The Dispatch has the scoop on the 13-page report from the NCAA detailing the allegations against the school and Coach Tressel. Â Specific points of interest:
- As suspected, there will be no further punishment against the players.
- There are no “failure to monitor” or “lack of institutional control” allegations which would lead to the most severe penalties.
- While the 2010 regular season is potentially in jeopardy, the Sugar Bowl is not since all players were ruled eligible by the NCAA prior to that contest.
- Ohio State could be treated as a repeat offender due to Troy Smith and Jim O’Brien situations. Â This could put things like a post-season ban and scholarship reductions on the table, although I personally think that the university’s cooperation with the investigation will play into those decisions. Â The disturbing part here is that the article mentions that this also puts suspension for the “entire coaching staff” on the table. Â I don’t really know how that would work, but it scares the hell out of me.
- The NCAA is curious as to the nature of Ohio State’s relationships with Chris Cicero (the former player/lawyer who sent the emails to Tressel) and Ted Sarniak (Pryor’s mentor to whom Tressel forwarded the emails). Â They also want to see the letter sent from the Department of Justice in December.
- Ed Rife (the tattoo parlor owner under investigation) was never charged with a crime. Â This surprised me.
- The article continues the maddening trend of characterizing Tressel’s violation of Rule 10.1 as one that tends to get coaches fired. Â In truth, all of the 10.1-violators who have been fired also violated numerous other rules. Â It still appears that Tressel has no other violations.
- The NCAA meeting to address these allegations will be on August 12, so we still have a long wait for ultimate closure on this issue.
Come on people, regardless what happens the OSU Bucks will put a team on the field that easily rolls over any team until Nebraska or the Badgers. Huge talent on that team with or without Tressel. JT always talks about doing what’s best for Ohio State and the football program. Better than 50% chance he steps down before August, you don’t go back out on the field after the NCAA calls you a liar, accusing you of hiding evidence in order to play ineligible players, nobody recovers from that and you don’t drag a program through that all year. Anybody who watched the spring game post conf. saw it in Tressel’s eyes, he’s gone.
This passage made me chuckle: “It was reported that Jim Tressel, head football coach, failed to deport himself in accordance with the honesty and integrity normally associated with the conduct and administration of intercollegiate athletics and violated ethical-conduct legislation”
Was that written ironically? Tongue-in-cheek? “Normally associated”? That’s a joke, right?