Tressel lied to tOSU, NCAA - on his way out?

[DJH]

This is just embarrassing. He absolutely HAS to be fucking fired for this.

[clenz]

This is just embarrassing. He absolutely HAS to be fucking fired for this.

Agreed, however, he will just go to another institution and do the same type of shit and avoid all punishment...and OSU will get pounded


I'm OK with OSU getting pounded, but Tressel needs to be raped by the NCAA no matter where he is coaching.

[bluehenbillk]

This story was all Mike & Mike were talking about this morning - same with the old Rivals Radio. OSU will be facing an increasing amount of public pressure on this one. Heck, if they could fire Woody Hayes, they can fire Jim Tressel right?

[BlueHen86]

Im surprised the Big Ten hasn't stepped in yt, maybe they would befor the season starts. When Bruce Pearl was suspended, didn't the SEC tack on games??

Interesting that Dez Bryant has lunch with Deion Sanders & he loses all eligibility immediately, Tressel lies to everyone & still has a job & a 5-game suspension currently and the eharing isn't until August.....

The hearing is in August and the findings might not be announced until the end of the year. Bryant was suspended almost immediately.

The NCAA has got to be one of the most hypocritical institutions in existence today.

[BlueHen86]

This is just embarrassing. He absolutely HAS to be fucking fired for this.

Agreed, however, he will just go to another institution and do the same type of shit and avoid all punishment...and OSU will get pounded


I'm OK with OSU getting pounded, but Tressel needs to be raped by the NCAA no matter where he is coaching.

Tressel should get it worse than OSU, but if OSU sticks with Tressel they deserve what they get.

[Wedgebuster]

Agreed, however, he will just go to another institution and do the same type of shit and avoid all punishment...and OSU will get pounded


I'm OK with OSU getting pounded, but Tressel needs to be raped by the NCAA no matter where he is coaching.

Tressel should get it worse than OSU, but if OSU sticks with Tressel they deserve what they get.

Seems to me, anybody that constantly wears something as queer as Tressels get up truly enjoys being pounded.

[bluehenbillk]

Im surprised the Big Ten hasn't stepped in yt, maybe they would befor the season starts. When Bruce Pearl was suspended, didn't the SEC tack on games??

Interesting that Dez Bryant has lunch with Deion Sanders & he loses all eligibility immediately, Tressel lies to everyone & still has a job & a 5-game suspension currently and the eharing isn't until August.....

The hearing is in August and the findings might not be announced until the end of the year. Bryant was suspended almost immediately.

The NCAA has got to be one of the most hypocritical institutions in existence today.

I agree 100%

[Mountaineer]

Report: Players traded, sold 36 items

Ohio State football players are alleged to have improperly traded dozens of items to the owner of a tattoo parlor, receiving tattoos, $14,000 and in one case a sport-utility vehicle, according to a newspaper report.

The report by The Columbus Dispatch says it obtained a letter Thursday that was sent from the U.S. Department of Justice to Ohio State officials in December. The document lists 36 items that players are said to have sold to Eddie Rife or traded for tattoos since 2008.

The newspaper reports that investigators say one player received a 2003 Chevy Tahoe, purchased by Rife for $3,500, in exchange for a watch and passes to the 2010 Rose Bowl.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=6443472

[Skjellyfetti]

Never ending. Ohio State players receiving HUGE discounts at used car dealerships.

Ohio State University's chief enforcer of NCAA rules said yesterday that he will investigate used-car purchases made by dozens of OSU athletes at two Columbus car dealers to see if any sale violated collegiate rules.

The investigation was initiated after The Dispatch found in public records that at least eight Ohio State athletes and 11 athletes' relatives bought used cars from Jack Maxton Chevrolet or Auto Direct during the past five years. The investigation will involve outside experts and examine at least 50 sales, focusing on whether the athletes received improper benefits.

The common thread in those two dozen transactions was the salesman: Aaron Kniffin, who has worked at both dealerships.

"We'll take a step back, we'll take a look at the transactions and the values, and we'll make some determinations in consultation with the (Big Ten) conference office and go from there," said Doug Archie, associate athletic director and head of compliance at OSU.

"I have nothing to believe a violation has occurred," he said.

