This is a collaborative effort between most of us MotSaG’ers. Hopefully it isn’t too disjointed.

For reference, OhioStateBuckeyes.com has the press conference video. It also has a link to the Self Report document that Ohio State submitted to the NCAA. The O-Zone has the emails referred to in the press conference.

(NB: The linked document states that Coach Tressel is not allowed to coach in the spring or summer sessions. Ohio State has since clarified that this is not one of the punishments self-imposed. Tressel will be with the team through the spring and summer. He will not coach the first two games of the season.)

After watching the press conference and digesting things, here are some points we think need to be made

• Yahoo! Sports didn’t break this case and their two month investigation was a farce and they received info from an OSU investigation through a leak. They didn’t even request the emails through the Freedom Of Information Act until after they put their story out there.
• OSU initiated this investigation and had the NCAA involved the entire time and had their input on the case the entire time. OSU did a TWO month exhaustive investigation. NOT YAHOO.
• SYR is happy with the outcome of this investigation and the penalties. He doesn’t believe the NCAA will add anything or they would have advised OSU of that in their dealings.
• The attorney who emailed Tressel asked for explicit confidentiality and this was an on-going Federal Criminal Investigation. While, yes, he should have said something, it is quite conceivable for him to think he couldn’t tell anyone.
• It should be reiterated that not only did OSU initiate the investigation and self-report and self-impose but they also did it extremely quickly and no one quit to go take a job in the NFL instead of staying to face the case head on.
• The national and local sportswriters are really taking Tressel to task, but it is obvious that you can’t make everyone happy.
• Tressel seemed genuine and YNBA is glad he is the coach and will continue to be for the foreseeable future.
• Tressel was visibly upset when talking about past players that had been involved in the law. That was sincere and anyone in the media to question that needs to take a deep look in the mirror.
• The players involved in this really owe Tressel Really owe him, because regardless of what he did, this is a non-issues if the initial violations don’t occur.
• This University (and we fans) are represented by the three men who stood up there today and represented all of us in Buckeye Nation. The world did not end and all will be fine. No long term bad side effects will come from this. Those who hate OSU will always hate OSU and this will just be fuel for their fodder.

I think it’s fair to say that this went about as well as possible from an Ohio State fan’s perspective.

Needless to say, we are with this team more than ever before. The 2011 season is going to be a crazy one.

Of course, that’s our opinion. We’d love to hear what you guys are thinking. Don’t hold back. If you disagree, let us know.

So certainly you’ve seen the recently posted story at Yahoo! Sports that Jim Tressel knew as early as last April that the five suspended players (Pryor, Posey, Herron, Adams and Thomas) had sold memorabilia to Fine Line Ink Tattoos owner Edward Rife. This is in stark contrast to Tressel’s comments in December that this was the first time he was aware of the situation.

The heart of the matter:

According to a source, a concerned party reached out to Tressel last April, alerting the coach that memorabilia transactions had taken place between Rife and a handful of Buckeyes players, including Pryor. The selling of items violates NCAA eligibility rules. The source said Tressel was troubled by the information, and the coach indicated that he would investigate the matter and take appropriate action.

So here is where we tell you to take this with a grain of salt. So far, all we have is “a source.” An unnamed source at that. It’s also where we tell all the haters to #dealwithit. We don’t want to hear your take. We already know it and we’ve heard it all before. Don’t bother.

Here is also where we say that both Yahoo! Sports and Dan Wetzel has a good track record. He took on USC and was right in the end.

If these allegations are true, this is VERY BAD NEWS.

If Tressel failed to inform Smith or the Ohio State compliance department about the players’ dealings with Rife, he could be charged with multiple NCAA violations including unethical conduct, failure to monitor and a failure to promote an atmosphere of compliance. In general, a coach is required to act on, or pass along reasonable information about possible rule violations for further investigation.

Also, he could be fired for cause. It’s right there, in his contract.

And all this is bad, but as far as I’m concerned, this could be even WORSE:

Ohio State itself could be cited with playing ineligible players and forced to vacate its 2010 season, when it won a share of the Big Ten championship and finished 12-1. It could also face further sanctions for major infractions.

