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
BoWeevil
September 17th, 2010
9:37 pm
Way to go AJ Green
dawg95
September 17th, 2010
9:37 pm
boots – Seriously? Calm down. I think you are over-reacting a bit. He chose to break the rules, he pays the price. If I go 95 down I-85 and get caught by the police. Do I get mad at the police? No, I get mad at myself. It is called taking responsibility for your actions.
Monkey says:
September 17th, 2010
9:39 pm
This is the problem with You UGA fans, who by far are the worst people to be around on a game day with the exception of LSU fans. The first thing you guys do is start pointing fingers at other programs and what their players got other offenses. That is exactly what Phil Fulmer did while at Tennessee.
Now onto AJ Green and his case. If you guys do not realize it or do not want to face the facts, AJ was not truthful with the NCAA and it caught up with him. He was used by an Agent, and a drug dealer and now is under the microscope with the N.C. State Attorney interviewing Marvin Austin about his knowledge and what he and who he asked to get involved. Be thankful that the full investigation did not take place in the spring and this would have cost AJ his entire junior year.
Now you UGA fans need to get a grip and understand you are on the verge with a loss on Saturday to Arkansas to falling to new lows…and CMR will not be a favorite.
One more thing you guys need to understand….When a high high number of media, athletic supporters are on a coach and put a coach on the hot seat list, very very rarely does that coach come off that hot seat and is usually fired or not retained withing the next 3 years….this is year 2 of the hot seat talk..and a BCS title and SEC title ARE NOT in the bulldogs near future…You can not turn back now..Days are numbered..and too many teams are getting better while UGA is staying the same or going backwards.
Delbert D.
September 17th, 2010
9:40 pm
Sanford Drive – Watch out for the caboose. It would be really embarrassing to lose on Nov. 27.
acworth dawg
September 17th, 2010
9:41 pm
hey sanford drive, hopefully you have watched enough college football to understand that the kind of reasoning you laid out there very rarely holds up. Every Saturday is different
aarh
September 17th, 2010
9:44 pm
UGA Student- Alec Ogletree didn’t play in the first game, bc I read in the paper he wasn’t going to play before the game, & I also read in the papare afterwards that he did not play. His brother played, bc he didn’t get in trouble. Alec did play some in the last game against SC on special teams though, but not the first one though.
Browndog
September 17th, 2010
9:44 pm
The team will play much better tomorrow. The key is to let Murray play his game and have some fun. The rest of the team will feed off of his energy.
Sanford Drive
September 17th, 2010
9:44 pm
A bad Saturday being a Dawg sure does beat a good Thursday being a Jacket.
DawgNation
September 17th, 2010
9:48 pm
Braves Win 6-4. My God they can win on the road.
SonofaDawg
September 17th, 2010
9:49 pm
Regardless of this ruling, dawgs bite hogs in (upset?) win saturday 21-17
Razorback BBQ plate
September 17th, 2010
9:50 pm
Bobby Petrino is a tired act.
5150 P.O.A.D
September 17th, 2010
9:51 pm
Sanford Drive you do know UGA will now play on Thursday Night with the new ESPN contract? I bet Clarke county can cover a years budget with all the DUIs from Dawg fans on any Thursday Night Game in Athens.
JDawg
September 17th, 2010
9:52 pm
Jeez, how good is S.C. they really laid the wood to So. Miss and they are spanking the J hawks who beat the jackets
Delbert D.
September 17th, 2010
9:52 pm
Sanford Drive – Did you used to be a Jacket fan?
5150 P.O.A.D
September 17th, 2010
9:53 pm
Calling a Dawg win at home against the Hogs is funny to this TECH fan.
Boss Hog
September 17th, 2010
9:53 pm
How can the dawgs upset the hogs, the dawgs are a 2 point favorite????????????????
Delbert D.
September 17th, 2010
9:53 pm
Uh-oh. Southern Miss is falling apart. Kansas got a first down.
5150 P.O.A.D
September 17th, 2010
9:54 pm
Sorry, but calling a Dawg win at home against the Hogs an upset is funny to this Tech fan.
Sanford Drive
September 17th, 2010
9:57 pm
How do you avoid being mugged on a Thursday night on Tech’s “campus”?
