OSU players angry and confused at administration

[MililaniBuckeye]

If OSU is forced to remove a banner, of forfeit and games, or worse offer this option as some kind of resolution, then I wil never pay one slim dime to watch anotherOSU basketball game, again!!!

I invest a lot of emotional energy into watching games. I'm not going to cheer a victory only to wonder if it won't be taken away in a few years. I don't like my memories being whitewashed away.

Two words come to mind: Fuckin' whiner.

Go ahead and not support your team, just because our AD took proactive measures to keep us from getting screwed even worse down the road. If you want to be pissed at someone, be pissed at the sour-grapes mother fucker that blew the whistle (among other stiff things) on O'Brien. Do us a favor, Nancy boy, and go waste your emotional energy by watching gay porn, which is about all your whiney ass is worth.

 

[sandgk]

i dont care what anyone says, to quote major league theyve made us eat "one giant shitburger" i never thought they would play as well as they have with the team they have and the sanctions. i give these kids a helluva a lot of credit. they have made me proud no matter how the season ends

these kids need some credit and i wish the article would have been written in a more positive manner.

jimotis -- as you said, the backdrop to this story has a strong positive undertone, would have been nice to see more of that in print -- plus lets give Matta a pat on the back.

This season could have been over before it even began. Matta got the team focussed early on doing it game by game - for the whole season. Team has circled the wagons and got down to the job at hand.

Whether Matta invokes The Wizard or Merlin himself to keep them on target through the B10 tourney here's hoping the team stays the (allowed) distance.

 

[BuckeyeDave]

The NCAA has started shying away from punishing kids that weren't there or had no part of any violations. They have been looking for ways to punish the school such as requiring the return of winnings (and other fines), vacating records, reducing scholarships, limiting recruiting, and some sort of direct punishment of coaches involved. I agree with Dials and the other players, the actions of AG and KH were premature and quite possibly excessive. To be honest, if I were the parent of one of the seniors or even one of the seniors, I think I'd talk to a lawyer and see about getting a restraining order against the implementation of the sanctions. It is absolutely not right to punish someone for the actions of another.

 

[Steve19]

I hate this whole thing. I remain so bitterly disappointed in O'Brien. If, indeed, this was a charitable act, done only for the altruistic reason of helping apotential recruit's family in a war zone, after he had been declared ineligible for good, then why did O'Brien not openly and transparently declare what he was doing to Andy Geiger and the OSU sports administration? Why did it take the other law suit before this was disclosed. O'Brien knew the rules and he knew what this would look like. If he thought it was clean, then he would have openly declared this. It didn't look that way and I personally don't think it was.

I agree with Coastal and Mili, what was tOSU to do? Wait until this unfolded late next year and then cripple Matta's recruiting until 2007 or 2008? Let EXPiN continue to play this out with endless articles about what might happen? The press didn't like this because tOSU wisely took them out of the equation.

I love the heart that this team has shown. The two seniors still have a chance to be drafted in the NBA by showing up for the rest of their games. The opening of the second half last night is something that cannot be repeated. If they went to the NCAA, how many games would that add anyway? One can understand the seniors' frustration but we're talking about a team that has played a fairly easy schedule and has lost all six games it has played against Top 100 teams away from home. There are many tough games ahead. Maybe two are certain wins. More than likely, it will end up with 18-12 or 19-11 going into the Big Ten tourney. I think they can win 5 games if they play to their potential and maybe six. But, they are going to have to want it very badly and play with great hunger for victory, moreso than they have played this year so far. That will bring every bit of the NBA recruiting attention they deserve and quite frankly play them bigger in the NBA eyes than going to the NCAA. As Tressel says, now we will see what they deserve.

But, did tOSU do the wrong thing. No. Will it help, in terms of future penalties, if this team is definitely NCAA tourney qualifying? You betcha! I am especially hopeful that the Schot is packed for the Illinois game and that the fans stay in it from the start. That win, would do it all!

 

[JCOSU86]

Two words come to mind: Fuckin' whiner.

Go ahead and not support your team, just because our AD took proactive measures to keep us from getting screwed even worse down the road. If you want to be pissed at someone, be pissed at the sour-grapes mother fucker that blew the whistle (among other stiff things) on O'Brien. Do us a favor, Nancy boy, and go waste your emotional energy by watching gay porn, which is about all your whiney ass is worth.

...and have a nice day.

 

[Misanthrope]

We may have been upset about nothing; or maybe some of our players lost their focus out of frustration. Regardless, the 20 win season that looked like almost a sure thing a couple weeks ago is in doubt now. Iowa on the road, #1 Illinois at home and one BT tourney game is the minimum left to play, and 2 wins in 3 games is no gimme at this point. I'd like to see the team get there - it would sure be a confidence boost for next year.

 

[Misanthrope]

As for the self-imposed probation, tOSU is now 65 in RPI, and with 10 losses, we'd almost need to beat Illinois - or make a BT tourney run - to get an at-large bid. Either way, I still believe Geiger made the right call. The sooner this Obie mess is behind us, the better.

 

[tsteele316]

As for the self-imposed probation, tOSU is now 65 in RPI, and with 10 losses, we'd almost need to beat Illinois - or make a BT tourney run - to get an at-large bid. Either way, I still believe Geiger made the right call. The sooner this Obie mess is behind us, the better.

you just have to wonder if that mess is going to be gone anytime soon. The biggest hurdle to overcome is limiting postseason play. If anyone honestly thinks that osu took a postseason ban based solely upon OB giving that $6k you're kidding yourselves.

osu knew this salyers mess was bad, and damage control was needed. firing OB and a postseason ban was a start, but the question remaining is whether or not it will be enough to pacify the NCAA.

Really, the only thing that seems to be holding up the trial is the fact that Salyers legal team has been unable to depose Biancardi. After that, everything needed for trial should be about done, and the all the info the NCAA needs will be available.

One just has to hope that another postseason ban isnt needed.

 

[NJ-Buckeye]

I suspect not many of us thought the mens hoops team would do as well as it has this year... so it seemed very convenient and strategic to inject the self-imposed penalty this year.... now it's out of the way... and the next few years looks extremely bright... so let the games begin... we'll see ya at the tourney next year... and the next...

 

[Misanthrope]

you just have to wonder if that mess is going to be gone anytime soon. The biggest hurdle to overcome is limiting postseason play. If anyone honestly thinks that osu took a postseason ban based solely upon OB giving that $6k you're kidding yourselves.

I know I didn't think it was just the 6 grand. When the ban was announced the first thing I thought was "obviously, there's more to this than a one-time brain fart by Obie".

No matter what happens, we're getting a year of probation behind us, we have a good young coach and talent returning, so the future is brighter now than it was a year ago today...a LOT brighter.

 

[MililaniBuckeye]

you just have to wonder if that mess is going to be gone anytime soon. The biggest hurdle to overcome is limiting postseason play. If anyone honestly thinks that osu took a postseason ban based solely upon OB giving that $6k you're kidding yourselves.

osu knew this salyers mess was bad, and damage control was needed. firing OB and a postseason ban was a start, but the question remaining is whether or not it will be enough to pacify the NCAA.

Really, the only thing that seems to be holding up the trial is the fact that Salyers legal team has been unable to depose Biancardi. After that, everything needed for trial should be about done, and the all the info the NCAA needs will be available.

One just has to hope that another postseason ban isnt needed.

Unless there's a lot more shit involved than what's already been disclosed, our firing the head coach and self-imposing a post-season ban should be sufficient.