Well, that was fast… Here’s what we know (updated as available)
The meeting lasted 3.5 hours for reference, USC’s hearing was 3 days (more programs under investigation)
Ohio State will donate the $338,000 they received from the conference’s award from their participating in the Sugar Bowl to local charities. No word on whether ESPN will forfeit their ad revenue from the game.
Tressel made a brief statement after the meeting-
They were well prepared and will now go about their work in deliberations. Again, I would like to apologize to the Buckeye nation, most especially to the players, staff and fans who remain so dear to me.
I have no further statement at this time.
Much more, and updates after the jump.
Smith statement-
The university was pleased to present to the Committee on Infractions our perspectives on the two violations that were covered in our self-report on March 8, 2011. As expected, the committee had numerous relevant questions about the issues in the case, which I believe the institution answered thoroughly and thoughtfully. We also had the opportunity to summarize information detailed in the university’s response and the institution’s reasons for its self-imposed corrective and punitive actions. Consistent with vacating the 2011 Sugar Bowl, and in addition to our previously announced corrective and punitive actions, we also shared with the committee our decision to forfeit our share of the Big Ten’s payment for having played in that game ($338,811).
Following this hearing, we will be working with the NCAA staff to move forward to wrap up our inquiry into any remaining issues. We are aware of a letter that the NCAA enforcement staff sent to the Committee on Infractions nearly a month ago detailing the status of this case. The NCAA staff concluded that the evidence at this time does not warrant additional allegations and that our joint review of any remaining items did not necessitate a delay to today’s hearing. We now look forward to working together so that we can conclude this follow-up work as quickly as possible.
In closing, we appreciate the efforts of the committee and its staff in the work it has completed to date and look forward to the committee’s report in eight to 12 weeks.
Gee statement-
I appreciated the opportunity to appear today before the NCAA Division I Committee on Infractions. The committee treated us fairly and gave us ample time to share our perspective. Throughout, we have been determined to do what is right in responding to the information we discovered. As we move forward, I am committed to ensuring that The Ohio State University is a model for other colleges and universities. Our institution expects nothing less.
Ohio State’s release of the above statements.
8-12 weeks until response is known, although speculation is that deliberation may be complete this weekend and the rest of the time will be spent writing the report.
No word on the “Ellis” meeting next week we referred to yesterday.
Still whispers that a second letter of allegations exists. Ohio State released this letter today, which was not sent to them but to the COI. They did receive a procedural letter last week.
In the COI letter, this is important to note (emphasis mine)-
In that email, I indicated that the enforcement staff recently conducted a conference call with institutional officials regarding the status of the continuing investigation and pending August 12, 2011, hearing. During the call with the institution, it was agreed that (1) additional issues remained for investigation, (2) written responses to the notice of allegations were still due July 5 and (3) we would reconvene with the institution on July 11 to determine if we need to push back the hearing date. I also mentioned in my email to you that no additional allegations had been made by the staff. Please note that since that email, an amended notice of allegations containing one additional violation related to the first allegation was issued to the involved parties.
At this point in the inquiry, the available evidence does not warrant additional allegations; however, the investigation remains open. As a result, the staff and institution agreed not to postpone the currently scheduled hearing date of August 12 while we finalize the investigation of the remaining open issues. The institution understands and agrees that additional allegations may result from the ongoing inquiry and that the violations set forth in the current notice of allegations may form the partial basis for a failure to monitor of lack of institutional control when viewed in light of any additional violations. The institution also understands that if new violations are discovered, a second hearing may be necessary.
So- this may not yet be over, although the one additional violation might be resolved/expanded following the meeting with “Ellis”.
UPDATE- Word is that the additional violation was “player H” in Ohio State’s self report (Dorian Bell); which was uncovered during the OSU investigation but hadn’t been interviewed by the NCAA as of the time of the letter’s release.
In other words, nothing new, but the investigation is ongoing.
UPDATE 2- Sports Illustrated’s Andy Staples writes what we’ve been saying for a while-
Judging by the brevity of the meeting — USC’s hearing took three days; Ohio State’s took about four hours — that strategy worked. Though a July 13 letter from the NCAA’s enforcement staff to the Committee on Infractions reveals that the NCAA will keep digging at additional allegations of impropriety, Ohio State may have dodged serious sanctions from the violations that stuck the first time around.
Because of that, everyone outside Columbus will say the Buckeyes got off light. They’ll say the NCAA allowed Ohio State to skate because it is a favored program.
That simply isn’t correct.
Even if the COI doesn’t strip the Buckeyes of a single scholarship, Ohio State got hammered. How? Because this scandal forced Ohio State to jettison Jim Tressel.
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On the other hand, don’t say Ohio State came out without a scratch. The Buckeyes will move on with another coach, but the odds suggest that coach won’t succeed like Tressel did. Wins and Big Ten titles were as certain as the sunrise under Tressel. They aren’t anymore.
No matter what the COI decides, Ohio State got creamed. The hammer fell Friday when a man who dominated college football was reduced to just another guy at the valet stand asking for directions to the Interstate.
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