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 5:12 PM ^
Or for the trucks they're going to be driving for a living after they graduate.
amirite?
December 21st, 2010 at 3:21 PM ^
I am going to file this under BFD.
December 21st, 2010 at 3:25 PM ^
If those tattoos aren't epic, this isn't going to be interesting. I mean awful like what you see below or something extremely inappropriate.
Businesses giving breaks to players like that shouldn't be serious, IMO. Schools can't realistically police that stuff.
December 21st, 2010 at 3:27 PM ^
That's the ugliest tattoo ever.
/formerSteelcaseIntern
Also, the point in this case would be that the players should be declining that type of thing. They know the rules.
December 21st, 2010 at 4:52 PM ^
that got nabbed bc a bar owner mentioned "oh yeah, we have player night where they all get to come in for free and get a drink ticket" or something of the like. emerged out of a story about a fight.
December 21st, 2010 at 9:34 PM ^
This happened at Tennessee. I think it was ruled a secondary infraction because the bar owner had not donated money to the university athletic department. There was a minor penalty that included players donating money in the amount of the benefit they received (about $70). If the tat artist is a booster the penalty will be a lot worse.
December 21st, 2010 at 3:34 PM ^
While generally I agree with you, I think Mr. Slippery Slope wins this fight. First tats then free groceries then free cars, free condo....
December 21st, 2010 at 3:50 PM ^
An Eames chair tat. Badass.
I actually found one of these in the house we lived in junior year. The first time my mom came to visit she saw the damn thing, freaked out, and asked my roommates and I what she could do for us so that she could take it and refinish it.
/cue endless jokes from my friends about what my mom could do for it
December 21st, 2010 at 4:53 PM ^
damn near killed her
i got nothin'
December 21st, 2010 at 4:32 PM ^
not to accept free things from local business or boosters.
December 21st, 2010 at 4:39 PM ^
They can say it all they want, but like underage drinking, there's very little they can do to stop it.
If you think MIchigan players don't get preferential treatment from some places in Ann Arbor, you're insane or in denial.
December 22nd, 2010 at 1:04 AM ^
A tattoo of an eames chair? Is it classy or trashy? My mind is blown.
December 21st, 2010 at 3:18 PM ^
...to be Drew Sharp Fired thread part II. I like it!
December 21st, 2010 at 3:19 PM ^
Nothing will happen. I've come to the conclusion that the NCAA lets newspaper do their investigating. As long as Jim Tressel keeps crapping golden nuggets, the press will not turn on him, and this will all get swept under the rug.
December 21st, 2010 at 3:23 PM ^
I think things have changed in the last couple years, but yeah, I doubt we are that lucky. I'm sure it'll end up being nada.
December 21st, 2010 at 3:47 PM ^
...like the alleged assault earlier in the year which was news in the morning, got an "I don't think you have all your facts right" from Tressel by noon, and was retracted with apologies by 2pm.
What do you think it must be like to have a culture that rewards a compliant local media?
December 21st, 2010 at 4:53 PM ^
Tressel's pimp hand is strong.
[insert NSFW pimp hand pic]
December 21st, 2010 at 4:36 PM ^
Amen to that. I will happily buy a round of Mgodrinks the first time ANYTHING negative is reported in the Cleveland Plain Dealer about the bucks. See they have this crazy notion down here in Ohio that is absolutely going to KILL you guys still living in Michigan. It seems like the papers here think they shouldnt go out of their way to piss-off their readers unnecessarily and think that doing so might actually hurt their business. So they leave the investigations of the OSU football program to the NCAA.
What rubes.
December 21st, 2010 at 3:22 PM ^
Can I get a moving picture of a slow golf clap here? Seems like OSU could use some sort of applause if this is true.
December 21st, 2010 at 4:29 PM ^
Can we call this the Ink for Ink Scandal? Yes, I think we can.
December 21st, 2010 at 7:56 PM ^
This seems to be a very fast, gyrating golf clap.
December 21st, 2010 at 3:25 PM ^
under rug sweeping.
I look forward to Delaney crying like a baby about how they are making an example out of OSU.