NCAA rules don't prohibit athletes from shopping at the same stores, eating at the same restaurants or buying cars at the same dealerships. The rules prohibit athletes and their relatives from receiving discounts that are not offered to the general public.

In a joint interview with Archie yesterday, Jack Maxton owner Jeff Mauk and Auto Direct owner Jason Goss both said they never have given athletes special deals.

Mauk estimated that 40 to 50 Buckeyes bought cars from his dealership in the past five or six years .

Archie said that he was aware of all the transactions involving the athletes that The Dispatch found, but he was unaware of purchases made by their relatives.

Both dealers, whose businesses are not connected, say they routinely call Archie's office when an athlete is ready to buy a car, provide the purchase price and discuss who will co-sign on a loan. Archie said he relies on the car dealers to provide accurate information.

"I'm not a car expert. We have to rely on their integrity and their word when it comes to selling a car," he said. Ohio State runs "spot checks" on some transactions against the Kelley Blue Book value.

Archie said that he'd rather one or two dealerships didn't receive all the OSU business. "It's something from a compliance perspective that I would rather not have," he said.

Goss and Kniffin both have attended seven football games as guests of players, including the 2007 national championship and the 2009 Fiesta Bowl. At some point after 2008, Archie barred Kniffin from the players' pass list because OSU rules prohibit athletes from inviting people with whom they do business.

Goss said he received his passes from athletes who never bought cars from him.

Kniffin told The Dispatch that he has sold cars to at least four dozen OSU athletes and their relatives, that the OSU compliance staff directed them to him, and that university officials reviewed all documents before sales were final.

Archie said that he has spoken to Kniffin only once, never reviews sales documents and has not directed players to any dealerships.

All but one athlete and all of the relatives could not be reached for comment or did not respond to requests for comment.

The purchases reviewed by The Dispatch were made when Kniffin worked at Maxton between 2004 and 2009 and then at Auto Direct between 2009 and 2010.

Public records show that in 2009, a 2-year-old Chrysler 300 with less than 20,000 miles was titled to then-sophomore linebacker Thaddeus Gibson. Documents show the purchase price as $0.

Mauk could not explain it. "I don't give cars for free," he said. Gibson said he was unaware the title on his car showed zero as the sales price. "I paid for the car, and I'm still paying for it," he said, declining to answer further questions.

The cars involved sold for the average price of $11,600. Most vehicles were Chevrolets, Buicks or Dodges manufactured between 2000 and 2007. More than half had less than 50,000 miles when sold by Kniffin. Six cars had more than 100,000 miles.

Legally, dealers can sell cars at whatever price they want and are not bound by NCAA rules.

The Dispatch reviewed sales prices from Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicle records of the 24 car transactions. The records detail the year, make, model and mileage.

Officials at two national car-valuation companies - National Automobile Dealers Association and Kelley Blue Book - were asked by The Dispatch to estimate the value of the cars at the time of purchase. The values they estimated were higher than the price paid in nearly half of the transactions. However, they said it's difficult to accurately evaluate the sales without seeing the vehicles to assess condition and options.

"No one can tell you what a car's worth," Goss said.

Goss said that the athletes and relatives found his dealership because he sells good cars at good prices. "I know how to buy cars right," he said, noting that he buys cars and acquires trade-ins at low prices, permitting him to sell cars well below retail.

Two former NCAA enforcement officials, who spoke to The Dispatch on the condition of anonymity, individually said there's cause for concern.

The two collectively have decades of NCAA compliance experience. Neither had ever heard of so many athletes buying cars from the same salesman.

Car ownership among athletes has been a recurring issue at Ohio State dating back to Maurice Clarett in 2003 and extending to the current NCAA investigation of OSU memorabilia sales in which, among other things, one player traded Rose Bowl watches for a vehicle. Four of the six players suspended for selling items for tattoos - or their relatives - also bought cars from the dealers.

The Dispatch began looking at car ownership after Kniffin's name showed up on the players' guest list for three football games in 2007.

By then, Kniffin, who was working for Maxton, had sold cars to football players Gibson, Chris "Beanie" Wells and Maurice Wells while they were still in school. The mothers of both Wells' also bought cars. At the time, Beanie's mom lived in Akron and Maurice's lived in Maryland.

