COLUMBUS, Ohio - Ohio State’s 2010 Big Ten championship, its 12-1 season, its victories over rival Michigan and in the Sugar Bowl - all gone. Coach Jim Tressel is out and so is star quarterback Terrelle Pryor.
In response to NCAA violations committed by football players who traded autographs and memorabilia for cash and tattoos - and by a coach who covered it up - Ohio State issued its official response yesterday.
Athletic director Gene Smith hoped it would appease the NCAA ethics police.
The measures taken by the school included vacating all the Buckeyes’ wins from last season, a year in which Ohio State captured a record-tying sixth straight Big Ten title and won an unprecedented seventh straight game over Michigan.
“All I know is that this is significant,’’ Smith said. “A lot of people may not view it that way externally, but this is significant. When you think about all the other athletes who participated in those games, those records will be gone.
“Might the NCAA do more? I just can’t speculate on that.’’
In a reversal, Ohio State - which earlier said it had asked for Tressel’s resignation May 30 - said yesterday it had now agreed to allow him to call it a retirement. The school also said he did not have to pay a $250,000 fine levied against him for his actions.
On top of that, Tressel will receive the last month of his base pay ($54,000), has agreed to cooperate when Ohio State goes before the NCAA infractions committee Aug. 12, and both he and the university agreed that they wouldn’t sue each other.
Smith said there was no evidence whatsoever that anyone at Ohio State other than Tressel had any knowledge of the players’ violations before January.
The response to the NCAA doesn’t mean Ohio State’s woes are over. The NCAA could still impose tougher sanctions, such as a ban on postseason play and a reduction in scholarships.
Officials said yesterday they believed they’d uncovered all possible violations by football players.
“You never know, but we’ve done a lot of due diligence,’’ said John Bruno, faculty athletics representative. “We looked weeks to months to find something else and nothing has come up.’’
Boston Globe
In response to NCAA violations committed by football players who traded autographs and memorabilia for cash and tattoos - and by a coach who covered it up - Ohio State issued its official response yesterday.
Athletic director Gene Smith hoped it would appease the NCAA ethics police.
The measures taken by the school included vacating all the Buckeyes’ wins from last season, a year in which Ohio State captured a record-tying sixth straight Big Ten title and won an unprecedented seventh straight game over Michigan.
“All I know is that this is significant,’’ Smith said. “A lot of people may not view it that way externally, but this is significant. When you think about all the other athletes who participated in those games, those records will be gone.
“Might the NCAA do more? I just can’t speculate on that.’’
In a reversal, Ohio State - which earlier said it had asked for Tressel’s resignation May 30 - said yesterday it had now agreed to allow him to call it a retirement. The school also said he did not have to pay a $250,000 fine levied against him for his actions.
On top of that, Tressel will receive the last month of his base pay ($54,000), has agreed to cooperate when Ohio State goes before the NCAA infractions committee Aug. 12, and both he and the university agreed that they wouldn’t sue each other.
Smith said there was no evidence whatsoever that anyone at Ohio State other than Tressel had any knowledge of the players’ violations before January.
The response to the NCAA doesn’t mean Ohio State’s woes are over. The NCAA could still impose tougher sanctions, such as a ban on postseason play and a reduction in scholarships.
Officials said yesterday they believed they’d uncovered all possible violations by football players.
“You never know, but we’ve done a lot of due diligence,’’ said John Bruno, faculty athletics representative. “We looked weeks to months to find something else and nothing has come up.’’
Boston Globe
