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No. 13 Georgia’s Gurley suspended indefinitely

By WTOP Staff

PAUL NEWBERRY
AP Sports Writer

ATLANTA (AP) — Todd Gurley was emerging as the clear favorite in the Heisman Trophy race, a running back who already produced plenty of signature moments with his myriad talents.

Now, it’s not known when — or if — Gurley will take another handoff for Georgia.

The star of the 13th-ranked Bulldogs was suspended indefinitely on Thursday while the school investigates an alleged violation of NCAA rules, a stunning blow for a team with championship aspirations and a player making a strong bid for college football’s top individual honor.

The announcement came less than 48 hours before Georgia (4-1, 2-1 Southeastern Conference) faced No. 23 Missouri (4-1, 1-0) in a game that figures to have a huge impact on the Eastern Division race.

“I’m obviously very disappointed,” coach Mark Richt said in a statement. “The important thing for our team is to turn all our attention toward preparation for Missouri.”

School officials did not reveal the nature of their investigation, but SI.com, citing an anonymous source, reported that Gurley allegedly received $400 to sign 80 pieces of memorabilia on the Georgia campus this past spring — a familiar issue in college athletics.

The NCAA requires schools to declare players ineligible if they discover possible rules violations. They can apply for the player’s reinstatement after the investigation is completed, which happened in the past with stars such as Cam Newton.

The five wealthiest football conferences have been granted more autonomy with an eye toward increasing benefits for athletes. Among the proposals: covering the full cost of tuition, guaranteed multiyear scholarships, and long-term health care and insurance.

Some have called for athletes to actually be paid for their time on the field, saying it’s only fair since they help generate millions of dollars in revenue for their universities.

Shortly after Gurley’s suspension was announced, Georgia running back Keith Marshall cryptically tweeted, “Something has to change.”

Gurley leads the Bulldogs with 773 yards rushing and eight touchdowns, averaging 8.2 yards per carry. In addition, he has 11 receptions and a 100-yard kickoff return for a TD.

The junior established himself as a leading Heisman contender in the very first game of the season, setting a school record with 293 all-purpose yards in a victory over Clemson. There was also a hurdler-like leap over a Tennessee defender to pick up an extra 10 yards — a play that was shown repeatedly on national highlight shows. This past Saturday, the left-hander surprised Vanderbilt with a 50-yard pass, Georgia’s longest completion of the season.

The Bulldogs began the year with plenty of depth at running back, but that has taken a blow in recent weeks with injuries to Marshall and freshman sensation Sony Michel. Neither is expected to play against Missouri.

Now, Georgia is dealing with the toughest blow of all.

Gurley is simply irreplaceable, a dynamic mix of speed and power who allowed the Bulldogs to keep winning even with a mediocre passing game. He has accounted for more than half of the teams’ rushing yards, and his nine touchdowns represent nearly a third of Georgia’s 30 trips to the end zone.

Freshman Nick Chubb, who ranks second on the team with 234 yards rushing, will likely step in to start against Missouri. Sophomore Brendan Douglas is the only other back with significant experience, though former running back J.J. Green, who gained 384 yards last season, could move back over from defense to bolster depth in the backfield.

Without Gurley, the Bulldogs will surely have to get more from their passing game. Hutson Mason, a fifth-year senior, is averaging just 137.4 yards per game, though he could be helped by the return of speedy receiver Malcom Mitchell from an injury that kept him out the first four games.

NCAA rules violations often involve the acceptance of impermissible benefits, and the penalties have varied widely.

Former Georgia star receiver A.J. Green was suspended for the first four games of the 2010 season after he acknowledged selling his Independence Bowl jersey to a former North Carolina player, who was regarded as an agent by the NCAA. Green had to repay $1,000 to charity and the suspension dampened his final season with the Bulldogs. He went on to become a first-round pick of the Cincinnati Bengals.

Johnny Manziel, the Heisman Trophy winner from Texas A&M, was investigated before the 2013 season when reports surfaced that he had received money for signing autographs. The NCAA reached an agreement with the school for Manziel to sit out the first half of the opening game against Rice, with no finding that the player did anything wrong. He is now rookie backup with the Cleveland Browns.

Gurley, who battled injuries as a sophomore, was on pace for huge numbers in what was widely expected to be his final college season before entering the draft.

He had rushed for more than 100 yards in four games, the only exception being a blowout victory of Troy State in which he had 73 yards on just six carries. Gurley had a career-best 208 yards against Tennessee and was coming off a 163-yard, two-touchdown performance in last week’s victory over Vanderbilt.

“He’s been my Heisman choice since the season started,” Georgia cornerback Damian Swann said after the Tennessee game. “I’m pretty sure he’s about to put one heck of a campaign together.”

That campaign is on hold for now.

___

Follow Paul Newberry on Twitter at www.twitter.com/pnewberry1963

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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