Attend the football game
aarh
September 17th, 2010
9:58 pm
GO Dawgs- Last yr. Murray was coming off an injury in high school, & he also was hurt last yr. as well. I believe in practice. I don’t believe he enrolled early in school either, & apparently was having trouble grasping the offense. UGA was coming off losing Stafford, Moreno, & Massaquio. The O-Line started out not being as good as expected…partly bc of injuries, & inexperence. The running game took a while to get going…partly bc of the O-Line. Remember, they had R. Samuel at RB early in the yr., & didn’t play Ealey until half way through the yr., & I believe C. King was hurt early too. It very well may have been hard for any QB to have a great overall yr. last yr., bc the team around him wasn’t as good as everybody thought it would be. The defense was terrible too. The team wasn’t blocking for Cox, the running game was non-existant, & the receivers weren’t catching the ball. Cox played better at the end of the yr. once the team started to play better. He actually had a lot of passing yards, & I believe he came close to tying Stafford’s TD record to. He just threw too many Ints., which are bad, but that’s not always all the QB’s fault too. Cox had one more yards than most QBs in the SEC last yr. Not all, but most. Cox was also play ing w/ harly any experience also. I think Murray will be better, bc he’s only a Fr., but that doesn’t mean that he should’ve played last yr. though.
Delbert D.
September 17th, 2010
9:58 pm
SC>So.Miss>Kansas>Ga.Tech
No. Iowa>N.DakSt>Kansas>Ga.Tech
SC=No.Iowa
Therefore, No.Iowa>Georgia
????
Sanford Drive
September 17th, 2010
9:59 pm
The fact that all you HATERS are even here…. on the 5th page of comments on an article that has NOTHING to do with anything but UGA, proves the amount of envy you posess.
And that makes us look better.
Thanks for coming.
JT
September 17th, 2010
10:00 pm
Since when is $1000 more than $1800? NCAA is to College Football as the present US Government is to the US Citizens.
Monkey says:
September 17th, 2010
10:01 pm
Delbert D….I read your post..you are sensible and really get it and keep a level head..so I will speak to you and others can read and get mad, but I know you will get what I am going to say.
Every, I mean Every Four Star or Five Star Player who comes from a disadvantaged background and some that come from middle class background ALL recieve preferential treatment throughout high school and are give extra benefits starting early as their junior years in high school. Now with that being said, alot of these kids get used to “living” a certain lifestyle, this is transferred over to their “college experience’. If anyone thinks that even smaller underfunded programs are exempt from kids getting “freebies” and are given advantages while playing for their respective schools, get a clue. AJ is just one of those guys who got greedy and could not wait for that payday next spring when the NFL will call out his name.
These agents have gotten out of control and the kids who are told not to step over that line by their university or college or institution decide they need that extra money and have to pay the cost with their greed. Now I will be the first to say..these schools make millions off these kids, and their jerseys, likeness, and promote everything on “picture day” during summer pracitce and these kids are taken advantage of. These kids need something and in this current environment and economy it will not be allowed. These College Presidents and NCAA chiefs are affected by the economic downturn and will not give up one dollar. The Bowl Season verse Playoff scenario is proof in pudding.
If the NCAA went to a playoff then every school in FBS would get a cut of every game whether they played in the playoffs or not, that is the root of that deal and it is all about the money.
AJ knew better, he got greedy and he got hooked up with the wrong clowns and now must pay for the greed. But that is the same greed every school President, AD, Football coach uses to go out an get that five star player, that jumbotron, and anything else to promote their “greatness”
Thanks Delbert…
Delbert D.
September 17th, 2010
10:01 pm
aarh – You’re excused. No further pleading is required. Try to get some sleep.
Sanford Drive
September 17th, 2010
10:01 pm
What do Georgia Tech “fans” and the UGA faithful have in common??
Both are OBSESSED with all news coming out of Athens, GA
Sanford Drive
September 17th, 2010
10:03 pm
Touchdown North Dakota State!!!!!!
Boss Hog
September 17th, 2010
10:04 pm
Want a good laugh, take a look at the video clip on the UGA page in the AJC of Richt is talking about how well the defense played LLU and how well they tackled. What a difference a week makes, how can you forget how to tackle in 1 week?????????????
Sanford Drive
September 17th, 2010
10:04 pm
What do Georgia Tech and Marijuana have in common??
Both are frequently smoked in bowls.
Boss Hog
September 17th, 2010
10:07 pm
Sanford Drive
Envy, envy——— are you kidding me, we come here for the laughs, like how well the dawgs tackled a HS team from LA.
Monkey says:
September 17th, 2010
10:07 pm
Sanford Drive….
