Six student-athletes on The Ohio State University football team have been suspended for NCAA violations, the school said Thursday.
Mike Adams, Dan Herron, DeVier Posey, Terrelle Pryor (pictured above) and Solomon Thomas will miss the first five games of the 2011 season and must repay money and benefits, the school said.
A sixth player, Jordan Whiting, must sit out the first game, the NCAA determined.
According to a university press release, as part of the players' reinstatement:
– Pryor must repay $2,500 for selling his 2008 gold pants, which were a gift from OSU, his 2008 conference championship ring and his 2009 Sportsmanship Award from the Fiesta Bowl.
– Adams must repay $1,000 for selling his 2008 Big Ten title ring.
– Herron must repay $1,150 for selling his football jersey, pants and shoes and accepting discounted services.
– Posey must repay $1,250 for selling his 2008 conference championship ring and accepting discounted services.
– Thomas must repay $1,505 for selling his 2008 gold pants, his conference title ring and accepting discounted services.
– Whiting must pay $150 to a charity "for the value of services that were discounted," the press release said.
The punishments stem from an incident in which at least some of the Buckeye players received tattoos for their autographs, according to news reports.
Kevin Lennon, NCAA vice president of academic and membership affairs, said the penalties were “significant" and "based on findings and information provided by the university.”
Gene Smith, associate vice president and director of athletics at Ohio State, said at a press conference that the university will appeal the penalties, with hopes of getting the number of game suspensions reduced. Smith also said the university will do more to educate its student-athletes about the rules.
"After going through this experience," Smith said, "we will further enhance our education for all our student-athletes as we move forward.”
The student-athletes will be eligible to play in the AllState Sugar Bowl on January 4 against the Arkansas Razorbacks, the university said.
© 2012 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
| Advertising practices | Advertise with us | About us | Work for us | Help
Owned. Cheating never prospers...
There was no cheating. The only reason this is an issue is because the NCAA didn't get their fair share. It is the most corrupt sports organization in the world.
I am not a fan of OSU but this is ridiculous.
Check ESPN.com, they actually have a story.
Didnt this happen to smu kids.
So they got a little money! The university gets millions and the students get nothing. Slave trade!
Chris, you are a moron. They extremely talented players get tuition, and room and board in exchange for generating MILLIONS for their colleges and leagues. This is no joke. The colleges take and take and take from these players, and you think they should not be compesated just a little bit in cash for their year round commitment and earnings for the colleges. Right now these almost true geese that lay golden eggs for the colleges get 25-35k in exchange for what they could be earning in the nfl. Lets see, the typical 1st rounder gets a signing bonus of $5 million, and a yearly pay of 2-3 million. Yea, that's fair, $35k vs. $8 million in the first year. You are a dope.
Lamar, the idea that the students get nothing is laughable. They get a free education, the chance to showcase their skills and therefore possibly make millions of dollars the moment they enter the NFL, and they get treated like gods at their school. All for playing a game. But if the students don't like it no one is forcing them to play football.
I agree. This program has stunk for a while. I think an investigation is in order.
I did not know that there were any "STUDENT" athletes at Ohio State
Investigate – Investigate – Investigate.
I want to see a complete investigation!!!!!!
This is not what college sports is about!!!!
@Lamar-Slave trade? These guys get a free ride for an expensive education just because they can play a game. College sports has become big money on the backs of these kids that's for sure but this sure as the hell ain't got nothing to do with slavery.
Way to go Terrell!!!!!!!!
Has anyone posting here ever been to college and found out that people that go to college are broke all the time.. if you ask me the NCAA can stick it
I agree the whole NCAA setup is a sham (we make millions and you get $100K worth of education ... seems like a fair trade), however, these guys cheated. The bigger joke is the NCAA suspends them for NEXT season. Pryor is probably going pro so no loss since he was gone anyway, OSU has a lot of talent so will reload and barely miss a step (especially since their early schedule is pretty easy), and the bowl game ... no impact. NCAA could not lose the prestiage and revenue stream. The hypocracy is amazing!
what a joke! A significant penalty? another laugher from the Non-Profit NCAA! And will all five be back in 2011? Do they really have to sit out the 1st game of 2011? The one played Jan 4th? NCAA is an absolute disgrace and I can't understand why some trult investigative journalist doesn't expose them for what they are- That is if there are any such journalists left-
for what reason were they suspended for?
