NCAA president Mark Emmert hopes schools reconsider autograph rules
NCAA president Mark Emmert says he would like schools to reconsider the rules regarding college athletes' autographs.
"I hope the members do look at it," Emmert told USA Today. "Whether they change it or not is less important than whether or not they look at it and say, 'We still think this is a good rule for good reasons' or not, but we need to have it affirmed or changed — one of the two — and this is a good time to do it."
In recent weeks, two of college football's most prominent players, Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston and Georgia running back Todd Gurley, have been the subject of investigations related to their signatures.
• ELLIS: Heisman Watch: Marcus Mariota creates separation in Heisman race
Gurley was suspended on Oct. 9 while Georgia's compliance office investigated claims that he was paid in exchange for his signature, which would be a violation of the NCAA's amateurism rules. Georgia applied to have Gurley reinstated last week.
• Fisher on Jameis Winston sexual assault case: 'There was no crime'
Winston was not suspended, but Florida State officials did look into autographs attributed to Winston, which were authenticated by the same company in the Gurley case.
Last season, then-Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel was suspended for the first half of the Aggies' season opener against Rice following an investigation into whether he was compensated for his signature.
- Dan Gartland
