Official College Football Offseason Thread

Big Breeze · Post by **Big Breeze** » Wed Feb 02, 2011 6:40 am

If recruiting really is the lifeblood of any college football program, then welcome to Transfusion Day.

On Wednesday, high school football prospects across the country will sign national letters of intent with their favorite colleges, with many of them doing it on TV and in packed gymnasiums and school cafeterias from coast to coast.

It's the day defending BCS national champion Auburn begins to rebuild its roster, after losing Heisman Trophy winner Cameron Newton, All-American Nick Fairley and many other stars from a team that finished 14-0 in 2010.

Teams like Alabama, Oklahoma, Oregon and LSU hope they'll add a player or two who might help put them over the top in 2011.

Wednesday is the day when new coaches, such as Florida's Will Muschamp and Michigan's Brady Hoke, start putting the first marks on their programs, and it's a day when coaches, such as Ole Miss' Houston Nutt and Clemson's Dabo Swinney, can only hope they signed enough talent to spark a quick turnaround.

College football's usual suspects -- Alabama, Florida, Florida State, USC and Texas -- are expected to sign many of the country's best recruiting classes once again. Traditional powers such as Notre Dame and Nebraska are back in the mix, and upstarts such as Oklahoma State and Stanford carried the excitement from 2010 onto the recruiting road.

Some of the sport's heavyweights had to work harder than usual this recruiting season.

Texas is coming off its first losing season under coach Mack Brown, who responded by overhauling his coaching staff with six new assistants, including coordinators on both sides of the ball.

Georgia is also coming off its first losing campaign under Mark Richt, who might have the hottest seat among SEC coaches when the 2011 season kicks off in seven months.

North Carolina and USC, which both overcame a boatload of off-field distractions to finish 8-5 in 2010, face uncertain futures because of NCAA investigations. The Trojans have already been hammered by the NCAA with four years' probation, and the Tar Heels are currently being investigated for improper contact with agents and academic fraud.

Yet, when the dust settles on Wednesday, the aforementioned programs are expected to sign classes that will rank among the best in the country.

"Most of the kids who are committed to Texas grew up wanting to be Longhorns," ESPN Recruiting analyst Jamie Newberg said. "Most of the kids Georgia has committed wanted to be Bulldogs, and most of the kids USC has wanted to be Trojans. Everybody's going to have a down year. These schools will always flex a lot of muscle in recruiting, and at the end of the day it's going to be the usual suspects."

Even for the downtrodden, national signing day brings renewed hope and energy. College football recruiting might be an inexact science, but an infusion of young talent and new faces can sway momentum heading into spring practice and the offseason.

Even a program like Texas can use a shot in the arm every once in a while.

"It's reinforced to me the power of this place and that we've won enough and they know we'll win again," Brown said.

Georgia, Texas and USC are in enviable positions because they're located in states with fertile recruiting grounds.

Of the 22 high school players who have committed to sign with the Longhorns on Wednesday, 21 of them attend Texas high schools. The Longhorns' class includes seven players ranked in the ESPNU 150, including No. 2 running back Malcolm Brown of Cibolo, Texas, and No. 1 cornerback Quandre Diggs of Arlington, Texas.

Athlete Josh Turner of Oklahoma City, Okla., is the only out-of-state recruit who is currently committed to sign with Texas.

"These kids were 5 years old when I got to Texas," Brown said. "They've seen us win every year. They grew up wanting to attend Texas and wanting to be a part of this program."

Richt also has benefited from a banner crop of home-grown recruits. Richt has a 96-34 record in 10 seasons with the Bulldogs, but his teams went only 14-12 over the past two seasons.

Richt hopes this recruiting class can turn the Bulldogs back in the right direction. Starting last spring, Richt tried to persuade Georgia's best high school players to join the Bulldogs as part of what he calls a "Dream Team."

"When you started watching film and looking at the great players in the state, you went, 'Wow!'" Richt said. "It just started looking like a super strong class. I thought if we could get most of those guys, it would really be a 'Dream Team.' We were just basically dreaming about getting a great class and if you could handpick them, this is what it would be."

Georgia's class is currently ranked No. 9 in the country by ESPN Recruiting. Of the Bulldogs' 23 committed players, 18 are home-grown products. Georgia has commitments from No. 2 defensive end Ray Drew of Thomasville, Ga., and No. 1 tight end Jay Rome of Valdosta, Ga.

