There's Fire
Score one for Biddle and Mr. B. The mainstream media is officially hearing the same terrifying murmurs. The Dispatch's Ken Gordon:
Ohio State is investigating possible violations involving players getting tattoos in exchange for autographs. Some discipline likely.
I was one of those taking a (probably overly cautious) wait and see approach and wasn't buying it. I'm folding my hand now. While it's not time to panic just quite yet, it's getting pretty darn close.
On the other hand, at least the champion of the story is feeling positively optimistic:
Could be an announcement tomorrow (Thurs) from OSU. My gut feeling still is there will be no suspensions, but stay tuned.
Given his information capital at the moment, I pray he's right.
UPDATE 10:23PM Terrelle Pryor on Twitter: "I paid for my tattoos. Go Bucks"
Comments
This is disastrous. These guys have to be some decent players too, as who would want autographs from players only a die-hard would know of?
October 20th: National Kenneth Guiton Day
And hey, if TP is involved, then I'm on the guy's I've been arguing with bandwagon.
October 20th: National Kenneth Guiton Day
james georgiades' mom is gonna be PISSED
While Brooks' track record is far from immaculate, the guys does have ties to Columbus and did a phenomenal job cataloguing a lot of the guys from earlier in the Fall's photo day who had noticable ink. Obviously this is more conjecture than anything, but it certainly merrits consideration:
(via SportsByBrooks)
(via SportsByBrooks)
(via SportsbyBrooks)
Again, this isn't exactly a smoking gun in any sense of the word, but a huge hat tip is owed to Brooks for doing a little amateur sleuthing, if nothing else.
UPDATE: I see no noticable ink on Oliver's arms; on the left that's a brand related I believe to a fraternity he's a member of.
Hey, Grinch, quit trying to ruin my Christmas week!
October 20th: National Kenneth Guiton Day
Well it's a good thing all of those players aren't important for winning games.
Land-Grant Holyland
Bauserman! F*** yeah!
October 20th: National Kenneth Guiton Day
you got that right. The tatoo artist is really important, though, and we're not sure what the NCAA will do to them. That is what really scares me
Why couldn't they learn from Shaggy?
This has got to be true. Why? Because I am a Buckeye fan and we are playing a team from the SEC in a BCS game.
There is no more certainty than that in this world
run with the dogs smell like the dogs...they oughta know better
"Without winners, there wouldn't even be civilization." -----------Woody Hayes
Dude. Sweet.
I live in Southern California. Its been pouring for a week straight. No, I'm not complaining about the weather, but after this I'm truly starting to think that the sky if falling.
October 20th: National Kenneth Guiton Day
Sigh. 0-10?
P.S. How many years over the last 5 does this make for infractions leading into the bowl game? Getting annoying.
I'm sorry, but if anyone is suspended for more than a quarter over this, how screwed up are the priorities in college football? A player's dad demands $200,000 to secure his son's commitment and doesn't miss a snap, while players exchange signed photos for tatoos or whatever and they might miss a game?
I don't think there will be any suspensions, but it's not like I have inside info or will pretend that I do. But if there are, then, well... 0-10 is an inevitability if any of those above pictured starters are missing.
Agreed. We need Mike Slive to take this issue up on behalf of the SEC rep, Arkansas. You see, it would be unfair for Arkansas to not get full credit for beating a OSU team. Come on Mike, do your job. Delaney's busy trying to figure out how much money can be made by having us wear nike dresses for the game.
I don't mean to conflate arguments so half-assedly but I'm a bit buzzed so whatever: if we suspend multiple guys for 1 quarter+ while the SEC routinely laughs in the face of the NCAA while shipping high school kids by the truckload to the Mississippi junior college farm system and getting no punishment whatsoever for it, then, well, I'm going to make a pilgrimmage to Chicago to poop on Jim Delaney's desk
You would create a better logo than the shit created on his desk a week ago (zing, ... not really, actually). And, you are not conflating arguments at all ... Delaney should protect his schools and I do not believe he is adequate in that respect. If the school is so offended and wants to suspend the kids, fine. But, this should be a minor penalty if true. I say we suspend the violators from the pool-side dance competition with Arkansas.
I too have a buzz and needed edits
Why couldn't tOSU just donate a bunch money for" up grades" to a Tattoo establishment for reasons of "player safety" . Maybe this just the Big Ten's response to the SEC paying for the attention of the hot girl. OSU should have just bought some insurance.
why shouldnt they be able to give autographs for tats? fuck the ncaa
I can see how it's an improper benefit since that technically means the tats are more or less free. But you see, it's cool when the players hand out autographs by the dozen to adoring fans for nothing, but TOTALLY NOT COOL YOU GUYS when they get something in return
thats what kills me. the restrict these kids enough, why can they not make money off of the names that their hard work has built?
that being said, its against the rules, and they knew it. just dumb
the NCAA's reasoning behind it is that they don't want players capitalizing on their fame to make money while in school. kind of negates the whole "amateur" aspect of being an amateur athlete
However, other people with more money and less talent can capitalize off that talent all they want. See: NCAA video games, shirts with players' names (technically illegal but nothing is done about it), and really the entire racket that is college football
I'm about five seconds from growing a fuzzy professor beard and quoting Karl Marx so I'll stop
well, maybe they are amatuer footballers, but professionional autograph givers? i kid i kid
I at least hope Gene Smith dares the NCAA to do anything after the Newton Heist went without penalty.
