The SI article about Tressel

• Midstate01

  

  karen lotz;785886 wrote:Could be true, but don't you think they talked to any other players on the current team? 9 additional players out of the 79 other scholarship players and they just happened to not investigate any of them?

  
  Don't you think if they did something would have came out in this report.
• karen lotz

  

  Midstate01;785921 wrote:Don't you think if they did something would have came out in this report.

  
  
  Yeah so Smith and the compliance team did a poor job of investigating in December. But he was sure it was an isolated incident. It didn't help that it needed to be done quickly with the Sugar Bowl coming up, but if he is going to be relieved that there were no other violations, he better do a thorough job of looking into it or he shouldn't have said that at the press conference. That's why I said the SI article is more damaging to Smith, and then by association Ohio State because it wasn't limited to just Tressel.
• Speedofsand

  

  The article was hyped and it is great for OSU that everyone is 'let down' after reading it. Haters are disappointed there really isn't any thing new, Bucks fans are relieved. So relieved its amusing. The SI story didn't even touch on the cars or the compliance dept.
• elbuckeye28

  Speedofsand;785927 wrote:The article was hyped and it is great for OSU that everyone is 'let down' after reading it. Haters are disappointed there really isn't any thing new, Bucks fans are relieved. So relieved its amusing. The SI story didn't even touch on the cars or the compliance dept.

  I would guess that's because because there isn't too much there.
• dwccrew

  

  KnightRyder;785918 wrote:maybe USC should have cooperated the way OSU did , lie and then try to cover it up

  
  Ohio State lied? That is news. I thought it was just Jim Tressel that lied to the NCAA. Perhaps you should become an investigative journalist with these great revelations. :rolleyes:
• 2kool4skool

  

  OSU graduate and fan here, but I'm also able to look at this logically. And it's embarrassing the reaction from fans to the entire situation. No one is "out to get OSU," more than they are any big time program. OSU was either, just the only ones stupid enough to get caught, or they truly have been corrupt at a different level than most other programs.
  
  Tressel has shown a history of, at best lacking control of his players, and at worst and more likely, assisting them in making contacts with unsavory individuals that intended to help them break NCAA, and in some cases legal, rules. Tressel, Pryor, and every other player/coach/administrator involved deserve to be dismissed from the team and never invited back to OSU functions for the way they disgraced themselves, and more importantly the university.
  
  Though I can at least hope that the players turn it around, they were poor 18-22 year olds, mostly from modest upbringings. Tressel is a 60 year old multi-milionaire. He is who he is, and the decades long schtick of being captain moral compass makes it all the more disgusting.
• RedBlackAttack

  

  karen lotz;785909 wrote:SMH. @ RBA

  
  Let me be a bit more clear, here, since I may not know as much about the situation as OSU fans that have been following this thing very closely. It really hasn't interested me much, because I figured it would probably eventually just go away.
  
  Also, keep in mind that I am a UM fan, so this is the furthest thing from a 'biased' diatribe.
  
  
  
  I just read the SI article and there doesn't seem to be ANY evidence of money exchanging hands, cars being loaned or sold improperly with Tressel's knowledge. Now, there are some vague allegations by Clarret and some other completely non-credible sources, but the entire NCAA investigation seems to be revolving around these tattoo parlors, so that is what I'm going to focus on. If I'm wrong, here, and there is actual, tangible evidence of anything outside of tattoo-gate, please correct me.
  
  Again, until I see actual proof that there were improper benefits outside of trading memorabilia for body ink, I'm going to base my opinions on that... And, quite frankly, I couldn't care less. If I were an Ohio State fan, it would enrage me that players sold things like their gold pants for some stupid tattoos, but outside of being a slap in the face to the tradition, I don't care.
  
  These are not any kind of big money items. These players' fathers were not selling them off to the highest bidder (unlike another high-profile university) and I honestly don't expect a coach to be the one that has to track down every single thing that every one of his 100+ athletes are doing every minute of every day.
  
  Do you know how much sh!t college coaches have to do, aside from their main job, which is figuring out ways to win in order to retain their jobs? Speaking engagements, non-stop booster meetings, taking care of every player complaint, taking care of every player parent complaint, etc, etc.
  
  If a letter crossed Tressel's desk noting that players had received tattoos for signed pictures, it doesn't surprise me at all that he pushed it to the side and didn't consider it a big deal... Because I don't consider it a big deal... And I don't think anyone should consider it a big deal. That is just my personal opinion on the matter, though. I know people are about to get all holier than thou about this sh1t.... But, I just don't care. It doesn't impact my life in the least and it barely impacted the players' lives in the least... Except for the fact that they had some shiny new tats and a parlor owner had some cool new stuff to hang on his wall.
  
