Jim Tressel, the head football coach of the Ohio State Buckeyes was suspended for two games of the 2011 season on Tuesday by the University for lying, cheating, keeping secrets, violation of school policy.
Tressel suspended five of his starters returning for their senior seasons next year after the school found out they traded memorabilia for tattoos at a local tattoo shop in Columbus, the allegations came forward in December just before the Buckeyes bowl game, in which the five players were granted permission to play in by the NCAA.
A report on Yahoo.com that surfaced last night claimed that Tressel knew about the incident as early as April, eight months before the University came forward with their own sanctions.
Despite the rumor mill talking of his resignation, or firing at this evening’s press conference, OSU Athletic Director Gene Smith stood by Tressel, saying “he is our football coach.”
When Tressel took the stand he explained, “Obviously I’m disappointed that this happened at all. I take responsibility for what we do at Ohio State tremendously seriously … and obviously I plan to grow from this and I’m sincerely saddened by the fact that I left some people down and that I didn’t do some things as well as I could possible do,”
The NCAA will certainly still investigate the situation, and there is a possibility more sanctions against Tressel could be brought on in the coming months. In addition to the suspension, OSU has tacked on a public apology, compliance courses, and a $250,000 fine.
The Buckeyes will open the 2011 season against the Akron Zips and Toledo Rockets at home in Tressel’s absence.
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