OSU could vacate wins

[Vileborg]

What the coach did was worse than what the players did. The players sold their own property for less than market value. The coach knew and didn't turn them in. I agree that the rule on the original offense is silly, but you change the rule you don't break it.

If the players only sold their own personal stuff I don't even see how this is an infraction. If players sold school owned stuff that should be between the school and the players but still not the NCAA.

The NCAA exploits these kids by using their names to make money and then hits them with infractions if they try to do the same? How much more hypocritical can you get?

First of all, to know that Tressel lied involves having proof that he knew at the time of the paper signing that an infraction had occurred. People sell their stuff all the time. It's obvious these people didn't make any extra money for signing it than they could for not signing it so they didn't benefit from their play time. They just sold some of their stuff. I know I wouldn't have thought much on it besides being disappointed that they would sell stuff they worked hard to accomplish. I would have done what Tressel did and contacted a mentor to talk some sense into them.

IMO this is all a load and Tressel is being forced to eat it.

[billybud]

Heck yeah Tressel knew.

College coaches and players know that you can't do this. The compliance office goes over it every year. Tressel is crooked, not stupid. His lame excuse when caught was that he didn't know who to report it to.

Huh? Try your AD and compliance office for starters. What coach doesn't know that?

He knew enough to attempt to cover it up, enough to call and email Pryor's rep to have him get with Pryor in an attempt to keep it down.

Tressel admits that he knew, admits he lied to the NCAA.


The infraction wasn't much in the scheme of things...but the covering up and the lies are, as they were for Nixon, they are the finger that points at Tressels character.

[donovan]

Chinks in the armor. Now the verdict is in...let's have the trial. He knew, he lied, his excuse was lame. If this not be the case, he was incompetent. Most of us vote for the former. Fire him...get him a job on ESPN. I think the penalty should be that OSU be banned from using THE in front of their letters. All silliness. At least we know Spanish Inquisitions are alive and well. And why would we expect employees to act better than their Bosses?

Maybe OSU should have listened more carefully to The Sisters of the Poor when they "gave" them tickets as some form of indulgence.

Big lesson...get caught in the Summer so when the investigation happens football season is going on and then nobody cares.

[Spence]

Tressel did know when he signed the compliance form. He didn't say he didn't know who to report it to, he said he was trying to keep it confidential because of the ongoing federal investigation. But he sent an email to Pryor's mentor telling about this very thing so that doesn't fly. If there is something deeper it hasn't come out. Tressel just found out his players did something wrong and he didn't turn them in, then he signed a document saying he didn't know of any violations. That is a big deal violation in the eyes of the NCAA and Tressel knows the rules. Saying Tressel is crooked is probably overstating. I am sure that Tressel isn't the only coach to have caught wind of players violating rules and tried and/or succeeded in handling it in house. But he is completely guilty and he should have known better because he knows better than anyone how the Ohio State compliance office works. They turn in every thing they uncover and they don't bring anyone in the athletic department in the loop. The Ohio State compliance found these emails on the server. They even have access to the server to run through deleted emails (to those who don't know, if you delete and email it isn't really gone. It is just gone from your computer. The serve that sends and receives email still has on it every single email you have ever produced.)

Tressel lied, no question, but he had no active role in trying to cover it up (except to lie by not revealing it on the paper). The lie is the violation and it is a huge violation, it is a violation that goes to the core of how the NCAA works. He violated it and he is going to get punished. Whether or not he loses his job I would guess will have to do with what the punishment ends up being. Bottom line is that he did know better. Tressel always has all his ducks in a row, he knew better than to hold out on this information and he didn't do it. He deserves his punishment whatever it ends up being.

I would like to see him keep his job, but as I have said before, from an X's and O's standpoint he has never been my favorite coach. I just hope they don't offer Urban Meyer the job.

