stefan-nyc

July 22nd, 2011 at 3:44 PM ^

As I see it, conversations between Compliance and St. Tressel in mid December were the beginnings of the investigation arising out of the December 9 letter from the DOJ.  Perhaps TSIO should receive some flack for maintaining that the university simply did not know what Tressel knew until January 13.

But I believe the bigger issue relates to TSIO officials hearing from a player that "[St.] Tressel discussed related issues with him in the spring of 2010," to quote the article (not the player).

If TSIO learned from this player that St. Tressel was aware of the issue BEFORE the December 9 DOJ letter, that was a big red flag for TSIO regarding St. Tressel.  Why didn't TSIO sit St. Tressel down immediately and get to the bottom of things?  Why did it take almost a MONTH to uncover emails to and from St. Tressel's school email address involving Cicero?  Why didn't TSIO get to the bottom of this BEFORE allowing St. Tressel to coach TSIO in the Sugar Bowl?

We all know why.

IncrediblySTIFF

July 22nd, 2011 at 3:02 PM ^

means it didn't happen.  The only thing worse than verbally informing others of this tip is not informing it at all.  Either way, he didn't follow the NCAA guidelines for this situation nor did he follow tsio's guidelines.

74polSKA

July 22nd, 2011 at 3:10 PM ^

"Based on interviews with multiple sources who had access to transcripts of Tressel's statement during a Feb. 8 NCAA investigation, Tressel claimed to have told athletic director Gene Smith, Vannatta and Archie of his tip, Aker reported." 

I would like to see the transcript and I think this story may have legs.

IncrediblySTIFF

July 22nd, 2011 at 5:12 PM ^

a law abiding citizen is to follow the law.  The secret to running a succesful college football program while still breaking the rules is to not leave a paper trail.

I understand what you are getting at though.  What I am trying to point out was best explained by Ivan Cook and Beano Maisel here.  Bean Cook points out that in the 80's, pre email, it was much harder to catch coaches for not reporting violations because there was no paper trail.  With todays technology, it becomes much harder to avoid the paper trail, but if you manage to do it, it seems that the NCAA has no way of proving anything against you.

MaizeAndBlueWahoo

July 22nd, 2011 at 3:06 PM ^

Well, somebody is lying.  Is it the lying coach that the university nevertheless holds up as a paragon of virtue in its defense to the NCAA?  Or is it the school?  Either way, what fun.

buckeyeh8er

July 22nd, 2011 at 3:10 PM ^

this is Tressel being like, "you said you had my back and throw me under the bus motherf*ckers... how about you suck on this"  either way I agree that this is he said - she said as well but I love it

justingoblue

July 22nd, 2011 at 3:13 PM ^

This is crazy. If this is actually true, the NCAA needs to smack Smith/ Archie down as well. This would mean that they've lied on multiple occasions, including their response to the NCAA. Can an AD or a compliance director be given show-causes?

IncrediblySTIFF

July 22nd, 2011 at 3:16 PM ^

Don't think so, but I'm not sure.  NCAA would certainly come down on them harder if these facts are proven and Gene/Dougie are still in office.  USC got hammered and they had gotten rid of their Head Coach, Athletic Director, and school president.  IMO, anytime allegations this serious arise, the three headed monster needs all three heads cut off in order to proceed.

justingoblue

July 22nd, 2011 at 3:19 PM ^

Well my question was a bit rhetorical, I'm sure the NCAA can just do whatever it wants regarding penalties. Smith is likely gone, just because the same thing has now happened at Tennessee and USC. Gee isn't going anywhere unless he's actually found out to be corrupt.

justingoblue

July 22nd, 2011 at 3:26 PM ^

Well he clearly comes off as an idiot, but unless they find out that he's actually unethical, I think they'll let him get back to the other 97-98% of his job.

Speaking of Gee, I was at Von Maur today and saw a blue and yellow bowtie. I picked it up and said something about sending it to Gordon Gee and a high school kid behind me wanted to talk OSU football until he saw the colors of the tie. It was pretty awesome.

whoknew

July 22nd, 2011 at 3:18 PM ^

I'm confused. Didn't everyone know about this in December? I mean, that's the reason for the original suspension. OSU got a letter from the DOJ and it conducted an investigation.

So ... what did Tressel tell them?

whoknew

July 22nd, 2011 at 3:25 PM ^

I see. He disclosed the tip he received in December, not just the knowledge. Got it. 

So according to Tressel, OSU let the 5 guys playing knowing they had knowledge the guys were ineligible for the entire season. Makes them culpable for knowingly playing players they knew were ineligible.

CWoodson2401

July 22nd, 2011 at 3:23 PM ^

that they knew he was playing them while they were ineligible and they were complicit in Tressel trying to cover it up. Basically, they tried to save Tressel, which seems very possible considering their rhetoric on not firing him whenever asked.  They tried to cover up the cover up! Oh what a tangled web they weave...... 

mgoblueben

July 22nd, 2011 at 3:26 PM ^

Why all of a sudden does Tressel come forth with this.  Hmmm maybe because he sees he has the support of the fans and the state of ohio and now realizes the power he has.  Gee is a bumbling moron and Smith will follow anything blindly.  So why not take advantage of the situation and help his image.  Just another Oh-LIE-Oh moment.

Bodogblog

July 22nd, 2011 at 3:35 PM ^

which means the NCAA knew he made this claim, and OSU knew he made this claim, but none of us knew he made this claim. 

Now why the hell hasn't the NCAA been harsher on the school?  If the head coach, AD, and chief compliance officer knew in December and didn't say anything during the bowl deliberations, and further didn't say anything until after the Tressel/Cicero e-mails were found, that certainly would indicate a LOIC.

The NCAA must believe (or at least have enough plausible deniability to be able to believe) OSU: that Tressel is lying about this.  I don't believe OSU, but w/out a paper trail it's impossible to verify.

I'll bet Tress withdraws this during the NCAA hearings; payment for the retirement vs. resignation deal.

74polSKA

July 22nd, 2011 at 3:44 PM ^

Why do you assume Smith and the others were in the interview with Tressel and the NCAA back in January?  Is this common practice?  What if the NCAA separated them like they always do with suspects on those crime drama shows to see if their stories jive?  Maybe Tressel sang and worked out a plea deal way back then.  Look for him coaching at a MAC school near you soon.

Bodogblog

July 22nd, 2011 at 3:52 PM ^

that Tressel made this claim.  There's no way to say something this explosive and not have it made known to the other party, to say nothing of giving the school the right to respond.

If they believed Tressel or had evidence, LOIC would have been in the sanctions letter. 

cjffemt

July 22nd, 2011 at 3:31 PM ^

As much as I love to see TSIO in crap ton of trouble and finally get knocked down a few notches, is this really what is best for the Conference?  Without Ohio, the Leaders Division looks very lopsided, with Wisconsin taking the helm.  This would also take away drasticly from the best rivalry in all of sports.  I would love to see the hammer dropped on them, but at the same time, I would hate to see the intrgrity of the conference and rivalry placed in jeopardy.

Logan88

July 22nd, 2011 at 3:39 PM ^

The integrity of the rivalry was compromised the moment OSU hired St. Tress. OSU has been fielding the best team money can buy for 10 years. The only way things could possibly balance out would be for the NCAA to completely nuke OSU's program and give UM the advantage (i.e. distinct talent advantage) that OSU enjoyed for the next 10 years.