travisduncan
Gator Fan
Update: As noted below, Floyd will miss another game for receiving impermissible benefits as a high school player.
An NCAA spokesperson said "We examine each situation carefully and consider all elements related to a student-athlete's individual circumstances and the violation"
"This gives us the flexibility to tailor the conditions of reinstatement that take into account all details and are in the best interest of the involved student-athlete."
Florida AD Jeremy Foley had this to say, in defense of Floyd really, in a statement:
“It is important to note that Sharrif brought this matter to our attention and we reported the facts to the NCAA this past February. We were comfortable with the information we provided, yet the NCAA staff interpreted that there were violations. In accordance with NCAA rules, we declared him ineligible for the season opener and requested restoration of his eligibility. Sharrif has been extremely forthcoming throughout the process and the NCAA has commented on his honesty and openness.
Sharrif grew up in an environment where he didn’t have the things most of us take for granted – food, shelter and clothing. In the absence of parents, there were kind people, in no way affiliated with the University of Florida, who were not boosters or sports agents, that helped him along the way to provide those things that he would otherwise not have had. This is not an issue about his recruitment to the University of Florida or any other University.
Sharrif Floyd is an outstanding young man and we are very proud that he represents our program. We are all disappointed that he had to deal with this situation, but he will move forward and be stronger for this.”
-------------------
As of early Thursday morning, Florida continues to keep a tight lip on Sharrif Floyd's eligibility hearing that occurred Tuesday with the NCAA.
Allegedly, unconfirmed reports say his ineligibility has to do with a bake sale which paid for his expenses to play in the Army All-American game his senior year in high school.
That's not a punchline for a bad NCAA joke.
If the illegal sale of cookies to pay travel for a player who earned the right to play in an All-Star game affects eligiblity, the NCAA has become a mockery of itself.
Another report has surfaced that Floyd's relationship with a man by the name of Steve Gordon, who is the head of the "Student Athlete Mentoring Foundation", has caused the issue.
The president of the foundation told The State newspaper in South Carolina "All I know is they are punishing Damiere and Sharrif for something they didn’t do"
Dameire Byrd is a South Carolina freshman wideout who was also recently ruled ineligible and has ties to Gordon. Byrd sat out Saturday's game for what Gamecocks head coach Steve Spurrier called "a little compliance issue" that the he and the school are hoping will be cleared up sooner than later.
Spurrier added, "We just have to let it work its way out right now."
A Gators official website writer Tweeted Wednesday that Floyd's status has changed, or in other words he remains ineligible.
It's not hard to connect the dots that UF, like USC, is waiting for the NCAA to make a decision on his eligibility and or possible punishment, which could include suspension and or repayment of benefits received.
As is always the case if you are a Top 25 program, or a top recruit, little infractions like this will become an issue, so UF and Floyd must take the good with the bad.
An NCAA spokesperson said "We examine each situation carefully and consider all elements related to a student-athlete's individual circumstances and the violation"
"This gives us the flexibility to tailor the conditions of reinstatement that take into account all details and are in the best interest of the involved student-athlete."
Florida AD Jeremy Foley had this to say, in defense of Floyd really, in a statement:
“It is important to note that Sharrif brought this matter to our attention and we reported the facts to the NCAA this past February. We were comfortable with the information we provided, yet the NCAA staff interpreted that there were violations. In accordance with NCAA rules, we declared him ineligible for the season opener and requested restoration of his eligibility. Sharrif has been extremely forthcoming throughout the process and the NCAA has commented on his honesty and openness.
Sharrif grew up in an environment where he didn’t have the things most of us take for granted – food, shelter and clothing. In the absence of parents, there were kind people, in no way affiliated with the University of Florida, who were not boosters or sports agents, that helped him along the way to provide those things that he would otherwise not have had. This is not an issue about his recruitment to the University of Florida or any other University.
Sharrif Floyd is an outstanding young man and we are very proud that he represents our program. We are all disappointed that he had to deal with this situation, but he will move forward and be stronger for this.”
-------------------
As of early Thursday morning, Florida continues to keep a tight lip on Sharrif Floyd's eligibility hearing that occurred Tuesday with the NCAA.
Allegedly, unconfirmed reports say his ineligibility has to do with a bake sale which paid for his expenses to play in the Army All-American game his senior year in high school.
That's not a punchline for a bad NCAA joke.
If the illegal sale of cookies to pay travel for a player who earned the right to play in an All-Star game affects eligiblity, the NCAA has become a mockery of itself.
Another report has surfaced that Floyd's relationship with a man by the name of Steve Gordon, who is the head of the "Student Athlete Mentoring Foundation", has caused the issue.
The president of the foundation told The State newspaper in South Carolina "All I know is they are punishing Damiere and Sharrif for something they didn’t do"
Dameire Byrd is a South Carolina freshman wideout who was also recently ruled ineligible and has ties to Gordon. Byrd sat out Saturday's game for what Gamecocks head coach Steve Spurrier called "a little compliance issue" that the he and the school are hoping will be cleared up sooner than later.
Spurrier added, "We just have to let it work its way out right now."
A Gators official website writer Tweeted Wednesday that Floyd's status has changed, or in other words he remains ineligible.
It's not hard to connect the dots that UF, like USC, is waiting for the NCAA to make a decision on his eligibility and or possible punishment, which could include suspension and or repayment of benefits received.
As is always the case if you are a Top 25 program, or a top recruit, little infractions like this will become an issue, so UF and Floyd must take the good with the bad.