Isaiah Crowell of Columbus, Ga., the No. 1 running back prospect in the country, will choose between Alabama and Georgia on Wednesday.

"A lot of guys just really love Georgia, period," Richt said. "I think a lot of young men get excited about the opportunity and feel like they can come in and make an impact. I think a lot of people out there see what we're about and see how we do it and they want to be a part of it."

USC, which recruited the entire country under former coach Pete Carroll, has devoted more of its efforts inside California under Lane Kiffin. As part of their NCAA punishment, the Trojans were banned from playing in bowl games in 2010 and '11 and will lose 30 scholarships. The school is appealing the sanctions.

"This year has been easier because we know what [the penalties] are," Kiffin said. "As much as we were disappointed in the penalties, it was a relief to know what it was and what we're dealing with. It has hanged over SC for so long and been used against SC for so long."

Kiffin said some rival coaches even read the Trojans' NCAA penalties to recruits "line by line."

"That's a new set of challenges," Kiffin said. "There are a lot of crazy things happening as we get closer to signing day."

Still, the Trojans have somehow assembled a recruiting class that ranks No. 4 nationally, according to ESPN Recruiting. The Trojans have secured commitments from No. 1 wide receiver George Farmer of Gardena, Calif., and No. 1 athlete DeAnthony Thomas of Los Angeles (who visited Oregon over the weekend and might be wavering on his commitment to USC). The Trojans also are still in the hunt for ESPNU 150 prospects Marqise Lee of Gardena, Calif., and Christian Heyward of San Diego.

"I think it speaks volumes for the power of SC," Kiffin said. "It's an extremely powerful place, regardless of these other things [such as] no bowl game or probation. That doesn't change the fact that you get a degree from a private school like SC and get to play football at SC."

For many recruits, tradition and the name of the front of a jersey still outweigh everything.

ThaJim2 · Post by **ThaJim2** » Wed Feb 02, 2011 5:02 pm

Florida State bitches number 1 class of most of the rating services. Only 2 targets went else where in the end the kid of of Lousiana and Sterward. The most impressive part of the high ranking though was the number of interior linemen taken which is the one position the rating services underrate the most.

Clowney will not make his decision until his birthday in a few weeks which if he goes to Bama will vault that class up with FSUs.

Big Breeze · Post by **Big Breeze** » Sun Feb 13, 2011 10:17 pm

We should be able to know by tomorrow morning where Jadeveon Clowney will go to school. He's supposed to make the announcement on the 10:00 a.m. EST on SportsCenter.

If he plays up to his capabilities and doesn't have any major injuries, he'll be in the NFL three years from now. His skill is off the charts.

Kid That's Lifeless · Post by **Kid That's Lifeless** » Mon Feb 14, 2011 2:51 pm

Clowney to SC.

ThaJim2 · Post by **ThaJim2** » Mon Feb 14, 2011 4:03 pm

Glad Clemson ran out of money I mean Clowney went to the visor. And second that Clowney if everything goes right is going to be a beast in the NFL in 3 years though apprently their are questions about his grades.

Prophecy · Post by **Prophecy** » Wed Feb 16, 2011 11:47 pm

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/news/story?id=6129272

Trees at Toomer's Corner poisoned

AUBURN, Ala. -- Auburn University says someone deliberately poisoned trees at Toomer's Corner, where fans have long celebrated big wins and hundreds gathered after the Tigers won the football national championship on Jan. 10.

The university said in a statement Wednesday that a herbicide commonly used to kill trees was applied "in lethal amounts" to the soil around the two trees, and that they likely can't be saved.

Auburn discovered the poisoning after taking soil samples on Jan. 28, a day after a man called a syndicated radio show based in Birmingham saying he had used the herbicide on the trees.

"The weekend after the Iron Bowl, I went to Auburn, Ala., because I live 30 miles away, and I poisoned the Toomer's trees," the caller told The Paul Finebaum Radio Show, saying he was at the Iron Bowl.

Calling himself "Al from Dadeville," he said he used Spike 80DF, also known as tebuthiuron, and the trees "definitely will die." The caller signed off with, "Roll Damn Tide."

Auburn fans traditionally celebrate by using toilet paper to roll the Toomer's Corner trees, which are estimated to be more than 130 years old.