Hey, the players didn't know they were getting tatted up.
October 20th: National Kenneth Guiton Day
FTW.
"Don't put syrup on shit, and tell me it's pancakes"
No matter how sh*tty the tour is, it's always tough to leave.
If any penalties occur, then I demand every college player with a tat be compelled to ptoduce a receipt for said tat.
also a receipt for every restaurant meal they've had in their time on campus. And bar tabs. Bar tabs everywhere.
Or just riot at NCAA headquarters.
"Don't put syrup on shit, and tell me it's pancakes"
No matter how sh*tty the tour is, it's always tough to leave.
I have already had a bad week; now I am an danger of losing my Christmas spirit!
There's gotta be a way to forge reciepts, or let them play in the Sugar and hold all suspensions for Akron.
"Don't put syrup on shit, and tell me it's pancakes"
No matter how sh*tty the tour is, it's always tough to leave.
I hear you, Chief. First, I have the stress of wondering if any Buckeyes will be suspended then just moments ago I got my first glimpse of the Rex/Michelle Ryan foot fetish videos. Seriously. C'mon, people. It's the holidays for crying out loud.
Rex Ryan might be my new favorite coach. That was some kinky shit.
DUDE
You opened it up and watched? I couldn't do it. Don't the Jets remind you of the U in the 80's minus the winning?
"Don't put syrup on shit, and tell me it's pancakes"
No matter how sh*tty the tour is, it's always tough to leave.
I did. I couldn't help it. I already liked Rex - now I love him - which is really strange because I hate feet as much as any man alive.
C'mon, Rex is an asshat.
Maybe. But I'm drawn to the circus orbiting around him for some reason.
Does the entire 11W team have something against feet? I seem to remember someone posting a gnarly foot picture the other day
I think Buckeyeski posted a pic after I made a prior anti-foot comment. I'm probably a loner in that regard. The rest of the 11W dudes are always walking around the office barefoot and I think at least Johnny and Corey were already familiar with Michelle Ryan's videos.
It's only fair that this guy makes another appearance...
I don't understand why/how this would become a focus of any attention to begin with - i.e, why/how it would "get out." Someone with an ax to grind? A separate "investigation" should take place on a deal like this, that is parallel to whatever appropriate action is taken regarding the student athletes.
Getting a free tatoo isn't even a useful benefit of value. Something tangible like a car, a phone, a plasma TV, an XBox, even food or clothes - those things are useful to the player...makes his life easier, or could be resold for cash. It makes sense why those things are considered illegal benefits. A tatoo is a piece of skin graffiti. It'd be akin to a player getting an original Picasso that had been spraypainted over with "Joker Was Here." I mean, it's worthless, just like collegiate athlete autographs are worthless. If they exchanged an autograph for a PS3, I would certainly understand that a severe infraction had gone on. It's exchanging one worthless piece of ink for another.
If this costs the Ohio State nation a victory of the SEC in a bowl game, I swear to God I may abandon college football altogether. STUPID.
Great points. I'm with this guy.
But still, I assume these guys knew this was against some sort of rule, so there's that point of view.
October 20th: National Kenneth Guiton Day
Well it's ok guys. The tats were just done on loan and the players are gonna give the ink shop the blu ray player, plasma TV, $150 headphones and Oakley sunglasses that the Sugar Bowls gonna hand them in two weeks. No big deal. Not like they are given anything for being on a top 10 FBS team or anything shady like that. hahahaha(nervous laugh)haha. No big deal.
“Any time you give a man something he doesn't earn, you cheapen him. Our kids earn what they get, and that includes respect.” - Woody
+1000
"Don't put syrup on shit, and tell me it's pancakes"
No matter how sh*tty the tour is, it's always tough to leave.
I believe all they will have to do is pay restitution for the cost of the tat.
However, tattoos for the most part, are expensive...wasn't Troy Smith suspended for a game and forced to pay $500 back?
Anyone know what the max penalty is?
"Don't put syrup on shit, and tell me it's pancakes"
No matter how sh*tty the tour is, it's always tough to leave.
Troy was suspended two games. The Alamo Bowl and Miami (OH) the following year.
From the looks of them, is there any space left for any more tats?
Im still only seeing smoke. I dont see fire yet.
Is every play that goes past the line of scrimmage a "foot race" in the mind of Brent Musberger?
October 20th: National Kenneth Guiton Day
Yes, and every time a quarterback passes, he is "snapping one off." I don't know, to me "snap one off" has other connotations that do not involve football.
I wish I could breathe a little easier...
October 20th: National Kenneth Guiton Day
Speaking only for myself, I very much like the idea of Terrelle getting tattooed.
And paying for it.
Dear Jesus,
Please send the players in question magical/holy backdated tattoo receipts by January 4th and I promise I will never make fun of the indecipherable way people in the south talk ever again. I will even stop making fun of the way they fry and slop gravy on every food item, their inept educational systems, and the double wides that they proudly call home. It will be a difficult sacrifice, as I currently live south of the Mason Dixon myself and have to put up with these degenerates on a daily basis, but one must pay a steep price to watch his Buckeyes beat an SEC (Special Education Conference... err... whoops) team in a bowl game.
Regards,
Concerned Buckeye Alumnus
Time and change will surely show how firm they friendship... O-HI-O.
It's too stupid to even be worried about this. There is still no news here. Also, who is to say if it was a good player or not. I also don't know how much trouble the NCAA could cause with this. Isn't a tatoo's price pretty variable? I mean the artist can charge someone 1000 bucks or 10 bucks for what they do. I seriously doubt anything major is going to come out of this at all.
Other than it being a distraction, I doubt we'll really get hurt with suspensions and if we do at least we can have an excuse for losing this time lol.
Herbie is talking about it right now......on tv......dayum......
I'm fucking pissed at Herbie right now. How he could say what he said throughout the ENTIRE Cam Newton scandal and he says what he says ON CAMERA about us. TP, you're fucking right, he's fake ass buckeye. Get bent you asshole.
October 20th: National Kenneth Guiton Day
Can't argue with that logic.....
Maybe he knows something?
I don't fucking care. Throughout the entire Cam Newton scandal it was "not enough information", "can't do that to a kid", etc. etc. Now we're willing to take a "very serious look at this" with much less information than we had in the Cam Newton scandal. So yeah, get bent Herbie, you're an asshole for that.
October 20th: National Kenneth Guiton Day
Muskratburger just said it was a major story.....I'm just going to ignore this shit and wrap the rest of these gifts and think about that awesome Basketball team we have..and yes I said shit!
And, I'm not really wrapping gifts...I'm sticking the bows with the really bad tape on them to already wrapped gifts and filling out name tags while drinking Shiner Cheer. Tis a good beer.
this is total bs the way college football is today i cann see buckeyes losing playing time while cash newton and his gang getting nothing come on this shit stinks. if they did sign for tattoo which are there for life and get suspended its total crap fuck the esss eee ceee and the states sounth of the mason dixon line in general...
Herbie "breaking" a story on camera? Well pretty much any time he has inside information or a big story it turns out to be wrong and he looks like a jackass. Hopefully he guarrenttees suspensions, then you know nothing will happen.
I find it funny that guys trading tatoos for autographs is a major story but a dude getting paid 6 figures to play isn't.
Ummm, that Cam Newton thing was a big deal.
"So put 2 on, put 10 on, WHAT DO YOU CARE IT'S NOT LIKE YOU'RE PAYIN' FOR 'EM!!!!?"
-Doug Heffernan, in regards to Arthur and his stamp needs
Herbie is a fake Buckeye. No names have been reported either.
All smoke ! where the fire ??? this is hear say !!! This pisses me off something terrible. And there is names mentioned on the buckeye extra @ dispatchsports.com...pryor , herron , hall , fields , brewster , adams , oliver..etc/etc ! not gonna amount to anything ..unless he said / she said is a punishable effense
Suprisingly, most of the comments on the ESPN troll haven discussion boards are anti-ncaa and pro OSU, roughly reading along the lines of "I dont like OSU but the NCAA has lost all credibility if they suspend players for this."
I never thought I'd see the day.
Time and change will surely show how firm they friendship... O-HI-O.
Here's my take for what little it is worth. The AJ Green suspension earlier this year makes things difficult for us. because were talking about a very simliar violation. He got four games in a self-imposed suspension, so I think there will be an expectation that this ends with a suspension. Probably not four games, but definitely at least one. The question is when. My hope is that with the holidays, this slows the pace of the investigation and this isn't resolved until after the Sugar Bowl. However, the NCAA showed that it can actually make decisions pretty quickly when it feels compelled so they may try to get this resolved sooner than later. On the other hand, the NCAA risks looking like terrible hypocrites if they come down hard on OSU, meanwhile, they completely admitted guilt on some level on the Newton thing, yet they looked the other way. I don't think they're going to give the Buckeyes the same courtesy, but I do think they aren't going to be in a position to come down hard on the Buckeyes so closely on the heels of the Newton fiasco. My guess is that all these guys get suspended one game, and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it's the first game of next season.
AJ Green did in fact cooperate with the NCAA, but I think what makes his situation worse (and led to a harsher punishment from the NCAA) is the fact that his intermediary was an agent.
If the NCAA suspends even one Buckeye player for this after what happend to Cam Newton then not only are they dealing with a complete loss of credibility but they may just have a full scale riot on their hands. Look, I'm all for playing by the rules and what have you but still you can't even begin to explaing to College Football fans everywhere that having your father shop you around to the highest bidder is ok, but getting a free tatoo isn't.
Hasn't the NCAA been dealing with a complete loss of credibility for a while now? Unfortunately, I don't think they care.
October 20th: National Kenneth Guiton Day