Ohio State University Football Head Coach Jim Tressel Suspended and Fined for NCAA Violations
In shocking news Tuesday, long revered and tenured head football coach, Jim Tressel, was given a swift punishment today by The Ohio State University for action it ruled to be in violation NCAA rules. It was ruled that Tressel failed to notify the university of information he received about two players on his team selling game-used memorabilia.
Tressel's punishment, a two game suspension to start the 2011 football season and a heavy $250,000 fine, included a public reprimand and his issuance of a public apology. The NCAA is further investigating the matter and if it finds more information that Tressel acted in violation, they may reject Ohio State University's punishment and enforce their own sanctions.
The university's athletic director, Gene Smith, told members of the media that he never had any intent on firing the former national champion head coach over the matter. The action to suspend Tressel is based on language in his contract that states that he must report any information he acquires on any violation of school, conference or NCAA violations, to the university, immediately. The word "immediately" is underlined in that clause of his contract.
"Wherever we end up, Jim Tressel is our football coach," Smith told reporters. "He is our coach and we trust him implicitly."
Three months ago, the NCAA suspended Ohio State star quarterback, Tyrelle Pryor, and four teammates for the first five games of the upcoming 2011 season for selling jersey, championship rings and trophies to a local tattoo parlor owner. The NCAA suspensions were handed down just a couple weeks after Ohio State was notified by a U.S attorney that there was an ongoing federal investigation that involved players on the football team.
Tressel received an email back in April of 2010 that this federal investigation was forthcoming and explicit information about the details of what had occured between players and local tattoo parlor owner, Eddie Rife. He knew that the players had sold Rife signed memorabilia in exchange for cash and free tattoo work. He ignored the violations and carried on as if he had no knowledge if the information.
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