Yahoo, Tattoos, and tOSU (1-year bowl ban, 82 scholly limit for 3 years)

[craigblitz]

bb73 :

One e-mail said that Rife really was a drug dealer, and one mentioned in its postscripts that the Rife was a convicted felon who had witnessed a friend being killed.

I saw that, but what other supporting context was there that players outside of using his services for a tatoo was there?....Your point made me think on this as well... All we have here are emails, we have no idea how many calls, in person conversations, etc they had outside of emails. Perhabs there is other evidence that supports JT's side, but he did not expand on that.

I also think if he was concerned about players life a comment like man I hope they grow up some day does not seem strong enough.... needless to say that is disecting his words way too much..

 

[AuTX Buckeye]

Only way I can sum this up.. Shit happens, even to go good people with good intentions. I'll rest well knowing our (OSU) closet is fairly clear and open. My only hope is Yahoo digs around everyone else a little dipper, other than waiting for a source that seems to be at the compliance dept of the NCAA to give them the info, and maybe does some real journalism.

 

[Gatorubet]

But I already loathe all the discussion I'll hear from the talking heads over the next few months suggesting that the NCAA make it more than 2 games.

So you're saying a round of orange creme margaritas for everyone?

Bill Old Buddy, that low rumbling sound was the moral high ground dirt falling into the sink hole. People are going to be talking about "Auburn Oregon USC and tOSU".

Ain't nothin you can do about that but drink and support the home team. And I'm sure you will do your part

 

[Cincinnatibuck]

There seems to be a lot of speculating that the first email mentioned current players. It sounded to me that there were some former players mentioned in some of the emails.

 

[Gatorubet]

I want to throw my remote through my TV right now watching ESPN.

All they say is "suspended for 2 games for major violation. he knew that TP and the 5 were selling stuff last april and didn't say anything"

first off, no. He only knew of TWO people selling stuff and even then did he know they were actually selling stuff or was there name just brought up in regards to being around the tat parlor that was being investigated.

Point being, he was told that they were. Hence the duty to report.

Also, NOT ONCE have I heard ESPN mention the FEDERAL INVESTIGATION REGARDING DRUG TRAFFICKING FOR THE TAT SHOP and that Tressel withheld information based on confidentiality FOR that very same investigation.

[censored] [censored] [censored] [censored] the media.

Well, some consider that whole excuse to be sorta self serving, and possibly horse excrement. Reasonable minds can likely agree to disagree on that issue. Much like many other things, it comes down to faith - in this case, faith in Tress. We do not know the nature of phone calls that could amplify the knowledge that coach had beyond the e-mails. But if you go just off of the e-mails, there is more than one way to interpret the whole deal. Unfortunately.

 

[shetuck]

Why in the world would anybody - a well-meaning lawyer acquaintance, no less - put this stuff in an email sent to JT's OSU account?

 

[utgrad73]

"You have to make decisions, ... I've never pretended that every decision I've made was right. And I've been reminded of that."

This is a Tressel quote after a game which seems prophetic in light of todays events. Some decisions are made for a greater good while they also bruise an ego and tarnish a reputation. The greater good is the well being of two players (and all players), but the tarnish will be buffed away with the success of his body of work on and off the field.

 

[chillinvillian]

It sounds like to me Tress jump on a grenade for Ohio State, His players ,and his sources. You never drop names!

 

[Magua]

Point being, he was told that they were. Hence the duty to report.



Well, some consider that whole excuse to be sorta self serving, and possibly horse excrement. Reasonable minds can likely agree to disagree on that issue. Much like many other things, it comes down to faith - in this case, faith in Tress. We do not know the nature of phone calls that could amplify the knowledge that coach had beyond the e-mails. But if you go just off of the e-mails, there is more than one way to interpret the whole deal. Unfortunately.

I did post that prior to reading the emails. After doing so, yikes, it does not look very good on Tressels behalf.

I still laugh at ESPN's ability to leave out some of the most important aspects of this suspension in their headlines.

