Yahoo: Tressel Lied - Knew Of Gear Scheme Last April

**Hongbit** · 03-07-2011, 09:36 PM

Tressel knew of gear scheme last April

By Charles Robinson and Dan Wetzel, Yahoo! Sports
2 hours, 17 minutes ago

Ohio State coach Jim Tressel was informed that several Buckeyes players were selling memorabilia more than eight months before the school claims it was made aware of the scheme, a two-month Yahoo! Sports investigation has found.

Tressel received information that players were selling items to Edward Rife – the owner of Fine Line Ink Tattoos in Columbus – as early as April 2010, according to a source. However, neither Ohio State nor the NCAA investigated the transactions or the players’ relationship with Rife until December 2010, when the school claims it was informed of the situation by the local United States Attorney’s office.

Ohio State director of compliance Doug Archie declined immediate comment when reached Monday by Yahoo! Sports. Tressel and athletic director Gene Smith were unavailable for comment. The NCAA declined comment.

A federal probe into Rife revealed he was in possession of multiple pieces of Buckeyes football memorabilia that previously belonged to five players: quarterback Terrelle Pryor, running back Dan Herron, wideout DeVier Posey, defensive end Solomon Thomas and offensive lineman Mike Adams. Federal officers contacted the school Dec. 7 to determine if the goods were stolen or instead sold by the players for cash, as Rife claimed.

According to a source, a concerned party reached out to Tressel last April, alerting the coach that memorabilia transactions had taken place between Rife and a handful of Buckeyes players, including Pryor. The selling of items violates NCAA eligibility rules. The source said Tressel was troubled by the information, and the coach indicated that he would investigate the matter and take appropriate action.

Whether the coach initiated an investigation of the accusation is unclear, but all five players remained on the field in the coming months, playing out the 2010 regular season.

After Ohio State alerted the NCAA of the memorabilia sales in early December, the NCAA’s student-athlete reinstatement staff ruled the players were banned from the first five regular-season games of 2011. The players also had to repay the improper benefits gained – $2,500 for Pryor, $1,505 for Thomas, $1,250 for Posey, $1,150 for Herron and $1,000 for Adams. Linebacker Jordan Whiting also had to pay $150 to a charity for receiving a discounted tattoo.

But in a controversial part of the decision – which included lobbying by Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany, according to Smith – the NCAA’s reinstatement staff ruled in late December that the five players were eligible for the 2011 Sugar Bowl game against Arkansas.

At a Dec. 23 press conference, Smith claimed the school first became aware of the memorabilia sales on Dec. 7. Smith said the athletic department was told the following day and immediately launched an investigation.

If Tressel failed to inform Smith or the Ohio State compliance department about the players’ dealings with Rife, he could be charged with multiple NCAA violations including unethical conduct, failure to monitor and a failure to promote an atmosphere of compliance. In general, a coach is required to act on, or pass along reasonable information about possible rule violations for further investigation.

Section 4.1(d) of Tressel’s contract with Ohio State stipulates that he “supervise and take appropriate steps to ensure … members of the Team know, recognize and comply with any such laws, University Rules and Governing Athletic Rules and immediately report to the (Athletic) Director and to the (Athletic) Department’s Office of Compliance Services in writing if any person or entity, including without limitation, representatives of Ohio State’s athletic interests, has violated or is likely to violate any such laws, University Rules and Governing Athletic Rules.”

Section 5.1 (m) of his contract also states that failure to promptly report “any violations” could lead to “termination by Ohio State for cause.”

Ohio State itself could be cited with playing ineligible players and forced to vacate its 2010 season, when it won a share of the Big Ten championship and finished 12-1. It could also face further sanctions for major infractions.

Smith was adamant at the Dec. 23 news conference that no one at Ohio State knew of the situation until the U.S. Attorney contacted them in early December.

“The athletic department was informed on Dec. 8,” Smith said.

At the Dec. 23 news conference, Smith made a point of running through the timeline of the case and thanking federal authorities for bringing the information to the university so it could act. He detailed each step of the 10-day investigation and subsequent dealings with the NCAA and Big Ten office, right up to being told of suspensions by the NCAA on the afternoon of Dec. 22.
Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith said his department was informed of players selling memorabilia on Dec. 8.
(Terry Gilliam/AP Photo)

Tressel neither corrected Smith nor publicly expressed any prior knowledge of the case. He intimated he had found out about the memorabilia sales recently saying he needed time to recover from the disappointment. “I’m trying to let the holidays temper me down so I’ll be more jolly on the 26th,” Tressel said.

