Tressel self imposes 5 game suspension

• stlouiedipalma

  The more I read and think about it, the less I believe that JT told anyone at the university. Think about it, if he had done that and they sat on it, OSU would be staring down the barrel of the death penalty because the institution commited a grievous penalty, not any individual at the institution.
  
  Going back to the presser, I don't think Tressel looked good at all. The expression on his face and his demeanor was that of someone who either lost his best friend or has been told they have a terminal illness. I've never, ever seen such a grave appearance by JT.
• password

  

  elbuckeye28;716635 wrote:I think public opinion may have played a role, but I also believe that Tressel decided it was only right that his suspension was consistent with his players, a decision that was best made after they new the exact suspension length after the appeal.

  
  
  I just think it makes things look worse for him and OSU. Don't you think he should have been suspended longer than the players in the beginning because he hid the information and only came forward after he was caught.
• HitsRus

  

  Yes it did. If Tressel went forward with the information he had immediately, the players would have been ruled ineligible and would have missed games last year

  Which proves my point that the whole mess is a contrived situation, exacerbated by heavy handed and selective enforcement. The penalties skew competition more than the violation does. Timing becomes everything.
  So who gets to play a weakened (fill in the team) when a 'violation' is discovered? Depends on when the NCAA rules....if they meet this week Michigan State gets to play a weakened OSU...the following weak and Iowa gets the break. So Miami gets a win beating a weakened OSU without 5 of it's best players. Is that a feather in their cap? Will that win propel them into the NC game? I don't see how any of that improves college football....all because a couple of kids sold some stuff they shouldn't have. Oh, and the coach lied....even more reason to skew the competition.
  
  When did he lie.... was it a cover up?....did he try to delete the e- mails? WTF. Step back and look at what is going on compared to the 'crime.' It's ludicrous...a tremendous waste.
  Quit making people felons over misdeameanors. Don't give anybody a reason to 'cover up'. Keep the punishments appropriate for the violation.
• Manhattan Buckeye

  ^^^
  
  He lied and he covered up. I COMPLETELY AGREE that getting a random e-mail from a dude a few months ago shouldn't be a problem. But when it turns out that the information from the guy is correct* he should have disclosed it immediately.
  
  * There isn't anything contrived about his. It is among the first things explained by the university for amateur athletes. You can't profit from your persona. I don't buy into the "well, they were just selling their stuff" BS....they can sell their stuff, they just can't sell it for more than what the guy next door can sell it for, or sell something given to you and maintain full eligibility.
  
  OSU just needs to swallow the medicine on this before it gets worse.
• HitsRus

  

  BS, MB.
  
  The rule book is huge and ponderous and we are talking about college freshmen. There is something seriously wrong with a system that turns a coach into a babysitter and tattletale. Rules are rules, but you don't throw a guy in jail for a month for a going 15 MPH over the speed limit. The NCAA is Bud Selig or Roger Goodall without a union to check their power to fine and suspend.
  
  ...and OSU is swallowing it...and they are bending over too lest they become the next victim of an NCAA ass F'ing.
  
  4,5, 8 game suspensions for picayune violations only gives a coach a reason to attempt to cover up. You are screwed if you report and you're screwed if you don't. Hell, that's all the incentive in the world to try to sneak thru.... why not try? People are more apt to comply with the law when the law is applied justly.
• Manhattan Buckeye

  "The rule book is huge and ponderous"
  
  Indeed, but the rule #1 is you are an amateur, you can't profit from it otherwise you aren't an amateur. IMO if OSU gets the 5 game suspensions (plus Tressel's) it is a good deal. Tressel's reputation will be tarnished, but he's done enough good things to make the NCAA and fans tolerant.
  
  This is the ONE thing you don't do, allow players to be paid.
• Writerbuckeye

  

  I also disagree with the idea that selling this stuff is some huge crime. It's ridiculously STUPID to give athletes trinkets and basically tell them they aren't theirs to do with as they like.
  
  It's a dumb rule and the penalties are draconian in comparison to the "crime".
  
