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

[BuckeyeNation27]

I don't see the players suspending themselves after the team voted on them playing.

 

[buckeyeinfla]

Has there been any indication on what the press conference will cover? Is this just a formal apology from the players to the fans and school, or are they deciding to sit out for the Sugar Bowl? I'm assuming it will just be an apology but i could also see the 5 players sitting themselves for the Bowl game, maybe in hopes of getting the 5 game suspension reduced.

addressing the fans of ohio state. these guys are going to play. delany and the big ten worked too hard to get them back in the game.

 

[BB73]

even if there's a perfectly explainable reason about the low ratings that had nothing to do with them?

Shit happened this year. Shit can happen next year or the year after that. Trying to sell future TV rates based on an excuse of "We would have had another x million viewers, but some players being suspended, and that probably won't happen again" shouldnt work too well against an experienced negotiator for those on the other side of the table.

If you're thinking that a hit in the TV rating won't cost anybody some money somewhere along the line, you may have been the victim of some bad eggnog over the weekend.

 

[BuckeyeNation27]

Shit happened this year. Shit can happen next year or the year after that. Trying to sell future TV rates based on an excuse of "We would have had another x million viewers, but some players being suspended, and that probably won't happen again" shouldnt work too well against an experienced negotiator for those on the other side of the table.

If you're thinking that a hit in the TV rating won't cost anybody some money somewhere along the line, you may have been the victim of some bad eggnog over the weekend.

well then now I have to wonder why they even let UConn in.

 

[cincibuck]

Shit happened this year. Shit can happen next year or the year after that. Trying to sell future TV rates based on an excuse of "We would have had another x million viewers, but some players being suspended, and that probably won't happen again" shouldnt work too well against an experienced negotiator for those on the other side of the table.

If you're thinking that a hit in the TV rating won't cost anybody some money somewhere along the line, you may have been the victim of some bad eggnog over the weekend.

Exactly why I think the Reggie Bush case took so long for the NCAA to act on. Without the Trojans there's no college football for most of the West Coast market. Suspending USC was biting one of the hands that feeds the NCAA hierarchy.

 

[BuckNut65]

Gene Smith is one of the most respected sports administrators in the country. Andy Geiger, that class act hounded out of his job on spurious allegations "loss of control", set the stage for a golden era in Ohio State sports. Under Gene Smith's administration, it has born fruit--not only in football and basketball but across the panoply of Ohio State sports.

Live long enough and you will see the circle of life more clearly. At a time when Ohio State University athletics is enjoying one of it's greatest golden eras, it is not surprising to see the bile that some folks seem so willing to spill. As a boy, I sat in the barber shop on Oakland Park Avenue, listening to the old men talk down Woody Hayes. They all knew better than Woody.They were embarrassed when his teams did not win the Big Ten. They bayed for his job with a great passion, which would be exceeded by their impassioned grief whenhe stood before them with tears in his eyes "after dotting the i" and they remembered what they had done. I never forgot the things that they said and how they argued with my father while I waited for my haircut. How strange it was to hear how they remembered the things they said so long ago, when they told stories about their undying support for Woody and John Cooper "not getting it".

These great "Ohio State fans" spoke with even more passion about the need to fire Fred Taylor, Ohio State's first baseball All-American and coach of a national championship team. As I write, Fred Taylor stares back from a few feet away, as he was when I snapped the picture courtside during an Ohio State game. Looking at the picture reminds me of his incredible generosity but I also see a sadness in his eye and a weariness that I was too young to see as a child.

What might Taylor have achieved if Athletics Director Ed Weaver supported him after his team was attacked and beaten up at Minnesota? What would have been the destiny of the only coach who rivaled the great Adolph Rupp in his day?

How will Buckeye fans remember their behavior today when this golden era comes to its end, as all golden eras must?

For any fan to be embarrassed by Gene Smith's behavior is quite frankly ridiculous. Feeling that Smith's handling of this affair impugns one's self-image suggests a need to think clearly about the distinctions one makes between being a fan, on one hand, and the team, sport administrators, and University, on the other hand. We're talking about college sports here, one needs to keep perspective.

A friendly reminder. We do not allow bashing of Ohio State players, coaches, or sports administrators at BP. It is possible that briefings given to the players did not make the infractions clear. Can they sell a pair of their shoes? If Boom Herron buys a used car with his summer job earnings, can he sell it? Did the person who gave a particular brief just do a bad job on the day?

The point that I make is that there are a few folks riding very high horses on BP. As I read their posts, it seems very clear that none of them have any personal experience of what happened.

Do I personally think that the players must have suspected that what they were doing was wrong? Yes, but that is irrelevant. Do I think that Gene Smith may have been covering for his team by throwing his compliance team under the bus (possibly with their permission, they also are part of the team) and that he might have chosen a poor joke to bring the offense into perspective? Yes, it's possible, but that gives me no basis for questioning his integrity or, more importantly, intent.

But to be embarrassed about his behavior? Think about what you are saying folks, just think about it. Perhaps a few people of like mind are repping you but how will you rep yourself years from now?

