Cars..rings sold...more OSU in the news

[donovan]

Does anyone ever step back and say, "What is with this lunacy." Sometimes you have to say, enough is enough. Americans have allowed this unrighteous dominion over our personal affairs by regulatory bodies too long. IRS, AMA, ABA, and the list is as close to infinity as anything I know.

[Spence]

That is the price they have to pay to play. I do agree with you, though, we need to work to change this kind of stuff. Ohio State's problem, it seems, is trying to change the system after breaking rules. It doesn't work that way. You have to work within the rules to change them. That is how our country was set up. People can change things if the want to change them. Problem is most don't want to make the sacrifice necessary to really change things. Change rarely occurs without some level of pain.

[Spence]

I do know this. If Ohio State's compliance dept. Is directing students and parents to a guy to buy cars then Ohio State has death penalty problems.

[Spence]

Former Ohio State Football player Ray Small gave an interview with The Lantern (Ohio State‟s Campus Newspaper) on May 26, 2011 which ended up at numerous media outlets. In the interview, Ray Small made claims that he sold memorabilia for cash and received car deals while at Ohio State, and that “everyone was doing it.”

Current Merrill Lynch employee and former Ohio State Football player Harrison Till responds to Small‟s allegations.

As far back as I can remember, every single Saturday during the Fall months in Northern New Jersey were dedicated to watching the Ohio State Football Buckeyes march up and down the field in Ohio Stadium. My father was a varsity letter winner for The Ohio University men‟s track & field program and my Mother, a member of a sorority who appreciated the wholesome life of the mid-west while enjoying the culture of Ohio State. Bottom line, they both bled Scarlet and Gray.

After meeting at Ohio State and eventually getting married, they have spent the last 41 years maintaining their friendships and all of their memories from Ohio State.

As children, my older and younger brother and I were diehard Buckeye fans. Our parents would take us on trips to see Ohio State football games and they would often point to the success of the football program, and with great pride would sing the Ohio State fight song in our home, certainly encouraging us to sing along. The Ohio State football program represented an environment which we had no exposure to in New Jersey. The passion and sense of pride that the people of Ohio felt for Ohio State football impacted us in a positive and permanent way. The idea of watching Joe Germaine throw a touchdown to Dave Boston, Eddie George running for a touchdown, Orlando Pace pancake blocking, or Dan “Big Daddy” Wilkinson sacking a quarterback allowed me to dream of one day becoming one of those student athletes, wherever I might end up in college. Seeing these players run out of the Ohio stadium tunnel each and every week inspired me to dream of playing college football at Ohio State and to never give up on that dream.

To say that I was sad and beyond disappointed to see a former Buckeye teammate and Ohio native provide false information to a media outlet this week about how he spent his once lifetime opportunity as a member of the Ohio State football team along with the rest of his teammates is an understatement. With all of the current controversy surrounding Ohio State‟s football program, I knew that there would be several players mentioned in numerous articles, but I never thought that someone would make such a regrettable and defaming comment as did Ray Small. I personally witnessed countless moments when Jim Tressel supported Ray Small in times of adversity when others were prepared to throw him under the bus. I cannot comprehend the lack of appreciation for the man who is Jim Tressel – who would do anything to ensure his athletes get an education and have an impact on his student athletes‟ lives.

My experience of being a student athlete for Jim Tressel was a very unique road that not many have traveled. My parents made every possible sacrifice to provide my brothers and myself with the best education possible with no ceiling above our heads. This mindset is significant and is part of our tradition of having the privilege of living in America. There are so many who do not have the ability to live in a free country and chase their dreams with no regrets.

After graduating from high school, I earned the once in a lifetime opportunity to attend Duke University. At Duke, I lettered in football and track & field, and was named to the Atlantic Coast Conference Academic Honor Roll for maintaining a 3.24 grade point average. After my Redshirt Sophomore seasons in football and track & field, it was brought to my attention by a mentor of mine that I was in a position to graduate with my undergraduate degree in three years. More importantly, there was an NCAA rule that allowed student athletes who graduated early with their undergraduate degree to attend a different division one University retaining all of their remaining athletic eligibility, as long as the student athlete pursued a graduate school degree that was not offered at the previous university.

After receiving my release from Duke University to contact other schools, I met with football coaches from Stanford, Northwestern, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Ohio State. After meeting Jim Tressel on my official visit to Ohio State, he was by far the most honest, ethical, and open minded coach I encountered on my journey and my decision was made. Almost every division one football coach that I spoke to during this time period had never heard of this NCAA rule and would not give me a chance. Jim Tressel saw something in me and gave me the opportunity to accomplish my childhood dream of playing football for The Ohio State University.

After graduating from Duke University in the Summer of 2005, I moved to Columbus, Ohio to start summer workouts and my matriculation of coursework in the Masters of Labor and Human Resource Management program at the Fisher College of Business. All of my teammates at Ohio State; black, white, latino, and arabic reminded me of an army that would go to war and compete against each other every single day for the best coach in college football. I will never forget the work ethic and the commitment that AJ Hawk dedicated to Jim Tressel at our 5:30 a.m. workouts. I will always remember Anthony Gonzalez being interviewed as a potential Rhodes Scholar. I will always cherish the experience of competing in collegiate athletics as a graduate school student with Stan White II and Brandon Mitchell. Most importantly, I am a better person because I had the opportunity to learn about life from Jim Tressel.