"We will take every step we can to save the Toomer's oaks, which have been the home of countless celebrations and a symbol of the Auburn spirit for generations of Auburn students, fans, alumni and the community," university President Jay Gogue said in a statement.

City police are investigating the incident. The use of Spike 80DF is also governed by state agricultural laws and the Environmental Protection Agency. The university said it doesn't use the herbicide.

"We are assessing the extent of the damage and proceeding as if we have a chance to save the trees," said Gary Keever, an Auburn University professor of horticulture and a member of Auburn's Tree Preservation Committee. "We are also focused on protecting the other trees and shrubs in Samford Park. At this level the impact could be much greater than just the oaks on the corner, as Spike moves through the soil to a wide area."

A small group gathered and rolled the trees Wednesday afternoon.

The soil samples were tested at Mississippi State.

The amount of herbicide detected in four samples ranged from 0.78 parts per million -- described by Auburn as "a very lethal dose" -- to 51 parts per million.

"This herbicide is extremely active and persistent," Keever said. "It's very likely to be in the soil for 3 to 5 years."

God help whoever did this if Tiger fans ever discover their identity.

Prophecy · Post by **Prophecy** » Thu Feb 17, 2011 1:44 pm

http://www.myfoxal.com/Global/story.asp?S=14048891

Arrest made in Auburn Toomer's Corner trees poisoning

AUBURN, AL (WBRC) - A man has been arrested in connection with the poisoning of trees at Toomer's Corner in Auburn.

Auburn police said Harvey Almorn Updyke, 62, of Dadeville, was arrested at 1:26 a.m. Thursday on a warrant charging him with criminal mischief. Investigators said his arrest stems from an investigation involving the application of herbicide to the oak trees located at Toomer's Corner in the downtown area.

Updyke was transported to the Lee County Detention Center to await bond.

Wednesday, Auburn University announced the oak trees at Toomer's Corner had been given a lethal dose of herbacide. School officials said horticulturalists were attempting to save the trees, but did not believe the trees would survive.

Investigators began examining the trees after a caller to the Paul Finebaum Radio Network said he had poisoned the trees. Finebaum told FOX6 News local, state and federal investigators were looking into the story, which began on his show on January 27 when a man calling himself "Al from Dadeville" called in to the show claiming to have poisoned the trees. The man said he poisoned the trees the week after last year's Iron Bowl because he said he saw a newspaper clipping from 1983 showing Auburn fans rolling Toomer's Corner the day former Alabama football coach Paul "Bear" Bryant died.

The Auburn Police Division said it received assistance in the investigation from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Marshals Service, State of Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (Pesticide Management Section), Tallapoosa County Sheriff's Office, Dadeville Police Department, and Auburn University.

This guy is soooooo fucked

Stunna7516 · Post by **Stunna7516** » Thu Feb 17, 2011 2:41 pm

Prophecy wrote:http://www.myfoxal.com/Global/story.asp?S=14048891

Arrest made in Auburn Toomer's Corner trees poisoning

AUBURN, AL (WBRC) - A man has been arrested in connection with the poisoning of trees at Toomer's Corner in Auburn.

Auburn police said Harvey Almorn Updyke, 62, of Dadeville, was arrested at 1:26 a.m. Thursday on a warrant charging him with criminal mischief. Investigators said his arrest stems from an investigation involving the application of herbicide to the oak trees located at Toomer's Corner in the downtown area.

Updyke was transported to the Lee County Detention Center to await bond.

Wednesday, Auburn University announced the oak trees at Toomer's Corner had been given a lethal dose of herbacide. School officials said horticulturalists were attempting to save the trees, but did not believe the trees would survive.

Investigators began examining the trees after a caller to the Paul Finebaum Radio Network said he had poisoned the trees. Finebaum told FOX6 News local, state and federal investigators were looking into the story, which began on his show on January 27 when a man calling himself "Al from Dadeville" called in to the show claiming to have poisoned the trees. The man said he poisoned the trees the week after last year's Iron Bowl because he said he saw a newspaper clipping from 1983 showing Auburn fans rolling Toomer's Corner the day former Alabama football coach Paul "Bear" Bryant died.