[billybud]

..He did say that he didn't know who to report it to...as an excuse.
..He also used confidentiality as an excuse...


http://www.banditref.com/2011/03/fix-is ... ssels.html

http://sportsnation.espn.go.com/fans/mr ... sts/136042

[Spence]

..He did say that he didn't know who to report it to...as an excuse.
..He also used confidentiality as an excuse...


http://www.banditref.com/2011/03/fix-is ... ssels.html

http://sportsnation.espn.go.com/fans/mr ... sts/136042

Of which neither were. He knew exactly who to take it to.

[Derek]

Well, I agree with Vileborg. Maybe this has been explained before, but why is it against the rules for a player to sell his jersey to a fan? The NCAA will make money off the name of the player, makes money by showing the player on TV, what's wrong with him selling his jersey with a signature on it?

Anyone think Coaches should be fired in situations like this? As a matter of policy, not school choice?

[billybud]

Oh..it is school choice to keep or fire a coach.

Unless the NCAA issues a "show cause"...which makes a school have to justify the hiring of a coach under a show cause ban. But even then, the school can do the paperwork and pursue it if they wish.

But...lieing to an authoritative or investigative body has consequences...lie to the FBI and you go to prison (ask Martha Stewart). Lie to the NCAA and you will have some pushback. Lie as an officer of the court or a Marine officer...you have consequences.

Tressel lied, signed a paper further solidifying that lie. He is crooked.

Schools can keep coaches that have shown to be untrustworthy if they desire....and an untrustworthy coach that beats Michigan probably won't be fired. If his record was 7-6, the school would show him the door under the appropriate contract clause.

[billybud]

I understand the silliness of some rules...that is a separate issue from institutional honesty.

When you can't trust people signing papers attesting to things while a representative of an organization....what do you have?

[billybud]

Well, I agree with Vileborg. Maybe this has been explained before, but why is it against the rules for a player to sell his jersey to a fan? The NCAA will make money off the name of the player, makes money by showing the player on TV, what's wrong with him selling his jersey with a signature on it?

Anyone think Coaches should be fired in situations like this? As a matter of policy, not school choice?

It is a slippery slope. What is a fan? How much over "value" for personal items constitutes a payola scheme?

The North Carolina player suspended for four games sold his jersey for $1,000..to a guy that the NCAA ruled an "agent". Former Auburn players have stated that fans/boosters would give them cash handshakes. Why not buy their old socks?

If players can sell jersies for more than face value...why not let boosters just pay cash to players?

[donovan]

Trying to make a cess pool smell like a rose garden just doesn't work.

[Spence]

Oh..it is school choice to keep or fire a coach.

Unless the NCAA issues a "show cause"...which makes a school have to justify the hiring of a coach under a show cause ban. But even then, the school can do the paperwork and pursue it if they wish.

But...lieing to an authoritative or investigative body has consequences...lie to the FBI and you go to prison (ask Martha Stewart). Lie to the NCAA and you will have some pushback. Lie as an officer of the court or a Marine officer...you have consequences.

Tressel lied, signed a paper further solidifying that lie. He is crooked.

Schools can keep coaches that have shown to be untrustworthy if they desire....and an untrustworthy coach that beats Michigan probably won't be fired. If his record was 7-6, the school would show him the door under the appropriate contract clause.

Tressel's lie was signing the paper. He never said anything one way or another.

[billybud]

His first lie was the sin of omission....not reporting to your AD. It was a coverup.

[Spence]

His first lie was the sin of omission....not reporting to your AD. It was a coverup.

I'm not saying he was honest about it, but technically he didn't lie to anyone because no one asked him. He did "lie" by signing the compliance form. Coverup, I believe would apply, although he didn't actively try to cover anything up. He didn't hide anything, he just didn't open his mouth about what he knew. Since it is his job to open his mouth about players violating the rules he himself committed a violation that will probably end up costing his job. He didn't take any steps, though, to cover anything up.

[billybud]

His 12 emails and phone calls to Pryor's rep weren't about arranging a birthday party.