Here are your updates from Thursday-
Legally Speaking*
- In case you missed the updates from Eric’s piece earlier, Terrelle Pryor’s license issue is now resolved, and he and his mom are alleged to have met with the folks from the NCAA this afternoon. Pryor’s lawyers presented documentation this morning regarding his automotive purchases (again, thanks to tBBC crack investigative reporter Westy), and this afternoon reported that he did not think the NCAA will punish the QB for the car situation.
- Storm Klein’s dad has come out guns blazin’, and has said that his family plans on pursuing legal action against George Dohrmann and Sports Illustrated.
- There are some indications that the family of Buckeye John Simon plan on doing the same; and several sources have told us that this response may not be limited to just these two student athletes.
Responses from Youngstown
- Ray Isaacs’ comments regarding the Sports Illustrated article have been well documented; He takes full responsibility for his actions, and implies that the SI writers are less than accurate regarding his time at YSU.
- You can also add former YSU president Leslie Cochran to those who believe SI has a problem with “misremembering”; today he called at least one quote in his account a “fabrication”.
- Several other former Penguins have also commented on behalf of their former coach.
Other Buckeyes In The News
- Not so fast, Ray- Former Buckeye and current (after the lockout, that is) Eagle Brian Rolle is offering proof that not everyone was “doing it”; telling ESPN that he was offered a car in 2009, but chose to not take it. While this may seem to be fuel on the “OMG! tOSU is out of controll!!1!!” bonfire, it’s important to remember that a) No University can control what people offer to their student athletes, and b) There is a reason Rolle said “no”-
It’s not (hard) when you live by certain morals, something that Coach Tressel instilled in me. Sometimes a 10 second decision can affect your life and that’s something I thought about.
- The second part of the Andy Geiger interview is up over at the OZone, and it’s just as good as the first. First, he weighs in on the “car situation”:
It’s my understanding that the current compliance people went to the car dealers, they are all over those kinds of things, they were doing their best to try to keep up with it, but there is, in Columbus, a very large community with a nationally prominent program, the Ohio State football program, that is just over the top in importance, in not only Columbus but in the state.
That attracts all kinds of things to it, some of which is very, very difficult to control.
There isn’t any way that a compliance department, an Athletic Director or a football coach or whole staff of football coaches can be with people in a program 24/7. There are going to be influences, there are going to be relationships that built over time that can turn out to be negative and be very damaging.
- Geiger then goes on to say-
There isn’t anything much more complex about this. They (The NCAA) can dig and dig and dig and dig all that they want to, but they’re not going to find intentional instructional corruption (at Ohio State), or even not paying attention, as part of this. They do pay attention.
- Adding his voice to the numerous former Buckeyes who are responding to this situation, Jon Thoma brings a good (and growingly familar) perspective on Jim Tressel (HT CentralMoBuck)-
He taught us that there was more to being an Ohio State football player than just football.
We had a responsibility to present ourselves in a positive way, as we were representatives of so many things so much bigger than ourselves. Apparently, some of us could not handle that honor.
To some of us, there were different priorities, and becoming a man under the watchful eye of millions around the world was too much. George Dohrmann from Sports Illustrated suggested that Jim Tressel lost control of his football team. Quite the contrary. The Ohio State Football culture took over Columbus. Coach was the only reason there WAS any control on this football team. Ask the troubled former receiver. Ask the star quarterback. Our mistakes occurred away from his watchful eye.
Our mistakes had nothing to do with Jim Tressel.
Coach Tressel had one goal for each and every one of his players. He wanted to put us in the best position possible to succeed. Both on the field and off. He taught us that complacency was not an option, and that we could only be the best men that we could be if we learned every single day. He taught us everything he could, and gave us resources to learn what he could not teach us.
He always said, “On your best days be great. On your worst days, be good. Every other day, get better.” Let’s just say that today, the Ohio State community is only good. But thanks to our Coach, we will always be better. Go Bucks!
Ricochets
- Friday is National Doughnut Day, and here’s how I’m celebrating. Just wanted you to know.
- It’s Spelling Bee time– just a reminder that Ohio has had more champions than other states.
- Bill Simmons complained today about a song stuck in his head… welcome to the club.
- Make sure you keep your Vests dry cleaned for September.
- Everyone needs this type of encouragement-
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaIvk1cSyG8?rel=0&w=500&h=314]
*Disclaimer: All data and information provided on this site is for informational purposes only, and may change at any time. tBBC will not be held responsible for any injury or death that occurs, is inferred, or is implied by our usage of “bullets”; “bullets” should be seen as a metaphor. Additionally, any choice to follow the legal action of those persons entered herein is the sole responsibility of the reader; it’s never a good idea to take legal advice from sports bloggers.
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