If you have objective information that proves Gene Smith lied about the content of the briefings given to players, then by all means bring it forward for us all to see. If not, and you'd like to bash Ohio State players, coaches, or administrators, then I suggest you take the discussion to that other board or ESPiN. This is not the place.

Could not agree with you more!

 

[SmoovP]

[censored] happened this year. [censored] can happen next year or the year after that. Trying to sell future TV rates based on an excuse of "We would have had another x million viewers, but some players being suspended, and that probably won't happen again" shouldnt work too well against an experienced negotiator for those on the other side of the table.

If you're thinking that a hit in the TV rating won't cost anybody some money somewhere along the line, you may have been the victim of some bad eggnog over the weekend.

Yeah, but the ratings are dependent on the matchup and this is a good one. Even if the OSU 5 didn't play it would only effect the ratings to a very minor degree - this year only.

People who are fans of OSU are still going to tune in, as will the football viewing world at large.

What happens this year won't effect the future of the BCS viewership in any cause-and-effect way.

 

[Buckeye2223]

Very well said Steve19! On a differant note, can someone please tell me what kerbie said that made everyone so angry?

 

[MililaniBuckeye]

FWIW, I hope this scandal breaks the camel's back and the NCAA reforms its policies for selling personal belongings.

There's nothing wrong with the NCAA's prohibition on player's selling items, while they are on scholarship, that they recieved as a result of their football participation. It has been clearly explained how the lack of such a prohibition would open up a pandora's box of boosters laundering money to players via the purchase of these items.

 

[matcar]

There's nothing wrong with the NCAA's prohibition on player's selling items, while they are on scholarship, that they recieved as a result of their football participation. It has been clearly explained how the lack of such a prohibition would open up a pandora's box of boosters laundering money to players via the purchase of these items.

Exactly. If they wanted to sell the items for money, they need only wait until their playing days at school are over.

 

[buckeyeintn]

Exactly. If they wanted to sell the items for money, they need only wait until their playing days at school are over.

Or allow sCam's dad to broker the deal. My understanding is the NCAA has a special rule that says if his church gets a cut then everything is legal.

 

[RugbyBuck]

Might be higher ratings as it's possibly Pryor's last college game.

 

[Hogs Win]

Honestly, I'd be quite surprised if we did not see this occur again in college football in the next few years.

You will see this again...because it was not a mistake or misunderstanding...by Georgia's Green or your Buckeye 5...they knew, down deep that it was wrong...

Common sense tells you that you can't be selling items, that you recieved because you play for a university, for a profit....regardless if your momma needed rent money...

While the specific act of not selling your gold pants was not discussed in compliance meetings held with the players as part of freshmen player orientation, it is obvious that that would be a natural extension of a benefit that a player would have that a normal student would not....

As long as there is an overpriced market for things that players only have....there will be a player that will take the chance on getting away with selling it....

 

[matcar]

You will see this again...because it was not a mistake or misunderstanding...by Georgia's Green or your Buckeye 5...they knew, down deep that it was wrong...

Common sense tells you that you can't be selling items, that you recieved because you play for a university, for a profit....regardless if your momma needed rent money...

While the specific act of not selling your gold pants was not discussed in compliance meetings held with the players as part of freshmen player orientation, it is obvious that that would be a natural extension of a benefit that a player would have that a normal student would not....

As long as there is an overpriced market for things that players only have....there will be a player that will take the chance on getting away with selling it....

I'm sure that's true. Having said that, young adults will be.....young adults. I'm not going to make any excuses for what they did, as I am also sure that they knew what they were doing. Having said that, I took a stroll down memory lane recently and was reminded of the many things I did while in high school and college. These guys are saints compared to me.

So yeah, I'm disappointed in the choices they made, especially because their choices impact so many teammates and coaches, but as I recall my judgement back then, I realize that...well...we often make poor choices at that age and don't even consider consequences.

 

[ORD_Buckeye]

Here's how Gene Smith should have handled that press conference.

First, don't bring up the economic hardship alibi without concrete examples (i.e. proof) of where the money went. To do so in the absence of such substantive content--and in light of the tattoo situation--just made the claim come off as the most hollow of excuse making and covering of the players' arses. If it's true, prove it. Don't, however, expect the world to take the claim at face value.

Second, address the compliance issue thusly;

We will also be looking into the actions of our compliance office to determine if our student-athletes were properly informed of the rules in question. While we hold the employees responsible for compliance in the highest regard, we do realize that mistakes and oversights are possible. If it is determined that there was a gap in our compliance education, measures will be taken--in a manner transparent to the university community and its stakeholders--to ensure that all of our student-athletes will be properly informed of all NCAA rules from this point forward. Given the gravity of this situation as well as the importance that Ohio State University has always placed on full compliance with NCAA rules, any negligent athletic department employees will be held accountable. I should also add that, as head of the athletic department, a portion of that accountability must necessarily land at my desk.

Third, don't make any glib jokes on your way out of the room.

There. That's not too hard and what I would consider to be a matter of course coming from a university employee pulling down a seven figure salary.

:osu: