What is NCAA Timetable on Ohio Report?
So, I'm ready for my next fix of NCAA induced Ohio pain. Obviously, something will happen. The question is when. We could have a statement of findings:
- between now and the end of the regular season
- between the end of the season and the bowl
- in the beginning of the new year
- after national signing day
I'd be interested to know if all of these potential dates are still on the table. Secondarily, I'm speculating on what would benefit Michigan the most and hurt Ohio the most. To some degree, having info come dribbling out from the NCAA every 3 - 5 weeks has been glorious. The best scenario I can see is a report right after a (lower level) bowl game, announcing sanctions including a bowl ban of a year (better, two) and the loss of scholarships. This would take away the option of not going bowling this year, and potentially bring Dunn into the MIchigan fold.
At the other end of the spectrum is a complete exoneration of Ohio, announced soon, such that there are no bowl bans and no scholarship losses.
The wild card would be for yet more new information to come out, conclusively establishing the dreaded LOIC and bringing the most significant and severe sanctions.
Anyone have real knowlege of what can be expected?
November 1st, 2011 at 11:39 PM ^
"Experts" originally estimated the timing to be approximately 8 weeks from the August 12 hearing, but Gene Smith said he expected things to be pushed back a bit when the subsequent violations came out about players accepting money for work they did not do. Bucknuts insiders are suggesting it will be mid November. Really, since we don't know everything the NCAA is looking at and if all the investigations are even completed, who knows. One thing to consider, however, is that if the NCAA is going to hit OSU with a post-season ban, it will be awkward if that ruling comes down after the BTCG (especially if OSU wins and is slotted in for the Rose Bowl). I would think the B10 is pushing the NCAA to issue its ruling, if at all possible, prior to the end of November.
November 1st, 2011 at 11:52 PM ^
I doubt they'd issue a 2011 bowl ban after the BTCG, particularly if they're playing in it. That really hurts the other eleven schools not caught up in major violations.
I've been hoping they qualify for the title game but are banned from going, so that in twenty years when I'm telling my kid about this season he can see that M/OSU were slated to play for the Rose Bowl (as it always should be, IMO) but that OSU screwed themselves out of the honor by hiring an unethical coach.
November 2nd, 2011 at 9:48 AM ^
If it takes the NCAA until after the BTCG, they will not rule until after the bowls even if there is a post season ban. It would be a very awkward situtation that could be easily avoided by delaying the ruling.
November 2nd, 2011 at 10:16 AM ^
...not that that's stopped them in the past
November 2nd, 2011 at 3:28 PM ^
Right you are! What was I thinking, why would they do anything logical and easy.
November 2nd, 2011 at 9:24 AM ^
"....but Gene Smith said he expected things to be pushed back a bit when the subsequent violations came out..."
What? That's ridiculous!!! Those were isolated incidents, Gene Smith said so!
November 2nd, 2011 at 3:36 PM ^
right before national signing day and OSU gets the death penalty.
November 1st, 2011 at 11:46 PM ^
And no doubt OSU is pushing the NCAA to issue its ruling, if at all possible, prior to the resolution of the ESPN lawsuit.
November 2nd, 2011 at 12:07 AM ^
especially considering that OSU recently asked for and received a one-month extension in the ESPN case. Originally they were looking at a ruling "as soon as" * November. Now the earliest the court could rule is mid-December.
* The court could theoretically rule as soon as ESPN and OSU file all their briefs, but it would be completely unexpected. I would expect at least a month or two (Jan/Feb) or much as a few months (June) for a ruling.
November 2nd, 2011 at 12:11 AM ^
I realize you're a lawyer, not a compliance official, but would it really help OSU to put off new information coming to light? If they actually hid information from the NCAA, I'd almost rather have it in this NOA than have the NCAA write up a new one. The public outcry against OSU would be deafening either way.
November 2nd, 2011 at 9:25 AM ^
is that the NCAA probably wants to "close the book" on OSU once it issues its decision. So OSU may be hoping that, even if new emails pop up from the ESPN case, the NCAA won't have the desire to reopen things.
I see your point though.
Ultimately, it's hard to say, because we don't know what OSU gave the NCAA and we don't know what OSU said it was giving the NCAA.
November 2nd, 2011 at 12:02 PM ^
According to the Plain Dealer, the NCAA is still waiting for paperwork from OSU on the summer employment violations that triggered the extended suspensions a month ago. How does Gene Smith still have a job?
[blockquote]
Ohio State spokesman Dan Wallenberg told The Plain Dealer Tuesday that the school is still finalizing its response to the employment issue that saw four Buckeyes suspended after Ohio State and the NCAA ruled they were overpaid by former booster Bobby DiGeronimo. Wallenberg said there are no new issues, but Ohio State hasn't completed its report on these violations, which were first revealed at a news conference on Oct. 3.
Once the school submits that response, it will then wait for word from the NCAA. Every indication is that the OSU administration still does not expect a post season ban to be part of any penalties, and OSU coach Luke Fickell said he had no update on any postseason problems. In the last 10 years, five major college football programs were given postseason bans of one or two years.