  The NCAA should worry more about actual efforts to cheat like selling your kid for $180,000 or having agents giving future Heisman Trophy winners million dollars homes for their families to live in.
  
  A few thousand dollars garnered from selling their own things is NOT the same thing -- I don't care how many times you repeat the rule.
  
  Having vented all that, I get that it's a rule (a very stupid one) and I'm not excusing anyone for breaking it. And I'm certainly not excusing JT for lying. In fact, I'm having a hard time understanding why he lied about it because all of it seems so out of character. Obviously, I'm not one who believes Tressel was covering it up to win games...he's been around too long, been too successful, and makes too much money to worry about this stuff at this stage of his career.
  
  I hope this is over soon, I don't like having these things hanging out there so long. Seems like the NCAA should have everything they need on this now, given OSU called them in on it several months ago and, honestly, it's not THAT complicated.
  
  Like many OSU fans, this whole episode in idiocy will mean next season is for rebuilding and playing a bunch of youngsters, and trying to put together a talented roster to make a run at a national title in the next few seasons with Braxton Miller as the QB.
• Manhattan Buckeye

  "It's ridiculously STUPID to give athletes trinkets and basically tell them they aren't theirs to do with as they like."
  
  Its the same thing with t-shirts and sweatsuits.
  
  Obviously if a booster pays a player $10,000 to join the program most folks will recognize it is a violation.
  
  But on the other hand, if a top player hocks his practice jersey on e-bay (or even worse, 'sell' it to a booster) for $10,000, it is still a violation. It isn't stupid at all, either you are an amateur or you aren't. If the solution is to stop giving athletes gear, I'm not sure it helps anyone. But the idea that this is a minor, stupid violation is silly. Again, it is the ONE thing you can't do.
• Fidmeister

  Writerbuckeye;717109 wrote:I also disagree with the idea that selling this stuff is some huge crime. It's ridiculously STUPID to give athletes trinkets and basically tell them they aren't theirs to do with as they like.
  
  It's a dumb rule and the penalties are draconian in comparison to the "crime".
  
  The NCAA should worry more about actual efforts to cheat like selling your kid for $180,000 or having agents giving future Heisman Trophy winners million dollars homes for their families to live in.
  
  A few thousand dollars garnered from selling their own things is NOT the same thing -- I don't care how many times you repeat the rule.

  
  I've said this a few times. But, without that rule, Pryor can sell shoestrings for 20k and buy his own tattoo parlor, Matt Barkley can knock back 50 grand for a practice shirt and Andrew Luck gets 100 grand for a jock. Where would it end?
• Writerbuckeye

  

  Fine. Put a lower dollar limit on it.
  
  And the punishment is still draconian and out of proportion to the offense.
• HitsRus

  

  I think the point is the punishment is out of proportion to the actual crime. I understand the rule. I don't understand the severity of the punishment.
• stlouiedipalma

  Let's say the NCAA agrees and Tressel's suspension stands at 5 games.
  
  What happens if the coach on game day decides he's not going to sit on a lead in the 2nd half, not gonna play Tresselball. I know that's a stretch, but he'd be calling the shots, not Tressel. I know there would be hell to pay the next day when Tressel returns to the office.
  
  What happens if this comes to pass and the fans love it?
• Fidmeister

  Writerbuckeye;717231 wrote:Fine. Put a lower dollar limit on it.
  
  And the punishment is still draconian and out of proportion to the offense.

  
  Still makes it an extra benefit for being an athlete, unless you'd give it to a Chemistry major, too. And you'd still have guys paying ridiculous amounts for things they turn around and dump in the trash. It still invites a wild west mentality, no matter what you do with limits. What do you do, set actual market value for the price of stuff? Who would determine the right amount?
  
  An item might be worth more to someone than they'd have to pay to buy it at Wal-Mart. Shit, dude. The NCAA would have to hire 2,000 more people just to police the prices for everyday items. If you follow your theory to a natural conclusion, these guys could sell street agents and boosters anything they had.
  
