’m disappointed but at the end of the day he knows he can’t do that crap. so don’t do it and you can play or if someone finds out…sit for 4. aj’s a good kid…paying a hefty price for a bad decision. hopefully others at UGA can learn that NOBODY is above the rules. that doesn’t seem to be a lesson that’s getting across to our players…
Delbert D.
September 17th, 2010
9:37 pm
James Madison’s coach had an interesting comment before the VT game. He said that the top 6 or 7 FCS schools could be competitive playing FBS opponents. They allow only 63 scholarships in the FCS.
N. Dakota St., who beat Kansas, lost last week to Northern Iowa and dropped to #18 in the FCS poll this week. Northern Iowa is the team that had 2 short FG attempts blocked in the last 7 seconds to fall to Iowa, 17-16 last season. You just never know when it’s going to happen.