  It would be hard for me to conjure up a scenario involving NCAA violations that I considered LESS egregious, to be totally honest.
  
  If the NCAA wants to get serious about 'cleaning up' the major Division I colleges, they will develop huge departments at every major colleges that track players and whether or not there is suspicious behavior. But, they are not serious... Everyone knows that they are not serious, which is what makes this such a massive joke, whether you like tOSU and Tressel or not.
  
  Putting the entire onus of keeping every player and every booster and every tattoo parlor in town in line on the f#cking head football coach is a ridiculous standard, imo, and as long as the NCAA continues to expect these coaches to be able to successfully monitor this stuff, there will continue to be massive infractions at every major Division I-A college involving its athletes.
  
  The idea that Cam Newton's dad may have been shopping his son for $250,000? Yeah... that is extreme enough to perk my ears up and wonder what exactly happened with that, but the NCAA seems relatively unconcerned.
  
  
  Tattoo-gate? I couldn't be less interested, knowing what I know from first-hand experiences on major Division I-A college campuses.
• Manhattan Buckeye

  "If a letter crossed Tressel's desk noting that players had received tattoos for signed pictures, it doesn't surprise me at all that he pushed it to the side and didn't consider it a big deal..."
  
  Generally, I would agree. But this wasn't any other letter, it was a letter from a former player and an attorney.....and he didn't push it to the side - he tried to hide it.
  
  "Putting the entire onus of keeping every player and every booster and every tattoo parlor in town in line on the f#cking head football coach is a ridiculous standard, imo, "
  
  And IMO $3.5 Million/year is a ridiculous amount of money, this is the coach's job. If he doesn't want it, resign. Many other folks with an earned income at that rate have far more responsibilities. If a coach doesn't want it, DON'T ACCEPT THE MONEY.
  
  From the old boards I recall you of being progressive, how would you feel about the CEO of a public company taking the money and boning their employer like Tressel did?
• RedBlackAttack

  

  Manhattan Buckeye;785956 wrote:"If a letter crossed Tressel's desk noting that players had received tattoos for signed pictures, it doesn't surprise me at all that he pushed it to the side and didn't consider it a big deal..."
  
  Generally, I would agree. But this wasn't any other letter, it was a letter from a former player and an attorney.....and he didn't push it to the side - he tried to hide it.

  Again, I'm not as honed in on this story as others may be. I don't recall evidence being noted that Tressel willfully hid the letter. Where was the reference on that? I was under the impression that he put it off until near the end of the season when it was finally reported.
  
  Either way, I don't consider tattoos for memorabilia the kind of thing that any coach on that level would quickly transfer to the NCAA's attention.
  

  Manhattan Buckeye;785956 wrote:"Putting the entire onus of keeping every player and every booster and every tattoo parlor in town in line on the f#cking head football coach is a ridiculous standard, imo, "
  
  And IMO $3.5 Million/year is a ridiculous amount of money, this is the coach's job. If he doesn't want it, resign. Many other folks with an earned income at that rate have far more responsibilities. If a coach doesn't want it, DON'T ACCEPT THE MONEY.
  
  From the old boards I recall you of being progressive, how would you feel about the CEO of a public company taking the money and boning their employer like Tressel did?

  
  Let's all be completely honest, here... Tressel was paid $3.5 million per year because he won a lot of football games at Ohio State and because he helped push the college's "brand" onto the international scene. If he had run the cleanest program in the country but had averaged six wins per season, he would have been fired.
  
  The contract which he was given came about due to his prowess as a winning football coach... Nothing more.
  
  Being a successful coach at a major NCAA Division I-A college these days involves a lot of things, but dotting every 'i' and crossing every 't' when it comes to the NCAA Code of Conduct isn't one of them. You show me a successful football program at a Division I-A college and I'll show you a place where you will find infractions (likely more egregious than this) if you look hard enough.
  
  The only thing that really bothers me about Tressel is his holier than thou act. I didn't like it long before there were any allegations at tOSU. Now, he is just looking like a total hypocrite. But, in terms of the actual infractions being investigated, here? I consider it pretty weak.
• Manhattan Buckeye

  "Again, I'm not as honed in on this story as others may be. I don't recall evidence being noted that Tressel willfully hid the letter. Where was the reference on that? I was under the impression that he put it off until near the end of the season when it was finally reported.
  