  The bylaw doesn't have to make sense to you to be necessary. There would be no way to properly oversee what guys sold and for what amount, just so boosters could give them a ton of cash. Kid comes to school with a 1994 Toyota Camry. Booster "just happened to love that model" despite its stained backseat, missing gas cap door and 290,000 miles and hands Stud Freshman the keys to a new SUV in exchange because of the sentimental value. Even if you put amounts on things they sold, guys could sell anything they ever used to boosters for extra cash. There would be no way to govern it.
  
  It's my understanding that Ohio State actually covered this in a compliance meeting after these guys started selling stuff and they still didn't stop. They probably got hit harder for blatantly flipping off the NCAA's rulebook.
• HitsRus

  

  It's my understanding that Ohio State actually covered this in a compliance meeting after these guys started selling stuff and they still didn't stop. They probably got hit harder for blatantly flipping off the NCAA's rulebook.

  That makes it a different story if actually true, because then they become multiple, unremorseful offenders. The problem is there is so much heresay and speculation about when and what happenned, I'd like to see an actual NCAA statement for their reasoning for the stiff punishment and the results of said investigation.
  I don't know what the procedure is here, ....if that has been issued or will be forthcoming....but anything less is bullshit. There is so much shit floating out there it's hard to know what to think.
• Writerbuckeye

  

  Oh please, Fid. You're not really going to start comparing D-1 athletes with regular students are you?
  
  One of the biggest JOKES in NCAA enforcement is this notion that the athletes can't have things that a regular student doesn't have access too.
  
  How dumb and hypocritical.
  
  Athletes already have a ton of advantages most students don't dream of, including stipends, meals, access to better health care, study tables and tutoring, and training facilities.
  
  It's time to just embrace the fact that student athletes are a favored class among their peers...a position they EARN through their hard work outside the classroom and their performance on the field. This nonsense about somehow magically trying to pretend that athletes aren't elites when it comes to both "stuff" and opportunities is just that -- nonsense.
• Timber

  (Hint sarcasm) I am sure none of the players have ever sold any of these "bowl gifts" either. Gifts such as I-pods, video caemeras. etc. I am sure they have been sold for cash money many, many times by every bowl team in the country. Yet, the ncaa allows schools to give money ($ 800) to players to buy a plane ticket to get to a bowl game from their home that costs $ 109.00... the hypocrisy just drives me crazy!
• enigmaax

  Timber;717459 wrote: (Hint sarcasm) I am sure none of the players have ever sold any of these "bowl gifts" either. Gifts such as I-pods, video caemeras. etc. I am sure they have been sold for cash money many, many times by every bowl team in the country.

  If you are so sure, report them and have the NCAA investigate. Though, selling generic items isn't the issue. It was selling personal items with a price based on the player's status/fame. Big, big difference between that and what you are saying here.
  

  Timber;717459 wrote:Yet, the ncaa allows schools to give money ($ 800) to players to buy a plane ticket to get to a bowl game from their home that costs $ 109.00... the hypocrisy just drives me crazy!

  
  The key thing there being everyone is entitled to the same thing. What you are pointing out here doesn't open the door for the highest bidding schools/boosters to gain advantages in recruiting. Again, you're way off making that comparison.
• Timber

  Sorry, but I did not say that it opened the door to the highest bidder. Did not make that comparison.
• enigmaax

  Timber;717503 wrote:Sorry, but I did not say that it opened the door to the highest bidder. Did not make that comparison.

  
  No kidding. You cited the NCAA providing money to every player equally as a sign of hypocrisy. It isn't hypocrisy at all in your example. There are allowances for certain things that all of the players get. Being able to sell personal items or accept money from boosters is what opens up the bidding because all players/schools won't have the same access/resources.
• sportswizuhrd

  Writerbuckeye;717433 wrote:Oh please, Fid. You're not really going to start comparing D-1 athletes with regular students are you?
  
