OSU Improper Benefits?
As reported by Dave Biddle (@davebiddle). According to his twitter profile, he is "a sports journalist who covers Ohio State Buckeyes football and basketbal for Bucknuts.com."
The tweets:
"Could be some bad news on the horizon for OSU football. Hopefully none of this is true. Will report back when I know more."
"Possible improper benefits. Players meeting with compliance officials today."
EDIT: Just to keep all the relevant info in one spot... subsequent tweets:
"Word is a tattoo artist was giving out free tats in exchange for autographs from OSU players. Again, nothing has been confirmed."
"Just talked to a current player and he is denying that any of this is true. Says he would know about it b/c it would be 'locker room talk.'"
"OSU's sports information department is also denying that any players met with compliance officials today."
December 21st, 2010 at 5:29 PM ^
Double Standards? Conspiracy? Pryor's "vette"?
The 'dro in AA must be sweet. Most of you are kidding, right? You really think there is a double standard? That OSU gets preferential treatment? Pryor drives a Corvette? That's awesome. What a fucking hilariously jaded world to live in. Mel Gibson thinks some of you need to take a deep breath and think about your prejudices.
December 21st, 2010 at 5:54 PM ^
Yessssss. This will certainly lead the NCAA down the rabbit hole of crooked tattoo artist boosters!
December 21st, 2010 at 6:05 PM ^
media sensationalism. This has been going on for years with no consequences. O$U. Plus it sucks to live in Ohio anyway. That is their penalty.
December 21st, 2010 at 6:15 PM ^
Why stop with the Cam Newton ruling...live it up!
December 21st, 2010 at 6:16 PM ^
This is minor compared to what they do (Troy Smith getting paid for a fake job then winning the Heisman, Clarrett car scandal, etc). Typically I would say osu will get away with this as usual, but the NCAA is on a witch hunt right now and they're going after programs regardless of their storied history.
Where there is smoke, there's fire...Let's just say, it would make me beyond happy to see them get hammered by the NCAA.
Dear Santa: I would like to make a revision to my list, this is what I truly want for Christmas!
December 21st, 2010 at 8:56 PM ^
'where this is smoke, there is fire' is a statement usually followed by pure speculation based on zero evidence or observable fact.
I think this should be investigated, but, let's not make fools of ourselves by making up BS stories. We all have felt the sting of that this past season.
December 22nd, 2010 at 10:09 AM ^
I understand this a 'heresay' right now, but c'mon, is there any doubt they are crooked as hell??
I can personally say that I was at a pro sporting event in Ohio thru my company and OSU took their recruits up to this game, then had them shuttled around with the big wigs and meeting the players, dinner, etc at an after party for elite people (I'm not that cool unfortunately, but know people who know people). I'm pretty sure this is illegal, since Iowa introducing players on their own campus to Demi Moore was illegal.
The thing is, even the governor of Ohio is very closely tied to this program, so they are going to hide anything that happens because they want ous football to succeed (imagine that, if our media only worked the same way).
I just hope this catches the NCAA's attention, if they poke their nose around that program I'm sure there will be more found than free tattoos.
December 22nd, 2010 at 11:09 AM ^
It's alright to complain about the NCAA's lack of action towards OSU, but MGoBlog is not the place to assert "I heard someone say that someone said this about OSU's athletic program" as evidence that OSU's program is dirty. While I am partially in agreement with you following the Clarett allegations, OSU's compliance department has done a good job of building up a reputation for reporting lots of minor violations. I also feel that the oversigning problem in the SEC is much worse than OSU giving out free tattoos. For example, imagine if, rather than giving out gold pants for beating Michigan, they gave out tattoos with the final score to all their players (spending the same amount of money as they would for the gold pants awards). This, IME, would be the same as giving all the players a trophy for the same action, and should be regulated the same.
December 22nd, 2010 at 2:25 PM ^
I'm looking at the bigger picture, I will guarantee that osu has deeper rooted benefits than tattoos.
Did you just ignore the entire section where I explained that how I witnessed a slew of osu recruits taken to an NBA playoff game, shipped (not sure how exactly, but most were shuttled over by private bus) to an after party with pro athletes, CEO's, etc....while being served dinner and shmoozing with any big wig in the state of Ohio at this event.
Since it's pretty easy to figure out who the team is now, how did they get up to this city from Columbus? How did they get into the game? I have a high up friend who got us tickets because he works for this company or else they were VERY expensive. This happened to be the game where Sheed freaked out & got booted in game 7.
Iowa was punished for just introducing Doucheton Kutcher & Demi Moore on their very own campus, how can treating potential recruits to playoff games, privately escorting them to after parties with pro athetes and paying for their meals & whatever else not be a violation.
No, I do not know ALL that they do, but have indeed witnessed 1st hand recruits are getting some pretty sweet treatment by tosu.
And...So everybody knows I did talk up UM to a WR recruit, my friend who is from that area introduced me and I can't remember his name. He said who he was considering, UM was one of the teams. I had about 22 Grey Goose and tonics, so my game wasn't real tight, I did say osu sucks and produces busts; then slurred off about 7 UM receivers in the league to prove my point. He thought I was crazy, laughed and we walked away slowly...haha
December 22nd, 2010 at 10:15 PM ^
not to mention you assert all these proofs of what OSU was doing yet delivered no information or proof to the NCAA on this issue. not to mention what recruit visits occur during NBA playoffs?
December 21st, 2010 at 10:19 PM ^
they can't hide the evidence.
Except for the "I love Mom (and family values)" on Boren's left ass-cheek. The investigators probably won't find that one.
December 22nd, 2010 at 7:02 PM ^
I'd rather take joy in Michigan doing well than pleasure in another team's troubles, but it's now out of the twittersphere and into the MSM.
December 22nd, 2010 at 10:34 PM ^
Dr Sat's take is here, and it includes this picture of TP's tats:
December 22nd, 2010 at 8:00 PM ^
I would love to hear that some players are ineleigible to play in their bowl game bcause of this, granted all osu fans will use it as an excuse for them loosing to arkansas, but it's ok. I just hope the NCAA doesn't do something dumb and let them off the hook like they did with Cam Newton.
December 22nd, 2010 at 9:35 PM ^
Buckeye Exce$$ anyone? Ok ok, maybe a little overkill, but this is something that is happening all over the NCAA, especially top programs. Just look at the SEC. If one program does it to get an edge, then the others will follow in order to compete. Boosters will go lengths to see their football team win. This is something that is easily hidden. Like what was said earlier, even state Governors will cover these actions up just to see their alma mater succeed. Michigan is a program of class and integrity, one thing I value as being a die-hard Michigan fan.
December 22nd, 2010 at 10:32 PM ^
over 100 comments and not one:
"Not everybody’s the perfect person in the world. I mean everyone kills people, murders people, gets free tattoos from you, gets free tattoos from me, whatever" joke.
Come on guys, we're better than that.
December 22nd, 2010 at 11:29 PM ^
Do you think the players will have to give the tattoos back?
December 22nd, 2010 at 11:40 PM ^
They will have to return an area of skin, in skin grafts, equal to 2x the area they had tattooed originally.