Now we have a final answer as it pertains to the Todd Gurley situation. Probably.
In a press release sent out Wednesday morning, the NCAA announced that the star Georgia running back must sit out a total of four games after The Association concluded he had accepted “more than $3,000 in cash from multiple individuals for autographed memorabilia and other items over two years.” The release stated that Gurley acknowledged violating NCAA rules.
Gurley has already sat out the Oct. 11 win over Missouri and the Oct. 18 win over Arkansas because of the NCAA issue. The four-game suspension means he will miss this weekend’s game against Florida and the following week’s road trip to Kentucky. He will be eligible to return for the Nov. 15 Auburn game.
UGA is also appealing the ruling, which could mean, if successful, Gurley could return before the AU game. That appeal will be heard this week.
The NCAA also said it considered suspending Gurley for more than the four games due to the violations occurring “over multiple years with multiple individuals and the student received extensive rules education about the prohibition of receiving payment for autographs.” Because of “the university’s due diligence in its investigation and the student’s full disclosure of his involvement in the violations,” however, further penalties were not meted out.
The university requested that Gurley be reinstated last Wednesday. Per the release, the NCAA requested additional information on Friday, Oct. 24, which it received from the school on Saturday, Oct. 25, and Sunday, Oct. 26. The NCAA issued its decision to the university on Tuesday afternoon, Oct. 28.
In addition to the four-game suspension, Gurley must repay a portion of the money received to a charity of his choice and complete 40 hours of community service as additional conditions for his reinstatement.