Tressel expressed disappointment with the players after the suspensions were announced, stating that while Ohio State should’ve done a better job explaining the rules on memorabilia sales, the players’ probably knew they were doing something wrong.

“I think we all have a little sensor within us, ‘Well, I’m not sure if I should be doing this,’” Tressel said. “And then sometimes it gets overridden by what you think your necessity is. …”

“There’s a gut-wrenching feeling when you lose a game and you know you could’ve done better,” he continued later. “And then there’s one that goes beyond when you don’t feel as if you did what you should do as people. So whatever the next step of gut-wrenching is, that’s the way you feel. And we feel a responsibility for our kids on and off the field. Obviously, it’s painful.”

Tressel also suggested that the responsibility of rules compliance ultimately falls on the coaching staff.

“I think ultimately we as coaches feel as if the buck stops here – that we’re the ones that need to make things even more crystal clear than when a compliance officer might spend time with our team or an outside speaker or whatever it happens to be,” he said. “The bottom line is that we feel as if that’s our responsibility, so obviously we don’t feel good about the fact that we fell short.”

According to the Ohio State investigation, the five players sold multiple items to Rife, who displayed some of the memorabilia on his Facebook page. Among the pieces sold were Pryor’s 2009 Fiesta Bowl sportsmanship award, Herron’s jersey, multiple Big Ten championship rings and multiple golden pants pendants awarded to the players for victories over the University of Michigan. Pryor, Posey, Herron, Thomas and Whiting were also cited for receiving discounted tattoos from Rife.

The Columbus Dispatch reported on Jan. 2 that Pryor had been “stopped for traffic violations on three separate occasions while driving cars that were owned by a car salesman or a Columbus used-car lot where the salesman worked.” He’d also been allowed to test drive a car for the weekend to his home in Pennsylvania.

Archie said the school knew of two of the incidents and had deemed nothing improper. He said the school would investigate the third traffic stop in a borrowed car. There has been no update on that internal investigation.

Tressel, 58, has been a head coach for 25 years, the last 10 at Ohio State. His Buckeye teams have won at least a share of the last six Big Ten titles and captured the 2002 BCS national championship.

Contact Yahoo! Sports investigative reporter Charles Robinson at WindyCityScribe@yahoo.com

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**Hongbit** · 03-07-2011, 09:44 PM

It'll be interesting to see how Ohio State handles this accusation.

I don't think there's anyway to blame this one on Lane Kiffin.

**hail2mich** · 03-07-2011, 09:45 PM

Interesting. OSU usually makes sure they add to their nation leading stack of reported violations to make sure they stay out of trouble with the NCAA. I wonder what happened here

**Mr. Bigglesworth** · 03-07-2011, 10:00 PM

When I read the thread title, I initially thought that maybe some players cheated in Mechanical Engineering classes or something.

**ROMAD1** · 03-07-2011, 10:03 PM

So this pretty much means OSU's done and will get the death penalty. Just when I was hoping we'd resume that rivalry. I hope Jim Trestle lives out the remainder of his days on the run from the law.

[there isn't a shade of blue suitable for my sarcasm]

**pyrotigers** · 03-07-2011, 10:04 PM

I'm sure Tressel will be punished severely

**Scottwood** · 03-07-2011, 10:14 PM

Did anyone actually think he didn't know about it before December?

**Motor City Sonics** · 03-07-2011, 10:43 PM

Not counting stretching as practice time - MAJOR VIOLATIONS

Head coach covering up a major scandal and not reporting it - NOTHING TO SEE HERE !

**Hongbit** · 03-07-2011, 11:58 PM

Stewie is always a little over dramatic and this is no exception.

Stewart Mandel>INSIDE COLLEGE FOOTBALL>SI.COM

Tressel report appears damaging

Revered Ohio State coach Woody Hayes' career abruptly ended with a punch. Is the Jim Tressel era about to end with a lie?

Probably not. Not yet, anyway. But the mere possibility that the Buckeyes' stately sweater wearer may have perpetrated unethical conduct in an NCAA investigation is as stunning a turn to his career -- one that may ultimately prove as damaging.

The latest Yahoo! Sports investigative bombshell Monday night claimed Ohio State's coach was made aware of his players selling memorabilia to a Columbus tattoo parlor owner eight months before the school claimed it learned about the transactions from law enforcement officials. Yahoo's report appears to be based on one anonymous source, but is stated as fact, which leads us to believe the school itself was already aware of Tressel's transgression and is in the midst of processing it. Now, it's a matter of finding out just how egregious it may be.

