The Georgia Bulldogs traveled to Little Rock, Ark., Friday without star tailback Todd Gurley.
UGA officials on Friday continued to decline comment about the ongoing eligibility issue facing their star tailback. However, the NCAA reinstatement process and Georgia’s current place in it makes it evident that Gurley could not be cleared in time to play against Arkansas on Saturday even if it wanted.
The NCAA on Thursday evening confirmed that it has yet to receive the investigative report from UGA. Georgia’s compliance staff has been overburdened of late as it had to ready for a major infractions hearing in Indianapolis on Wednesday. UGA had that meeting in the morning, then met with eligibility staff later in the day while they were in the city that houses the NCAA’s headquarters.
That the NCAA has not received the results of UGA’s investigation is key because it means its committee on eligibility cannot deliberate the findings and issue a ruling. Persons familiar with the process have told the AJC it takes at least 24 hours to turn around an eligibility case and the committee does not meet on weekends.
Regardless, sources familiar with the investigation indicate that Gurley wouldn’t be cleared to play even if the committee had received the report by now. According to NCAA statutes, a student-athlete who has received more than $400 in improper benefits is subject to a suspension of at least 20 percent of competition dates. Gurley’s alleged compensation exceeds that amount, sources have told the AJC.
In the meantime, Georgia’s football team has an open date in the schedule next weekend. The Bulldogs will likely submit its report to the NCAA and get a ruling next week.
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