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QB Troy Smith (2006 Heisman Trophy Winner)

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I'm going to try to be the voice of reason here -- not out for blood, but not a patsy either.

What Troy Smith did is far worse than a simple 'mistake'. And it goes far beyond being a 'first offense'. He broke the cardinal rule of amateur athletics. He took money, knowing full well that it was a violation of NCAA policy and the policy of the Ohio State University, from which he receives a full scholarship. And he knew that if he were ever found out, there would be hell to pay. Fully informed of the rules, fully aware of the potential consequences for his teammates and for his school, he intentionally broke the most important rule in college sports.

It is perfectly reasonable that he should suffer severe consequences for his willful violation of team/school/NCAA rules and for putting his team, and team mates, at risk of NCAA sanctions.

So what's a reasonable punishment?

In politics there is an old saying: "If someone throws mud at you, don't wipe it off right away. It will smear and make matters worse. Let it dry and then just brush it off."

Troy has muddied the reputation of the Ohio State University. If the school tries to wipe off the mud immediately, by kicking his sorry ass off the team, it will only escalate the controversy and make matters worse. The best course is to let him cool his heels while the mud dries. Then, just brush him off.

I would further advise Geiger not to petition the NCAA for leniency in Troy's case. Geiger's OSU athletic department is in no position to be asking favors of the NCAA. Both major sports are at risk of NCAA sanction at the moment. You don't have much 'good will' capital left in the bank, Andy. Don't squander the little you have on the likes of Troy Smith.

The Buckeyes have Zwick and Boeckman, Ginn in a pinch and Schoenhoft on the way. TOSU doesn't need Troy Smith anywhere near as badly as he needs tOSU. Keep him in school, let him be part of the team, but never put him on the field in a Buckeye uniform again. He is not fit to represent tOSU.
 
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I thinking kicking Smith off the team completely is too harsh, but on the other hand I dont think just missing practice and potentially 2 games is harsh enough. I think he should be forced to sit out all of next season, or at least 6 games. If the 6 games were the suspension, he should then be allowed to come back and finish off the season as the 3rd string QB, with no chance at starting next year. Then in 2006, his SR. year he could be given the opportunity to unseat Boeckman or Zwick then. He messed up big time, and should have some sort of penalty that fits the offense. People are saying that he did not break the law, true he didnt, but he did know what he was doing was wrong and he still did it anyway. Furthermore, I would take away his ability to ever be elected team captain in the future because of this. A true leader, never puts himself above the team, and thats exactly what Troy has done.
 
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Troy is on the team. Other team members will support him. They should. That is what team is all about. That is part of the reason why the Bucks win. No cover-up and no lies, but support for a human who made a mistake.
The behavior was negative. If others criticize, so be it. The Bucks will just have to "talk" on the field. I would actually prefer that Tress and others don't use it as an excuse. I don't think they will. It would be great to see Troy move on to tremendous accomplishments and just be humble enough to admit that there was a time when he made a mistake. He seems capable of it.
 
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Mili,

Are you saying that this two game suspension basically keeps TS from being able to practice with the team until the third week of the season? Please correct me if I misunderstood you.

If this is the case, JZ should be well entrenched as the starter with all Spring and Summer as the number one guy. Plus starting the first two games of the season. It is doubtful that TS would even see the field next year, as long as we are winning with JZ.
 
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The Clarett allegations came out in November, but Troy clearly knew what Clarett had done and what it had done to the university long before then. He made a conscious choice to take money and jeapordize the Ohio State football program.

IMO he can never be taken seriously as a leader again and that hurts the team. It doesn't matter what I think though. If the players on the offense can take him seriously and feel that they can trust him, that's all that counts. I just hope Zwick and Boekman make it impossible for him to ever see the field again. He is a disgrace.
 
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That is RIDICULOUS statement you just made!

strohs said:
He did the closest thing to it, and you know it.
Click to expand...
How the FUCK is taking cash "the closest thing" to a crime! Pahlease! If he was prostituting himself out in any other state than Nevada, then may be! It's just a another rule by the EVIL ONE (NCAA) that he broke...one he shouldn't have done...BUT it's NOT a crime! Get a fuckin clue man!