In three cases, the schools were cited for lack of institutional control, and in the other two, there were major recruiting violations that angered the Committee on Infractions because of their severity. Neither situation would apply to the Ohio State case as it stands, though a lack of institutional control charge could be added.
The Big Ten will not allow a team that is banned from the postseason to play in the championship game.
[/blockquote]
November 2nd, 2011 at 1:18 PM ^
Isn't that exactly what happened to Reggie Bush?
Go Blue!
November 1st, 2011 at 11:54 PM ^
They're going to wait until all the information about Cleveland State has come in.
November 1st, 2011 at 11:59 PM ^
Used in the same sentence? Wow!
My answer: Too damn slow.
November 2nd, 2011 at 12:05 AM ^
You do realize that your timetable doesn't clear anything up! Lol We should know between now and Christmas, between Christmas and New Years, or after the 2nd of January thru 2012! Help, please take a guess. :)
November 2nd, 2011 at 12:11 AM ^
In my belief... I think it will come out sometime early spring. I'm hoping before signing day, but I don't think that will happen. Its hilarious to watch their fans complain and cry about everything.
November 2nd, 2011 at 12:36 AM ^
Does the NCAA have the slightest idea of how poor their public perception is and more importantly do they even care?
If players commiting NCAA violations after everything that happened with Tressel (as if that wasn't enough) doesn't constitue LOIC than maybe I'm the moron.
November 2nd, 2011 at 12:48 AM ^
they won't announce it til after the GAME or the B1G title game
if OSU wins the B1G titile game, I bet they will wait til after the national title game
that way the conference gets its money, more teams in the bowls.
I don't think OSU will be all that good besides Braxton now next year, so it being closer to the deadline for national signing day could be huge.
Much rather have a rose bowl then be banned from it this year when next years team is a little ceasers bowl type .
Personally, I hope its right after the B1G game. could put OSU in a corner with keeping this years game making it look even worse in the public eye, and possibly mean more schollies taken in return.
Id rather see them lose a 2012/13 bowl game and more schollies then this years bowl game and less schollies
and that espn lawsuit needs to get handled, cuz espn is not settling.
they need to rule on it, NOW, sxrew that extension
If I am espn, i tell the court no agreement will be made, lets do this.
November 2nd, 2011 at 1:50 AM ^
it will be 2 days before the Michigan game.
Plenty of time for the sh#t storm to reach category 5.
November 2nd, 2011 at 11:13 AM ^
I'll admit, I thought about that. What a way to ramp things up . . . if Ohio is really trashed by the NCAA findings right before the Michigan game. Of course this could go two ways. It could motivate them, since the Michigan game would be all they'd get. Or, it could demoralize them.
Ultimately, I'd rather that the NCAA findings come out in early January, after they have played in a bowl game already. I'd like to see them go to the Little Ceasar's Bowl in Detroit, or the Meinecke Car Care of Texas Bowl in Houston, and then find out they used ineligible players they knew were ineligible. That would be too rich, and would really stick it to the NCAA (to give the famed "LOIC" finding.)
November 2nd, 2011 at 2:07 AM ^
No decent coach will take the job until they know what the penalties are (one would think). If it drags into January, that means it's unlikely they have a coach who can get much of a recruiting foothold prior to signing day. Feb. 10 works for me.
November 2nd, 2011 at 10:01 AM ^
I think he'll get at least one more season. The rumors I've heard suggest that there are two factions-a group who thinks that Fickell deserves a real shot at the job, which he didn't get this season, and a group who wants Urban Meyer or another big name coach now. After Illinois and Wisconsin, the Fickell group seems to be winning. If he gets them to the B1G championship, I think he gets one more year, at minimum. That might be enough to get him the job outright provided he gets rid of the Walrus and Siciliano.
November 2nd, 2011 at 10:29 AM ^
Divided factions. After reading Three and Out, that's exactly what I want to hear.
November 2nd, 2011 at 10:56 AM ^
Hell, there were people wanting to fire Tressel since the Florida game in 2006 because he "couldn't win the big ones" anymore.
November 2nd, 2011 at 11:59 AM ^
So you're saying there are some people who want Fickell and some who don't. Interesting.
November 2nd, 2011 at 2:49 AM ^
Am I allowed to be cynical and say that Mark Emmert will drag it out until after they have nuked Miami to prove how "tough" they are, and then let BFF Gordon Gee and friends off with some of the fluffiest "punishment" ever given for true major violations?
I am really hoping to be proven wrong here. I am also hoping to purchase a winning powerball ticket.
November 2nd, 2011 at 10:30 AM ^
Yikes, that sounds frighteningly plausible ...
November 2nd, 2011 at 9:38 AM ^
is waiting for 2 events: (1) whether osu wins enough to go to the BTCG, and (2) the results of the ESPN lawsuit.
As for the first issue, the NCAA is probably hoping that osu is not going to go to the BTCG, so that it does not have to issue a ruling before then. It would look pretty stupid if osu went to the BTCG and then was later ruled ineligible. So, I don't think they'll issue a ruling until before the door is closed on osu going to the BTCG.
