Bitter Buckeyes Battle in Court: Former Ohio State coach Jim O’Brien testified that the player whom he gave more than $6,000 to in 1999 was not eligible to play for the Buckeyes because he had played professionally in Serbia. But Ohio State officials, including former athletic director Andy Geiger, dispute O’Brien’s version of the story and claim that the former coach has tarnished the Buckeyes’ reputation beyond immediate repair. Both sides are trying to play the role of the victim in O’Brien’s suit to receive $3.5 million in pay and benefits after the school fired him last year. O’Brien said he did not report the gift he gave to former Buckeye recruit Aleksandar Radojevic because he knew the perception would be bad, even though he gave the money to Radojevic so his family could afford medicine for his dying father. Later, O’Brien intended the money to go toward the father’s funeral.
Geiger admitted that the university did not look into the details of the gift but rather fired O’Brien based on the knowledge that he committed a violation. The NCAA is investigating Ohio State for other possible infractions committed by O’Brien and his coaching staff.
[12/13/05]
