Getty ImagesAs if a bad day for Jim Tressel and Ohio State couldn’t get any worse, there is now another report coming from the Columbus Dispatch today — this time with quarterback Terrelle Pryor, once again, in the crosshairs.
According to multiple sources close to the situation, the Dispatch is reporting that both the NCAA and Ohio State are conducting an independent investigation into cars (plural) received by the quarterback on multiple occasions over the past few years.
As you’ll recall, a previous report by the Dispatch linked Pryor to car salesman Aaron Kniffin, who has been accused of giving OSU athletes special deals on cars. The Dispatch reported in January that Pryor had been stopped on three different instances for traffic violations while driving cars owned by Kniffin or the dealership.
However, the sources note that while Pryor has been interrogated by OSU officials in the past, this most recent investigation appears to be the most severe.
Of course, the university has nothing to say on the matter at this present time.
“The university continues to work with the NCAA as they investigate matters involving our football program, and we will continue to do so until the conclusion of the investigation,” Ohio State spokesperson Jim Lynch said. “We are unable to comment on specific players’ situations because of federal law.”
Initial details of the investigation are few, but suffice it to say this is one big house of cards that has begun to fall for the Buckeyes.
Dog pile on the buckeyes, dog pile on the buckeyes…
Rich Rodriguez lucked out in one regard. He didn’t get this fool to sign a Letter of Intent at Michigan.
Thank God.
this couldn’t be happening to a better program. i just hate it for the few rational OSU fans that aren’t as arrogant and delusional as the majority of their fan base seems to be. this investigation was long overdue.
I can’t wait until the sports illustrated / si.com story comes out in about 2 hours.
Say goodnight Buckeyes!
And just when everything was going so smoothly in Columbus…
If Auburn was dirty AT LEAST they got what they paid for……..
If Pryor is guilty of more than penny-ante infractions, this will be a bizarre case of what goes around comes around.
Tressel chose to cover up Pryor’s shenanigans, which came to light anyway. Once they came to light, it cost Pryor five games. The only reason he’s here to serve his five games is because he promised Tressel he wouldn’t go pro. But now Tressel is gone, and if anything else comes out, Pryor will probably have to sit out the season. That will hurt his NFL draft prospects.
If Pryor had held off on selling the trinkets, none of this would have happened and he’d either be looking forward to signing a lucrative NFL contract or making an NCAA championship run.
If Tressell had told the truth, Pryor would have served a one- or two-game suspension that wouldn’t have harmed his career, and Tressel would still have a job.
If everyone had agreed to Pryor being suspended for the Sugar Bowl–as he should have been–he could have gone pro after the season. Then he could spend the 2011 season locked out by the NFL instead of suspended by the NCAA. At least he’d have a job when the lockout ends. Instead he stays at OSU out of respect for a coach who won’t be there. And if these reports are right, he’ll wind up with more than a five-game suspension. So his draft stock, if he comes out at season’s end, will plummet.
This is like an Aesop’s Fable with a moral on the importance of truth-telling.
TP came to OSU with his head filled with the delusions that he was the best thing since sliced bread and that he was entitled to anything he wanted. Unfortunately for Tressel, it appears that TP never understood what it meant to have to grow up and be responsible. Now Tressel is done and TP isn’t far behind him. Epsecially, since the NCAA is just getting started and when it comes to benefits and unreported income, I suspect that the IRS will want their piece of the pie too.
Deb, regarding your post above.
Pryor has not draft stock. Oh, he might get drafted real late on a flyer. But he has no game that translates to the NFL. No accuracy, and a throwing motion that my 13 yr old daughter mocks.
I told you people that there is more corruption going on at that program.
But the obnoxious OSU fans will say “the vehicles were paid for” and “nothing has been proved”
Well let’s just wait and see.
I’m telling you all, Gee, Smith, and the “compliance officer” all have filthy hands
Sports Illustrated’s cover for this Wednesday.
http://yfrog.com/h6hjrdkj
as far as their compliance dept goes, does anyone remember the “our compliance dept is the best in the country. we self report more violations than anyone.” mantra that so many OSU fans have spewed over the years.? maybe you were just self reporting all of those secondary offenses as a deflection from the *real* dirt that was going on in your program.
with every story that comes out, it’s harder and harder not to believe that OSU’s compliance staff is a complete and total sham.
I always knew this kid was trouble. Going back to the media circus he created over who he was going to sign with. He’s always been about himself and now he has taken his coach and teammates down with him…
Three words:
NFL Supplemental Draft.
I was gunna say he was the next Robert Quinn then i realized you have to be good to be drafted
This day was coming for a long time. I think people in Ohio thought the NCAA would try and sweep it under the rug. The players of OSU I feel bad for. Coaches not to much. Every major program has coache(s) trying to get away with as much as they can.
But why isnt the AD resigning also?
Michigan still won’t be able to beat em
I seriously hate the NCAA, this is why I can’t get into college sports.
couldn’t be more happier, justice finally. now lets see some real sanctions you POS NCAA. it’s a start, but until the NCAA goes after an SEC team the NCAA is still going to be a joke
why do people act like the SEC gets a free pass with the NCAA? bama’s been on probation for something like 10 years and it won’t be long before Mississippi State gets their taste of it. Tennessee too, probably.
Eight different cars in three years… I’ll bet the trade-ins were generous, nice scam.
@jaggedmark …
Admit I don’t know that much about Pryor’s talent level. Just read a comment on PFT that he hasn’t lived up to his promise. If that’s the case, it’s even more a mystery why Tressel lied for him. Just doesn’t make sense.
@bamasucks …
They act like the SEC gets a pass because they’re desperate to find a reason why we keep kicking the ever-lovin’ stuffin’ outta them
Me I’m not in denial. I remeber when takng a class with an OSU starter, he had a grad student come in and help him on the final. True, it happened, in 1968.
You think it’s any different at any of the other semi-professional football teams. Stop being naive. This is play for little pay until hopefully I can qualify for a true pro paycheck in the NFL. Always has been, and as long as there is big TV money flowing to the schools it always will be.
Deb says:
May 30, 2011 10:51 PM
Just read a comment on PFT that he hasn’t lived up to his promise. If that’s the case, it’s even more a mystery why Tressel lied for him. Just doesn’t make sense.
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Easy, Deb. Tressel lied for him because he wins COLLEGE games. His pro prospects mean nothing to his college coach. His college coach doesn’t get paid for getting him to the NFL. It’s simply the ‘me first’ mentality. It applies to coaching at that level every bit as much as it does to the athletes at that level.
Two thoughts:
Why in the world would Pryor come back (I’m thinking that from this point forward, he may not be welcomed back anyways)
I know all the hype that was given to Pryor over the years, but I don’t get the sense that he would be a great NFL quarterback.
I don’t know about if he could play another position. Perhaps.
No one can say the SEC gets a pass. Sounds like Ohio State has been getting one for years. (and still can’t stand with the SEC!!)