  Either way, I don't consider tattoos for memorabilia the kind of thing that any coach on that level would quickly transfer to the NCAA's attention. "
  
  
  So he put if off until he got caught, nice. Perhaps I'm naive but any type of compensation for amateur athletes is a big deal. Where does it end? A dollar amount? Too many special perks? The rule is there and it is clear, you can't profit from being a collegiate athlete. You can't just walk up to a movie theater and get in free, or rent a car for free, or get a tattoo for free.
  
  This is the ONE thing you can't do....the amount of $$$ involved is irrelevant. The players were paid, at the moment it was brought up it should have been reported.
• RedBlackAttack

  

  Manhattan Buckeye;785959 wrote:"Again, I'm not as honed in on this story as others may be. I don't recall evidence being noted that Tressel willfully hid the letter. Where was the reference on that? I was under the impression that he put it off until near the end of the season when it was finally reported.
  
  Either way, I don't consider tattoos for memorabilia the kind of thing that any coach on that level would quickly transfer to the NCAA's attention. "
  
  
  So he put if off until he got caught, nice. Perhaps I'm naive but any type of compensation for amateur athletes is a big deal. Where does it end? A dollar amount? Too many special perks? The rule is there and it is clear, you can't profit from being a collegiate athlete. You can't just walk up to a movie theater and get in free, or rent a car for free, or get a tattoo for free.
  
  This is the ONE thing you can't do....the amount of $$$ involved is irrelevant. The players were paid, at the moment it was brought up it should have been reported.

  
  It's not even money in this instance, though... As far as I can tell. It was memorabilia for tattoos.... Tattoos that they probably wouldn't have spent thousands of dollars on if they had actually gotten cash for the merchandise instead.
  
  A signed picture for a guy drawing a dragon on your arm with a needle. I'm sorry, but I'm not going to get up in arms about that.
  
  I do agree that it is a slippery slope, but it has been a slippery slope for a long time now. As I said, I do believe that the NCAA really could change the culture if they really, truly wanted to, but I don't think they are all that interested in doing so. They just like to make an example out of someone every now and again, which is fine, but I would at least prefer their empty gesture to concern something with a bit more substance...
  
  Like Newton's father shopping him for $200,000. That story seemed to come and go without so much as a whimper, let alone the glaring lights of the NCAA's infractions committee when they get a program in their sights.
  
  
  I just don't like the hypocrisy of it all... We all know what happens at these Division I-A football powers. If the NCAA is trying to fool me into believing that the worst thing happening over the last decade were some guys trading signed pictures for body ink, I'm not buying it.
• Midstate01

  

  Manhattan Buckeye;785956 wrote: how would you feel about the CEO of a public company taking the money and boning their employer like Tressel did?

  
  
  How would you feel if your boss got a large raise for making the company look good, but then said to spread it out to his employees. Like tress did with raises or winning bowl games. We can all spin the how would you feel thing 100 ways
• Manhattan Buckeye

  Midstate01;785964 wrote:How would you feel if your boss got a large raise for making the company look good, but then said to spread it out to his employees. Like tress did with raises or winning bowl games. We can all spin the how would you feel thing 100 ways

  
  There is no spin. You can't pay amateur athletes. End of story. These guys were paid. What is the response? Really? They get their "pay" in free room, board and education as well as professional opportunities. They don't need free tattoos or other payments. If they can't handle it, don't enroll.
  
  There is no excuse for this. OSU needs to accept the punishment. And Tressel did the right thing.
• believer

  

  Ty Webb;785778 wrote:Writer....you knew they were selling stuff for dimebags?

  Get a grip, Gibby. Let me fill you in on a little secret....this stuff happens in every big time major college football program.
  

  RedBlackAttack;785960 wrote:I just don't like the hypocrisy of it all... We all know what happens at these Division I-A football powers. If the NCAA is trying to fool me into believing that the worst thing happening over the last decade were some guys trading signed pictures for body ink, I'm not buying it.

  
  Precisely. The NCAA is all about the money and they realize they NEED a strong Ohio State program to keep the money rolling in. They'll give OSU a token slap on the wrist for all of this.
• LJ

  

  I'm assuming there are 2 blogs that will think this article was truly a bombshell
  
  College Football Talk and Sports by Brooks...
  
