Florida under NCAA investigation

[Nexus]

 

 

Florida and NCAA officials are investigating a potential rules violation that allegedly occurred last December involving former Gators football standout Maurkice Pouncey, sources said.

 

Florida is internally investigating what sources described as an allegation that a representative of an agent paid Pouncey $100,000 between the Gators' loss to Alabama in the Southeastern Conference championship game to Alabama and their season-ending Sugar Bowl victory over Cincinnati. Florida apprised the NCAA of the allegation after it became aware of it.

 

"We were made aware of some information in early June that we reported to law enforcement and we then shared with the NCAA and the SEC," athletic director Jeremy Foley said in a statement released Monday morning to ESPN.com. "At this time we have no information that has indicated that there are any compliance issues for the University of Florida."

 

Florida law enforcement could be investigating whether the state's agent registration laws were violated.

 

Pouncey, a standout offensive lineman who entered the NFL draft after his junior season and was taken in the first round by the Pittsburgh Steelers, played in the Sugar Bowl. If found to have accepted the alleged payment, he could be retroactively ruled ineligible for the game and Florida might have to vacate the victory.

 

The Pouncey investigation is the latest in a series of agent-related inquiries making ripples in college football. North Carolina announced last week that an NCAA investigation is under way at its school, and subsequent media reports have tied it to alleged agent interaction with multiple players. South Carolina tight end Weslye Saunders told ESPN on Sunday that he also has been interviewed by NCAA investigators in connection with the North Carolina case.

 

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