5 players suspended for 5 games in 2011 regular season (Appeal has been denied)

[OH10]

They didn't sell this stuff last tuesday. This occured in the past.

Exactly. It was after their freshman season. Pryor is the leader now, but back then, he was just the talented young quarterback.

I can't help but picture in my mind the NCAA officials on their knees begging these guys: "Please, please, please play in the Sugar Bowl. I know we've eliminated half of your senior season, but we really need you for the ratings. Pretty please."

 

[CHU]

Gold jerry, gold!

Gene likes his press conferences bland (not spicy).

 

[NuclearBuck]

Regardless of penalty, one has to wonder about the morale in the locker room. The bowl prep may be a real bummer now.

 

[Ryan36_1]

No kidding

Makes me wonder what state of mind were they in?
or, are they really all that sincere about playing for OSU?

Not condoning the actions, but hard to call a player not sincere about being a Buckeye based on one incident.

Especially since one of two (IIRC - so much information to digest) players who sold his pants, has a prominent tattoo of the Block O on his arm.

 

[Meyer]

Alright, what really fucking pisses me off is them selling gold pants and Big Ten championship rings. What is wrong with kids these days?

I feel the worst for Tressel. That has to kill him inside. It's almost like a Big Ten Championship or win over Michigan doesn't really mean all that much to them.

 

[SmoovP]

Though I'm highly disappointed, I can't help but laugh...at the NCAA. So players can't sell memorabilia to make money, but you can leave them eligible for the bowl game so you can make money off of them? Sounds hypocritical to me!

Wholehearted agreement.

 

[Folanator]

I don't think this means necessarily that we ae going to loose any of the first 5 games. Sure loosing Prior hurts. But I think we have the running game that can still win, and our D will be stout.

But...I could be just naive

 

[Gothmog8]

Honestly, who really gives a [censored] about the bowl. I rather have guys miss the bowl than games next year. That said, the punishment seems about right to me and tOSU seems to be on the up an up here. Of course, the Espin headlines will emphasize "improper benefits" but this looks more like poor individual decisions than an institutional issue. In the end, I'm disappointed but not surprised by this sort of thing. The NCAA needs to give schools a better way to make sure kids have some "walking around" money. I mean, they can't work while in season and they don't all have parents that can float them pizza and tatoo money. Just my 2 cents.

When I went to OSU, it was called a job...

But then, I didn't bring in $ for the university cash cow. oh wait... Yes I did, it was called tuition...

 

[ORD_Buckeye]

so should Pryor just go pro now? What's his motivation to come back and sit 5 games next season?

also, do you guys feel the coaches should suspend these players for the bowl game? I know the NCAA has suspended them next season, but as an institution of higher learning first, do you think they deserve to play in this game? Putting aside the fact it really hampers your chances of winning. What do you think?

My understanding is that Ohio State tried to suspend them for the bowl game, and the NCAA stepped in and declared them eligible--gotta protect those tv ratings.

Should these guys all find themselves sitting on the bench on January 4th, I would be very, very happy. It would be a great statement.

 

[BuckNut65]

I can't sit here and stop shaking my head when we have 5 guys losing 5 games next year for selling stuff that belonged to them and Cam Newton wins the Heisman while his daddy is making $180,000 dollar deals with boosters. The whole system is just whacked.

That being said, the act itself was extremely selfish and is a true reflection on what these guys are all about...themselves. Frankly, it doesn't surprise me at all with at least three of these players and they should probably move on like they are going to. The sad thing is that they will never get there senior season back and will probably regret what they did down the road...just ask Cris Carter.

What a major disappointment!

 

[ORD_Buckeye]

That's like your employer saying "You don't need a raise because you got a free desk and chair" to sit at to do your work. They didn't "Get a Free Education." They are forced to attend school as part of the package, and because of the forced requirement are not required to pay for it themselves. And not only are they required to attend, they are also required to study and devote enough time that they remain academically eligible to continue to have the scholarship.

Exactly why the NFL should be forced to form a d-league for guys who have no desire to be in a college classroom. Remove them from the equation, and you remove 99% of the potential for trouble.

 

[Meyer]

I really hope this doesn't effect recruiting.

hahahaha If you are on this board you know recruiting is GB2's favorite thing LOL him saying this cracks me up for some reason

 

[LordJeffBuck]

My understanding is that Ohio State tried to suspend them for the bowl game, and the NCAA stepped in and declared them eligible--gotta protect those tv ratings.

Should these guys all find themselves sitting on the bench on January 4th, I would be very, very happy. It would be a great statement.

Correct, they were all re-instated for the Sugar Bowl.

The decision from the NCAA student-athlete reinstatement staff does not include a withholding condition for the Allstate Sugar Bowl. The withholding condition was suspended and the student-athletes will be eligible to play in the bowl game Jan. 4 based on several factors. These include the acknowledgment the student-athletes did not receive adequate rules education during the time period the violations occurred, Lennon said.

NCAA policy allows suspending withholding penalties for a championship or bowl game if it was reasonable at the time the student-athletes were not aware they were committing violations, along with considering the specific circumstances of each situation. In addition, there must not be any competitive advantage related to the violations, and the student-athletes must have eligibility remaining.

The policy for suspending withholding conditions for bowl games or NCAA championship competition recognizes the unique opportunity these events provide at the end of a season, and they are evaluated differently from a withholding perspective. In this instance, the facts are consistent with the established policy, Lennon said.

There's the rationale from the NCAA.

Ohio State could still presumably suspend them for violation of team rules.

 

[AuTX Buckeye]

After having had time to think...

Does it suck - absolutely, as an Alum I'm disappointed
Could it be worse - hell yes it could
Will the ones suspended, current and future team members learn something - I hope so
Will tOSU survive - yes
Will Tressel do what is best for the TEAM - yes

I trust Tressel to do what is right, he stood behind Clarrett and helped him, I expect nothing less from him now...

.... all this talk about Miller starting next year... need I remind you of the Zwick vs Smith talk during their first few years...

side note: if this was shaggy bevo we would have another epic MS paint thread..

 

[Mrstickball]

Question for anyone to answer:

How much time does a football player have to spend on football per day, when at OSU?

I am just wondering, because I question how much time these players have in order to spend on regular after-school jobs, given that football may take up a considerable amount of time.

Good on OSU though. After what the SEC/NCAA does for their money grabs, its nice to see that someone is trying to take the honorable way on students.