Buckeyes Busted

I am quite surprised by the recent NCAA punishment of five Buckeye players for, among other things, selling merchandise to raise cash.  Doesn't Ohio State pay these players enough already?

From ESPN:

Pryor and four teammates were suspended Thursday by the NCAA for the first five games of next season for selling championship rings, jerseys and awards. They also received improper benefits -- from up to two years ago -- from the tattoo parlor and its owner.


Pryor must repay $2,500 for selling his 2008 Big Ten championship ring, a 2009 Fiesta Bowl sportsmanship award and his 2008 Gold Pants.

Herron must repay $1,150 for selling his football jersey, pants and shoes for $1,000 and receiving discounted services worth $150.

Posey must repay $1,250 for selling his 2008 Big Ten championship ring for $1,200 and receiving discounted services worth $50.

Adams must repay $1,000 for selling his 2008 Big Ten championship ring. Thomas must repay $1,505 for selling his 2008 Big Ten championship ring for $1,000, his 2008 Gold Pants for $350 and receiving discounted services worth $155.

A sixth player, freshman linebacker Jordan Whiting, must sit out the first game of the 2011 season and pay $150 to a charity.

Smith said the punishment should be mitigated because of how the players used the money they received.

Pryor's high school coach, Ray Reitz, told ESPN's Joe Schad that Pryor sold items because "he wanted to help his mother."

Oh, it's for his mother.  Just like Cam's money was for his father's church.  That makes it all right.  Or not.

Smith was asked how getting money for their families jibed with getting free or cut-rate tattoos.


"The discount on tattoos is not as big as the other pieces," he said. "I'm not trying to make those two the same. But the cash was relative to family needs."

Nice.  Real nice.  I feel dirty just reading about it.

The NCAA did not suspend the players for Jan. 4 Sugar Bowl against the Razorbacks because they "did not receive adequate rules education during the time period the violations occurred."

So if any of these guys decide to go to the NFL, they basically won't have any on-field penalty.  Nice.  real nice.  I guess they won't suspend them from the bowl game because stupidity is a valid defense.  That, and the Buckeyes really need them to be competitve.