Buckeye Trouble

[Master Capper]

The local fish wrap is reporting that Troy Smith may have again violated NCAA rules by skipping classes to be a paid instructor at Steve McNairs football camp. Teaching at the camp is not a violation butsomehow taking a paycheck for $500 and skipping class is a minor infraction, but since Smith is already on probation from a previous violation he may face a additional suspension added to his already 20% of the season suspension. If Smith is suspended for the Texas game then I would find it hard to believe that the Buckeyes could muster enough offense to win against the Horns.

 

[Scott4USC]

What about that QB that played in their bowl game. Didn't he do a good job? I thought he was going to be OSU's #1 QB this year. Didn't the OSU offense look good in their bowl game? Or am I wong on this?

OSU still has Ginn and he could easily get OSU 2 TD's by himself.

BTW, the line for that game is at pk. If you think this gives Texas advantage, might want to take a little action on it now at pk.

 

[Sun Tzu]

I am hearing rumors that Ginn may have some academic eligibility issues.

 

[Master Capper]

Justin Zwick (Massillon Tiger) was the starter for the vast majority of last season and the offense was stagnant. He did look better in the bowl game, but if I recall correctly he pulled his hammy early in the game and Ginn took many of the snaps out of the shotgun formation. Zwick is not nearly as mobile as Smith and the RB situation was a mess last year, but the WR's should be stellar for the Buckeye's if someone can get them the bal lin space.

 

[The Judge]

From SI.com

From SI.com

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- Ohio State is investigating whether quarterback Troy Smith broke another NCAA rule when he attended a football camp sponsored by Tennessee Titans quarterback Steve McNair this summer.

Athletic department spokesman Steve Snapp said Wednesday that the school's compliance office is investigating Smith's attendance at the camp. Snapp wouldn't say whether Smith violated any rule.

NCAA rules allow players to attend educational or charitable activities as long as they don't miss class and have written permission from the school's athletic director.

The rules also prohibit players from lending their names or images to commercial products that appear on promotional materials for these events, and any money from these appearances must go to the educational or charitable agency.

McNair holds annual camps in Nashville, Tenn., and Alcorn, Miss., where he played college football at Alcorn State. It's unclear which camp Smith attended.

Last year, Ohio State suspended Smith from the Alamo Bowl for accepting about $500 from a team booster. The NCAA also suspended him for the Alamo Bowl along with the 2005 season opener against Miami (Ohio).

Smith's status for the rest of the upcoming season hasn't changed, Snapp said.

A message seeking comment was left with the NCAA.

Contacted by phone at her Cleveland house, Smith's mother, Tracy Smith, declined comment.

Smith's transgression with the booster was one of nine charges levied by the NCAA against Ohio State in May. Seven involved the men's basketball program.

 

[Coug LJ]

It appears Ohio State Football is not capable of going on probation. The NCAA did a very tepid investigation into their football program, even after Maurice Clarrett gave them enough information to bury any program. The NCAA said Clarrett did not contact them, so they did not look further into the allegations. What a joke.

As for Smith, I wouldn't bet against him not being there for the Texas game. Either way, it will be very tough to win in Columbus.

 

[Master Capper]

Coug,

OSU did not deserve probation for Clarett, as the guy is a flake and the vast majority of his allegations were unsubstantiated. Im not a OSU fan and I admit that Tressel runs a pretty loose program that has a high rate of arrests but OSU knew that was his style going into their relationship, as he had the same types of problems as Youngstown State.

 

[Coug LJ]

M.C.:

There is no dispute that Maurice Clarrett received money and use of cars while at Ohio State, besides academic favors. Somebody gave him the cash and use of cars. It would not take Sherlock Holmes to solve this case. It was apparent that the NCAA did not want to deleve into this matter.

Instead, they threw the basketball program under the bus. Ohio State Football is too powerful. ...And what about Troy Smith?

I think you are naive to think there is not money paid to players by Ohio State boosters. Not that this doesn't happen in other places, but when you get caught red-handed you think there should be some punishment. The NCAA investigation was a farce.

As you mentioned, Tressell had a very similar operation at Youngstown State.

When the NCAA was asked why they did not investigate Maurice Clarrett's charges, they claimed he did not answer their calls. By that time, he had the whole state of Ohio on his ass.

As I have told others, if the claims Clarrett made in ESPN are baseless, The Ohio State Univeristy should sue the pants off of ESPN. ...Ain't gonna happen.

Lawsuits of this kind can be won. It looks like Mike Price has an excellent chance ot win his suit against Sports Illustrated.

 

[Master Capper]

The situation's between the basketball team and the football team were completely different, as the evidence against the basketball team was factual and actually had basis. You have to recall that all of the people or former players named in the Clarett saga all had shaky backgrounds of either being arrested or kicked off the team for behavior so they had a axe to grind. Tressel has always ran a program that is straddling the edge of the rules, and I think you are wrong that the NCAA would not put OSU on probation if they had solid sources and hard evidence because they put Bama on probation and they are just as much of a football power. The Smith incidents are beyond the control of a coaching staff, as you cannot oversee what each player does in his free time all you can do is try to install the rules in them.

 

[Coug LJ]

M.C.:

When schools face major violations, it often includes Boosters paying and providing favors to players. This is often at the foundation of dreaded "Lack of Institutional Control" penalty.

There was too much smoke not to be fire. If the transgressions were as limited as you intimate, I don't believe Andy Gieger would have resigned. I also heard that there was some big-wig at the NCAA that have close Big Ten ties.

There is not doubt Clarrett was paid. He is not clever enough to make up all the particulars of the allegations and ESPN would have not printed them out without checking into them.

As mad as Ohio State and their fans were about this situation, I have not heard of anyone talking about a libel case.