Former South Carolina quarterback Stephen Garcia is familiar with the world of college football, and in particular, the SEC. And when asked about players being compensated for autographs – one of the hotter issues in the sport – Garcia, who played for the Gamecocks from 2007-11, said autograph collectors approached players frequently and players often accepted money.
“I saw it all day every day, to be honest with you,” Garcia said in an interview with Charlotte radio station WFNZ-AM, per the Post and Courier. “I wish they would have come to me, but they thought of me as some rich white kid, so I didn’t get the benefits from that. But I saw it firsthand with a lot of players, and talking to other guys. I’m friends with a lot of guys around the SEC, and some of the stories they tell me, it makes the Todd Gurley thing seem insignificant by a long shot.”
Of course, Garcia is referencing the suspension and ongoing investigation into Gurley, Georgia’s star running back. The junior allegedly accepted cash for signing memorabilia. While some reports have indicated that Gurley accepted $400, Garcia said he heard of a player accepting “about $160,000” over the course of a season.
“I’m going to go out on a limb and say it doesn’t happen at Vanderbilt, and maybe not Kentucky either,” Garcia said. “Since day one, compliance and coaches set rules for us. We know what to do and what not to do.”
In Gurley’s case, Georgia officials met with the NCAA Thursday but there is no new update on his status at this time.
Regarding Todd Gurley's eligibility, the NCAA is continuing to work with Georgia and is awaiting the school's request for reinstatement.
— Inside the NCAA (@InsidetheNCAA) October 16, 2014 - - - - - - -
Sam Cooper is a contributor for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him or follow him on Twitter!
From Dr. Saturday - NCAAF - Yahoo Sports - Former South Carolina QB Stephen Garcia says SEC players are often paid for autographs
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