Buckeyes Must Wait: Ohio State players, coaches and fans must wait in suspense for the next few weeks in hopes that NCAA officials are content with the school’s self-imposed penalties. Former coach Jim O’Brien gave nearly $7,000 to a recruit whom O’Brien said needed the money for family problems. The coach said he knew the recruit would not be eligible to play college ball because he had played professionally in Europe, and the gift was a matter of good will.
That violation, in combination with other inappropriate gifts to players, led Ohio State officials to ban the team from post-season play last year. They also subtracted two scholarships for this season. The school fired O’Brien in 2004 when the accusations became public. NCAA officials finished listening to the school’s arguments that its penalties are more than adequate. The NCAA folks could, however, extend the post-season ban or reduce scholarships. Ohio State is on pace to earn a high seed in the NCAA Tournament, and another post-season ban would be devastating to the players and coaches who had nothing to do with those violations. [2/06/06]
