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O’Gara: A decade removed his NCAA suspension, Todd Gurley isn’t as mad as the rest of us
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DALLAS — Before Todd Gurley made himself comfortable on a lounge chair tucked away on the third floor at the Omni hotel, the Bush’s Grillin’ Beans representatives made sure the product placement was on point. In addition to a couple of cans of Bush’s beans on the lobby table, Gurley wore a black Bush t-shirt with the words “Grill Me.”
Gurley was at SEC Media Days doing a media circuit with his partnership. It’s easy to forget that he’s already 10 years removed from his final season at Georgia.
“Time flies, man. Time flies, man,” Gurley told SDS. “It’s been a fun ride and it’s been a hell of a journey … but wow, man. Looking back at it, it’s been 10 years.”
It’s also been a decade since the star tailback was suspended 4 games by the NCAA for accepting $800 for signing dozens of pieces of memorabilia. Now, of course, that’s legal. Looking back, Gurley’s 2014 suspension is that much more maddening. In his pre-Draft season, the NCAA robbed Gurley of getting the swan song he deserved because it enforced a rule that it would later reverse 7 years later. Is he bitter? Gurley doesn’t sound like it.
It is, however, interesting to think that with the current NIL rules, deals like what Gurley has with Bush’s could’ve happened while he was a player.
“But that’s the blessing of it. (Bush’s) could’ve picked anybody, but they picked me,” Gurley said. “They could’ve gotten a Georgia player, they could’ve gotten a Tennessee player because their home base is Tennessee. I don’t really think about it, what could’ve been and vice versa. I’m blessed. God did me very well.
“I try not to live in that life like, ‘Oh, what would you have made this year?’”
Leave that to all of us. Gurley would’ve made a lot more than $800 — without getting suspended.
Take NIL valuations for what they are. Let’s just say that Gurley entering 2014 as a preseason Heisman Trophy candidate would’ve had 7-figure implications for his bank account.
Yes, Gurley did well for himself financially in the NFL. He made dozens of millions of dollars during his 6-year career, which officially ended in 2022. Life is good. He’s a new father to a baby girl. He’ll turn 30 years old in a few short weeks.
Time flies, indeed.
Gurley’s college career flew by, too. He played in 30 games, only 16 of which were after his breakout freshman season (Gurley said that the Buffalo kick return touchdown is his favorite play of his career because “that’s what started it all”). UGA could very well play 16 games in 2024.
It’s fair to wonder if Gurley wishes he could go back in time and spend another season at Georgia that he was robbed of by the NCAA ruling.
“Nah, not at all. Definitely not at all,” Gurley said with a laugh.
But then he thought more about how short his college career felt.
“You look back on it, and (my college career) really wasn’t that much because I was really only there for 2.5 years from summer 2012 and I was gone December 2014,” Gurley said. “I just tell guys to have fun, man. Live it up and live those memories.”
Soaking in the full college experience now includes the NIL aspect. Shoot, one of Georgia’s SEC Media Days representatives in Dallas on the same day as Gurley was Carson Beck, who inked a Lamborghini NIL deal. Gurley admitted he has mixed feelings about the NIL experience and how it can impact college athletes.
“That financial literacy part, that’s real,” Gurley said. “That’s why I do like the NIL, but it’s like half-and-half with me because I’m just like, man, I want guys to be able to take care of their families, but first, you need to set yourself up. Think of new ways as far as business-wise, what you stand for, whatever your value is.
“There’s a lot going on. Take care of your money, take care of your mind. Don’t try to take life too serious. It’s a blessing, man. You’re playing college football at the highest level. You’re winning. I know it gets stressful sometimes. You might put a lot of pressure on yourself, but you’re living your childhood dream … just keep rolling.”
Gurley is a fan now. It’s a different time to be rooting for Georgia than a decade ago when Gurley and Keith Marshall were trying to end the 1980 jokes (long live “Gurshall”). Gurley plans on attending a couple of games this season. You know, when he’s not cooking up some Bush’s to accompany his lamb, brats, chicken or whatever else he throws on the grill.
Is he willing to predict a Georgia national title?
“That’s not for me to say,” Gurley said. “But with Carson Beck and Kirby, the sky is the limit.”
Ah, just like what Gurley’s NIL earnings would’ve been. Or rather, should’ve been.
Connor O'Gara is the senior national columnist for Saturday Down South. He's a member of the Football Writers Association of America. After spending his entire life living in B1G country, he moved to the South in 2015.
