For 5 games in 2011; OK for Sugar Bowl
Five Ohio State University football players -- including quarterback Terrelle Pryor, a Jeannette High School graduate -- have been suspended for the first five games next season for selling awards and receiving improper benefits in 2009, the NCAA announced Thursday.
Mr. Pryor, wide receiver DeVier Posey, offensive lineman Mike Adams, running back Dan Herron and defensive lineman Solomon Thomas must pay to a charity the money they received for selling Big Ten championship rings and other school paraphernalia. Linebacker Jordan Whiting will miss one game for receiving improper benefits. The actions violated the National Collegiate Athletic Association's preferential treatment bylaws.
The NCAA did not say what improper benefits the players received. The Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch reported that the players gave signed memorabilia to a Columbus tattoo parlor in exchange for discounts.
The No. 6-ranked Buckeyes went 11-1 this season and earned a trip to the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 4 against No. 8 Arkansas in New Orleans. Mr. Herron was the team's leading rusher with 1,068 yards and 15 touchdowns, and Mr. Posey had 778 receiving yards and six touchdowns. Mr. Pryor had 2,551 passing yards and threw 25 touchdown passes.
The loss of three key offensive weapons could hinder the Buckeyes' chances at making a BCS bowl next season, something they have done in six consecutive years. It could also cost Mr. Pryor experience necessary to improve his draft stock in the eyes of Nation Football League scouts.
The players could still play up to nine games next year: seven remaining regular-season games, the new Big Ten championship game, if Ohio State qualifies, and a bowl game.
Mr. Pryor led Jeannette to a Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association Class AA championship in 2007 and a loss in the PIAA Class AA title game in 2006. Jeannette won Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League Class AA titles in 2006 and '07.
"I felt bad," said Ray Reitz, Mr. Pryor's coach at Jeannette and now the coach at Latrobe Area High School, in reaction to Mr. Pryor's suspension. "I don't know what the circumstances are."
Tony DeNunzio, a restaurant owner and adviser of Mr. Pryor's, was surprised at the suspension. "Terrelle is a very honorable man," he said. "It's just hard for me to believe that something of this magnitude can come out with some innocent kids, I guess. I don't understand the system."
The players are eligible for the Sugar Bowl. Kevin Lennon, NCAA vice president of academic and membership affairs, said in a statement that the players did not receive adequate instruction in the rules regarding receiving benefits during the time the violations were committed, which was one of several factors considered in allowing the players to participate in the bowl game.
"We were not as explicit with our student-athlete education as we should have been in the 2007-08 and 2008-09 academic years regarding the sale of apparel, awards and gifts issued by the athletics department," said Gene Smith, associate vice president and director of athletics at Ohio State, in a statement. "We began to significantly improve our education in November of 2009 to address these issues. After going through this experience, we will further enhance our education for all our student-athletes as we move forward."
Mr. Pryor must repay $2,500 for selling his 2008 Big Ten championship ring, a 2009 Fiesta Bowl sportsmanship award and his 2008 Gold Pants charm, a university gift to members of a team that beats rival Michigan. Mr. Posey owes $1,250 for selling his ring for $1,200 and receiving benefits worth $50, and Mr. Adams must pay $1,000 for selling his ring.
Mr. Herron owes $1,150 for selling his jersey, pants and shoes for $1,000 and receiving benefits worth $150, while Mr. Solomon must repay $1,505 for selling his ring for $1,000, his Gold Pants charm for $350 and receiving services worth $155. Mr. Whiting must repay $150 for services received.
The NCAA usually suspends players for 30 percent, or four games, of their season for cases like this, but added a fifth game because the players were not forthcoming about the violations, the statement said.
"Once a student-athlete understands a violation has occurred, they must immediately come forward to report it," Mr. Lennon said. "That did not happen, so the additional one-game penalty was imposed."
Ohio State declared the players ineligible on Monday and then asked the NCAA for reinstatement. The university can appeal the suspensions.
The players will miss home games against Akron and Toledo, as well as a road game against Miami (Fla.) and a home game against Colorado. They'll sit out the first conference game, home against Michigan State, and return to play Nebraska on the road.
Mr. Reitz said Mr. Pryor may have had a motive to sell his ring and trophy.
"The things he did as far as [if] the allegations are true, I think he did it for his family," he said. "I'm not condoning what he did. If he did it, he's wrong. I think Terrelle will be the first one to tell you that."
Neither Mr. Reitz or Mr. DeNunzio would speculate on whether Mr. Pryor, a junior who is eligible to enter the NFL draft, would go pro. They both said the possibility of a lockout in the NFL would have more of an impact on his decision than the suspension.