The Auburn Police Division said it received assistance in the investigation from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Marshals Service, State of Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (Pesticide Management Section), Tallapoosa County Sheriff's Office, Dadeville Police Department, and Auburn University.
This guy is soooooo fucked

LOL seriously, fucked

Prophecy · Post by **Prophecy** » Fri Feb 18, 2011 11:56 am

Prophecy · Post by **Prophecy** » Mon Feb 28, 2011 9:51 pm

Hearing that Nova will accept the BE's invite by Mid April, some are floating the date of 4/12 as announcement day......

Kid That's Lifeless · Mon Feb 28, 2011 10:02 pm

They can probably beat Rutgers and Cincinnati already.

Big Breeze · Post by **Big Breeze** » Fri Mar 04, 2011 6:35 pm

Looks like that Oregon (Trail) train is about to be derailed.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=6179423

Big Breeze · Post by **Big Breeze** » Tue Mar 08, 2011 5:07 pm

Ohio State coach Jim Tressel was informed that several Buckeyes players were selling memorabilia more than eight months before the school claims it was made aware of the scheme, a two-month Yahoo! Sports investigation has found.

Tressel received information that players were selling items to Edward Rife ג the owner of Fine Line Ink Tattoos in Columbus ג as early as April 2010, according to a source. However, neither Ohio State nor the NCAA investigated the transactions or the playersג relationship with Rife until December 2010, when the school claims it was informed of the situation by the local United States Attorneyגs office.

Ohio State director of compliance Doug Archie declined immediate comment when reached Monday by Yahoo! Sports. Tressel and athletic director Gene Smith were unavailable for comment. The NCAA declined comment.

A federal probe into Rife revealed he was in possession of multiple pieces of Buckeyes football memorabilia that previously belonged to five players: quarterback Terrelle Pryor, running back Dan Herron, wideout DeVier Posey, defensive end Solomon Thomas and offensive lineman Mike Adams. Federal officers contacted the school Dec. 7 to determine if the goods were stolen or instead sold by the players for cash, as Rife claimed.

According to a source, a concerned party reached out to Tressel last April, alerting the coach that memorabilia transactions had taken place between Rife and a handful of Buckeyes players, including Pryor. The selling of items violates NCAA eligibility rules. The source said Tressel was troubled by the information, and the coach indicated that he would investigate the matter and take appropriate action.

Whether the coach initiated an investigation of the accusation is unclear, but all five players remained on the field in the coming months, playing out the 2010 regular season.

After Ohio State alerted the NCAA of the memorabilia sales in early December, the NCAAגs student-athlete reinstatement staff ruled the players were banned from the first five regular-season games of 2011. The players also had to repay the improper benefits gained ג $2,500 for Pryor, $1,505 for Thomas, $1,250 for Posey, $1,150 for Herron and $1,000 for Adams. Linebacker Jordan Whiting also had to pay $150 to a charity for receiving a discounted tattoo.

But in a controversial part of the decision ג which included lobbying by Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany, according to Smith ג the NCAAגs reinstatement staff ruled in late December that the five players were eligible for the 2011 Sugar Bowl game against Arkansas.

At a Dec. 23 press conference, Smith claimed the school first became aware of the memorabilia sales on Dec. 7. Smith said the athletic department was told the following day and immediately launched an investigation.

If Tressel failed to inform Smith or the Ohio State compliance department about the playersג dealings with Rife, he could be charged with multiple NCAA violations including unethical conduct, failure to monitor and a failure to promote an atmosphere of compliance. In general, a coach is required to act on, or pass along reasonable information about possible rule violations for further investigation.

Section 4.1(d) of Tresselגs contract with Ohio State stipulates that he גsupervise and take appropriate steps to ensure ג¦ 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) Departmentגs Office of Compliance Services in writing if any person or entity, including without limitation, representatives of Ohio Stateגs athletic interests, has violated or is likely to violate any such laws, University Rules and Governing Athletic Rules.ג

Section 5.1 (m) of his contract also states that failure to promptly report גany violationsג could lead to גtermination by Ohio State for cause.ג

Ohio State itself could be cited with playing ineligible players and forced to vacate its 2010 season, when it won a share of the Big Ten championship and finished 12-1. It could also face further sanctions for major infractions.

Smith was adamant at the Dec. 23 news conference that no one at Ohio State knew of the situation until the U.S. Attorney contacted them in early December.

