Do we want slow or fast NCAA action re: TT for recruiting?

Submitted by iawolve on

In thinking about our own situation with Stretch-gate, the concern about the NCAA hung over two recruiting periods. In this case, if the mentioned 8 month NCAA timeline holds (I don't know if this is valid, jsut mentioned), a ruling comes down Dec timeframe regarding the Vest. I guess the answer to the next question depends on how bullish you are on the outcome of the ruling, but would you want the NCAA to accelerate their investigation to get the penalty out there or have it finish past the NSD so there is still uncertainty?

If the sanctions would be severe, maybe it is better to have this wrap up early to give kids a chance to examine other options. If the NCAA will mess this up (unknown), then maybe having the issue hang over the program through NSD would be better.

Any thoughts here? I am a bit torn on the subject since it seems that OSU will keep the Vest regardless of the NCAA ruling based on their current posturing. 

Bryan

March 11th, 2011 at 11:13 AM ^

with the investigation. Hammer Tressel and OSU for any and all violations. 

It will yet be seen if this has any impact on recruiting, allegations or charges, as it sure hasn't seemed to impace SC at all. 

This is Michigan. Hoke should not need to go into a kid's house and have to bash OSU to get a committment. 

justingoblue

March 11th, 2011 at 11:23 AM ^

Yea, actually I was just reading about it on ESPN here, with regards to Bruce Pearl.

Basically, the only time someone has been found guilty of a 10.1 violation (which is the one Tressel admits) and not received a show-cause was Herron, because he was out of coaching by the time the NCAA came down.

The only caveat is that most of the violations were even worse than falsely certifying documents.

MGoRob

March 11th, 2011 at 12:20 PM ^

That makes no sense. Pryor and co. are already suspended for the Miami game, why would it matter if their eligibility is revoked then?

To be fair, Pryor and co. will likely not get any additional suspensions or eligibility revoked. The NCAA already ruled on them, didn't they? The only question now would be if Tressel gets a longer suspension, or if the school is hit with scholarship and post-season bans b/c of "loss of institutional control"

justingoblue

March 11th, 2011 at 12:22 PM ^

No, he probably won't get any more, other than to have the 2010 records out of the books and having to give some trophies back (unless he sold them already).

I had forgotten that the five games went all the way though nonconference though, good point.

I still don't think that we'll see major penalties to OSU. I think the NCAA will see this as an isolated case and only come down on Tressel.

aaamichfan

March 11th, 2011 at 11:16 AM ^

We want this shit to last at least 12 months. We need this to mess up the next two recruiting classes for them.

True Blue Grit

March 11th, 2011 at 11:19 AM ^

I'd like to see the NCAA do a thorough job investigating the filth that all of us know has been going on since Tressel got there.  In that scenario, I'm patient. Because I know in the end the penalties should be severe.  Either way, it is what it is.  The process will take whatever it takes.  In the end, I think someone's head WILL roll at OSU.  It might be the AD instead of Sweatervest which would create a big "Who gives a F" in Michigan country. 

But, if there's ever a program that has institutional cheating and rules-breaking going on, it's OSU.  Down there, it's looked at as OK and the only thing that will get their attention is a signficant cut in scholarships and a post season ban.  Fines, or suspending the Vest for a few meaningless games. or even forfeiting past games won't change their behavior at all.  We'll know for sure how serious the NCAA is (or isn't) about enforcing the rules with this situation. 

Tater

March 11th, 2011 at 11:20 AM ^

A great deal of the damage done during the Ed Martin Fiasco was when nothing was going on and speculation ran rampant.  Coaches were using the situation for negative recruiting far before anything actually came down.  That's why the talent level started to slip just enough to bring Michigan closer to the middle of the pack before the feces contacted the rotary device.

It will be a great distraction in Columbus, and will give plenty of negative recruiting opportunities during what is looking like a banner recruiting year in Ohio and much of the midwest.  Let uncertainty reign.  

I wonder how long before Sparty will realize that TSIO is Saint Dantonio's "dream job" and connect the dots?  It's always good to see my two "favorite" fanbases suffer.  

It would be really nice, when squaring off with Sparty or Brutus, to be able to say, "it's your turn in the barrel."

joeyb

March 11th, 2011 at 11:21 AM ^

It has to fester. Let the media sit on it and speculate all off-season with little bits of information leaking out every week. Then, during fall camp, drop the bomb. Blow up the season, blow up the recruiting class, etc.

pdgoblue25

March 11th, 2011 at 11:23 AM ^

You get to go to a major football program, you don't have to go to class, you get a free car, cash, and now you have proof that even when you fuck up the Coach, Athletic Dept, and President will go to bat for you and try to cover it up.