Friday, December 24, 2010
By Bill Brink, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Five Ohio State University football players -- including quarterback Terrelle Pryor, a Jeannette High School graduate -- have been suspended for the first five games next season for selling awards and receiving improper benefits in 2009, the NCAA announced Thursday.
Mr. Pryor, wide receiver DeVier Posey, offensive lineman Mike Adams, running back Dan Herron and defensive lineman Solomon Thomas must pay to a charity the money they received for selling Big Ten championship rings and other school paraphernalia. Linebacker Jordan Whiting will miss one game for receiving improper benefits. The actions violated the National Collegiate Athletic Association's preferential treatment bylaws.
The NCAA did not say what improper benefits the players received. The Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch reported that the players gave signed memorabilia to a Columbus tattoo parlor in exchange for discounts.
The No. 6-ranked Buckeyes went 11-1 this season and earned a trip to the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 4 against No. 8 Arkansas in New Orleans. Mr. Herron was the team's leading rusher with 1,068 yards and 15 touchdowns, and Mr. Posey had 778 receiving yards and six touchdowns. Mr. Pryor had 2,551 passing yards and threw 25 touchdown passes.
The loss of three key offensive weapons could hinder the Buckeyes' chances at making a BCS bowl next season, something they have done in six consecutive years. It could also cost Mr. Pryor experience necessary to improve his draft stock in the eyes of Nation Football League scouts.
The players could still play up to nine games next year: seven remaining regular-season games, the new Big Ten championship game, if Ohio State qualifies, and a bowl game.
Mr. Pryor led Jeannette to a Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association Class AA championship in 2007 and a loss in the PIAA Class AA title game in 2006. Jeannette won Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League Class AA titles in 2006 and '07.
"I felt bad," said Ray Reitz, Mr. Pryor's coach at Jeannette and now the coach at Latrobe Area High School, in reaction to Mr. Pryor's suspension. "I don't know what the circumstances are."
Tony DeNunzio, a restaurant owner and adviser of Mr. Pryor's, was surprised at the suspension. "Terrelle is a very honorable man," he said. "It's just hard for me to believe that something of this magnitude can come out with some innocent kids, I guess. I don't understand the system."
The players are eligible for the Sugar Bowl. Kevin Lennon, NCAA vice president of academic and membership affairs, said in a statement that the players did not receive adequate instruction in the rules regarding receiving benefits during the time the violations were committed, which was one of several factors considered in allowing the players to participate in the bowl game.
"We were not as explicit with our student-athlete education as we should have been in the 2007-08 and 2008-09 academic years regarding the sale of apparel, awards and gifts issued by the athletics department," said Gene Smith, associate vice president and director of athletics at Ohio State, in a statement. "We began to significantly improve our education in November of 2009 to address these issues. After going through this experience, we will further enhance our education for all our student-athletes as we move forward."
Mr. Pryor must repay $2,500 for selling his 2008 Big Ten championship ring, a 2009 Fiesta Bowl sportsmanship award and his 2008 Gold Pants charm, a university gift to members of a team that beats rival Michigan. Mr. Posey owes $1,250 for selling his ring for $1,200 and receiving benefits worth $50, and Mr. Adams must pay $1,000 for selling his ring.
Mr. Herron owes $1,150 for selling his jersey, pants and shoes for $1,000 and receiving benefits worth $150, while Mr. Solomon must repay $1,505 for selling his ring for $1,000, his Gold Pants charm for $350 and receiving services worth $155. Mr. Whiting must repay $150 for services received.
The NCAA usually suspends players for 30 percent, or four games, of their season for cases like this, but added a fifth game because the players were not forthcoming about the violations, the statement said.
"Once a student-athlete understands a violation has occurred, they must immediately come forward to report it," Mr. Lennon said. "That did not happen, so the additional one-game penalty was imposed."
Ohio State declared the players ineligible on Monday and then asked the NCAA for reinstatement. The university can appeal the suspensions.
The players will miss home games against Akron and Toledo, as well as a road game against Miami (Fla.) and a home game against Colorado. They'll sit out the first conference game, home against Michigan State, and return to play Nebraska on the road.
Mr. Reitz said Mr. Pryor may have had a motive to sell his ring and trophy.
"The things he did as far as [if] the allegations are true, I think he did it for his family," he said. "I'm not condoning what he did. If he did it, he's wrong. I think Terrelle will be the first one to tell you that."
Neither Mr. Reitz or Mr. DeNunzio would speculate on whether Mr. Pryor, a junior who is eligible to enter the NFL draft, would go pro. They both said the possibility of a lockout in the NFL would have more of an impact on his decision than the suspension.
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