Florida State Seminoles quarterback Jameis Winston might have a whole new set of troubles to deal with heading into this coming Saturday's matchup with Notre Dame.
ESPN's Adam Schefter is reporting (via Facebook) that Florida State is investigating Winston for ties to the same autograph authentication company that has been linked to currently-suspended Georgia running back Todd Gurley:
Florida State's compliance department is looking into whether Jameis Winston signed more than 340 items for an autograph authentication company linked to suspended Georgia running back Todd Gurley. A source tells ESPN's Darren Rovell and Mark Schlabach that Winston told Florida State HC Jimbo Fisher he did not sign items for money. But a search of James Spence Authentication's website revealed more than 340 certified Winston autographs. The same company certified more than 500 of Gurley's autographs. The source says Florida State is investigating how the company received such a large number of Winston signatures.
Florida State has not issued a statement on this matter directly as of this writing. Howeever, head coach Jimbo Fisher did address the allegations this weekend.
"Kids sign things all the time," Fisher said after Saturday's game, via ESPN.com. "So, what do you want them to do, stop signing stuff? We could make them not have any fans from that standpoint and not sign for anybody. That's what it's going to come to, and that's a shame for college football, that somebody exploits a kid. Now, if they're getting paid for it, then I don't have any knowledge of that. I don't believe Jameis did."
On an unrelated note, Winston is also facing a looming disciplinary hearing regarding allegations of sexual assault filed against him back in 2012. The reigning Heisman winner is still slated to start against the Irish on Saturday, but things could change if the investigation turns up any evidence in the interim.
Stay tuned.
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