Timnotep

March 11th, 2011 at 11:29 AM ^

the longer this gets drawn out;

1. The more excruciating the process is for TSIO and it's fans

2. The more likely it is that the NCAA is checking records from Tressel's entire career at TSIO, which will undoubtedly uncover something else... *cough*Clarrett, Smith, etc.*cough*

JonSobel

March 11th, 2011 at 11:31 AM ^

I hope they take a microscope to the entire athletic department including the other major revenue sport, basketball.  With the number of big recruits that come here, even some of the local media here in Columbus are starting to wring their hands on air because it seems skeezy.

Logan88

March 11th, 2011 at 2:10 PM ^

I would also like to see the NCAA take this opportunity to start digging into OSU's MBB situation. They have been reeling in ridiculous talent for several years now (and not just Ohio kids) to a program that, while good, has never been elite. It simply doesn't pass the smell test, especially taken in conjunction with all of the payoffs that are known to have taken place in the football program.

Roll the two sports into one investigation, slap OSU with the Lack of Insitutional Control label and watch OSU's two cash cows turn into a nuclear wasteland. That would be justice.

JimLahey

March 11th, 2011 at 11:34 AM ^

Now that I've considered other posts I think it would indeed be better to let the controversy linger so it affects recruiting. Still doesn't change the events of my prom night.

GBOD79

March 11th, 2011 at 11:34 AM ^

I think it is very real possibility that if this drags out until next year, Tressel retires before the sanctions are announced. There is already word out there that he doesnt want to coach until he is 70, or even well into his 60's. The man is 59 and this could push him towards retirement.

Bluestreak

March 11th, 2011 at 11:41 AM ^

I don't think it will affect their recruiting much. They will still get the pick of kids, the difference will be that more quality kids might look outside, which should be a win for us.

joeyb

March 11th, 2011 at 12:03 PM ^

That's only punishment for the recent transgressions. There was supposedly a championship ring at the tattoo parlor, which indicates that this has been going on for a long time. The NCAA should and will look all the way back to when Tressel started and if they find anything at all, they will bring sanctions much harder than what you have proposed.

justingoblue

March 11th, 2011 at 12:11 PM ^

Did they find an MNC ring, or one before Pryor got there? I didn't remember reading that, but yea, if they find stuff dating back years then OSU will get clobbered.

But I think if it goes to the COI as-is, OSU won't get more than a very light tap on the wrist as an institution.

justingoblue

March 11th, 2011 at 2:24 PM ^

I don't agree. They could come down on the school for a loss of instutional control, in which case we'll be winning The Game for the next decade, but I think they're going to hammer Tressel and basically leave the school alone just because it's an isolated act with one coach.

If he had gone to Smith or Gee, then I agree OSU would get smacked down like we haven't seen in a while.

Hannibal.

March 11th, 2011 at 2:30 PM ^

Most of the violations that I know of that have gotten athletic programs in serious trouble didn't go above the head coach.  Our athletic director was never accused of misconduct in the Ed Martin case.  It didn't stop us from losing scholarships and a post season appearance.  If there is severe hammering, it will hit the program, and not just Tressel, unless OSU throws Tressel under the bus by firing him or at least suspending him for a long time.

Plus, the university's laughable "punishment" is evidence that the institution has no concept of integrity.  It is practically an invitation for a beating.

justingoblue

March 11th, 2011 at 2:33 PM ^

It's a good point to look at Ed Martin, but I do think it's important to note that this is a one-man coverup, not just the school not closely monitoring its athletes, like at USC or with Ed Martin. 

Maybe I'll eat my words, but I'm thinking Tressel is gone, 2010 never happened and maybe scholarships are lost or a one year bowl ban. Again, maybe they will get bitch slapped, who knows.

CompleteLunacy

March 11th, 2011 at 11:50 AM ^

It doesn't matter to me so long as OSU gets what it SHOULD have coming to them. I want the ruling harsh enough to where it hang over Tressel's head and affects his ability to coach, and as it stands the current self-imposed "punishment" is nowhere in the vicinity of that. 

BlueHills

March 11th, 2011 at 12:42 PM ^

You'll all hate me for this.

Tresselgate smells of overblown media pile-on, just as Practicegate did. 

What made the rivalry great was that both schools were true powers, closely matched.

If we beat a "weakened" OSU, how is that satisfying? If we somehow win a B1G championship because OSU is hobbled with NCAA penalties, is that anything to brag about?

I love M. I want M to win. I want OSU to be strong when we beat them.