What does Washun Ealey and Lattimore have in common?
They both hit something and dragged it over 150 yards….
Deepdiver565
September 17th, 2010
10:08 pm
Boss Hog,
Easy answer. It’s easy to tackle the sisters of the poor. It’s a little harder to tackle a stud freshman running back who’s not a division II team.
SLim
September 17th, 2010
10:08 pm
Tick toc tick toc…can you hear it??? Bye bye UGA for 2010….This is just the beginning of another year of disappointment under the leadership of CMR. My favorite was when you guys were picked to win it all in 2008 and Alabama came to town and kicked your a$$. I remember all the Dawg fans saying they were going to destroy Alabama with that stupid black-out trick (what a joke). Tech will win a national championship before Georgia does….heck, Georgia State will win a NC before Georgia does.
BullyMack
September 17th, 2010
10:09 pm
Denial..s river that runs through Athens
5150 P.O.A.D
September 17th, 2010
10:10 pm
Monkey that is funny as HELL. AHHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA The Jack burned coming out my nose. Thank God I kept the ice cube in my mouth.
Billy
September 17th, 2010
10:10 pm
AJ will sue the NCAA. He is going to get rich in the NFL and break the NCAA Bank! The way the NCAA handled the Marcel Darius benefits will surely bring about a LAWSUIT!
5150 P.O.A.D
September 17th, 2010
10:12 pm
Billy where will AJ get the money for the lawyer to sue the NCAA? Does have that many jerseys to sell?
RxDawg
September 17th, 2010
10:12 pm
Booo
Boss Hog
September 17th, 2010
10:13 pm
SLim
Good point, Richt’s two best motivational tricks are the “black out” and dancing in the end-zone. They did beat the Gators with that trick in 07, but have paid dearly the last two years. Bama and Florida have now taken away ALL of Richt’s tricks, now all he has is the magic of Bobo.
5150 P.O.A.D
September 17th, 2010
10:13 pm
Wait AJ has 2 SEC Championship rings that can bring the BIG BUCKS right?
5150 P.O.A.D
September 17th, 2010
10:14 pm
Isn’t Bobo’s nickname Sideshow Bob?
Pitbull
September 17th, 2010
10:15 pm
Anybody know where I can get an A J Green Jersey
Monkey says:
September 17th, 2010
10:15 pm
Billy..do you really think that the NCAA is going to lose a lawsuit..with the ant-trust laws they are covered by?
If Dez Bryant had no grounds and all he did was Lie, compared to AJ who took $1000 and by the American Amateur Laws and Guidelines..anything over $699 is considered a professional gratutity and the NCAA could wipe out anyones eligiblity if they took over that $699 amount FOREVER…..
Boss Hog
September 17th, 2010
10:15 pm
Billy
Sorry, but AJ can’t spell LAWSUIT.
Pitbull
September 17th, 2010
10:15 pm
Hey no A J Green back, How do you write all those words over and over?
5150 P.O.A.D
September 17th, 2010
10:18 pm
I do know a lady in the UGA football offices that can sell you a UGA Mettenburger jersey real cheap. She just needs to recoup bond money and the bar tab.
Monkey says:
September 17th, 2010
10:18 pm
5150 P.O.A.D…thanks..last night go back and read the Isiah Crowell going pro speech around midnight…on the recruiting link…i thought that was pretty good too…
Delbert D.
September 17th, 2010
10:19 pm
Monkey Says – That is a very succinct description of the problem train. On their web site, The NCAA has a page on commercialism, not only including players not being allowed to accept gifts or sell “their likenesses”, but also the issue of how far the schools should go in capitalizing on the image of the student athletes. They have a short statement that says a committee of member institution representatives is currently addressing these issues.
The NCAA makes a point that they are not affiliated with the BCS, and they do not recognize the BCS final game winner as an NCAA championship. Whether the NCAA takes on the BCS and institutes a playoff system is ultimately decided, as you pointed out, by the schools. It sure looks like the big conferences and big influential schools do not want a playoff. They get more money from the BCS system. How is that going to change?
5150 P.O.A.D
September 17th, 2010
10:19 pm
OK will check it out now.
5150 P.O.A.D
September 17th, 2010
10:23 pm
Well said Delbert. The NCAA has noting to do with Bowls and that is why I can get Sh..Faced from drings served in hte Stadium. People would be Pi..ed f the NCAA had a Playoff and the fans couldn’t drink in the stadiums.