BREAKING: NCAA to Ohio St.: Failure to monitor

OSU AD Gene Smith

((ht: dispatch.com))

Lost in the Penn State shuffle may be a story of equal significance, particularly in the Big 10. Ohio State University announced today that the NCAA has informed them they will be charged with "Failure to Monitor", a charge only slightly less severe than "Lack of Institutional Control".

The school also announced they would forfeit 5 scholarships over the next three years. Which was symbolic, but for a program as large as OSU, it means very little.

Read the story from the Columbus Dispatch RIGHT HERE

It appears, based on the charge, that the NCAA saw through Ohio State's attempt to blame their problems on former coach Jim Tressel. Rather, it indicates they feel it is a systemic problem.

And that problem may--and probably should cost Athletic Director Gene Smith his job. We reported just yesterday on the "Notice of Allegations" at UCF. Those allegations were also serious and UCF immediately fired Athletic Director Keith Tribble.

What many believe pushed the NCAA over the edge was the Ohio State/Bobby DiGeronimo problems. DiGeronimo, a booster, was paying players for either not or barely working at his business.

The question now is "Does Ohio State impose a bowl ban?". We don't think they will...though we might add, it would save them money. If they took the rules seriously, they wouldn't have allowed Terrelle Pryor and the other players suspended for "Tattoo-Gate" to play in the Sugar Bowl last season.

tOSU tattoo players will sit at least another game

Gene Smith

((ht: wbns.com))
((ht: dispatch.com))

Does the trouble ever end at Ohio State? Apparently the rumors were true and running back Daniel Herron, wide reciever DeVier Posey and offensive lineman Marcus Hall who have already sat out the beginning of the season, will sit out at least one if not more games.

The reason, the 3 along, with two injured players worked on-again, off-again jobs for booster Bobby DiGeronimo and got paid rather well for their time. Much more than what the NCAA would consider normal for the jobs they would have been doing...when they allegedly did them.

Capish? (Not sure that's spelled right)

Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith held a press conference Monday afternoon in an attempt to explain all of this. All one could gather from that conference: The system continues being manipulated at tOSU and either the compliance department, Smith or both were either blind or willing accomplices.

Read a play-by-play from the Columbus Dispatch RIGHT HERE

Smith, while denying this is a systemic problem at the troubled school, did admit in the presser that the results of the NCAA inquiry they are currently under, will be delayed from the expected mid-October release date.

Of course tOSU faithful are convinced the NCAA had it out for them, but this information came about as a result of their ongoing investigation. That isn't to say they are the only school where this is a problem, but they got caught.

As for Smith, tOSU prez G.Gordon Gee really should be considering some alternatives. While Smith maintains the schools problems were the result of some "Rogue" individuals, there is nothing to indicate it is anything less than a "Total Systemic" issue. And ultimately the head of the system...is Gene Smith.

Smith admitted just today that school officials were unaware of the employment issues. That alone should get him fired.

Booster Falls On Sword For 3 tOSU Players

Robert "Bobby" DiGeronimo told The Columbus Dispatch that he played a key role in the $200 payments given to Jordan Hall, Travis Howard and Corey Brown at a charity run in February for a charity run by DiGeronimo's son-in-law.

Hall, Howard and Brown were suspended for Ohio State's first two games before being reinstated. They are eligible to play Saturday against Miami.

DiGeronimo told The Dispatch that former Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor provided the money to his teammates, adding that the payments were reimbursement for travel expenses to the event.

"However Mr. Pryor got the money, I take responsibility," DiGeronimo told the newspaper. "I am responsible for those kids coming up here from Columbus. I handled it wrong. I should not have handled it the way I did."

DiGeronimo cooperated with the NCAA the whole time, and said no one from the charity organization knew about the payments.

More when we know more...

The HQ finds it interesting that Pryor's name came up- again...