Failing to disclose a possible rules violation is itself an NCAA violation. A cornerstone of the NCAA's case against USC last year was that assistant coach Todd McNair knew of Reggie Bush's illicit financial arrangement but failed to disclose it. Obviously, the crime in play here (players selling a few thousand dollars worth of rings and trinkets) was less serious that that at USC (where Bush and his family allegedly pocketed six-figure benefits) and thus had not yet warranted a full-scale NCAA infractions case.

But the severity of Tressel's infraction rises exponentially if it's found he lied to NCAA investigators. And it wouldn't take much further investigation to figure that out. At some point during those 10 days in December that led to the suspensions of Terrelle Pryor and Co., presumably one of the NCAA's staffers interviewed Tressel. If at any point he or she asked the coach whether he'd heard previous rumblings about the notorious Edward Rife, and if Tressel replied, "No" -- well, that's unethical conduct. The NCAA frowns on it. Ask Dez Bryant or Bruce Pearl.

Mind you, we're only about three yards into one of Tressel's patented 17-play field goal drives in terms of learning his ultimate fate. First Ohio State would have to self-report the information to the NCAA. Its enforcement staff would have to launch an investigation. Several months later, that group would make its findings. It could be a year or more before the seeds of this Yahoo! report ever wound up making their way into an Infractions Committee decision.

But surely Ohio State will do something before that. Sometime soon, it will reveal what it knows about Tressel, especially if it merits pre-emptive punishment. Maybe he'll join his quarterback on the suspended list for the first few games next year. But it's hard to imagine administrators will send him packing without a full-blown investigation. You don't part ways with your seven-time Big Ten champion coach until you've exhausted every other possible measure. Especially when that coach is Tressel.

At this point, it's hard to be shocked by anything nefarious in college sports, but few coaches in America have maintained a more pristine image than the so-called Senator. Not that there haven't been threats to his reputation -- Maurice Clarett's sordid allegations of cash and cars, a similar case with one of his star players at Youngstown State, Troy Smith's relationship with a booster right through to Tattoo-gate -- but the author of "Life Promises for Success: Promises from God on Achieving Your Best" survived all of it unscathed. Ohio State fans still hold him up as a genuinely pious figure, while his nonpartisan critics mostly fault him for losing to Florida and LSU.

There's always been a cynical minority, however, that grudgingly held out hope of his eventual undressing. They may be about to get their wish.

Meanwhile, there should now be serious questions about Ohio State's original handling of the situation last December. Beyond the still-mystifying loophole that allowed the Buckeyes Five to play in the Sugar Bowl, it always seemed a bit odd that the notoriously laborious NCAA was able to resolve the case in less than two weeks. Reading between the lines, it was clear AD Gene Smith and Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany did something to expedite the process. They were practically boastful of it. Perhaps they missed an important piece?

Meanwhile, Ohio State's own former players let it spill via Twitter that their friendly relationship with Rife dated back nearly 10 years. Yet the NCAA took Smith at his word that the incidents were "isolated"? They didn't want to maybe look into the school a bit more?

Apparently someone did. And now we wait to learn just what's been uncovered. All that's at stake is the legacy of one of the sport's preeminent coaches.

**tiger paw paw** · 03-08-2011, 07:18 AM

With the amount of money OSU means to the NCAA I'd be surprised if they didn't come out and say they knew he knew and already took it into consideration it in the punishment.

I would be surprised if they went after Tressel.

**Motor City Sonics** · 03-08-2011, 08:48 AM

Originally Posted by tiger paw paw

With the amount of money OSU means to the NCAA I'd be surprised if they didn't come out and say they knew he knew and already took it into consideration it in the punishment.

I would be surprised if they went after Tressel.

Rich Rod doesn't count stretching as practice and the Detroit Free Press acts like he was putting players in danger. (I agree with his firing, based on the fact he didn't beat a good team in his 3 years).

Let's see how the media goes after this. This is WAY WAY WAY worse than what Richie was charged with.

But yeah, you're right....they'll do nothing.

**djhutch** · 03-08-2011, 10:16 AM

I'd be shocked if Tressel lost his job over this.

**Vonlenska** · 03-08-2011, 10:37 AM

Wait. Didn't they find out and then report it to the NCAA? That's what I've gleaned from this. I hate OSU as much as anyone, but if Tressel just didn't tell the media then who cares?

**ROMAD1** · 03-08-2011, 10:39 AM

If he lied to the NCAA he should be toast. He'll likely get off without a slap on the wrist.