  One of the biggest JOKES in NCAA enforcement is this notion that the athletes can't have things that a regular student doesn't have access too.
  
  How dumb and hypocritical.

  Mike Golic(Mike and Mike in the morning on ESPN) used this same argument with the students. He said they dont have the same privileges as the student-athletes do in this case. Mike Greenberg was all for allowing S-A's selling their own stuff.
  
  If Cam Newton's father did get all that money from whoever for Cam to go to a certain school, I wonder if Cam's NJCAA Championship ring was involved in the deal too. (if they give out rings to NJCAA champions).
• Big Gain

  Fidmeister;717302 wrote:Still makes it an extra benefit for being an athlete, unless you'd give it to a Chemistry major, too. And you'd still have guys paying ridiculous amounts for things they turn around and dump in the trash. It still invites a wild west mentality, no matter what you do with limits. What do you do, set actual market value for the price of stuff? Who would determine the right amount?
  
  An item might be worth more to someone than they'd have to pay to buy it at Wal-Mart. Shit, dude. The NCAA would have to hire 2,000 more people just to police the prices for everyday items. If you follow your theory to a natural conclusion, these guys could sell street agents and boosters anything they had.
  
  The bylaw doesn't have to make sense to you to be necessary. There would be no way to properly oversee what guys sold and for what amount, just so boosters could give them a ton of cash. Kid comes to school with a 1994 Toyota Camry. Booster "just happened to love that model" despite its stained backseat, missing gas cap door and 290,000 miles and hands Stud Freshman the keys to a new SUV in exchange because of the sentimental value. Even if you put amounts on things they sold, guys could sell anything they ever used to boosters for extra cash. There would be no way to govern it.
  
  It's my understanding that Ohio State actually covered this in a compliance meeting after these guys started selling stuff and they still didn't stop. They probably got hit harder for blatantly flipping off the NCAA's rulebook.

  
  A VERY reliable source has told me YOU have LIED. Did your lie/lies affect anyone? Did you admit you had lied before or after the lie was discovered. How many of your lies went undiscovered? What was your punishment for lying? Was it a percentage of your salary? Was there any monetary punishment for your lies.
  
  Those who have never lied can be the only ones to throw the first stone. The same source has told me none of us have never lied. Those that can forgive other's transgressions will be held in the highest when judged.
• Hb31187

  

  YOU have LIEDDD. You dirty mouthed one
• sportswizuhrd

  Hb31187;717732 wrote:YOU have LIEDDD. You dirty mouthed one

  TRUTH!
• Fidmeister

  Big Gain;717592 wrote:A VERY reliable source has told me YOU have LIED. Did your lie/lies affect anyone? Did you admit you had lied before or after the lie was discovered. How many of your lies went undiscovered? What was your punishment for lying? Was it a percentage of your salary? Was there any monetary punishment for your lies.
  
  Those who have never lied can be the only ones to throw the first stone. The same source has told me none of us have never lied. Those that can forgive other's transgressions will be held in the highest when judged.

  So, wait. Let me understand this correctly.
  
  Only God can have an opinion on what happened at Ohio State? When did we lose our freedom of speech?
  
  The defenses of what was done in that program are off the charts. You all should really find one that makes sense.
  
  And I would recommend having it be something you would buy from me if this was Miami in this trouble instead of Ohio State.
  
  I.don't hate Ohio State. Hope they win 11 regular.season games next year, just not the one in Miami.
  
  But it is funny how.some of you are trying to rationalize and defend actions that the school itself isn't denying.
• Big Gain

  So, wait. Let me understand correctly. You think God has opinions??? LOLOLOL You don't understand that freedom of speech is a God given right???
  
  Besides......what do opinions have to do with the fact that you have lied? The real questions are: Have you lied more? Have your lies been discovered? Have your lies been of greater consequence? How much money have you been fined for your lies?
  
  You fail to realize that I HAVE NEVER said one word on here or anywhere concerning Miami or ANY college about mistakes or misconduct. I find it immature and unseemly to do so. Your free speech does not hold you in good stead.