UF, NCAA investigate possible agent ties

[O-town Gator]

"According to a published report Monday morning, the University of Florida and NCAA are investigating an allegation that former Gators center Maurkice Pouncey received money from the representative of an agent while still on the team.

ESPN.com reported that "Florida is internally investigating what sources described as an allegation that a representative of an agent paid Pouncey $100,000 between the Gators' loss to Alabama in the Southeastern Conference championship game to Alabama and their season-ending Sugar Bowl victory over Cincinnati. Florida apprised the NCAA of the allegation after it became aware of it."

Florida self-reported the issue to the NCAA, a school official said."

More: http://florida.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1104176

This statement from Jeremy Foley:
"We were made aware of some information in early June that we reported to law enforcement and we then shared with the NCAA and the SEC," Foley said in a statement. "At this time we have no information that has indicated that there are any compliance issues for the University of Florida."

Link: http://www2.tbo.com/content/2010/jul/19/191353/gators-foley-disputes-allegation-regarding-pouncey/sports-colleges-gators/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+tbo%2Fgators+%28TBO+%3E+Gators%29&utm_content=FeedBurner

 

[jd_gator]

Very good move on our part to report it, hopefully nothing too drastic will come out of it. As I have stated before I feel sports agents are scum.

 

[O-town Gator]

Very good move on our part to report it, hopefully nothing too drastic will come out of it. As I have stated before I feel sports agents are scum.

In the worst-case scenario, we may be asked to vacate the Sugar Bowl win. I'm glad Foley was proactive on it and reported it right away, even though it was at the "rumor" stage when he did.

 

[CaliZona_Gator]

It seems that everyone these days is being investigated. If this turns out to be true, at least Pouncey did it once and before his last game, but at the same time how could he not wait until after the game. I'm pretty sure he knew he was going pro after the Sugar Bowl, why not wait.

 

[Leakfan12]

GUYS, WAIT UNTIL AFTER THE BOWL GAME TO CONTACT/TALK TO AGENTS. Also I hope the Sugar Bowl win isn't vacated but probably just wishing thinking.

 

[Escambia94]

This is getting old with the NCAA violations. I can see a world where the #25 team is the top team in the land, because #1-24 were all caught with some NCAA violation or another.

There needs to be some common sense applied here. If the coaches do something wrong, start taking away wins and bowl games--that is what coaches get paid to do. If a player does something stupid, punish the player. How was anyone supposed to know about Maurkice and his agent, much less stop him? If Maurkice is guilty, then make him pay back the money with interest and put an asterisk or a footnote after the bowl game. It would not be fair to the guys who did not get money or even the choice to enter the draft to take away the bowl game win, nor would it be fair to the coaches who would presumably have stepped in if they knew about it. Now, if the coaches knew about it, then go back to rule #1--take away the bowl game win, fine the coaches, etc.

 

[O-town Gator]

From what I've seen on ESPN, Pouncey's family plans to release a statement denying Maurkice did anything wrong.

The keyword is "alleged". To me, that means it hasn't been proven, and as far as I'm concerned Maurkice is innocent until proven guilty.

Am seeing similar things on Twitter; I hope all of this was just a hoax - if it turns out that way, then expose the asshole rumor-monger who started all this in the first place.

If Maurkice is guilty, we'll likely wind up forfeiting the Sugar Bowl win.

Based on what Antonya English at tampabay.com has said here, there's been no evidence of wrongdoing uncovered (keywords "anonymous tip"; I smell something fishy here): http://www.tampabay.com/sports/college/florida-gators-say-no-evidence-so-far-of-maurkice-pouncey-wrongdoing/1109912

 

[Mr2Bits]

I believe this happens at every school -- at least all the top tier programs. I can't imagine how hard it is for a kid to turn down $100,000 in cash with only 1 game left in his college career, especially when there is no threat of jail time if he accepts.

Worst case, we lose our Sugar Bowl victory over Cincy... it's not something you want to happen on your time (Urban) but I doubt many people really care about a Sugar Bowl win.

 

[O-town Gator]

"Former Florida Gators center Maurkice Pouncey plans to deny allegations that he accepted $100,000 from the associate of an agent between the 2009 Southeastern Conference Championship and 2010 Sugar Bowl, according to ESPN’s Joe Schad.

Pouncey, who is currently being investigated by the NCAA and University of Florida for a potential rules violation, has “provided phone, bank and credit card statements that do not show large payments,” Schad reports."


Read more: http://www.onlygators.com/#ixzz0uDlN0BQg

According to a tweet from ESPN's Joe Schad, the letter sent to Florida which made the allegations against Maurkice was postmarked in Canada. Wonder if it can be traced?

 

[O-town Gator]

An agent analyzes the situation: http://www.alligator.org/sports/football/article_d2ae39cc-9453-11df-8a90-001cc4c002e0.html