A. J. Green Out for Four Games

by Gamecock Man on Sep 8, 2010 5:12 PM EDT in South Carolina Gamecocks Football

The Georgia Bulldogs got some bad news today: it appears that star receiver A.J. Green is out for both our upcoming game and a few more. Green apparently sold his Independence Bowl jersey for a cool $1000 to an agent. That seems like a small crime for such a stiff penalty to me. At the same time you can see how the NCAA might interpret the act as a clear intent to profit off amateur status, but, still--I would imagine the NCAA has given weaker punishments for worse before. The NCAA's official ruling is as follows:

University of Georgia football student-athlete A.J. Green must miss four games as a condition of becoming eligible to play again, according to a decision today by the NCAA student-athlete reinstatement staff.

The university declared the student-athlete ineligible for violations of NCAA agent benefits rules. According to the facts of the case submitted by Georgia, the student-athlete sold his Independence Bowl game jersey to an individual who meets the NCAA definition of an agent. Green has repaid the $1,000 value of benefits to charity.

During the reinstatement process, the NCAA staff reviews each case on its own merits based on the specific facts. Staff decisions are made based on a number of factors including guidelines established by the Committee on Student-Athlete Reinstatement, the student-athlete¹s responsibility for the violation, as well as any mitigating factors presented by the university.

The university can appeal the decision to the Division I NCAA Committee on Student-Athlete Reinstatement, an independent committee comprised of representatives from NCAA member colleges, universities and athletic conferences. This committee can reduce or remove the condition, but it cannot increase the staff-imposed conditions. If appealed, the student-athlete remains ineligible until the conclusion of the appeals process.

What I get from that is that (1) Green's involvement with an agent and the fact that he very clearly acted of his own volition really hurt him and that (2) the NCAA marches to its own drum and is proud of it. (2) is the main thing that comes out to me.

At any rate, Carolina definitely benefits from this. I don't think that Green is the key figure in this game, which I think will be won in the trenches. However, Green is clearly a weapon Aaron Murray could use to help him out if we're able to force the game out of Georgia's RB's hands. Green's absence will give Ellis Johnson a bit more of a carte blanche to play the run and to blitz Murray when he throws. This is all to say that if Georgia can run the ball, they'll still likely win, barring a phenomenal offensive performance from our guys. It's also to say, though, that if Georgia can't run, their doom is likely all the more sealed.

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I have a feeling

there is either more to this story than we are being told… or the NCAA is simply putting up bigtime penalties on minor stuff to keep the kids from doing it.

by Gamecockrock on Sep 8, 2010 6:50 PM EDT reply actions

I disagree

that if we cant shutdown UGA’s run game we lose. This day and age, college football is a game of balanced attack. Defenses are able to stop an offense that is perpetually one sided now days, so hence in my honest opinion, if they cant get production out of both the rushing and passing game, they will struggle.

And our defense seems to be better against the run this year (albeit against USM). I think if we can limit their first down yardage and get sufficient pressure on 3rd downs we should have no problem stopping them, especially without Green. I will be expecting alot of 2nd and 3rd down blitzes by the defense.

by Gamecockrock on Sep 8, 2010 6:56 PM EDT reply actions

You may be right...

But UGA, when King and Ealey get going, is a very dangerous team when it’s running the ball well. That’s their bread and butter, and I don’t want to see what happens in the game if they’re hitting on all cylinders in that regard.

I did think last week’s run defense was promising, although I generally thought USM’s RBs looked soft.

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by Gamecock Man on Sep 8, 2010 8:45 PM EDT up reply actions

Ask Georgia Tech how stopping a one sided offense works

Gamecock Man is right that when we can run the ball we’re usually tough to beat. Look at last year for evidence. The Kentucky debacle aside, we didn’t start running the ball well until after the Florida game and played pretty well the rest of the way out.

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by AuditDawg on Sep 9, 2010 4:15 PM EDT up reply actions

Dang.

What is with those investigators this year? Someone walks out of the University gift shop forgetting to pay for their pack of pencils and they’d be all, “EXTRA BENEFITS!! SUSPENDED FOREVER!!!” That is wholly too much of a penalty for that offense.

stuff 'bout stuff.

by silver82blade on Sep 8, 2010 8:00 PM EDT reply actions