Written by David Regimbal

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Ohio State has submitted a formal response to the NCAA’s notice of allegations today, and a release from the university has provided details of the report.

In response to the discovery of five players receiving improper benefits from tattoo parlor owner Eddy Rife, along with coach Jim Tressel’s knowledge of the situation without reporting it to the proper compliance offices, Ohio State has:

• Suspended Terrelle Pryor, Dan Herron, Mike Adams, DeVier Posey and Solomon Thomas for the first five games of the 2011 season (Pryor has since left Ohio State).
• Ohio State has accepted Jim Tressel’s resignation.
• Ohio State has vacated the football program’s 2010 wins, including the Sugar Bowl victory over Arkansas from January, 2011.
• The university has self-imposed a two-year NCAA probation.
• Ohio State will take measures to increase/enhance the university’s compliance efforts.

 

School president Gordon Gee, Athletic Director Gene Smith and former head coach Jim Tressel will meet with the NCAA on August 12 to discuss this response. The NCAA will then determine whether the above self-imposed penalties are satisfactory, or whether additional penalties such as post-season bans and/or a loss of football scholarships is necessary.

Of note -- the university updated Jim Tressel’s situation, and both parties agree that his departure was a retirement, not a resignation.

“I take full responsibility for my mistakes that have led to the ongoing NCAA inquiry and to scrutiny and criticism of the football program, “ Tressel said of the report. “ I am grateful for this opportunity to retire from the university that I so deeply respect and that I will continue to support.”

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