That means we oh-fer again against the SEC. Oh no! We suck again!

So now we wait. Is this what Colin Cowherd was talking about when he said he had heard that a major college football program being brought to its knees? Because if this is true all that Tressel has worked to build up comes crashing down.

MotSaG’s official stance: This “unnamed source” had better have serious concrete proof (audio recording, email conversation) for us to put any credence into this story. Tressel’s ten plus years has earned him that much. We will wait for the University’s response and give all involved the benefit of the doubt. In every other situation (most notably the HWSNBN fiasco) Tressel and the athletic department has been ahead of the curve, taking the necessary actions to avoid impropriety and problems. Let’s hope that trend continues.

2/12/2011 – Jared Sullinger is spit on multiple times by wisconsin fans rushing the court at the end of the Badger’s upset of then number one Ohio State. Asked afterwards about the disgusting behavior of some of his team’s fans, Bo Ryan was quoted as saying:

“All I know is we won the game, deal with it, our end, their end,”

3/6/2011 – Ohio State dominates Wisconsin and wins 93-65. Fans subsequently ask Bo Ryan that he “deal with it”.

(Unfortunately, Bo Ryan is a Cyberdyne Systems Model 101 Terminator. He senses injuries. The data could be called “pain.” But he is unable to “deal with it.”)

Sad news for us Vernon Gholston fans out of ESPN New York:

As for Gholston, the Jets waited three years for him to show something — anything — but their patience went unrewarded and they finally said goodbye to a disappointing draft bust.

Gholston, chosen sixth overall in the 2008 draft, went three seasons without a sack. It became apparent during the playoffs that the Jets were ready to move on, as Gholston was inactive for all three games.

In three years, Gholston played in 45 games, including five starts, producing only 32 total tackles. He made $21 million in guarantees from his rookie contract, which breaks down to $636,000 per tackle.

That’s sad in and of itself (the whole draft bust thing) but what really gets me is this little tidbit:

Gholston had a $9 million escalator clause in his contract for one sack or forced fumble or fumble recovery, but never got it.

OUCH.

So who knows where the man-beast will land next. Hopefully he has received some good advice for managing his money and it will be interesting to see if another team will take a chance on the freak of nature.

But as for us MotSaGers, well, we’ll always have this. (And I’ll always have Northwestern)

Man, you’d think I could keep up with this blogging thing but these news stories never stop! Don’t these people know it’s the off season?

Anyway, here are the old stories from the past couple of weeks. I’d like to do these posts more than once a week. I’ll do better in the future.

Poor Art Schlichter and even more so for the old lady he swindled. I don’t have a ton to add to this story but it kind of bums me out to see someone continually fall from grace after having so many chances to right the ship. I can only fathom the grips that this gambling addiction has on this guy.

It’s probably not politically correct to admit this, but the first thing I thought after I heard the news of Buckeye recruit Chris Carter‘s trouble was, “you have to give the kid credit. He is creative!” Then I lamented the fact that we may not see the mammoth of a man play football for Ohio State. Luckily for him (and sort of for us) it looks like he won’t be charged.

Look, we love A.J. Hawk and his Cro-Magnon chin more than most people. We also FIRMLY believe that all babies are cute, even newborns.

BUT.

But we are willing to make an exception. That baby has to be the ugliest baby of all time, right? Like a baby cavebaby? Just consider the source.

At least he’s got a Super Bowl ring.

Can you actually take your talents to South Beach if your talents include pouting?

It’s never too early to start thinking about all the new faces joining the Buckeyes this fall, especially Roderick Smith, who Bruce Feldman ranks the #1 redshirt freshman ($$$) of 2011. (ESPN Insider required)

This is not Buckeye-related, but it is human being related and we must share: Eric LeGrand Makes First Public Appearance At Believe Fund Event

Finally, I’ve made a huge update to the Twittering Buckeyes page to include a bunch incoming Buckeyes from the 2011 class. Stalk them even after signing day!