They traded autographs for free tattoos.
For selling championship rings and other apparel. On ESPN.com they stated one player got $1200 for an item worth $50. This is a rule to ensure that players don't get to sell a $5 item for $500 as a way to bypass improper benefits.
for apparently giving autographs in exchange for tatoos.
Not surprised!
Suspended for WHAT? Terrible story that doesn't provide a critical piece of information. Where's journalism 101 CNN?
Full Story on Espn.com. They sold uniforms, Big Ten Rings, etc.
Man, Calm down...its breaking news...it just came out. They add info as they receive it.
Sports are children's games, so who cares?.....I don't.
Most people care, you little twink.
You obviously DO care since you bothered to post here moron.
You cared enough to take the time to post a comment.
well then, why are you even commenting on this?
If you don't care why are you reading this story and commenting on it?
I bet you really like D&D, don't you?
Then why read a story about sports?
well you obviously cared enough to read the article!
haha you must have always been the last one to be picked..
Someone got cut from their high school sports teams...
Another post about how bad you suck!
so is wall street.
That's hilarious stevie.
Let's post about how much we don't care.
Nothing like poopooing your own point with your own actions.
Aren't we setting a good example. Raise them all to cheat. Raise them all to expect everything to be given to them. In the end we will be a better nation – and well respected to boot. Yaaa Hooo
It's called Capitolism...the basis of our country. We teach our generations to do this so our country can function. It's pathetic!
nobody cheated buddy.
Unfortunately, I am afraid this is all too true.
How utterly disappointing for a Big Ten that seemed to be starting to gain back respect. This is a great debate for http://www.ufeud.com
how does this interfere with their football playing? If it does not, there should be no penalty.
This is ridiculous! A person should be able to sell their personal property!
amen.
An athlete who sells a $50 item for $1200 is not really selling his property but getting an improper benefit. If they sell it for fair market value then I agree with you. Without this rule you could actually pay for players by buying a $5 t-shirt for $200,000.
This is capitalism at its finest. Capitalism seems to only apply to the wealthy. Everyone else who tries to make a buck gets hammered. What a great country this is! Give me Socialism any day. At least that way we all get to share in the spoils.
It is their property and fair market value is whatever someone is willing to pay for something.. Value is different to many people so though I agree that the rule is in place for a reason and is probably a good rule the unintended consequences of the rule are ridiculous. If I have an item that costs $50 and it really does not mean much to me then shouldn't I be able to sell it for whatever a person who really wants it is willing to pay? I say yes!
Tip of the iceberg in collegiate sports
why were they suspended? thanks CNN for giving us the whole story(sarcasm)
First Bucks Sucks
Well, as a Michigan Wolverine fan, I find this very interesting.
GO BLUE!
Right, because Michigan athletics haven't had any compliance problems. Except egregious violations in basketball. Oh, and bad conduct in football under Rich Rod. Oh, wait, I guess Michigan is a dirty school too. UM fans should not be chiding ANYONE about NCAA violations.
Unless they go on to be Pro NFL players, the degree from OSU is next to worthless in the real world.
I make almost a quarter million a year with my degree from OSU. what do you do besides post stupid negative opinions on information you know little about?
Why is a degree from OSU worthless? What makes your degree that much better? Do you even have a degree? If so from where because I am sure whatever school you might have gone to is not without their faults... Would like to hear your obviously biased opinion.
That's pretty funny because you dont see many OSU grads struggling for jobs right out of college. Dont hate.
Brutus – you make almost $250k with a degree from OSU? Wow... I didn't realize we Michigan grads were being so generous to the Buckeyes that we hire to clean our houses and wash our cars... Guess I owe my gardner a bigger bonus this Christmas...
Do some research. OSU is actually an excellent public school.
I thought the only place Michigan grads could get jobs was teaching... at michigan.
you're full of ****, go jump off a bridge
Cheaters...
first story that I saw about this said that they bartered autographs for tattoos...
So...you're saying that something happened and you don't know why CNN? Why don't you go learn some more about what IT is Craig Johnson? You did a p!$$ poor job.