 

[sepia5]

One e-mail said that Rife really was a drug dealer, and one mentioned in its postscripts that the Rife was a convicted felon who had witnessed a friend being killed.

FWIW, a little digging reveals that the murder Rife witnessed was perpetrated by a Tommy Hall outside of a strip club in Franklin County. Details described here, in the third paragraph:

http://books.google.com/books?id=UOlvBffVlt8C&pg=PA180&lpg=PA180&dq=thomas+tommy+hall+murder+ohio+strip+club&source=bl&ots=80ct7UOgMF&sig=46bpOyYrCGfp1oRnLNnqcgG4RjE&hl=en&ei=wPJ2TebjOomF0QGy3MTsBg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CCcQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=thomas%20tommy%20hall%20murder%20ohio%20strip%20club&f=false

 

[Sdgobucks]

Wow, well what can I say other than that this is extremely embarrassing.

 

[matcar]

I did post that prior to reading the emails. After doing so, yikes, it does not look very good on Tressels behalf.

I still laugh at ESPN's ability to leave out some of the most important aspects of this suspension in their headlines.

There's no point in saying anything derogatory towards ESPN. They've done nothing wrong and after reading those emails it all just seems like complete crap. ...which honestly was how it sounded at the presser. This was a gross error in judgement that strains credibility.

 

[Bucklion]

Unfortunately, I think a couple things about those emails need to be pointed out.

First, if you notice, in the first email sent by the attorney, he did not request confidentiality, meaning such a request can't really be used as a viable excuse for why the potential players' violation wasn't immediately reported to OSU compliance officials for consideration.

Second, given the manner in which the story was recounted at the press conference, I had been under the impression that the attorney that sent the emails was in some way involved with the actual construction of a case against this guy. In fact, that clearly was not the case. It appears to me that the attorney is a local Columbus attorney, perhaps an OSU grad/booster that Tressel may have been somewhat familiar with (one gets the impression that JT knew who this person was prior to the email exchange). It also sounds like he likely practices criminal law locally (note his reference to having to deal with low quality people; the fact that he met with the subject of the investigation; and the fact that he knows many people in local law enforcement). The email indicates he met with the parlor owner who was at the center of the federal investigation, presumably because the parlor owner was seeking legal advice. So the confidentiality requested of JT was not so much designed to preserve an ongoing federal investigation as to protect the attorney, who was basically breaching his duty of confidentiality to his client/prospective client. In that context, I find it very difficult to believe Tressel believed he couldn't and/or shouldn't report this information to compliance officers.

Third, I wouldn't exactly characterize Tressel's responses as those of someone grappling with whether he should or should not report the possible violations. His responses seem somewhat aloof and give the impression that he thought he could just handle the matter in house, regardless of any ongoing criminal investigation.

Unfortunately, I think those emails are pretty damning. Then again, the NCAA is great at finding ways not to enforce its rules.

I haven't read the last 20 pages or so, but I agree with most of this. Most troubling to me was the answer he attempted to give when the reporter asked the question "If you knew 2 players were being investigated for federal drug trafficking, why did you let them play?". He was nailed on that question. Either he had to admit he let them play anyway like a Bobby Bowden would have or he would have to admit they were not under investigation for trafficking, in which case he would basically be admitting he sat on it while knowing it was really about tatgate. Instead he talked in circles about not interrupting a federal investigation, which didn't answer the question at all. I was also surpised by his "I don't think less of myself as a person" comment, not so much for the content as for the defiance in it. I didn't think it was the time for that kind of tone, though I certainly don't judge what he thinks of himself per se of course. All in all I was surprised at the gravity of it and am disappointed by it.

 

[stowfan]

I'm wondering, what kind of sanctions will the program get hit with?:(

 

[Bucklion]

It sounds like to me Tress jump on a grenade for Ohio State, His players ,and his sources. You never drop names!

If anything I had more of an opposing perception.