While employed there, Kniffin also sold cars to football players Robert Rose, Doug Worthington and Solomon Thomas. He also sold cars to Kurt Coleman's brother, Robert Rose's father and Ray Small's father.

While at Auto Direct, a used-car dealership at 2300 E. Dublin-Granville Rd., he sold to wide receiver DeVier Posey and basketball player William Buford. Relatives who bought cars from Kniffin include Pryor's mother and brother, Daniel "Boom" Herron's father, basketball player Jon Diebler's parents and Solomon Thomas' father.

Kniffin also loaned cars to quarterback Terrelle Pryor, including his own for a three-day test drive to Pennsylvania, where Pryor lives.

Kniffin, 42, who is now selling cars in an undisclosed state, vividly recalled details of the cars sold. He disputed, however, the sales prices that were listed on state motor-vehicle records.

"The sales price is much more than that," he said. "You are so far away from what the transactions are all about."

Ohio law requires dealers to report accurate information about all car sales for tax purposes. Failure to submit accurate information is a first-degree misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.

Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles Registrar Mike Rankin said the agency would investigate the transactions amid Kniffin's statement that the figures listed on titles were less than the true sale prices. Rankin likewise was puzzled by Gibson's title reflecting a loan but no sales price.

"There are clearly some issues that are problematic. It's worth seeing if there are any dealer improprieties," Rankin said.

Goss disputed Kniffin's assertion that vehicles were sold to OSU players at prices higher than listed on the titles. "Titles reflect sales prices."

Auto Direct's showroom is filled with autographed jerseys from former and current players who have purchased cars from Kniffin.

Goss, who said he is a big Buckeyes fan, said he received no memorabilia from players, who autographed jerseys he had purchased while buying their cars.

Kniffin, who said he is not an OSU fan, has had financial problems since 2006. He now owes more than $130,000 to the IRS, and his $570,000 Delaware County home is in foreclosure.

At least six major athletic programs have faced NCAA sanctions since 1990 because their athletes had free use of cars or received suspect deals on purchases: Arizona State (2005), Illinois (1990 and 2005), Minnesota (2000), Louisville (1996), Michigan State (1996), and Southern California (2010).

http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/lo ... ml?sid=101" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[bandl]

Ohio State....it's a clean, respectful program.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Former Ohio State wide receiver Ray Small told the school's student newspaper that he sold Big Ten championship rings and other memorabilia for cash and got special car deals as an athlete during his playing days.

The Lantern reported that Small, who played for the Buckeyes from 2006 to 2010, said "everyone was doing it" on the team.

Five Buckeyes players are suspended for the first five games of the 2011 season for selling memorabilia to the owner of a local tattoo parlor. That is considered an improper benefit under NCAA rules. Coach Jim Tressel also is suspended for five games and is under investigation by the NCAA for knowing about his players' involvement and not telling his superiors for more than nine months.

"We had four Big Ten rings. There was enough to go around," Small said.

He added that despite Ohio State's large and proactive NCAA compliance department, most of the student-athletes "don't even think about (NCAA) rules."

Small said he used the money he got to cover his typical costs of living.

"We have apartments, car notes," he said. "So you got things like that and you look around and you're like, 'Well I got (four) of them, I can sell one or two and get some money to pay this rent.' "

He said the biggest advantages came from car dealerships.

"It was definitely the deals on the cars. I don't see why it's a big deal," said Small.

Ohio State is investigating more than 50 transactions between Ohio State athletes and their families and two Columbus auto dealerships.

"They have a lot (of dirt) on everybody," Small said, "cause everybody was doing it."

Small had 61 catches for 659 yards and three touchdowns during his Ohio State career, which was marked by frequent suspensions and discipline. He spent time on the practice squads of the Indianapolis Colts, Minnesota Vikings and Washington Redskins and now has returned to Ohio State to get his degree in sociology.

Small said players went to see Edward Rife at Fine Line Ink tattoo parlor because Rife was an Ohio State fan and gave big discounts. It was the U.S. Attorney's investigation of Rife on federal drug-trafficking charges that led to Ohio State officials finding out about the improper benefits.

Small said the players would have been foolish to turn down the discounted tattoos.

"If you go in and try to get a tattoo, and somebody is like, 'Do you want 50 percent off this tattoo?' You're going to say, 'Heck yeah,' " Small said.