  Oh wait yep, CFT is touting this article as a bombshell
• OneBuckeye

  

  LOL @ this article. Bill Green said the article should have been written in crayon and I agree. Also Storm Klien does not have any tattoos and is one of the accused in this article, what a joke. I will worry more about other things coming out about Tressel/Pryor but this article is not of my concern.
• ksig489

  OK...havent read the whole thread yet, but...this article was not nearly as bad as it was made out to be in the lead up. Is it still very damaging? Yes...BUT, it could have been so much worse. No issues of illegal recruiting mentioned, nothing about the vacations and things rumored (but could still yet come out as every media source on the planet will be looking into things now that this article received about a bajillion hits last night), nothing crazy that anyone didnt already suspect.
  
  The problem is, the article paints a picture of this being an ongoing issue and not just with one shady tattoo parlor guy. Also, the mention of memorabilia for pot in the article could be brutal in the long run as Rife just plead guilty to money laundering and drug trafficking. The NCAA has already seen enough new things to start an independent inquiry on Pryor (who was dumb enough to drive yet another different car yesterday...GET A RIDE FROM SOMEONE ELSE YOU IDIOT! At least for a few weeks). The NCAA will re-open their investigation after this article. They may not find anything worth adding to the initial report...but the will be digging a lot deeper this time. Tressells "resignation" wont matter.
  
  I don't think there will be enough for a LOIC tag, but could be less forgiving on the penalties if this truly goes back to 2002.
• WebFire

  OneBuckeye;786002 wrote:LOL @ this article. Bill Green said the article should have been written in crayon and I agree. Also Storm Klien does not have any tattoos and is one of the accused in this article, what a joke. I will worry more about other things coming out about Tressel/Pryor but this article is not of my concern.

  
  Stuff was traded for tats, money or drugs. Not just tats.
• ksig489

  OneBuckeye;786002 wrote:LOL @ this article. Bill Green said the article should have been written in crayon and I agree. Also Storm Klien does not have any tattoos and is one of the accused in this article, what a joke. I will worry more about other things coming out about Tressel/Pryor but this article is not of my concern.

  
  How do you know Klein has no tattoos? Seen him naked?
• LJ

  

  ksig489;786008 wrote:How do you know Klein has no tattoos? Seen him naked?

  
  I know a couple players (just walk ons) and they said Klein has no tats and they have seen him naked.
• OneBuckeye

  

  WebFire;786007 wrote:Stuff was traded for tats, money or drugs. Not just tats.

  
  right.......
• LJ

  

  ksig489;786006 wrote: I don't think there will be enough for a LOIC tag, but could be less forgiving on the penalties if this truly goes back to 2002.

  
  Well the NCAA statute of limitations is 4 years, so if it goes back to 2006 is all that matters. Problem is you have convicted felons, anonymous sources and 2 disgruntled ex players saying all this stuff. Is the NCAA going to look into it? Yes. But you really don't have the most reliable testimony here.
• karen lotz

  

  OneBuckeye;786017 wrote:right.......

  
  
  ???
  

  Ellis, who spent time in and around the tattoo parlor for nearly 20 months, says that in addition to those six, he witnessed nine other active players swap memorabilia or give autographs for tattoos or money. Those players were...

  Because he doesn't have tattoos, you just assume the rest is untrue?
• sportswizuhrd

  WebFire;786007 wrote:Stuff was traded for tats, money or drugs. Not just tats.

  OneBuckeye;786017 wrote:right.......

  From the story...
  
  Ohio State has conceded that six current players committed an NCAA violation by trading memorabilia for tattoos or cash at Fine Line Ink: Pryor, tackle Mike Adams, running back Dan Herron, wide receiver DeVier Posey, defensive end Solomon Thomas and linebacker Jordan Whiting. Ellis, who spent time in and around the tattoo parlor for nearly 20 months, says that in addition to those six, he witnessed nine other active players swap memorabilia or give autographs for tattoos or money. Those players were defensive back C.J. Barnett, linebacker Dorian Bell, running back Jaamal Berry, running back Bo DeLande, defensive back Zach Domicone, linebacker Storm Klein, linebacker Etienne Sabino, defensive tackle John Simon and defensive end Nathan Williams. Ohio State declined to make any of its current players available to respond to SI.[/quote]
• WebFire

  LJ;786018 wrote:Well the NCAA statute of limitations is 4 years, so if it goes back to 2006 is all that matters. Problem is you have convicted felons, anonymous sources and 2 disgruntled ex players saying all this stuff. Is the NCAA going to look into it? Yes. But you really don't have the most reliable testimony here.

  
  There are exceptions that COULD make them go back further. But I absolutely don't think they will or have any reason to.