It is insulting and ignorant to suggest that men like AJ Hawk (NFL), Bobby Carpenter (NFL), Justin Zwick (Medical Sales), Anthony Gonzalez (NFL), Stan White II (Investment Banker), Rob Sims (NFL), Jay Richardson (NFL), Malcolm Jenkins (NFL), and many others “sold memorabilia for cash” and received improper benefits while being a member of the Ohio State football team. To say that “everyone was doing it” just because Ray Small says so, is ludicrous. All of the former Buckeye players are extremely proud to say that they played for Jim Tressel because of the obvious influence he had on our lives both on and off the field.

The opportunity to accomplish my childhood dream of running out of the tunnel in Ohio Stadium, to receive a Masters Degree from The Ohio State University and to maintain lifelong friendships that I made in my two years on the team will be cherished forever. The many Ohio State alumni that I have been privileged to meet over the years are a constant reminder of how special my two big ten championship rings and my two pairs of gold pants are.

Jim Tressel gave Ray Small the opportunity to receive a free education and then use that education to improve his life and to help others who need assistance. After being mentored by the legendary Ted Ginn Senior of the Ginn Academy Charter School and the Glenville Football program; a man who has made a difference in so many peoples‟ lives, it is apparent that Ray does not understand and never did grasp his place in the World.

Part of being an adult in this World is making decisions every day and then dealing with the consequences of those decisions. If someone offers you money for a Big Ten championship ring or a car deal that violates the NCAA rules, you have the option of saying yes or no. In the grand scheme of life, there is no one forcing you to break the rules and the most successful people will embrace adversity and grow from experience.

Obviously, I am proud of my Ohio State championships, my Masters degree, and all of my Student Athlete teammates that I had the privilege to practice and play with. Most importantly, I am proud of the relationship that I still maintain with Jim Tressel and that we never lost to Michigan. Nevertheless, I pray that Ray Small may be able to one day restore the bond he has shattered with the Ohio State family and most importantly, I wish him good luck with his journey in life and certainly hope that he can one day be as proud of his family and accomplishments as the student athletes that I am.
GO BUCKS!
Harrison Till
Merrill Lynch (San Diego, California)
The Ohio State University „07
Duke University „05

[billybud]

OKI Spence...I got it.

Buckeye fans are saying......

1. this is a witch-hunt
2. we are not that bad
3. USC is worse
4. the 375+ NCAA violations are not Tressels fault and are proof that the compliance office works hard
5. Ray Small is a Liar
6. Maurice Clarrett is a liar
7. Jim Tressel is NOT a liar
8. The car dealer IS a liar
9. tOSU's compliance department is "misunderstood"
10. We REALLY believe there was no extremely late flag on a pass interference call in the national championship game in '02........WE WON FAIR AND SQUARE!

[Spence]

I never said this was a witch hunt. Clearly there were violations and clearly Ohio State brought them to the attention of the NCAA and not the other way around. The 375 violations reported were for the whole athletic department not just football. Ray Small said to completely different things so the question isn't whether or not he lied, but what part is true. Mo Clarrett was provided many avenues to "blow up" the athletic department and never did. He admitted lying about a number of things that had nothing to do with Ohio State. Jim Tressel was dishonest by not turning his players in when he knew they committed violations. The car dealer has never said that any of the deals he made were dishonest, I have no idea whether he is lying or not. I never said that Ohio State's compliance department is misunderstood. I think I said that if the compliance office is involved with any bad deals or anything like that they would be subject to death penalty issues.

I'm not even going to argue the 2002 championship game, but if you want to jump on the cane bandwagon go ahead.

There are two sides to every story. I just provided both sides. I do have direct knowledge of how Auto Direct works and provided that info, if you have some direct knowledge that contradicts that I will be glad to address it.

[Spence]

Here is what I know happened with Ohio State; five players sold some of their stuff to a tattoo dealer in exchange for money and tattoo's. Jim Tressel found out about it and didn't tell the compliance office or the NCAA. He signed a paper in September that said he didn't know of any violations. Sometime in late November or early December the compliance dept. found out and called the NCAA. The school handed out a punishment and the NCAA expanded the punishment. The school appealed and lost. In Febuary the compliance office was checking emails on the server and found out Jim Tressel knew of the players violations way before Sept. and didn't tell anyone at compliance or the NCAA. He did tell someone involved with Terrelle Pryor.

Also the Columbus Dispatch said they uncovered evidence that two car dealerships in Columbus - Jack Maxton and Auto Direct sold lots of cars to Ohio State athletes. They said that Santonio Holmes bought a car for $0 dollars. Santonio Holmes denied that story and said that he paid his payments and paid for his Later the Columbus Dispatch printed a retraction because they found that Holmes did infact secure a pay a loan for that car. The story ballooned from there nationally, but at this time none of the deals have proven to be against the rules. The NCAA is investigating them, so it is not over and there may or may not be something come of it.

[billybud]

Forget the error about the 0 dollar car...that is a blip that's gone.

Fifty cars to athletes or their familys from primarily one salesman who, in turn, received National Championship game and BCS game tickets from the athletes.

Now that is an anomaly...and that salesman is now saying that OSU referred the athletes to him. He may be lying...he may not be.

[Spence]

Like I said if compliance is dirty, the school will have death penalty problems.

[Spence]

http://ohiostate.scout.com/2/1076829.html

[RazorHawk]

Just found this. Looks like Terell Pryor may now trying to sell other stuff.

[Spence]