E. Gordon Gee doesn’t know football, but apparently does know when a member of his football program has run afoul of NCAA bylaws.
Speaking to the Associated Press before a Tuesday evening press conference that will address allegations made against head coach Jim Tressel, the Ohio State president admitted that the school had self-reported what is apparently a new violation to the NCAA.
“We have reported a violation, a perceived violation, that we were having discussions with them (the NCAA) about the best way to handle it,” Gee told the AP. “We reported that immediately when we found it.”
Gee did not reveal who committed the violation, but the Columbus Dispatch is reporting that Tressel -- who has not resigned and will not be dismissed as of now -- “faces a possible sanction and/or fine for committing an NCAA rules violation.” Gee and Tressel, along with athletic director Gene Smith, will take part in the press conference scheduled for 7 p.m. ET tonight.
Yahoo! Sports reported Monday night that Tressel was made aware in April 2010 of a handful of his players receiving impermissible benefits. At a Dec. 23 press conference to announce that five players had been suspended for five games for selling/bartering memorabilia to the owner of a local tattoo parlor, Smith stated that the athletic department did not become aware that players may have received impermissible benefits until Dec. 7.