Should the "Tattoo 5" sit out the Sugar Bowl?.....Thoughts

Seems that the Ohio State has run into a slight issue with players selling awards,personal artifacts and trading their fame for various services.  The players (including star QB Terrelle Pryor) will have to sit out 5 games next year, but get to play in the upcoming bowl game.  My thoughts?

1) Is the NCAA fair (i.e. Newton saga vs this).....eh NO (goes for AJ Green, who was in a very similar situation....4 games for selling a bowl jersey)

2) Is this the last college game for Pryor.....pretty much

3) Should these young men have to sit out the bowl game.....depends on your view of paying college players.  I've been of the opinion that the players should get a reasonable stipend to play, since they have no way to work a part-time job like a normal college student.  However, if you're gonna suspend, bowl game should count as game one.

It's too early to tell what Terrelle Pryor is going to do. I think it'll come down to how they do in the Suger Bowl as well as if they can get the suspension reduced. If it stays at 5 games I don't see him coming back. Either way I could care less. I'd like to see him come back but we've got Braxton Miller coming in so it'll be good for him to get some experience as a freshman.

1.  The NCAA is hardly ever fair.  The NCAA often makes decisions that seem strongly influenced by perception, media pressure, emotion, and money.  The NCAA rulings are often short sighted and contradictory.

2.  Last game for Pryor

3.  This is a classic NCAA ruling.  It appears that the NCAA doesn't want to upset it's relationship with corporate America, powerful boosters, and wealthy Universities by restricting the players from playing in a very profitable bowl game.

Bingo.

That's all you need to know.

The bowl game is nothing but an exhibition.  So it makes sense that they will play.  It is meaningless.  The first 5 games of next season are meaningful and count.  If Ohio State was in the NC game, they would not be playing.

I don't think money has much to do with it since the seats and advertising are already paid for.  It isn't like Pryor or any of the others a big draw.

Pryor should stay in school.  He is not NFL QB material.  He is mediocre at best on the college level.  Maybe he could become a TE or something in the NFL.

I think this is true. The tickets are sold to the universities by the BCS and the schools have to sell them all. The bill is on them (at least for the tickets).

The tickets sold are just a small fraction of a bowl game's and university's revenue.  Hotels, merchandising, pre bowl game parties, limos, taxis, TV advertising revenue, etc. The bowl game week is when the big time alumni can really show off and spend lots of money.

This is pretty much my opinion as well (although if you look around, it isn't a well received opinion).  The Sugar Bowl means nothing and has no impact on this season.  It will hurt both the players and OSU to be out 5 games next season.  I don't buy all the reasoning as to why they can play, but the game doesn't mean anything.  If I was OSU, I would suspend them for the Sugar Bowl and hope the NCAA will decrease the suspension next year on appeal.  That would be the right thing to do.

All but maybe one of these players needed next season to improve draft stock for the NFL.  If they can't play some of next year they won't be able to do that.  So in my eyes, even if none of these guys come back and take the suspension, it will still hurt them in the long run.  Sure, they won't miss any games, but they won't have the opportunity to improve either.  Pryor could declare, but would be extremely lucky to be picked in the first 4 rounds.  I don't see anyone wanting him to be a QB, and a position change prospect won't be worth much in the draft.

Jamo has it right.  It is all about money.  So your answer is how do you feel about the Universities/Colleges using sports to make money.  I know at my Alma Mater for years football paid for all the other sports plus donated to the general fund.  The Bowl system (especially since the BCS) is just about money.  If they were really interested in finding a #1 they would adopt a bowl system like the division III schools have, e.g. a play off.  So having said that I don't really see a problem with using sports for making money as long as everyone, including the student athletes, know that is the deal.  Certainly as local and Federal government cut funding the schools need the cash.  It is just the hypocrisy that disturbs me.

Even D1AA (or FCS as it is now known) has a playoff. My school, University of Delaware, is in the championship game on Jan 7th.

Sort of off topic, but seems relevant. Here are the top 10 money-making programs from 07-08:

From what I have heard the suspension of 7 games next season is pretty much negotiated by OSU.  Apparently they put about 4 million into this game alone, so I think OSU went in and said "Look we just spent 4 mil on this game...let them play and we will take care of this internally next season (7 games - which is a lot of the season especially for a good program like OSU).  Do I think they should be suspended for the bowl game, hell yes.  Do I understand what the NCAA is doing....absolutely.  I don't think anyone should be that surprised.  I think Pryor is going to end up like Vicks bro...

To answer your questions:

1. Fair, not really...

2. Not with the lockout looming next year.  It would be better for him to stay and possibly get better and go for the BCS title.

