The latest in a string of issues that have cast the Ohio State football program in a negative light surfaced this past weekend, with the Columbus Dispatch reporting that the school’s compliance office would be investigating the purchases of four dozen or more vehicles by student-athletes and their families from two Columbus dealerships. The investigation will center on whether anyone connected to the players or the players themselves received deals not available to the general public, which would constitute impermissible benefits and set the school and players up for additional sanctions from the NCAA.
While that probe is still in its infancy, there is at least a sliver of good news to report on Wednesday.
One of the biggest issues brought to light by the Dispatch‘s report was the fact that it appeared former linebacker Thaddeus Gibson had purchased a 2007 Chrysler 300 while a member of the Buckeyes for the whopping sum of zero dollars and zero cents. However, further investigation by the paper revealed an earlier title for the vehicle with a purchase price that appears to be market value.BMV records show that former linebacker Thaddeus Gibson paid $13,700 for a 2007 Chrysler 300C that he bought from former Jack Maxton salesman Aaron Kniffin in June 2007.
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But a prior title on the vehicle obtained by The Dispatch yesterday shows that the car with 13,760 miles was purchased on June 27, 2007, and financed through Huntington National Bank. The title without a purchase price was issued on March 6, 2008, with Huntington still listed as the lender.
The Dispatch also reports that the mother of ex-OSU running back Maurice Wells did not purchase a vehicle from Aaron Kniffin, the salesman who sold most of the vehicles to Ohio State players and who has come under intense scrutiny by both the school and the Ohio BMV. As it turns out, a vehicle owned by Wells’ mother and stepfather was used as a trade-in by her son.
Even as the football program is far from being out of the woods, and even as a living Buckeye legend continues to question Jim Tressel‘s future at Ohio State -- “I’d be surprised if he’s coaching next year (2011). Why I say that is I think there is more stuff coming out.” -- this latest report is certainly a baby step in the right direction for the beleaguered program.