Uga Football Players Ineligible

[Sunriseticklee]

Associated Press


ATHENS, Ga. -- Nine Georgia football players were declared ineligible Wednesday by the NCAA for selling their 2002 Southeastern Conference championship rings.


The group included senior receiver Michael Johnson and cornerbacks Kenny Bailey and Bruce Thornton, junior receiver Fred Gibson and four sophomores -- defensive tackle Darrius Swain, linebacker Tony Taylor, cornerback Tim Jennings and walk-on Trey Young.


Freshman nose tackle Kedric Golston, who had already been cited by the university for selling his ring, was also declared ineligible.


The school will appeal the NCAA's ruling.


NCAA regulations do not prohibit student-athletes from selling rings as long as they receive no more than fair-market value. The university, which is working to recover the rings, did not say how much money the players received for the rings.


The players will be required to make restitution for the money they received from the sale of their rings.


"It was very disappointing,'' Georgia coach Mark Richt said. "I think as a football program and as an athletic program we have to do a better job of educating our student-athletes on the worth of achievement awards, which far transcend monetary value.''


In an unrelated developments, Richt suspended four sophomores for violation of team rules. B.J. Fields, Chris Hickman and Jamario Smith were each suspended for one game, and Tyson Browning was suspended for three.
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What do you think?

Fair or unfair?

 

[His Divine Shadow]

Well, it IS, or at least, was, their stuff. Unless they got more than fair market value for them, it seems as though they broke no rules. I have a question though: What are these players so desperate to buy that they would sell a special award to get?

 

[Limeoutsider]

Unfair, once the rings were awarded they became personal propperty, and I think, like gifts, they become legal property of the receipiant and if they chose to sell their rings then it was their choice

 

[TKpervert]

I have a question though: What are these players so desperate to buy that they would sell a special award to get?

Beer's cheap. Maybe steroids ?

 

[His Divine Shadow]

Probably right, Perv.

Lime: There was a rule already in place that said they couldn't sell them if they got too much money for them. While this may be a bad rule, it still means they had to abide by it.