HAYN
 
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hawaiianbuckeye said:
How the FUCK is taking cash "the closest thing" to a crime! Pahlease! If he was prostituting himself out in any other state than Nevada, then may be! It's just a another rule by the EVIL ONE (NCAA) that he broke...one he shouldn't have done...BUT it's NOT a crime! Get a fuckin clue man!

HAYN
Click to expand...

No shit it aint a crime, man.
No matter what the rules are, and how wrong they may or may not be, he still broke them.
Not only that, he broke the crown jewel of all NCAA rules.
Taking money is the whole shootin match to the NCAA, and you know it.
Your defense of him is laughable, what he did is completely and totally wrong in rules of intercollegiate athletics.

Im not going to sit here and argue the ethical ramifications of the NCAA rules.

But just look at what Teddy had to say about it, something to the effect of, "you know its wrong, so you dont do it."
 
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scarletngray said:
Mili,

Are you saying that this two game suspension basically keeps TS from being able to practice with the team until the third week of the season? Please correct me if I misunderstood you.
Click to expand...

My understanding is that if you are on suspension, you don't do jack shit with the team...no play, no practice, no nothing. There's a difference between a coach "suspending" a player (i.e., benching him for a violation of in-house team rules), and a player being on NCAA suspension.
 
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Before this goes any further let me just say that I will cheer like a mad man if Troy is running down the field against Texas or passing the Buckeyes to victory against Michigan.

I'll be cheering the TEAM. I will always believe that he should not be on that field, however.
 
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MililaniBuckeye said:
My understanding is that if you are on suspension, you don't do jack shit with the team...no play, no practice, no nothing. There's a difference between a coach "suspending" a player (i.e., benching him for a violation of in-house team rules), and a player being on NCAA suspension.
Click to expand...

Would it be possible for the NCAA to reinstate him, but at the same time mandate he is suspended for week 1?
Allowing to practice and so forth?
Tress and Geiger seemed very confident he would be able to practice.
 
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MililaniBuckeye said:
My understanding is that if you are on suspension, you don't do jack shit with the team...no play, no practice, no nothing. There's a difference between a coach "suspending" a player (i.e., benching him for a violation of in-house team rules), and a player being on NCAA suspension.
Click to expand...

If that is accurate we won't see TS until the B10 season at the earliest and that is only if he outplays JZ and TB in practice or they go down with injuries.

I am not in favor of kicking him off the team, unless something more comes up that he did or he makes another big mistake. I still think there needs to be a very clear message from Tressel that any more serious screw-ups (NCAA violations or arrests) may result in being thrown off the team.

However, I don't think it is in his best for the school to petition to have him reinstated short of whatever the NCAA recommends. A two game suspension at this point is probably appropriate and is severe.
 
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Anybody who is out there calling for Troy Smith's head is an absolute moron. Everybody wants to get on their "high and mighty" and say "This is TOSU and WE are above all this crap." GET A CLUE MO-FUCKA!!

I don't give a shit if it is the NFL, MLB, NBA, NCAA, or whatever, it's ALL about the $$, and will always be about the $$. Plain and simple. But these kids are amatuers and play for the love of the game, right? My fat-white ass they do! This stuff is going on all over the place. Am I minimizing it, you're damn straight I am. Any more, I'm convinced the best coaches and AD's are the one's who are smart enough NOT to have their players get caught. I don't think I'd be going too far out on a limb if I said that there are at least 25 kids on this team as I speak that have taken illegal payola from someone since they have been here. I'm probably being conservative with that number.

If you want to know why Troy, or anybody else would have taken the easy money, come up and visit his school some day. A word to the wise, do it during daylight hours. Alot of green and a friendly handshake can go a long way up here, especially for a kid who comes from a poor background. So in my opinion you "holier than thou" assholes can take a hike, or at least ask yourself:
1. Have I ever smoked pot
2. Have I ever had 4-5 drinks and operated a motor vehicle
3. Have I ever driven 66 on the Interstate

These are crimes.
 
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