Autograph Dealer In Gurley Investigation Claiming Harassment

((HT: MyFoxAtlanta))

A Gator fan complaining about how Georgia Bulldogs fans are responding with him at the center of an investigation implicating (allegedly) one of their own...

The prized running back Todd Gurley who has, apparently, signed his collegiate life away by being very sloppy is now and forever a victim in his fans' eyes. Now northwest Georgia memorabilia dealer Bryan Allen is holed up in his suburban Atlanta home...

Probably locked in there forever...
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So, now we have police involved and Allen not necessarily on the run... just locked in place with a high-profile attorney...

And the harassment will continue for quite a while...

FSU: No Evidence Winston Got Money for Autographs

While many of us were out enjoying our Friday night, Florida State University issued a statement about their "internal" investigation of Jameis Winston and his certified autographed memorabilia for sale on the Internet.

Athletic Director Stan Wilcox said, among other things; "At this time, we have no indication that he (Winston) accepted payment for items reported to bear his signature thereby compromising his athletic eligibility."

This is not a surprise. And Wilcox is correct. There's no proof Winston took money for signing the nearly 2000 items on the web with his signature. Therefore there is no reason he shouldn't be able to play.

The autograph situation is completely different than the issues facing Georgia Running Back Todd Gurley. Someone stepped up with evidence Gurley got paid. And agree or disagree, that is technically a rules violation unless proven otherwise, which it hasn't been yet.

The whole issue is stupid for the simple fact the NCAA makes millions off jersey's etc with the names of these kids and the kids see NONE of that money.

Do we think Jameis Winston got paid to sign stuff that is being sold online. Hell yeah we do. There's no logical explanation for that much signed stuff being available unless he did a mass signing for someone.

But there is no proof thus far, which means he can play, he can move forward--for now.

NOTE---Also on Friday, Winston's attorney David Cornwell confirmed the process of Winston's Student Judiciary hearing is moving forward as of now. Cornwell says while he still disagrees with the whole set-up, he's made his choice as to which of the three judges made available for the hearing that he'd like recused.

The hearing, that's a whole other issue...

Hmmm....Did Jameis Winston Do Same Thing Todd Gurley Did?

((ht: racingtoaredlight.com))

With all the hubbub over University of Georgia running back Todd Gurley's suspension over possibly getting paid to autograph memorabilia, someone decided to look and see if anyone else's name might show up on the same EBay website.

And lo and behold someone did.

We can't take credit for doing the original search, the Website Racing to a Red Light did it first.

Read their story RIGHT HERE

But after reading their story, we decided to check it out our own selves.

And not surprisingly, guess who's name shows up in the same authenticated NCAA memorabilia page next to Gurley.

None other than the Famous one himself, FSU Quarterback Jameis Winston...

((Note--This is only a partial list on the screen grab to the right))

The page itself is RIGHT HERE

Yes, there are 7 signed Gurley items on the page, ranging from $49 to $246. And the other 5 items on the page have Mr. Winston's name attached.

Mind you...this may be perfectly legitimate. Nothing here says overtly that Winston was paid to sign anything. Nor does it say Gurley was paid either.

But the items have been authenticated by the same service, Spenceloa.com that was used to authenticate the Gurley items.

If in fact, this is what incriminates Gurley with the NCAA and is the cause of his being suspended the rest of the season, since the video only alleges to show him signing but not being paid, then should the same thing apply to Winston?

We are just raising the question. One that won't be answered now, but probably needs to be asked sooner rather than later...

Decide for yourselves...

In the meantime, check out this story done by our friends at 11Alive TV which asks the question--Could the man named as the person who paid Gurley be sued by Georgia?

Good question:

So, Now We Know A Guy Who Had Gurley Sign Stuff And Then Narc'ed (UPDATED: Gone For The Season?)

((HT: SBNation/Hall, Godfrey))

In the land of college football here in the south, the HQ knows a few things from all of our years of covering it.

1) People are insane when it comes to their teams
2) People are insane when it comes to narcing out other teams to the NCAA
3) People are just flat out insane when it comes to their support of their teams and equally vitriolic in their hatred of others

Because, as we have always known and said: What is the word "fan" short for...???

Fanatic...

And another thing that people are fanatic about is the memorabilia industry and the almighty Yankee dollar- catch the flash-in-the-pan, buy low, sell high, grab material in bulk and try to corner the market.

Which, apparently, one gentleman tried to do with Georgia running back Todd Gurley and then turned heel on him in the middle of the ring in front of God and country.

Kinda like this


So, apparently, a memorabilia dealer sent an e-mail to Hall in late September

I have video of Todd Gurley doing a private autograph signing ***. He has been paid thousands of dollars for his stuff over the last 18 months. I personally paid him for this signing on the video. I have bought and sold game used equipment from him.

I want no compensation. Just want someone to leak this story that's deserving. If you have any interest, give me a call or email. I attached a photo of him in my car signing a mini helmet that I just sold last week on my eBay store.

All I ask is some privacy until we can touch base.

I live on Georgia and would crucified if my name was released.

The video is about 5 minutes long but doesn't show the money exchange.

My cell is **********

I believe this would be the lead story on sports center if ESPN got their hands on this. Hope to hear from you soon.

Hall wanted nothing to do with this since, like most folks think these days, the rule for athletes not being in control of their own person is out-of-date, arcane, and completely unrealistic.

Over $400 and 80 items, this dealer decided to narc on Gurley and is now in hiding.

Andy Staples over at SI has more details:

A check of the James Spence Authentication database revealed 90 consecutively numbered pieces of Gurley-signed memorabilia (J19709-J19799), as well as another lot of 20 consecutively numbered pieces (H85318-H85338) of Gurley-signed memorabilia. JSA is one of the leading autograph authentication services. Consecutive authentication numbers suggest all the items were submitted at once following a large-scale signing.

Athens is up in arms over it- and the HQ isn't just talking about the school.

Yes, the Manziel comparisons will return.
Yes, the Northwestern union discussion will return.
Yes, the O'Bannon case discussion will return.

But, until, and not a moment before the rule makers change their own rules- and only forced to by someone else's hand- because you know the power brokers were only brought into the light kicking and screaming will this change...

And that won't be soon...

PM UPDATE: Looks like the violation may keep Gurley out for the season...

From the AJC and Chip Towers, the news isn't good if you're a Bulldogs fan:

It’s a “significant” case of the sale of memorabilia and there is a possibility that Gurley may not be cleared to return to the field this season.

Other sources familiar with the investigation say a determination of punishment should be made by early next week.

Towers also quotes from the NCAA rule book about how the suspension could play out

NCAA Bylaw 12.1.2.1.6 sets specific guidelines for such penalties:
1. Value of the benefit ranges from greater than $100 to $400 = withholding of 10 percent (of games) and repayment;
2. Value of the benefit ranges from greater than $400 to $700 = withholding of 20 percent (of games) and repayment;
3. Value of benefit ranges greater than $700 = withholding of 30 percent (of games) and repayment.

Now, we all get to figure out what the definition of "significant" is as we all move forward...