Yahoo! Sports is reporting that Ohio State Buckeyes football coach Jim Tressel allegedly knew players were selling memorabilia in April 2010, but didn’t report the violations until December.
Citing an unnamed source in a report by Dan Wetzel and Charlie Robinson, Tressel was told that several Buckeyes players were selling memorabilia more than eight months before the university claims it was made aware of it.
Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith is on record saying the local U.S. Attorney’s office alerted the school on December 7 that some of its players were selling memorabilia, including jerseys and championship rings to the owner of a tattoo parlor.
Soon after, the school opened an investigation and informed the NCAA of the possible rules violations.
On December 23, quarterback Terrelle Pryor, offensive lineman Mike Adams, running back Boom Herron, wide receiver DeVier Posey and defensive lineman Solomon Thomas were suspended by the NCAA for the first five games of the 2011 season.
However, all of the players were allowed to play in the Buckeyes 31-26 victory over the Arkansas Razorbacks in the All State Sugar Bowl, a decision that drew criticism from fans and the media.
Based on the terms of Tressel’s contract with Ohio State, he could be fired if the allegations are true.
Section 4.1(d) of Tressel’s contract with Ohio State stipulates that he “supervise and take appropriate steps to ensure … members of the Team know, recognize and comply with any such laws, University Rules and Governing Athletic Rules and immediately report to the (Athletic) Director and to the (Athletic) Department’s Office of Compliance Services in writing if any person or entity, including without limitation, representatives of Ohio State’s athletic interests, has violated or is likely to violate any such laws, University Rules and Governing Athletic Rules.”
Section 5.1 (m) of his contract also states that failure to promptly report “any violations” could lead to “termination by Ohio State for cause.”
Losing his job is bad enough, but if Tressel failed to inform the athletic director or the Ohio State compliance department about the players’ selling memorabilia, the Buckeyes football program could be charged with multiple NCAA violations including unethical conduct, failure to monitor and a failure to promote an atmosphere of compliance.
Ohio State could also be forced to vacate its 2010 season if the allegations are true, having allowed players to participate that would have otherwise been ruled ineligible.
