OSU's Self-imposed Sanctions

[SanduskyCav]

Ohio State vacates wins from 2010 football season, places program on probation

FRIDAY, JULY 8, 2011 12:20 PM BY RANDY LUDLOW THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

Ohio State University is wiping its stellar 2010 football season from the record books as self-imposed punishment for major NCAA violations, sources told The Dispatch.

But it is not suggesting that the team lose scholarships or be banned from postseason play. The university submitted its response to the NCAA today, addressing allegations that then-coach Jim Tressel lied and allowed ineligible players to compete by failing to report that they had sold OSU-issued memorabilia to a tattoo-parlor owner. Sources familiar with the university's response also told The Dispatch that Ohio State is admitting major violations of NCAA regulations, but says it should not face harsh punishment because no OSU official other than Tressel was aware of player violations. In addition to vacating the wins from its 12-1 season along with its Big Ten and Sugar Bowl championships, the university has placed its football program on probation for two years, sources said. The university also acknowledges that it sought the resignation of Tressel, who departed on May 30. Sources said the report also includes the revelation that the university had identified one additional football player who received discounts on tattoos and has declared him ineligible. The university has requested that the NCAA reinstate the unnamed player. The Dispatch reported today that Ohio State is increasing compliance efforts and staffing. Sources said the report to the NCAA will also include new restrictions on how and when players receive awards in an attempt to ensure they are not sold. The fallout from the scandal has included the resignation of Tressel, the partial-season suspension of six players, and quarterback Terrelle Pryor's decision to skip his senior season and turn pro. The NCAA could take away scholarships and impose a post-season ban on the football program as additional punishment for its violations following a hearing before the infractions committee on Aug. 12 in Indianapolis. Ohio State also could face additional punishment if the NCAA determines it is a repeat offender stemming from violations committed by then-basketball coach Jim O'Brien and quarterback Troy Smith. Sources said the university concedes it is a repeat offender, but contends it has responded appropriately, imposed fitting sanctions on its football program and should face no further punishment. The downfall of Tressel and Ohio State began on April 2, 2010, when former OSU walk-on linebacker Christopher Cicero, who is now a Columbus lawyer, sent the coach an email informing him that at least two players had sold memorabilia to tattoo-parlor owner Edward Rife. Rife, who has pleaded guilty to marijuana trafficking in federal court, paid the players with $9,480 in cash and $555 in free and discounted tattoos for items that included gold pants charms for Michigan wins and game-worn gear. Tressel did not inform the compliance office or OSU officials that his players had committed apparent violations of NCAA regulations and signed an NCAA form certifying that he had no knowledge of violations. Tressel then permitted the players, including Pryor, to compete during the 2010 season while never disclosing their misconduct. OSU officials learned of the violations in December when federal officials told them that investigators had found player memorabilia when they searched Rife's home during a drug investigation. Federal officials have said there is no evidence Ohio State players were involved in drug transactions. rludlow@dispatch.com

 

[Lee]

Preemptive strike that wont work, they are losing scholarships and will miss a bowl game or two.

 

[AZ_]

Seems reasonable to me.

 

[AZ_]

Ohio State provides update on developments regarding football program
University submits formal response to NCAA Notice of Allegations
Jim Tressel and Ohio State announce agreement

The Ohio State University has submitted its formal response to the NCAA’s Notice of Allegations received by the university on April 21 related to specific questions involving Ohio State’s football program and the actions of its former head football coach, Jim Tressel. Tressel also has submitted his own formal response as requested by the NCAA.


Additionally, Tressel and the university today announced an agreement under which Tressel will change his previously announced resignation to a retirement. The agreement also ends and resolves any issues arising out of Tressel’s employment with Ohio State. Tressel and the university believe this agreement is reasonable and in the parties’ best interests.

Regarding today’s announcement, Tressel said, “I take full responsibility for my mistakes that have led to the ongoing NCAA inquiry and to scrutiny and criticism of the football program. I am grateful for this opportunity to retire from the university that I so deeply respect and that I will continue to support.”


In its response to the NCAA, the university addresses the NCAA’s specific allegations and also highlights steps the university has already taken, including:

Suspending five players for the first five games of next season;
Accepting Tressel’s resignation;
Vacating the football program’s wins in the 2010 season, including its Sugar Bowl victory in January 2011;
Self-imposing a two-year NCAA probation; and
Implementing additional measures to enhance the university’s already extensive monitoring, educational and compliance programs.

Commenting on today’s filing, Athletics Director Gene Smith said, “We are fully cooperating with the NCAA, and we look forward to working together to bring a resolution to these current matters. Throughout the entire process since we discovered possible infractions, Ohio State has consistently acted to investigate any allegation, self-report its findings to the NCAA, communicate transparently about its findings, and take necessary remediation steps. Now, consistent with the direction set by our Board of Trustees, we are taking a very hard look on our own at all aspects of our athletic programs to identify and implement improvements designed to ensure that we uphold the highest ideals of honor and integrity.

