Player Suspensions

Thanks for the Present...

Last week OSU received an early Christmas present, and unfortunately it was of the coal variety for bad behavior. Five players (QB Pryor, WR Posey, RB Herron, OL Adams, and DE Thomas) were suspended five games by the NCAA for selling trophies/awards and signatures for cash and discounts on tattoos back in 2009. The penalty was four games, but a fifth game was added because the players did not self report. The suspension does not cover the Sugar Bowl, and will start at the beginning of the next season. LB Jordan Whiting was only suspended for the season opener.

 

Why Not the Bowl Game?

The Big Ten wanted to delay the punishment in consideration of the graduating seniors on the team and the Sugar Bowl officials. Gene Smith has defended the punishments, but has left open the door for Tressel to do bowl game punishments.  Tressell made the players commit to come back next season, or else they were not allowed to make the trip to the Sugar Bowl. He received a commitment from the players, but it is not a written contract. Tressel has indicated he will not make the players sit out any part of the Sugar Bowl.

 

Pay it Forward, I mean Pay it Back!

Additionally the players must pay a charity the amount of money they received. The amount can be paid in payments and Gene Smith has indicated that scholarship money could be used. Some of the players have stated that the money was for their families, and if that is true it may be hard for the players to make payments. A payment plan must be setup and a sufficient amount must be paid before the players are reinstated for the sixth game of the season.

 

Can I Still Place a Wager?

Vegas briefly removed the game from the boards, based on the concern over suspensions for the bowl game. Rest assured gamblers, the game is on the boards and OSU is still favored to win.

  

Will an Appeal Help?

There is a possibility the NCAA will reduce the penalty to four games with OSU's appeal. The appeal process would be done by early January, right before players must decide if they are entering the NFL.