/sarcasm not about the rug sweeping
December 21st, 2010 at 3:30 PM ^
There has to be a camaro or twenty inolved in this somehow. Maybe free Member's Only jackets.
December 21st, 2010 at 3:31 PM ^
Having friends with benefits? Is THAT also improper? Wow, things sure have changed since high school.... I mean, what if you just don't feel that way about a compliance officer, but you want it to be more than just a friendship? What a world we live in.
December 21st, 2010 at 3:35 PM ^
Sources are telling me that half of the Ohio State tattoos were tramp stamps.
December 21st, 2010 at 3:37 PM ^
Shugarts' for sure. Giant butterfly with a dragon tail.
December 21st, 2010 at 3:42 PM ^
Is this Tressel's matching tattoo???
December 21st, 2010 at 10:06 PM ^
Looks to me like Borens!! LMFAO!!
December 22nd, 2010 at 10:51 AM ^
You can actually see the sides of his waist in the picture.
December 22nd, 2010 at 11:37 PM ^
Boren booty is not nearly as svelte as that young vixen's.
December 21st, 2010 at 3:55 PM ^
I always wondered about that. Pryor has a pretty intricate full arm sleeve. that would run more than a grand in a tat parlor and it had to be done by someone good. I didn't have an extra grand sitting around in college.
December 21st, 2010 at 3:57 PM ^
I can't yet start a a new thread but what OSU is doing seems to pale in comparisson to Alabama... http://www.wftv.com/video/26166791/index.html
December 21st, 2010 at 4:00 PM ^
Which part of that is bad? That they're upgrading their facilities, or strategically choosing a school with top-notch recruits to have practice at? Both sound like really really good ideas to me.
December 21st, 2010 at 4:03 PM ^
I think the OP is claiming that there are some ulterior motives at play here... generally nearly everyone is in favor of genuine volunteerism and gift giving, but this seems under handed. That coach is going to be steering his boys to Bama from now on I would imagine.
December 21st, 2010 at 4:06 PM ^
Isn't that what recruiting is? Convincing as many people as possible to advocate your school without breaking the rules?
December 21st, 2010 at 4:13 PM ^
Agreed. Although oversigning is within the rules as well. Obviously that is a morally objectionable thing to do moreso than this is. It is a crafty move, but it is still quid pro quo if I am not mistaken.
December 21st, 2010 at 4:17 PM ^
Oversigning involves purposely tricking kids into thinking they have a spot when you know you'll have to ditch them later.
Unless the coaches are explicitly saying to Dr. Philips' coaches that they'll hold practice at their school if they guide the players in their direction, I don't see it as a quid pro quo.
Like you said, it's crafty. One of those things that's easy to get frustrated with because our coaches aren't the ones doing it.
December 21st, 2010 at 4:26 PM ^
Unless the coaches are explicitly saying to Dr. Philips' coaches that they'll hold practice at their school if they guide the players in their direction, I don't see it as a quid pro quo.
I don't think that has to actually be said...
It is slightly removed from QPQ and would be impossible to prove. I do think it is crafty. I do think it is generally a win-win, but these types of things have been becoming more and more frowned upon in general business practices (you can't give a business partner anything more than a certain amount of money or anything non-edible if it does exceed that amount, etc.) It' s pretty standard business ethics practice. I do agree with your point.
December 21st, 2010 at 4:42 PM ^
Yeah, sounds like we're pretty much on the same page.
Not sure how closely related recruiting ethics are to business ethics. I don't mean to say that I don't think they're comparable at all, but I honestly just haven't thought about it that much.
December 21st, 2010 at 4:00 PM ^
How the hell is that not against the rules!?!
December 21st, 2010 at 4:57 PM ^
plus Alabama "didn't ask to be put in a bowl near that school"
December 21st, 2010 at 4:32 PM ^
looks like pryors trying to "dominate" again
December 21st, 2010 at 4:32 PM ^
they're gonna get them on tatoos but leave pryor's vette alone?
December 21st, 2010 at 4:49 PM ^
What about TP's 'Vette!?
December 21st, 2010 at 4:54 PM ^
anything! That's another reason why I hate ohio state. They could all be getting paid but the NCAA will turn a blind eye.