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Florida State reportedly is looking into whether its embattled quarterback, Jameis Winston, was paid for autographs being sold online.
ESPN also reported that coach Jimbo Fisher and an athletic department official asked Winston after the Seminoles’ 38-20 victory at Syracuse on Saturday if he had been paid for autographs and that he said he had not.
FSU would not comment Monday night on whether it is investigating the possibility that Winston was paid for autographs or signed memorabilia, which would be an NCAA violation.
“Our compliance office investigates all potential rules violations and processes rules violations with the NCAA if they occur,” the school said in a statement.
Winston already is facing a university disciplinary hearing into whether he violated the Student Code of Conduct. The four potential violations include sexual misconduct.
Winston was investigated — but not charged — by police and the district attorney after a fellow student said he sexually assaulted her in December 2012.
Winston and No. 2 Florida State host No. 5 Notre Dame on Saturday at Doak Campbell Stadium (8 p.m., ABC). Fisher said Monday that he believes Winston will play against Notre Dame and for the rest of the season.
The questions about Winston being paid for autographs come less than a week after Georgia suspended Heisman Trophy candidate Todd Gurley indefinitely for the same issue. A sports memorabilia dealer wrote in an email that the running back had been paid “thousands of dollars for stuff over the last 18 months.”
Georgia is investigating whether Gurley was paid to sign the large quantities of jerseys, helmets, footballs and other memorabilia being sold on Internet sites.
The FSU compliance department reportedly is looking into how James Spence Authentication received more than 340 items certified to have Winston’s autograph.
Winston’s attorney, David Cornwell, said he had no knowledge of a memorabilia investigation. Fisher addressed the issue after Saturday’s game.
“Kids sign things all the time, so what do you want to do, stop signing stuff?” he said. “That’s what it’s going to come to and that’s a shame for college football.
“If they are getting paid for it, that’s different. I have no knowledge of that and I don’t believe Jameis did.”
Former Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel was suspended for the first half of the 2013 season opener for violating an NCAA bylaw that says student-athletes cannot permit their names or likeness to be used for commercial purposes. No evidence was found that he received payment for autographs.
Winston, who also plays baseball at FSU, frequently signs autographs. On the diamond, he is known for taking time to sign scores of items for fans.
Winston and Cornwell are waiting for details regarding the disciplinary hearing. The Tallahassee Democrat reported that a retired state Supreme Court justice would conduct it.
The university enlisted three retired justices to be available for the hearing, which has not been scheduled. Winston and the woman who accused him of sexually assaulting her each will be allowed to strike one potential hearing officer. If they both struck the same person, FSU would pick from the remaining two.
Cornwell told ESPN that he was pleased with the plan, calling it “a great first step.” But he said there are “a number of issues” he needs to address with the school and expressed concern about getting statements and reports ready for the hearing.
Asked if he expected it to take place in the next couple of weeks, Cornwell told ESPN, “I certainly don’t think so. I don’t know how it could.
“I don’t see what the sense of urgency is now that she’s finally made a claim. Mr. Winston should have ample time to marshal a defense to what have proven to be false charges.”
Penalties for violating the code range from written reprimands to probation to expulsion.
