Ohio State is in trouble once again, this time with NCAA officials benching three Buckeyes players. Two of those players are already sitting out for taking cash and free tattoos over the summer and for accepting too much cash for very few summer job hours.
Under the NCAA’s new ruling leading rusher Dan Herron and top returning receiver DeVier Posey will not be permitted to play when the Buckeyes take on No. 14 Nebraska on Saturday.
Following the NCAA’s ruling Athletic Director Gene Smith said on Monday that there was no “systemic” problem at Ohio State, noting that the problem falls directly on the athletes, former coach Jim Tressel and a booster who has been banned from contacting players in any capacity.
According to Smith:
“These failures are individual failures: failures of individual athletes, and as you know unfortunately a previous coach, and a booster,” Smith said when asked if the latest violations will lead to more serious institutional charges of lack of control and failure to monitor from the NCAA. “So it’s not a systemic failure of compliance. I’m optimistic and I’m confident that we will not have those charges.”
Ohio State is hoping that Herron and Posey will be able to play after this coming weekend. Both players were serving five-game extensions.
Do you think the NCAA is taking Ohio State’s suspensions too far and making an example out of Ohio State to send a strong message about league violations or are they simply following the rules they’ve set forth for their players and coaches?
