Georgia fans might have gotten some false hope about finding out a quick decision about RB Todd Gurley's eligibility status on Wednesday.
Coach Mark Richt said Wednesday that the team expected to know about Gurley's status before the Bulldogs left for Saturday's game against Arkansas.
"If we know he's not going to play, he won't travel. I don't know if that answers your question. If we know he's able to play, he'll travel and if he's not able, he won't," Richt said via UGASports.com. "He's been practicing, getting some reps. But until we know something for sure one way or another … again, I'll just go back to the beginning, if he's able to play, he'll travel, if he's not he won't travel."
Richt then said "I think so" when asked if he would know Gurley's status by the time the team leaves for Arkansas.
However, that answer, according to UGA officials, was about the Arkansas game specifically and not a status update from the NCAA regarding Gurley's suspension amidst allegations that he received money for signing autographs.
Shortly thereafter, Georgia associate athletic director and sports information director Claude Felton informed the beat writers that Richt was referring solely to the question about when he would know Gurley would travel with the team, and was not referring to when Georgia might receive an answer from the NCAA.
Richt tweeted Friday morning that he doesn't anticipate Gurley's status to change before the Arkansas game.
I will try to clear up Todd's status. "We will let you know if his status changes. Not anticipating it to change this week."
— Mark Richt (@MarkRicht) October 16, 2014 J.J. Green, Georgia's second-leading rusher in 2013, is back at running back this week. Green moved to safety for the 2014 season because of Georgia's riches at RB, but he's back in the offensive backfield as Gurley's status for the weekend is still in doubt and RB Keith Marshall looks unlikely to play with a knee injury. Without either RB, freshman Nick Chubb is likely to get his second straight start at Arkansas.
Last season, Green ran for 384 yards and three touchdowns. But as long as he's at RB, he's probably not going to play both offense and defense.
"It would be tough to do. It's possible," Richt said. "He certainly hasn't forgotten everything on defense but he hasn't been repping it and I don't know how much faith [defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt] would have, but circumstances could dictate that. I think he could do it."
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Nick Bromberg is the assistant editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!
From Dr. Saturday - NCAAF - Yahoo Sports - Mark Richt doesn't anticipate change in Todd Gurley's status for Arkansas game
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