**Motor City Sonics** · 03-08-2011, 11:01 AM

Originally Posted by Vonlenska

Wait. Didn't they find out and then report it to the NCAA? That's what I've gleaned from this. I hate OSU as much as anyone, but if Tressel just didn't tell the media then who cares?

They reproted it in December 2010, but according to recent reports Tressel knew about it in April 2010 - well before the season - and didn't report it to the proper chain of command (Compliance Dept, Athletic Director).

This is what will happen. In the next few days to a week some mid-level schmuck in the compliance department will step up and say Tressel told them and they failed to tell anyone else. That person will be fired, Tressel will not be touched. The school will give up some scholarships and that person that took the fall will get a nice job courtesy of a booster.

**ROMAD1** · 03-08-2011, 11:25 AM

Imagine if you will the deep black of despair and dismay that the Northern Ohio sportsfan will suffer if they lose OSU football along with Browns, Cavs, Indians as viable sports franchises.

**Porcelain God** · 03-08-2011, 11:58 AM

Not surprised by any of this really. OSU has been slimier than most for the past decade or so. Regardless of how much income they bring, eventually the stink overpowers.

**davidsb** · 03-08-2011, 12:24 PM

Very interested in seeing how this shakes out. As much as I hate OSU, I have respected his program.

**Lbh24** · 03-08-2011, 12:36 PM

Originally Posted by ROMAD1

If he lied to the NCAA he should be toast. He'll likely get off without a slap on the wrist.

They'll do the same thing he did with his players: he'll promise to coach through 2055, and they'll suspend him for the opening games of 2056

**Johnny Mac** · 03-08-2011, 12:44 PM

If nothing else, State fans should be happy because at the very least I bet this prevents any reduction in the players suspensions as was rumored, so they will be out against MSU

**Cecil** · 03-08-2011, 02:00 PM

Apparently Ohio State scheduled a press conference for tonight. Does this mean Tressell is fired?

**JonBenke** · 03-08-2011, 02:03 PM

Clearly ... Tressel=GOD :)

**Casimir** · 03-08-2011, 03:50 PM

Hey, if he lied, he needs to be dealt with, no problem with that.

**Motor City Sonics** · 03-08-2011, 03:53 PM

Originally Posted by Cecil

Apparently Ohio State scheduled a press conference for tonight. Does this mean Tressell is fired?

No, they are announcing they are nominating him for Sainthood - then he can never be fired - no matter what.

**RJBBREZ** · 03-08-2011, 03:53 PM

Tressel always has been a slime ball. I doubt anything happens to him though.

**Casimir** · 03-08-2011, 03:58 PM

Originally Posted by RJBBREZ

Tressel always has been a slime ball. I doubt anything happens to him though.

Can't beat him = slimeball. Got it. But I guess I should consider the forum.

**Dawgs** · 03-08-2011, 04:16 PM

Hes got problems with the NCAA here and also breach of contract concerns. OSU may have no choice but to fire him.

**Dawgs** · 03-08-2011, 04:21 PM

Originally Posted by Casimir

Can't beat him = slimeball. Got it. But I guess I should consider the forum.

Youngstown State admitted boosters paid thier QB when Tressel was head coach. Then you have boosters paying Smith and Clarret and Clarrets accusations of academic fraud in the AD. I dont think its such a great leap to consider Tressel a slimeball with that in his past, no matter UM's record against him.

**Hongbit** · 03-08-2011, 04:29 PM

Is it possible in today's day and age to win the BCS title and not be thought of as a slimeball?

Bigtime head football coach has become a slimy job.

**pyrotigers** · 03-08-2011, 04:40 PM

Allow me to explain the difference:

Tom Izzo - Great coach Michigan rarely beats - has not had massive amounts of violations occur under his watch - not a slimeball

Jim Tressel - Great coach Michigan rarely beats - has had massive amounts of violations occur under his watch - slimeball

It's pretty simple

**Porcelain God** · 03-08-2011, 04:54 PM

Originally Posted by Hongbit

Is it possible in today's day and age to win the BCS title and not be thought of as a slimeball?

Bigtime head football coach has become a slimy job.

You do have a valid point but whose fault is that? I would argue that the NCAA needs to police better and punish more equally.

**pape06** · 03-08-2011, 05:20 PM

From 2000 to 2009, That School Down South reported 375 NCAA violations. More than any other school that the Columbus Dispatch got records from, and even then they could no get specifics as they were heavily edited by TSDS. I think this would back up the claim that Tressel is indeed a slimeball. The NCAA doesn't help either, with that whole "Cam didn't know about it so he can't get in trouble" Auburn/Miss. St. BS, among other things, they're almost forcing schools to be dirty to compete.

