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Bulldogs winners without Gurley

I couldn't have been happier after the 13th-ranked Georgia Bulldogs beat Missouri 34-0 on Saturday.

It was a beautiful thing as Georgia players galvanized against No. 23 Missouri to prove they were still a good team despite losing their ultra-selfish running back, Todd Gurley, who was suspended after reports that he signed memorabilia for money.

I watched and listened all day Friday and early Saturday as a majority of the media stated a case on behalf of the rule breaker. Those arguments were based on the belief that the rules in the NCAA are archaic.

Forget that probably 97 percent of the players that play NCAA football adhere to those rules, but for some reason they are too tough for Gurley to follow. He was selfish and he paid the price with an indefinite suspension.

At least for one week the big stud wasn't needed. Apparently, Georgia's players were sending a message to Gurley. Listen to some of the comments after the game and you get the sense that the team felt hung out to dry by Gurley.

Quarterback Hutson Mason said, "We need to show everybody and show ourselves that there's 10 other guys on offense that are making this thing go."

Yeah baby - way to give Todd a shot.

Listen to the freshman running back, Nick Chubb, who rushed 38 times for 143 yards and easily replaced Gurley: "Everybody said that Georgia was dead without Todd. But we proved that we're still in it."

You have to love it.

Someone commented that if Gurley misses the remainder of the year, he will be rested for the NFL.

Where are the comments pointing out that what he did was wrong and unfair to his team?

Look, he knew the rules and he broke them. Bye-bye!

The investigation, initially reported by Georgia's compliance office, will look into whether he signed 80 pieces of memorabilia for $400. Are you kidding? Did he need meal money? I don't know, but I haven't met a college player who wasn't hungry.

How could a star college player risk his reputation and set up a plan to make money? He had to know he was risking his amateur status.

Until the rules are changed, they need to be followed by everyone. I am not sure what the solution is, but if college players are paid, then they become pros.

Georgia football will continue to prosper along with the rest of NCAA whether rule breakers are playing or not. I know one thing - I saw Georgia play this week and win without Gurley.

Was it worth it Todd?

Program notes:

Follow me on Twitter@ north2north, and listen to Fox Sports Daybreak with Andy Furman and myself from 5-8 a.m. Monday through Friday on Fox Sports radio, and check me out on iHeart radio or Foxsportsradio.com.

• North's column appears each Tuesday and Friday in the Daily Herald, and his video commentary can be found Monday, Wednesday and Thursday at dailyherald.com. For more, visit northtonorth.com.

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