גThe athletic department was informed on Dec. 8,ג Smith said.

At the Dec. 23 news conference, Smith made a point of running through the timeline of the case and thanking federal authorities for bringing the information to the university so it could act. He detailed each step of the 10-day investigation and subsequent dealings with the NCAA and Big Ten office, right up to being told of suspensions by the NCAA on the afternoon of Dec. 22.

Tressel neither corrected Smith nor publicly expressed any prior knowledge of the case. He intimated he had found out about the memorabilia sales recently saying he needed time to recover from the disappointment. גIגm trying to let the holidays temper me down so Iגll be more jolly on the 26th,ג Tressel said.

Tressel expressed disappointment with the players after the suspensions were announced, stating that while Ohio State shouldגve done a better job explaining the rules on memorabilia sales, the playersג probably knew they were doing something wrong.

גI think we all have a little sensor within us, גWell, Iגm not sure if I should be doing this,גג Tressel said. גAnd then sometimes it gets overridden by what you think your necessity is. ג¦ג

גThereגs a gut-wrenching feeling when you lose a game and you know you couldגve done better,ג he continued later. גAnd then thereגs one that goes beyond when you donגt feel as if you did what you should do as people. So whatever the next step of gut-wrenching is, thatגs the way you feel. And we feel a responsibility for our kids on and off the field. Obviously, itגs painful.ג

Tressel also suggested that the responsibility of rules compliance ultimately falls on the coaching staff.

גI think ultimately we as coaches feel as if the buck stops here ג that weגre the ones that need to make things even more crystal clear than when a compliance officer might spend time with our team or an outside speaker or whatever it happens to be,ג he said. גThe bottom line is that we feel as if thatגs our responsibility, so obviously we donגt feel good about the fact that we fell short.ג

According to the Ohio State investigation, the five players sold multiple items to Rife, who displayed some of the memorabilia on his Facebook page. Among the pieces sold were Pryorגs 2009 Fiesta Bowl sportsmanship award, Herronגs jersey, multiple Big Ten championship rings and multiple golden pants pendants awarded to the players for victories over the University of Michigan. Pryor, Posey, Herron, Thomas and Whiting were also cited for receiving discounted tattoos from Rife.

The Columbus Dispatch reported on Jan. 2 that Pryor had been גstopped for traffic violations on three separate occasions while driving cars that were owned by a car salesman or a Columbus used-car lot where the salesman worked.ג Heגd also been allowed to test drive a car for the weekend to his home in Pennsylvania.

Archie said the school knew of two of the incidents and had deemed nothing improper. He said the school would investigate the third traffic stop in a borrowed car. There has been no update on that internal investigation.

Tressel, 58, has been a head coach for 25 years, the last 10 at Ohio State. His Buckeye teams have won at least a share of the last six Big Ten titles and captured the 2002 BCS national championship.

The Vest is fucked and Ohio State is going down too.

I wonder if their penalty will be equal or greater than USC's recent probation? I believe it has the potential to be and it should. Out.

Stunna7516 · Post by **Stunna7516** » Tue Mar 08, 2011 6:30 pm

Holy fuck. Understanding that a press conference probably means they aren't denying the allegations, I wonder what the consequences will be if the investigation only proves Tressel's wrongdoing and he resigns?

Either way this could get ugly, but I don't expect the punishment to be as severe as USC unless there is more to the story, ie Gene Smith knew about it or they deny any knowledge. Fuck though.

Jayou Ayen · Post by **Jayou Ayen** » Tue Mar 08, 2011 8:18 pm

2 game suspension for Tressel.
That's perfect, since they play Akron and Toledo to start the season.

39

Big Breeze · Post by **Big Breeze** » Tue Mar 08, 2011 10:16 pm

Jayou Ayen wrote:2 game suspension for Tressel.
That's perfect, since they play Akron and Toledo to start the season.

39

This is beyond ridiculous. The school suspends The Vest before the NCAA does. The Vest has been aware since April and used 5 illegal alien players for the whole 2010 season anyway. The Vest chastises his players when the rest of the school administrators (supposedly) found out in December, knowing all along that he had known what was up for 8 months.