**Casimir** · 03-08-2011, 05:32 PM

Originally Posted by Porcelain God

I would argue that the NCAA needs to police better and punish more equally.

Agreed. However, since football is the moneymaker for the NCAA, they are going to pick and choose just a tad bit more subjectively. We all understand that's why the 5 game punishment starts in 2011 and not with the Sugar Bowl. Doesn't make it right, but it is what it is.

If Tressel is found guilty of lying, I think he resigns, although I will agree OSU may not have a choice but to fire him. Either way, if he's caught lying, I don't think he's coaching in Columbus. Heard lots of dour reports on the way home on the local OSU affiliate, and the only positive mentioned is that he's still not proven guilty of this (yet?) and the question of an only anonymous source at this point does case a bit of speculation.

After rethinking the slimeball retort, I do honestly question some of the characters being brought into the program, specifically Terrelle Pryor. That kid had big risk - big reward written all over him, and I'd have been happy without adding an 18 year that went through his recruitment process and signing day as he did. Doesn't seem like the kind of individual a conservative kind of guy (senatorial to some) would want to pin his career to.

Specific to this chain of events, I have more of a problem with players selling memorabilia from the standpoint of not keeping your accomplishments and links to your college career rather than the letter of the NCAA law. I think its kind of silly that players are not allowed to do with thier private property as they wish. However, I have a hard time believing that the program did not educate its players that bowl game swag and gold pants were not allowed to be sold until their eilligibility was up -- that has to be standard fare from a school's athletics department, just has to be. And if Tressel intentionally covered up the scene, hey, he's got to suffer the consequences like anyone else would.

I don't know what to expect tonight. You would think OSU would have been out in front of this and sent out a denial right away, but perhaps they decided to simply delay it to tonight for whatever reason.

**Dawgs** · 03-08-2011, 05:51 PM

I dont think you recall your AD from an important and prestigious NCAA post, cancelling meetings with the networks in the process, and your University President from the State of the State address simply to deny the allegations or to give Tressel a vote of confidence.

**Hongbit** · 03-08-2011, 06:19 PM

It's really hard to keep a lid on big breaking news. Wouldn't it have leaked by now if he were getting fired in an hour?

**Deleterious** · 03-08-2011, 06:48 PM

BTN will carry the press conference live.

**hail2mich** · 03-08-2011, 06:59 PM

Sounds like he will be suspended for the first two games and fined.

**pape06** · 03-08-2011, 07:04 PM

Originally Posted by hail2mich

Sounds like he will be suspended for the first two games and fined.

Tressel is very important to have in their games against Toledo and Akron. I wonder how they will do...

**bluefan75** · 03-08-2011, 08:00 PM

Overheard at the Tressel home:

Wife speaking into phone: "What's that honey? Your wrist doesn't hurt too bad? You really were slapped there? Well put some ice on it just in case. Just don't sell the ice after."

**Buddha** · 03-08-2011, 08:02 PM

Originally Posted by hail2mich

Sounds like he will be suspended for the first two games and fined.

That's Ohio State's self-imposed sanctions. The NCAA doesn't have to agree with that, ask USC.

Bu it doesn't matter, nothing will happen to Ohio State. They've been getting caught cheating for years (paying players, giving players cars, etc) and nothing has ever come of it.

What's the difference between this and what happened at USC? How many times does Pryor have to be caught speeding with a car he doesn't own before people connect the dots? Clarret and Troy Smith admitted to having "jobs" where they walked in, got paid, and walked out.

Why does USC get busted and Ohio State walks away scot free?

Look, OSU boosters are paying players. So what? It happens everywhere. But they've been CAUGHT DOING IT REPEATEDLY and nothing ever happens and people still think Tressell is some sort of "honorable man."

Why? Because he dresses like a nerd, coaches like an old man, and tells the media what they want to hear? What about playing Pryor in the bowl game had ANYTHING to do with ANYTHING but winning the game? That makes him honorable?

He's the same as ever other football coach: trapped in a ridiculous system trying to police 85 self-absorbed, underqualified "students" who are presented with the types of temptations us normal folks will never encounter. it's a tough job. It's a political job. It's a job where the people who rise to the top are usually willing to break the ridiculous rules of the NCAA to get there.

Tressell is no exception. The only difference between Ohio State and Alabama is that the Crimson Tide doesn't give a **** that Nick Saban breaks the rules.