Ohio State investigates Possible NCAA Violations by Football Players … Tattoos & Autographs, Will Players be Suspended from Sugar Bowl? (Update: Terrelle Pryor Suspended in 2011)

Wrong doing from Ohio State? Update … YES THEY DID!!!

Earlier this year the NCAA scandal was Cam Newton and his dad is a pay for play investigation. Now we are presented out of Columbus, OH and the Ohio St Buckeyes, a tattoo for autograph scandal. Because that could never happen. The invesygative probe was the offshoot of another investigation by law enforcement agencies of possible unlawful behavior by the parlor owner, Now it just depends how the bias NCAA wants to enforce their rules and who is considered innocent or guilty until proved guilty. From the Columbus Dispatch come the following:

Ohio State is investigating whether several of its football players traded signed memorabilia for tattoos and perhaps other favors from the owner of a Columbus tattoo parlor, actions that could put their eligibility for the Jan.4 Sugar Bowl and beyond in jeopardy, The Dispatch has learned.

An athletic department spokesman said yesterday that no players had been suspended for the bowl and would not acknowledge that an investigation was taking place, citing privacy issues. Athletic director Gene Smith has not responded to multiple attempts for comment but has scheduled a news conference at noon today.

But quarterback Terrelle Pryor commented on Twitter last night, apparently after seeing his name on some websites as one of those being investigated.

“I paid for my tattoos. GoBucks,” Pryor tweeted.

Sources said the investigation is ongoing and might not be concluded by the bowl.

Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith is slated to “address NCAA rule violations” at a noon ET news conference at the school.

UPDATE I:  TERRELE PRYOR AMONG FIVE BUCKEYS SUSPENDED FOR FIRST 5 GAMES OF 2011.

HOW THE HELL COULD NONE OF THESE PLAYERS HAVE BEEN SUSPENDED FOR THE SUGAR BOWL! REALLY!!!

Five Buckeye players, including QB Terrelle Pryor, have been suspended for  the first five games of 2011. However, all five Ohio State players will be allowed to play in this years Sugar Bowl against Arkansas. WHAT? What a gutless penalty this is by the NCAA!!! God forbid they tarnish their cash cow New Year’s Day BCS bowl games. Instead the guilty players will be punished next year where Ohio St will have all offseason to figure out how to replace the players.

IF THE NCAA THOUGHT THESE PLAYERS WERE THAT GUILTY, HOW ARE THEY ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE AND BE REWARDED FOR THEIR WRONG DOING BY BEING ALLOWED TO PLAY IN A BOWL!!!

HOW GUTLESS IS THIS PENALTY … WHAT ARE THE ODDS THAT Terrelle Pryor, running back Dan Herron, receiver DeVier Posey, offensive tackle Mike Adams and defensive end Solomon Thomas WILL SKIP THEIR SENIOR YEAR AND GO PRO AND THUS BEING GIVEN NO PENALTY!!!

The NCAA has suspended five Ohio State football players for the first five games of the 2011 season.

The suspended players are quarterback Terrelle Pryor, running back Dan Herron, receiver DeVier Posey, offensive tackle Mike Adams and defensive end Solomon Thomas.

The five players must also repay money and benefits ranging from $1,000 to $2,500. The players will be eligible for the Jan. 4 Sugar Bowl against Arkansas.

UPDATE II: Gutless NCAA plays favorites again when dealing out penalties. How can a 5 game suspension not warrant these players to be suspended for a Bowl game? Guess who Ohio State plays in their first 5 games:

1. Akron
2. Toledo
3. University of Miami, Fl
4. Colorado
5. Michigan St

Only one conference game is affected and left off the schedule was St. Mary’s School for the Blind. Ohio St will have one year to recruit, replace and plan ahead for the loss of these 5 players. That is if they are even there and don’t go pro.

UPDATE III: Comments and Press release from the gutless and bias NCAA:

The actions by these players goes beyond the $’s they received. Think about what they sold, their Ohio St Championship rings. That’s how little disregard they had for these once in a lifetime accomplishments? Question to Ohio St, do you really want any of these people on your team that think so little of the program?

As part of their reinstatement, Adams must repay $1,000 for selling his 2008 Big Ten championship ring and Herron must repay $1,150 for selling his football jersey, pants and shoes for $1,000 and receiving discounted services worth $150.

Posey must repay $1,250 for selling his 2008 Big Ten championship ring for $1,200 and receiving discounted services worth $50, while Pryor must repay $2,500 for selling his 2008 Big Ten championship ring, a 2009 Fiesta Bowl sportsmanship award and his 2008 Gold Pants, a gift from the university. [editors note: I am so glad that Pryor so cherished his awards that he would sell them. Obviously he needs to receive no more awards like the Heisman]

Solomon must repay $1,505 for selling his 2008 Big Ten championship ring for $1,000, his 2008 Gold Pants for $350 and receiving discounted services worth $155.

One if the reasons given by the NCAA as to why they were not suspended for the Sugar Bowl was because OSU did not provide proper educate its student-athletes about the rules. WHAT!!! Pardon my French, but who the “frig” does not know that they can’t pawn your stuff for $’s? GIVE ME A BREAK!!! Also, going back the the Cam Newton controversy early this year where there was a pay for play scandal, which if found guilty he would have been declared ineligible for having received money. These 5 Ohio St players knowingly received money and were found GUILTY of doing so … HOW ARE THEY CONSIDERED ELIGIBLE!!!

UPDATE IV: Even an OSU alum at the Moderate Voice does not want the Buckeyes to appeal. Personally, if I were at the NCAA, I would suspend them for the Sugar Bowl and all of 2011 for these SOB’s having the nerve to appeal the penalties. There is no way a college athlete does not know that they are not supposed to sell their stuff for $’s. No way. The fact that Ohio St came out and said they did not properly address this is BS!  A note to the President of OSU who was so smug earlier this season stating that Boise St should not be considered in a BCS bowl because they do not deserve it … I bet their athletes know not to sell their WAC Championship rings for cash.