3. I think College players should all be paid the same amount no matter what position or school.  This removes the ability to lure them to colleges for more money.  If the NCAA really wants to start enforcing the whole "money" thing in the NCAA then yes they need to start suspending players when it counts...and the bowl games mean the most.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dhanson

Sort of off topic, but seems relevant. Here are the top 10 money-making programs from 07-08:

Quote: fanblogs.com

1. Texas $72.95 million
2. Georgia $67.05 million
3. Florida $66.1 million
4. Ohio State University $65.16 million
5. Notre Dame $59.77 million
6. Auburn $59.67 million
7. Michigan $57.46 million
8. Alabama $57.37 million
9. Penn State $53.76 million
10. Louisiana State University $52.68 million

And who says money can't buy happiness, or at least wins... It always, always, always comes down to money.  The corporate sponsors have to make sure people watch their sponsored bowl games so the 5 game suspension is a compromise.  With the soft non-conference schedule, this is a pretty soft penalty.

They are all coming back to OSU next year, or so they say...

NEW ORLEANS -- Ohio State players facing five-game suspensions next season would not have traveled with the team to the Allstate Sugar Bowl if they had not pledged to return in 2011, coach Jim Tressel said on Thursday.

The five players, including quarterback Terrelle Pryor , have been punished by the NCAA for selling championship rings and memorabilia and taking discounts from a tattoo parlor.

Tressel said he wanted to make sure that the players wouldn't "skirt the consequences" by playing in the Sugar Bowl, then declaring for the NFL draft and avoiding any punishment.

"We told them they would have to make the decision on the NFL prior to leaving for the bowl game," Tressel said at his first Sugar Bowl news conference. "It wouldn't be fair to not face the consequences down the road."

Tressel says their playing time against the Razorbacks will hinge only on how they practice and fit into the game plan.

The other players are tailback Dan Herron , offensive tackle Mike Adams, receiver DeVier Posey and defensive end Solomon Thomas.

Tressel said he had instructed the players not to speak about the NCAA "issue" during Sugar Bowl week because of their pending appeal of the sanctions.

The players all sold items to or traded autographs for tattoos with the owner of a Columbus tattoo parlor.

The NCAA does not permit athletes to get deals or freebies because they are athletes.

Four sold their 2008 Big Ten championship rings for $1,000 to $1,200 apiece; Herron sold his football jersey, pants and shoes for $1,000; and Solomon and Pryor each sold his "gold pants" trinket -- given to Buckeyes players if they beat Michigan -- for several hundred dollars. Pryor also sold a 2009 Fiesta Bowl sportsmanship award.

Tressel said he was disappointed not only because his players broke the rules, but also because they sold what he thought of as important keepsakes from their football careers.

"A number of people reached out as we've been dealing with this thing maybe to calm my thinking or whatever, and one thing said was, 'Keep in mind, Coach, you're dealing with a different generation. Back when you were growing up one guy got a trophy, maybe, and now you're dealing with a generation that if you were on the team and you were 7 years old, everyone got a trophy. Maybe this generation doesn't understand the value of awards like we did,' " Tressel said.

Tressel said he understood that argument, but was not sure that helped him justify what his players did.

The coach added that he hoped the players gained a greater appreciation for the significance of the items they sold after they visited the home of former Buckeyes star Archie Griffin, who had the players over to his home.

Griffin, the only player to win two Heisman trophies, is CEO of the Ohio State alumni association.

Tressel said Griffin told him, "The kids might get a different perspective when they look at my basement and see how important some of those things are to me."

Tressel called the experience "a valuable lesson" for the players.

"I've said many times: In adversity, lives are changed," Tressel said.

I'll belive that when they participate in pre-season practice.  Seems like an easy way for OSU to give themselves a pass for not pulling them out of the game.  I can hear it now:

JT: "You guys need to be punsished for your actions.  You are all planning on coming back next year to serve this suspension, correct?  Because unless you commit to that now, I can't let you play in the game"  (wink, wink)

Players:  "Of course coach, we will come back and be responsible for our actions."  (wink, wink)

Personally I think its all BS. I mean the NCAA has some pretty ridiculous rules and they are very bias in their punishments. If it had ben USC, they would have suspended the whole team two years from now and taken away a bowl game or two (sarcasm)...

I dont really see the big deal in selling YOUR OWN PERSONAL BELONGINGS! Its no different than trading any other belongings. What is it that makes this so damaging, seriously? I dont think there should be a punishment or anything. BUT if the NCAA is going to punish them why shouldnt it be for this game!? Makes no sense to me...

Then when they declare they're leaving in a month what authority will they have over them?

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