“Throughout this time, we are also refocusing the entire athletics program on doing what we do best – representing our great university and its values well. We are proud that among our many positive accomplishments this year, our athletics program as a whole involved a record 523 scholar-athletes; 201 student-athletes earned degrees; and Ohio State finished second in the Division I Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup, the highest finish in our history,” concluded Smith.


Smith said that Ohio State continues to work closely with the NCAA to review information concerning potential violations, including issues publicly raised subsequent to the university’s self-reporting on December 19, 2010, that resulted in the NCAA’s Notice of Allegation. Additionally, the university will have no further comment on specific allegations.


A copy of Ohio State’s response to the NCAA Notice of Allegations and other related documents are available at http://www.osu.edu/news/ncaadocs.

Official OSU release...

 

[Cavs1]

you mean those games i watched with my own eyes...that I saw us win...didn't happen? We didn't win those games?

Cmon...vacating wins is the stupidest thing ever. USC still won that championship. We still won those games. This does nothing.

This will not help lessen our punishment in any way

 

[AZ_]

Can't imagine it gets much worse.

People expecting USC have seemingly been watching too much ESPN...

Maybe a bowl ban this year and a marginal number of scholly's.

Maybe not though...

 

[Cavs1]

Oh I definitely don't think we'll get it as bad as USC did...I'm thinking right along the lines of what you posted as well...maybe 1 year ban and lose a couple scholarships.

I just don't think vacating our wins is going to help our case to stop them from punishing us less than they were going to. And it doesn't diminish what happened last season in any way for me...I still remember us wining those games and nothing is going to change that.

 

[Lee]

Can't imagine it gets much worse.

People expecting USC have seemingly been watching too much ESPN...

Maybe a bowl ban this year and a marginal number of scholly's.

Maybe not though...

You were in denial that it would even get close to this bad.

It will get worse. I am thinking USC is an appropriate benchmark.

 

[Nightperson]

Never has a team been bowl banned without being charged with LOIC or failure to monitor.... OSU won't be banned from a bowl game. This plus some schooly reductions added in will be what NCAA rules.

 

[Nightperson]

You were in denial that it would even get close to this bad.

It will get worse. I am thinking USC is an appropriate benchmark.

Turn off ESPN.

 

[Lee]

Turn off ESPN.

Great defense. Your right, I am wrong. No way OSU gets a bowl ban. They hardly did anything wrong.

 

[Believeland-OH]

I vacated win doesn't count as a win for Michigan.

I'm disappointed we vacated the Suger Bowl for the sole reason I was interested in how the NCAA was going to justify taking it away after they ok'd letting the 5 players play in the game when they knew about the violations. They probably would have just blamed it on Tressel, but I still find letting them play in the Suger Bowl interesting dialouge, as it shows how important money and viewership is to the NCAA.

I'm also disappointed to see the Big 10 win streak end, but at the same time how much does it really mean when it is a 3-way shared title. I'm excited to have the Big 10 Championship game and no more split titles.

Would love to see this year play out with Ohio State and USC sitting on top of both the Coaches Poll and AP Poll. Differently if OSU had a 1 year bowl sanction. Would just be a train wreck for the BCS and NCAA.

 

[AZ_]

You were in denial that it would even get close to this bad.

It will get worse. I am thinking USC is an appropriate benchmark.

Of course you do...

Tressel did not forward an email on to compliance regarding two of his players committing violations.

Roughly the same as hiring an NFL consultant on as some special teams instructor without even letting compliance (a compliance department of ONE PERSON mind you) know and having an assistant coach FACILITATE a relationship with a player with six figure money changing hands. To say nothing of a lack of institutional control charge that doesn't seem to be in OSU's future.

Should absolutely be mutually exclusive.

And I've never denied that they would vacate wins, you invented that because you have it in your head that I'm claiming no wrong-doing by Tressel and the university.

 

[Nightperson]

Great defense. Your right, I am wrong. No way OSU gets a bowl ban. They hardly did anything wrong.

How many schools have received bowl bans without the "failure to monitor" or "lack of institutional control" tag?

Zero. None.

Did tOSU receive either tag? NO.

Did USC? Yes.

 

[Steve_424]

I am disappointed in some of these quotes:

That response was due Friday. The school said it will be made public on July 11, however The Dispatch obtained a copy of the response, which included the following:

"The responsibility is upon Tressel. No other institutional personnel were aware" of the violations, and the former coach failed in his obligation to report them, the response says. "The institution is embarrassed by the actions of Tressel."

It later added:

"Coach Tressel has explained his thinking at the time, but offers no excuses for his faulty judgment ... (he) has paid a terrible price for his mistake, losing his job at one of the premier programs in the country."


Really Ohio State???? You really want us to believe that nobody else knew about the cars, tattoos, etc? No other coaches, administrators, school officials...none of them knew anything?