Jim Tressel, Yahoo’s harbinger of doom has struck again. Yahoo! Sports is reporting Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel was informed that some of his players had sold memorabilia to the owner of a tattoo parlor in April 2010, more than eight months before the school said it was made aware of improper transactions.If substantiated, both Tressel and Ohio State could face major NCAA violations.
If the allegations are true, Tressel’s situation would be untenable. Not reporting an NCAA violation is a violation. The NCAA could charge him with “unethical conduct, failure to monitor and a failure to promote an atmosphere of compliance.” Instead of a cushy retirement package, the seemingly unassailable coach could be fired with cause.
Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith has said the local U.S. Attorney's office on Dec. 7 alerted the school that some of its players were selling items such as jerseys and championship rings to Rife.
On Dec. 23, quarterback Terrelle Pryor was among five players suspended by the NCAA for the first five games of the 2011 season. All the players were allowed to play in Ohio State's 31-26 victory against Arkansas in the Sugar Bowl.
The hard part is proving this. A trusted source’s word is good enough for the reporting court, but for Ohio State to face more than public scorn there must be conclusive evidence that conversation took place. Was it over email? Is there a phone record? Anything Tressel can’t plausibly deny? We don’t know the results of the investigation. We just know there’s something to investigate.
If the allegations are true, Tressel’s situation would be untenable. Not reporting an NCAA violation is a violation. The NCAA could charge him with “unethical conduct, failure to monitor and a failure to promote an atmosphere of compliance.” Instead of a cushy retirement package, the seemingly unassailable coach could be fired with cause.Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith has said the local U.S. Attorney's office on Dec. 7 alerted the school that some of its players were selling items such as jerseys and championship rings to Rife.
On Dec. 23, quarterback Terrelle Pryor was among five players suspended by the NCAA for the first five games of the 2011 season. All the players were allowed to play in Ohio State's 31-26 victory against Arkansas in the Sugar Bowl.
The hard part is proving this. A trusted source’s word is good enough for the reporting court, but for Ohio State to face more than public scorn there must be conclusive evidence that conversation took place. Was it over email? Is there a phone record? Anything Tressel can’t plausibly deny? We don’t know the results of the investigation. We just know there’s something to investigate.
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