Likewise, the NCAA would also look stupid if it made any ruling and then more misconduct was discovered via the ESPN lawsuit. So they'll want to wait for the results of that, unless osu squeaks into the BTCG, in which case, the NCAA is between a rock and a hard place.
November 2nd, 2011 at 9:53 AM ^
OSU was supposed to have already given the NCAA everything ESPN is asking for. If not, the NCAA could simply ask for it, no lawsuit is needed.
November 2nd, 2011 at 10:31 AM ^
in April 2010 when Tressel found out about the mess, but they didn't. Then they were supposed to give everything when a federal investigation turned some up, but they didn't. They only gave what Tressel and the Tat-5 told them. Maybe there's still more that could come to light by outside counsel defending a lawsuit directed at osu.
November 2nd, 2011 at 9:52 AM ^
The thing that would benefit Michigan most and hurt Ohio most is if we beat them on the field this year in the absence of any sanctions and with their full roster available. I'd hate to see Ohio rationalize any potential win with thoughts that they would have won had they had their full roster available.
November 2nd, 2011 at 10:07 AM ^
We beat them on the field. Whatever may happen with the NCAA is moot. They got caught (repeatedly, it seems) breaking the rules, and hopefully the punishment fits the transgressions.
But hoping for the punishment to hurt them in the worst possible way shouldn't be a focus. We beat them on the field, play harder, execute better, and things will take care of themselves.
November 2nd, 2011 at 11:23 AM ^
Yes, for Michigan to beat Ohio when both are at full strength would be the best possible outcome. This would minimize rationalization by Ohio regarding their roster strength.
However, I believe that for NCAA findings on Ohio to come out AFTER a bowl would be the icing on the cake, particularly if they are hit with a bowl ban and scholarship reductions. Whether or not we get Dunn isn't the major issue, although this might push him to Michigan. More importantly, a bowl ban and loss of scholarships would have an effect on a potential coaching search, and would also affect depth at Ohio for years. Hoke has already reestablished Ohio as a source of talent for the Michigan roster. We shouldn't forget that Woodson and Howard, our two modern era Heisman trophy winners, both came from Ohio.
November 2nd, 2011 at 11:30 AM ^
Their fanbase have no problem claiming last years vacated win as a victory....their fanbase will always spin things to their favor... no matter how irrational it may seem. Yeah we may have been cheating through the entire Cheatie MacSweatervest era...but we still beat you on the field, etc.
November 2nd, 2011 at 10:10 AM ^
That's the best way to hurt the Buckeyes, and then let the NCAA fall upon them the following week.
November 2nd, 2011 at 10:27 AM ^
with UNC for UNC's hearing. Since the release of sanctions from previous hearings typically get reviewed by the same committee, I was sort of expecting they would be reviewing the OSU case and voting on decisions as well. That said, it totally makes sense to me if the NCAA is sitting back and waiting for ESPN to pry more information out of the OSU lawsuit.
There is one side of me that thinks the NCAA is taking a Reggie Bush / Ed Martin trickle approach, and this will drag out longer and seem like no conclusion is being reached, and then wham. On the flip, it sure looks like OSU has been able to obfuscate successfully (nothing to see here the cars were sold for the price reported to the state - no reason to look at blue book values or where the money came from or anything), and contain this to a few bad apples. I sort of expect, it it is the latter, then we hear back in the next few weeks, if not just after the regular season, if it is the former, this drags on well into next year before the actual NCAA sanctions come down.
At this point they've already lost Tressel and TP, so there will already be excuses, but I sure would rather beat the OSU that just beat Wisconsin.
November 2nd, 2011 at 11:29 AM ^
I have a sinking feeling that the NCAA is going to levy few if any additional penalties against Ohio.
I would think a ruling affecting Herron et al would at least have taken place by now because if they are ruled ineligible, oh wait that would be awesome!!!!!!!!!
November 2nd, 2011 at 12:06 PM ^
If sanctions are levied after National Signing Day, won't the NCAA have to offer an out to recruits who have already signed?
November 2nd, 2011 at 12:19 PM ^
This is a huge deal for several reasons. Depending on when the NCAA rules this will have a huge impact on . . .
The next coach at OSU. Fickell will not be retained as the head, he cant be. Gene Smith knows for his own job security he has to go hire a big time coach that will in some way appease the base. While Fickell has done better to this point than most would like to admit he will not be the man in years to come, waaaaaaaaay to risky!!
This whole deal will affect the final destination of Brionte Dunn as well. I personally think Dunn wants to be a Buckeye. The only way that doesnt happen is if they have an extended bowl ban. If no bowl ban and Fickell stays then Dunn enrolls in January at OSU. If Fickell is out then Dunn will delay going to school till the Fall, Michigan will court him hard, and a new big time coach will convince him to stay.
I think outside of Pipkins and just getting numbers at OL, Dunn is of paramount importance. He completes the transition to what the off. will look like for the next 4 years.
November 2nd, 2011 at 12:27 PM ^
I have come to believe that Gene's Smith job security is as solid as it is inexplicable.