ATLANTA — A predatory booster and sports memorabilia dealer enticed former Georgia Bulldogs superstar running back Todd Gurley into an illicit money-making autograph deal, only to turn in gridiron great to the NCAA and media once Gurley began making money with competitor card dealers, causing an uproar among fans and officials alike and leading Gurley to being suspended by the team.
Georgia legislators, equally outraged that a card dealer would entice Gurley into an illegal act only to rat him out to authorities when he got mad at Gurley, overwhelmingly passed what’s been dubbed the “Todd Gurley bill,” making it a crime to entice student athletes to break NCAA rules by taking money.
The bill passed by the Georgia Senate Tuesday would make it a “high and aggravated misdemeanor” to persuade student athletes into acts that violate NCAA regulations, which will now be punishable by up to a year in jail and a $5,000 fine.
Gurley, then the runaway front-runner for the highest sports award in college football, the Heisman Trophy, was suspended from teh Bulldogs’ football team for four games last fall for accepting money for autographs.
Gurley returned after his suspension only to suffer a season-ending injury during his first game back. Gurley announced in late December that he would forego his remaining eligibility, making himself eligible for the 2015 draft.
Georgia legislators, equally outraged that a card dealer would entice Gurley into an illegal act only to rat him out to authorities when he got mad at Gurley, overwhelmingly passed what’s been dubbed the “Todd Gurley bill,” making it a crime to entice student athletes to break NCAA rules by taking money.
The bill passed by the Georgia Senate Tuesday would make it a “high and aggravated misdemeanor” to persuade student athletes into acts that violate NCAA regulations, which will now be punishable by up to a year in jail and a $5,000 fine.
Gurley, then the runaway front-runner for the highest sports award in college football, the Heisman Trophy, was suspended from teh Bulldogs’ football team for four games last fall for accepting money for autographs.
Gurley returned after his suspension only to suffer a season-ending injury during his first game back. Gurley announced in late December that he would forego his remaining eligibility, making himself eligible for the 2015 draft.
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