Floyd not back with Florida just yet….

NCAA rules UF’s Sharrif Floyd must sit two games, repay $2,700

Posted by John Taylor on September 8, 2011, 5:21 PM EDT

 

Two days after a hearing in front of the NCAA to clarify his eligibility, Florida’s Sharrif Floyd has heard The Association’s ruling on his case.  Suffice to say, it’s not music to the defensive lineman’s ears, especially financially.

In a statement, the NCAA announced that Floyd will be forced to sit for two games — he’s already sat one — and repay $2,700 to a charity in order to regain his eligibility.  UF had previously declared Floyd ineligible for violations of NCAA preferential treatment rules.

The NCAA found that Floyd had received “$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.”  The release went on to state that “he received impermissible benefits prior to enrollment, including transportation and lodging related to unofficial visits to several institutions.”

UF was not one of those schools, the NCAA ruled.

“We examine each situation carefully and consider all elements related to a student-athlete’s individual circumstances and the violation,” an NCAA statement read. “This gives us the flexibility to tailor the conditions of reinstatement that take into account all details and are in the best interest of the involved student-athlete.”

Perhaps in an effort to highlight their boundless benevolence, the NCAA noted in its release that Floyd could actually have received a four-game suspension; but, “[b]ased on the mitigating circumstances in the case” — with those being Floyd’s “personal hardship that led to the impermissible benefits being provided to the student-athlete by someone other than a legal guardian or family member” — the “withholding condition” was cut in half to two.

Of course, this also begs the question: how the hell is Floyd supposed to repay $2,700 if personal hardship less than two years ago led him to accept $2,700 in impermissible benefits in the first place?

Regardless, Floyd, who missed the opener against FAU after being declared eligible on game day, will also missed this weekend’s game against UAB.  He had been a starter heading into the 2011 season.