If I were some of these players like Devier Posey, I would hit the supplemental draft that takes place in July. The Vest is a rat face liar. He made these players commit to The Ohio State University for the upcoming year if they wanted to play in the Fiesta Bowl, when they could have closed the book on their eligiblity by entering the draft. Since they missed the January 15th deadline to enter the April draft, the supplemental draft should be where it's at. No amount of playing time can be enough to convince me that sitting out 5 games for a lying ass coach is worth it.

The NCAA is the most inconsistent-consistent organization we have going in America. They don't know how to punish accordingly and allow schools that they like to skate by. The Ohio State University is on the list of schools liked by the NCAA and if they have any backbone, they will stick it to The Vest and everybody else that is in the loop.

The USC case is comparable because (supposedly) one assistant coach knew what was going on with Reggie Bush and the extra benefits that his family received from the '05 season. USC has been forced to forfeit games from that year because Bush was an illegal alien. They have been placed on 3 years probation and will be losing scholarships over a 3 year period. The scholarship reduction hasn't even started yet because USC is appealing their sanctions, which is yet another NCAA loophole that allows USC to keep signing top flight recruiting classes (that and being a school that kids dream about going to regardless of what's going on).

This is unbelievable and it just points to the hypocrisy in college sports. Fuck this shit.

citizen · Post by **citizen** » Wed Mar 09, 2011 12:49 am

no way jim tressel leaves over this, its ridiculous

Jayou Ayen · Post by **Jayou Ayen** » Wed Mar 09, 2011 2:01 am

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/columns/s ... id=6195223

As bad as Tressel looks in college football's latest scandal, Ohio State looks even worse. The school that has long prided itself on academic and athletic excellence looks no different than the football factories it has long looked down its nose at.

The NCAA might impose further sanctions against Tressel and Ohio State, but it's clear the school won't hold Tressel accountable for his actions.
Ohio State president E. Gordon Gee said he never considered firing Tressel.
"No, are you kidding me?" Gee said. "Let me be very clear. I'm just hoping the coach doesn't dismiss me."

Very appropriate joke, Mr. President.

39

Stunna7516 · Post by **Stunna7516** » Wed Mar 09, 2011 10:20 am

Yeah this is definitely a hard one to take. I always took pride on Tressel being a really good dude and having the best interest of his students in mind, not handing out extra schollies, etc. He claims to have wanted these kids to graduate, which I know is true, but the whole I was scared and didn't know I should have talked to my AD angle is a bunch of bullshit. Tell your fucking AD and let these dumbass 20 year olds learn a hard lesson.

If anything we should have suspended him 6 games because the NCAA is gonna hammer us with scholarship losses instead. We can handle not having Tressel around when we have coordinators like Heacock, but scholarship losses are longterm punishment.

ThaJim2 · Post by **ThaJim2** » Wed Mar 09, 2011 4:35 pm

Ohio State is going to get hammered mostly because it seems they reported this to the NCAA and they are the most assbackward group on the planet.

Stunna7516 · Post by **Stunna7516** » Wed Mar 09, 2011 7:12 pm

ThaJim2 wrote:Ohio State is going to get hammered mostly because it seems they reported this to the NCAA and they are the most assbackward group on the planet.

Yeah I'm scared to find out what the ruling will be on this one. Jim check your PM, if you know of anything just post it here.

ThaJim2 · Post by **ThaJim2** » Wed Mar 09, 2011 8:12 pm

Stunna7516 wrote:
ThaJim2 wrote:Ohio State is going to get hammered mostly because it seems they reported this to the NCAA and they are the most assbackward group on the planet.
Yeah I'm scared to find out what the ruling will be on this one. Jim check your PM, if you know of anything just post it here.

My beloved FSU got killed for the bullshit online test cheating a few years back. This was a case where the AD and coaches did not know it was going on and non athletes where doing the same thing when the school found out about it they reported it to the NCAA as well as giving themselves a pretty harsh self punishment including loss of significant number of scholarships much harder than a school with FSU fairly clean background should have had in the first place. The NCAA came in and hit the program even harder probation for 4 years, vacating wins in two seasons, loss of a few national championships in Track and Field, and an even harsher restriction in scholarships which still effected this last class.

