Terrell Pryor and Others Disciplined by NCAA
 

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=5950873


Five Ohio State players sanctioned

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Five Ohio State football players, including quarterback Terrell Pryor, must sit out the first five games of the 2011 season for accepting improper benefits, the NCAA ruled Thursday.

A sixth football student-athlete must sit out the first game in 2011 for receiving discounted services in violation of NCAA rules.

All of the players be eligible for the Jan. 4 Sugar Bowl, however.

Five players were found to have sold awards, gifts and university apparel, plus receiving improper benefits in 2009. In addition to missing five games next season, Pryor, Mike Adams, Daniel Herron, Devier Posey and Solomon Thomas must repay money and benefits ranging in value from $1,000 to $2,500. The repayments must be made to a charity.

Jordan Whiting must sit out the first game next year and pay $150 to a charity for the value of services that were discounted because of his status as a student-athlete.

The NCAA announced the suspensions on Thursday, shortly before Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith and coach Jim Tressel were to meet with reporters to discuss the university's investigation of players trading autographs for tattoos.

Adams must repay $1,000 for selling his 2008 Big Ten championship ring and Herron must repay $1,150 for selling his football jersey, pants and shoes for $1,000 and receiving discounted services worth $150.

Posey must repay $1,250 for selling his 2008 Big Ten championship ring for $1,200 and receiving discounted services worth $50, while Pryor must repay $2,500 for selling his 2008 Big Ten championship ring, a 2009 Fiesta Bowl sportsmanship award and his 2008 Gold Pants, a gift from the university.

Solomon must repay $1,505 for selling his 2008 Big Ten championship ring for $1,000, his 2008 Gold Pants for $350 and receiving discounted services worth $155.

"These are significant penalties based on findings and information provided by the university," Kevin Lennon, NCAA vice president of academic and membership affairs, said in a statement released by the NCAA.

The players are eligibile for the bowl game because the NCAA determined they did not receive adequate rules education during the time period the violations occurred, Lennon said.

"We were not as explicit with our student-athlete education as we should have been in the 2007-08 and 2008-09 academic years regarding the sale of apparel, awards and gifts issued by the athletics department," Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith said in a statement. "We began to significantly improve our education in November of 2009 to address these issues. After going through this experience, we will further enhance our education for all our student-athletes as we move forward."

Information from The Associated Press is included in this report.

They get to play in the Bowl game?


OH NO, they got suspended for 5 games against cupcake opponents. How are they ever going to make it?!?!?!


But there is this:

"The players are eligibile for the bowl game because the NCAA determined they did not receive adequate rules education during the time period the violations occurred, Lennon said. "


I was taught that ignorance of the law/rules is no excuse for breaking them.....

Weird, I heard the allegations, but they said they had no made a ruling yet. Either way, it's very dissappointing, what is with College athletes these days :doh!:

If this happened at a smaller college the punishment would of been more harsh.

Seriously? Sweet editing.

Your and idiot.

"The players are eligibile for the bowl game because the NCAA determined they did not receive adequate rules education during the time period the violations occurred, Lennon said."

They didn't know they couldn't sell their stuff or receive discounted services. The NCAA is a big joke.

Why the hell would you want to sell a Championship ring?

As an OSU fan, this can't surprise you. They, along w/ every other university, have been doing shit like this for a long time. They just suck at covering it up.

Who would really guess you couldn't sell your Championship Ring if you didn't want it? In the same thought, why would you want too? I agree with you Pest, doesn't make much sense. It's sad to see some ridiculously stupid actions on their part. 5 games? Might as well go in the draft, thats half the freakin season, there goes our BCS hopes.

I'm not naive by any means, but this is just such tard on these players parts its hard to fathom at times.

The ****ing NCAA is pathetic.

I find this very interesting. If Pryor comes back, his first game next year will be against Nebraska. I will be at the game. The game was already going to have hype (NU's first Big Ten home game). This potentially adds to it.

How is going to Miami a "cupcake game"??

Oh I agree man. I don't know why they dirty their noses but it makes sense since none are there for academic reasons. They're just stupid, really stupid. Pryor should've got his ears tattooed closer to his head.