UF's Sharrif Floyd, Carolina's Damiere Byrd Suspended By NCAA Over Benefits

Three weeks ago, South Carolina freshman wide receiver Damiere Byrd was suspended four games by the NCAA because of $2,700 worth of benefits he received from the Student Athlete Mentoring (S.A.M.) Foundation.

Byrd’s father, Adrian Byrd, is director of the S.A.M. New Jersey chapter.

South Carolina attempted to have the ruling reduced but the NCAA stuck to its guns on the four games. Until Friday, when the NCAA decided that the suspension could be lifted and Byrd has been cleared to play Saturday against Auburn.

"I can’t begin to tell you how happy I am for Damiere," said South Carolina AD Eric Hyman. "Our folks in the department worked tirelessly to address the issues they encountered with Damiere’s situation. With the NCAA’s cooperation, we were able to resolve the issues in a timely manner that will allow him to play on Saturday."

Byrd was a four-star recruit in South Carolina’s 2011 recruiting class.

For more on Gamecocks football, visit Garnet And Black Attack.

South Carolina freshman wide receiver Damiere Byrd was suspended four games by the NCAA because of benefits he received from the Student Athlete Mentoring Foundation. Byrd will also have to repay those benefits before he's eligible to play. Byrd, who already sat out the Gamecocks' season opener, will also miss games against Georgia, Navy and Vanderbilt.

"While we respect the process, we are very disappointed for Damiere," said Athletics Director Eric Hyman. "Damiere is an outstanding individual and has been upfront with us as to what occurred during the recruiting process. He had no idea that being part of the Student Athlete Mentoring (SAM) Foundation would in any way affect his college eligibility. We continue to support him and will carefully consider appealing this decision."

SAM is an organization that helps under-privileged youths get scholarships and raise their grades. SAM's president, former high school football coach Steve Gordon, has said that it helps pay for students to go on unofficial school visits and paying for their entry into summer camps. 

In a similar incident, Florida defensive lineman Sharrif Floyd was suspended two games after receiving benefits from SAM. Floyd had used $2,500 he received for living expenses, transportation and other expenses. His suspension was reduced from four games because of the "personal hardship that led to the impermissible benefits."

The mystifying two-game suspension by the NCAA of Florida Gators defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd has drawn ire from University of Florida athletic director Jeremy Foley, with coach Will Muschamp adding his explosive thoughts Thursday night. Muschamp rarely minces words, so it's no surprise to see him "angered, disgusted and extremely disappointed," but this isn't the kind of thing coaches usually say about suspended players:

The toughest day that I have had as a head football coach at Florida was the day that I had to tell Sharrif that he could not play in our game vs. FAU last week. I took away part of his family.

He had tears in his eyes and said "What have I done wrong?" I told him he did nothing wrong. It wasn't any easier to tell him today that he would be missing Saturday's game.

I have two sons at home. If they end up like Sharrif I will consider myself a successful father.

Alligator Army loves the fiery defense of a player who likely didn't do anything wrong wrong, pointing out how great this looks to other Florida players and potential future Florida players. Muschamp is defending his player, but he's also defining the way players are treated in his program.

For more, visit Florida Gators blog Alligator Army.

Florida Gators defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd will miss two (minor) games for accepting impermissible benefits according to the NCAA. Thursday, shortly after the NCAA announced the punishment, university athletic director Jeremy Foley issued an interesting statement on the matter:

It is important to note that Sharrif brought this matter to our attention and we reported the facts to the NCAA this past February. We were comfortable with the information we provided, yet the NCAA staff interpreted that there were violations. In accordance with NCAA rules, we declared him ineligible for the season opener and requested restoration of his eligibility. Sharrif has been extremely forthcoming throughout the process and the NCAA has commented on his honesty and openness.

Sharrif grew up in an environment where he didn't have the things most of us take for granted - food, shelter and clothing. In the absence of parents, there were kind people, in no way affiliated with the University of Florida, who were not boosters or sports agents, that helped him along the way to provide those things that he would otherwise not have had. This is not an issue about his recruitment to the University of Florida or any other University.

Sharrif Floyd is an outstanding young man and we are very proud that he represents our program. We are all disappointed that he had to deal with this situation, but he will move forward and be stronger for this.

Though Floyd was heavily recruited by Miami and UNC, any potential connections to those two basement fires look to have been avoided, based on Foley's statement. A pretty strong show of support from one of the country's most powerful athletic directors, to say the least.

For more, visit Florida Gators blog Alligator Army.

The Florida Gators defensive tackle curse continues, but at least this time around its appearance is almost over. Sharrif Floyd, who had to miss the team's opener against FAU due to eligibility concerns, must miss two games due to accepting impermissible benefits, the NCAA announced Thursday.

Since he's already missed one, that means he'll miss just one more. Luckily, athletic director Jeremy Foley has provided for just such an event by scheduling UAB next.

Here's the NCAA's comment on what Floyd did to earn the punishment:

Receiving $2,500 cash over several months from an individual not associated with the university. Floyd used the money for living expenses, transportation and other expenses. In addition, he received impermissible benefits prior to enrollment, including transportation and lodging related to unofficial visits to several institutions.    

The NCAA notes it wasn't Florida that did any of the impermissible benefitting. And, no, Floyd's name doesn't appear in Charles Robinson's Miami expose either.

For more, visit Florida Gators blog Alligator Army.