I would have to think this is going to be the starting point of what the NCAA is going to do to tOSU given the ncaa history and the coaches knew about it for so long. I can't imagine the ncaa like you guys too much because Gee is the most outspoken president in favor of the way the Big Ten works which the ncaa resents feeling they should be the ones collecting rent from the value the Big Ten produces instead of the schools you know actually keeping what the value they produce. At the same time the one good thing is Gee seems like the kind of cat that the ncaa has to be careful with because if it came right down too it the Big Ten can drop membership and start its own group and the other big boy conferences would be more than happy to go along. The last bit is more my fantasy than a real possibility though.

I have no problem with a rules organization but the NCAA is a joke that uses its commercial rights holdership of the NCAA mens tournment to half ass everything. They take a 30 percent rent from the incoming money and pay out peanuts to the schools. They have no rhyme or reason and for the most part exist to exist. I mean shit why are they not all over the campus of Auburn its an open secret that they are the dirtiest program by far in the nation that hires coaches on the basis if they are willing to cheat. Hell they fired Bowden because he would not cheat. Its not like the school has no knowledge of this either its the head of the board of regents running the pay for play scandal. Yet it will be 4 years before anything is done. But schools like FSU and USC that self report and the school had no knowledge off get killed. Why is the NCAA not in Clemson? Sure everything could be on the up and up but I am sorry that they got the 4 and 5 star players they got and where in the running for Clowney when everyone knows the HC is a season away from the unemployment line seems just a tad bit fishy.

bmurf75 · Post by **bmurf75** » Tue Mar 15, 2011 12:22 pm

ThaJim2 wrote:
Stunna7516 wrote:
ThaJim2 wrote:Ohio State is going to get hammered mostly because it seems they reported this to the NCAA and they are the most assbackward group on the planet.
Yeah I'm scared to find out what the ruling will be on this one. Jim check your PM, if you know of anything just post it here.
My beloved FSU got killed for the bullshit online test cheating a few years back. This was a case where the AD and coaches did not know it was going on and non athletes where doing the same thing when the school found out about it they reported it to the NCAA as well as giving themselves a pretty harsh self punishment including loss of significant number of scholarships much harder than a school with FSU fairly clean background should have had in the first place. The NCAA came in and hit the program even harder probation for 4 years, vacating wins in two seasons, loss of a few national championships in Track and Field, and an even harsher restriction in scholarships which still effected this last class.

I went to Florida and I hate FSU and I don't like Bobby Bowden. But what the NCAA did to FSU was an excessive and unfit punishment. When I read that Tressel was only going to be suspended for two cupcake games by OSU, the first thing that I thought of was FSU. The NCAA punishment for FSU was too severe. FSU self reported itself and was crucified for it. Jim Tressel had the information that would have hurt his team and did not share it with the NCAA. This is not at all about what the players did. What the players did is small in scale to what their head coach did. Based on what the NCAA did to FSU, the NCAA at minimum should take away every OSU win in 2010 as well as their bowl victory over Arkansas in 2011, and he should receive a longer suspension.

Big Breeze · Post by **Big Breeze** » Fri Mar 18, 2011 2:02 pm

Even though The Vest self sonned his self by adding 3 more games to the suspension, he deserves to be barred from coaching when the NCAA makes their decision to add further punishment. As a coach he should be held to a higher standard.

OSU's administration is just enabling him right now and they don't want to shake their money tree. They should have fired him on the spot, but they don't have any heart.

Nl5H · Post by **Nl5H** » Sun Mar 20, 2011 5:47 pm

when the ncaa starts losing money off these programs and kids, they can go after universities...until then, they should back the fuck up. cheating in school, ok the student should get kicked out for that semester and then have to formally reapply to the university. exchanging memorabilia for tattoos? get the fuck outta here. big time division 1 athletes do get free shit from nike ,adidas, etc. if they want to stop the nonsense, stop letting corporations sponsor their gear.

Nl5H · Post by **Nl5H** » Sun Mar 20, 2011 5:49 pm

Did any of you watch "Pony Express," an ESPN 30 for 30 documentary?

Big Breeze · Post by **Big Breeze** » Fri Mar 25, 2011 2:27 pm

Ohio State coach Jim Tressel forwarded to a mentor of quarterback Terrelle Pryor emails that had warned the coach his players were in trouble, but Tressel did not forward the emails to school officials, The Columbus Dispatch reported Friday.

Multiple sources told the newspaper that Tressel sent emails to Ted Sarniak, a businessman from Pryor's hometown of Jeannette, Pa., who has known Pryor for years.

