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.
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So what did they do exactly ?
It's probably happening at every major college football program. It's just that some get caught and others don't.
I like the little marijuana plants they have on their helmets.
They aren't marijuana leaves, they're *durr* buckeye leaves.
DrFood–You really need to tone it down. You keep posting comments that show you know how to get past the censors, but you seem unable to tolerate a posting made as a joke.
Ncaa making all this money off these kids .can they make any money available for the athletes please
Such as....scholarships?
bobbyvo5- I personally was a STUDENT-athlete for 4 years and in that time, not only did I practice 4 days a week, train 2 mornings a week, participate in games 1-2 days a week, but I also earned a double major Bachelors degree and maintained Dean's list for 4 years. Get off your high horse because not all athletes are slack offs.
CNN- PLEASE provide the entire story. Offering meaningless information does no good when reporting a story. How can anyone offer an opinion or critique without sufficient information?
The official press release indicates that the players sold items (including championship rings, trophies, and "gold pants" - which are a gift from the University) and received discounted services by virtue of being OSU players.
For those who dont know the boys did not cheat! Know ur facts before your mouth opens. They r suspended for getting free tattoos n exchange for autographs.
They went to get tattoos together and gave the guys signed pictures of themselves instead of having to pay for the tattoos. This is ridiculous- and people posting negative comments are idiots. Happy Holidays- even to the idiots.
I hope the NCAA soon comes down off their ivory pedestal and simply admits that NCAA sports - especially in Division I-A – are about one thing, and one thing only: MONEY. The "scholar-athlete turned NFL or NBA pro" is a myth; with a 32% graduation rate, nobody is really being fooled. Let these adult men get paid for their work, and the risks they take on the field. Let them market the hell out of themselves, take endorsement money, and have the school take reasonable a percentage. Ultimately, the ridiculous veneer of the NCAA's stated message, "the educational experience of the student-athlete is paramount" is belied by the actions of players, coaches, boosters, and the NCAA itself. It's time to take a rational approach to intercollegiate athetics, and admit that real reason behind the NCAA is to use these athletes to make money for member schools - and to do that, arbitrary "amateur" rules are instated to avoid paying athletes, fill the coffers of (primarily) Division I-A schools, and eliminate any possibility of organized labor among players, coaches, and others who might legitimately want a piece of the provervial pie.
Well said!
Most logical post on this whole thing. Grow up, ladies and gentlemen. It's sad to see grown adults fighting and bickering like children over such a trivial thing.
Local papers say they traded their autographs to get tatoos. Seems like there should be more to it than that.
They are suspended b/c they signed autographs for tattoos & sold OSU clothing n' stuff for money. They have to pay it all back now.
Only reason I'm liking this story is that Buckeyes fans are a freakin' cult of idiots and this news will destroy them.
If this is for some tattoos they got, total bs. The ncaa is a bunch of jack wads.
Suspended for trading autographs and memorobila for tattoos..... Big time college schools do not have student atheletes that have semi-pros so lets stop pretending that they are there for an education and except that fact that they couldn't care less about college and are in the minor leagues working their way up. Pay em and lets move on, this is a non issue.
The got some tattoos for free for signing autographs. Actually, this is pretty high integrity for them to suspend them for this minor violation. This is nothing compared to what is going on out there. If they were in the SEC they would be reprimanded by their AD for not getting more benefits for free or not asking for cash to play.