Will Grier’s Suspension Puts a Florida SEC Championship and CFB Playoff Berth in Jeopardy

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @HogManInLA

Several questions emerged on Monday for the Gators when the announcement came out that Florida starting quarterback Will Grier would be suspended for a calendar year for using a banned substance. The first question for Florida centers upon the immediate, how does this affect the Gators going forward? The second question is how could Grier’s actions affect the past and the third question is how does the appeal process work for Grier and the University of Florida?

In case you have just joined us, the Florida Gators have raced out to a 6-0 record and are currently the No. 8 ranked team in the nation under first-year head coach Jim McElwain. The Gators have the look of a team that could contend for a SEC Championship with an offense finding its footing and a defense playing tight. The one marquee win on the schedule is a 38-10 thumping of No. 3 Ole Miss at home.

The next marquee win was supposed to be a road win over No. 6 LSU (5-0) but that steep mountain to climb just got a little bit tougher without Grier. Including playing LSU, the Gators have just four SEC games remaining; Georgia (Oct. 31), Vanderbilt (Nov. 7), and South Carolina (Nov. 14). Of the four, two of the games should be wins with LSU and Georgia being the tougher contests. The good news is Florida has a two-game lead in the win-loss column over Georgia, Missouri, and Tennessee. Kentucky is 2-1 in SEC action and could still pose a potential problem.

The reason for the breakdown in SEC standings? Can Florida go 2-2 in their final four SEC games to win the SEC East without Grier? Chances are yes but that is why they play the games.

Another potential problem in the immediate future is if the NCAA can hang the fact that the Gators coaching staff knowingly played Grier while he was using PEDs. Grier has refuted the charges of taking a banned substance claiming he “took an over-the-counter supplement that had something in it” and “did not check with the [Florida] medical staff.”

If the NCAA can prove Florida knew what Grier was taking or knew that he was taking a banned substance then the Gators could be forced to vacate all six wins racked up to this point in the season. That is the really bad news meaning the next six games would decide if the team even makes a bowl game. How frustrating for McElwain, the team, and the Gators’ fan base if the team does go 6-0 to close out the season finishing 6-6 instead of with an unblemished record?

The other potential problem that hangs more on Grier than on the Gators is Grier’s future eligibility. When a player is suspended for a banned substance the penalty is 365 days and the loss of one year of eligibility. This means that Grier, who was a redshirt freshman as of yesterday, is now a redshirt sophomore. The 365 day suspension means he will have to miss the first six games of what will now be his junior season in 2016. The 2017 college football season will now be his senior season instead of his junior year on the field.

The appeal process with the NCAA is not always swift. Grier will have to sit out until his case is heard. If cleared, he can return to action immediately. If not, maybe we will see him in 2016 unless he decides to sit out all of next year to have two full seasons to play two in 2017 and 2018.

The NCAA does not accept ignorance or the lack of knowing that said player took a banned substance as an excuse. His line of reasoning will not win a NCAA appeal as it stands.

Back on the field, the Gators’ future under center is not completely bleak. Treon Harris started the final six games of the 2014 season and opened the 2015 season as the team’s starter before Grier took over. Harris is more of a dual-threat but does have a live arm. On the season Harris has passed for 269 yards completing 19-of-27 passes with two touchdowns and zero picks. Grier had completed 106-of-161 passes for 1,204 yards with 10 touchdowns and three interceptions. Grier, like Harris, has foot speed to evade the defense scrambling for 179 yards on 28 carries with two scores.

A time and date for Grier’s NCAA appeal hearing has not been set.

Florida takes the field against LSU in Baton Rouge on Saturday, Oct. 17 with a scheduled kickoff at 7 p.m. ET. ESPN is providing the coverage of the game.

Photo credit: chatsports.com; No. 7 Will Grier warms up before a Florida game.