Tressel continually suspended or benched Small during his playing days at Ohio State. One of the team's fastest players, he was seen as the heir apparent to Ted Ginn Jr. after the wide receiver and kick returner went to the NFL. But Small's career was marked by his stay in Tressel's doghouse.

"They explain the rules to you, but as a kid you're not really listening to all of them rules," Small said. "You go out and you just, people show you so much love, you don't even think about the rules. You're just like, 'Ah man, it's cool.' You take it, and next thing you know the NCAA is down your back."

Another former Ohio State player interviewed by The Lantern, defensive back Malcolm Jenkins, said Ohio State told players about NCAA rules, and if the rules were broken, it was the players' fault.

Ohio State spokesman Dan Wallenberg responded: "We educate as best we can and expect student-athletes and staff to follow our messaging and policies."

Former Buckeyes basketball player Mark Titus wrote Tuesday on his blog that the perks within the football program are far from a secret.

"Any OSU student in the past five years could tell you that a lot of the football players drive nice cars," Titus wrote. "You'd have to be blind to not notice it."

Small said there was no shortage of people trying to help Ohio State athletes.

"Everywhere you go, while you're in the process of playing at Ohio State," Small said, "you're going to get a deal every which way."

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=6592185

[andy7171]

Tressel should get it worse than OSU, but if OSU sticks with Tressel they deserve what they get.

Seems to me, anybody that constantly wears something as queer as Tressels get up truly enjoys being pounded.

So you're saying there is a high probability that SuperHornet wears sweatervests?

[Willie]

I can admit that things aren't looking so good any more...but will that change my passion for OSU sports? Fuck no. It's still a mere skid mark on the underpants that is the NCAA.

[Skjellyfetti]

It's a mere corn kernel in the stinking turd that is the Ohio State University.

FIFY

[Willie]

It's THE Ohio State University to you, prick.

[grizzaholic]

I believe it is more like "THE CITADEL".

[bandl]

Tressel resigned today.

What's wrong with you assholes anyways? How come I have to post this shit? I don't post for 3 days and I break one of the most sacred rules of my religion to post on a Monday.
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=6606999

[tampajag]

Tressel resigned today.

What's wrong with you ******* anyways? How come I have to post this ****? I don't post for 3 days and I break one of the most sacred rules of my religion to post on a Monday.
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=6606999

not only on a Monday, but a holiday as well. That makes you something of a company man.

[Ivytalk]

Tressel resigned today.

What's wrong with you ******* anyways? How come I have to post this ****? I don't post for 3 days and I break one of the most sacred rules of my religion to post on a Monday.
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=6606999

Now maybe Michigan has a chance.

[clenz]

So...does anyone actually believe this whole thing isn't a huge deal anymore?

Don't be shocked to see the the NCAA step him and hit Tressel with sanctions that follow him, much like Kelvin Sampson.


Oh, and don't be shocked to see those 5 players suspended for the season.


It wasn't the crime that made this a huge deal....those only made it a big deal....the cover up for over a year is what made this a huge deal.

[clenz]

Tressel resigned today.

What's wrong with you ******* anyways? How come I have to post this ****? I don't post for 3 days and I break one of the most sacred rules of my religion to post on a Monday.
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=6606999

Now maybe Michigan has a chance.

Now that the cheater is gone....maybe.

[clenz]

Forme OSU player, Chris Spielman, just said Tressel was honorable in the way he handled this situation and the way he resigned.


Honorable? Only a Fuckeye would see anything about this situation as honorable

[Col Hogan]

Such a good coach, who, for the remainder of his life, will be known as a cheater...

Only that small, rabid, circle of OSU supporters will refuse to acknowledge that, at minimum, the final Big Ten championship is tainted because Tressel cheated and allowed players who should have been disqualified to play the season...

[grizzaholic]

About time.

[∞∞∞]

Makes you wonder what else he's lied about. The guy is certainly at an age where the old saying, "once a liar, always a liar" actually applies. Great coach, but his legacy will forever be tainted by this. Oh well...he did it to himself.

[Willie]

The only thing about this that bothers me...is people chanting for Urban Meyer to be the next Buckeyes coach. NOT gonna happen fuckos.