We’re officially one step closer to resolution in the most talked about off the field topic this year.
A source has told GatorCountry that Will Grier has filed his formal appeal to the NCAA regarding his one year suspension as a result for a positive PED test. His appeal is a “knowledge challenge,” which is basically pleading his case that he did not know that he put something on the banned substance list into his body. He tearfully admitted that he did in fact take a supplement that “had something in it” without checking with the Florida medical staff, so claiming complete innocence as well as an error in the testing lab that led to the positive test is off the table. Thus, getting reinstated this season is off the table, since there is no doubt that he did something the NCAA states you cannot do.
But there is a chance that the suspension could be significantly reduced. If the NCAA’s suspension holds, Grier would miss the Gators’ first six games next season in addition to the rest of this season; Grier’s argument will center around the fact that since he truly didn’t know he was doing something illegal, the punishment should be cut down, likely to just the rest of this season. And he’s got a point. Florida has all but snatched up a spot in the SEC Championship Game, and has to really tank to not get invited to one of the prominent New Year’s Six Bowls, so Grier will be missing eight games, two of which are big stage postseason games, for his honest mistake. And the appeal will argue that that should be more than enough.
Grier is being represented by the law firm of Morgan and Morgan, a team that’s led by Clay Townsend, the father of Florida punter Johnny Townsend and a graduate of UF. In addition, Grier has the full support of Jim McElwain, Jeremy Foley and the UAA in his fight against the NCAA, per GatorCountry.
Now, all we can do is sit back and hope for the best.