Tressel received emails from a Columbus attorney in April 2010 stating that Pryor and a teammate had been selling memorabilia items to a local tattoo-parlor owner under federal investigation.

The Buckeyes coach didn't share the emails with any Ohio State staff members or NCAA officials investigating Pryor and five other players, resulting in an NCAA violation. Tressel has been suspended for the first five games of the 2011 season, in addition to being fined $250,000.

Tressel nodded his head when asked at a March 8 news conference whether he had forwarded the emails to anyone. Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith prevented Tressel from elaborating, as the case is still under NCAA investigation.

Ohio State didn't confirm the forwarded emails to Sarniak, telling The Dispatch it won't comment on the case until the NCAA investigation is concluded.

Doug Archie, the school's compliance director, told the newspaper that Sarniak served as Pryor's primary contact during the recruiting process but isn't considered a booster. Archie said Ohio State reviewed the relationship between Pryor and Sarniak before Pryor enrolled at Ohio State and will continue to do so.

"Mr. Sarniak and Terrelle Pryor have been friends for a number of years, and their friendship dates back prior to Terrelle's enrollment at Ohio State," Archie said in an email to The Dispatch. "As the friendship developed, Mr. Sarniak is someone who Terrelle has reached out to for advice and guidance throughout his high school and collegiate career."

Sources told The Dispatch that Tressel sent the emails to Sarniak in hopes that he could counsel Pryor about the quarterback's actions.

Can it get any worse?

Big Breeze · Post by **Big Breeze** » Fri Mar 25, 2011 2:34 pm

Nl5H wrote:Did any of you watch "Pony Express," an ESPN 30 for 30 documentary?

I did and thought it was an excellent doc. It painted the program as an overzealous football factory. The state of Texas is extremely competitive when it comes to recruiting. They went too far and it cost them.

"The Best That Never Was" featuring Marcus Dupree was a great documentary too.

Prophecy · Post by **Prophecy** » Fri Mar 25, 2011 6:56 pm

Big Breeze wrote:
Nl5H wrote:Did any of you watch "Pony Express," an ESPN 30 for 30 documentary?
I did and thought it was an excellent doc. It painted the program as an overzealous football factory. The state of Texas is extremely competitive when it comes to recruiting. They went too far and it cost them.

"The Best That Never Was" featuring Marcus Dupree was a great documentary too.

All of the college football docs so far have been pretty damn good.
30 for 30>>>_________________

Stunna7516 · Post by **Stunna7516** » Wed Mar 30, 2011 9:53 am

and it continues...

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=6272478

Report: Four ex-Auburn players got cash

Four former Auburn football players claimed they received thousands of dollars of cash from boosters from a number of schools on an HBO special that airs Wednesday night, according to the website Sports by Brooks.

The players, Chaz Ramsey, Troy Reddick, Stanley McClover and Raven Gray, alleged they received money as part of a pay-for-play scheme during their time at Auburn. None played there more recently than 2007.

"Somebody came to me, I don't even know this person and he was like, 'we would love for you to come to LSU and he gave me a handshake and it had five hundred dollars in there," McClover said in the HBO special, an advance copy of which was obtained by Sports by Brooks. "That's called a money handshake ... I grabbed it and I'm like, 'wow,' hell I thought ten dollars was a lot of money back then."

McClover told "Real Sports" that boosters from Auburn, Michigan State and Ohio State also arranged for him to get money and other inducements such as sexual services when he was being recruited in 2003. He originally committed to Ohio State but switched his commitment to Auburn after receiving cash that he said persuaded him to change his commitment. On that occasion, he said the cash was delivered in a bookbag. The amount was not disclosed.

"I literally passed out I couldn't believe it was true," the HBO transcript quoted McClover as saying. "I felt like I owed them."

"Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel" reports the NCAA declined interview requests and Auburn officials declined to comment, according to Sports by Brooks.

Also in the interview with HBO, Ramsey said Auburn boosters would approach him after games, and that they would give as much as $300 to $400 a game. He said that before he arrived at Auburn, a booster gave him spending money during his junior college career.

The former Auburn offensive guard said he accepted more than $5,000 in cash from boosters, but that he has since taken a stand against the practice. "I'm not out to get anybody, I want high school athletes to know what they're getting into," he told HBO.