Tressel says he will sit out five games
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Saying he wants the same punishment as his five suspended football players, Ohio State Buckeyes football coach Jim Tressel will sit out the first five games of the 2011 season.
Last week, the NCAA denied Ohio State's appeal on behalf of the suspended players, including starting quarterback Terrelle Pryor.
The players were suspended for the first five games this fall for selling autographed memorabilia and receiving discounted tattoos.
Tressel had received a two-game suspension by Ohio State after it was discovered he had not notified the NCAA, his Ohio State bosses or the school's compliance department that he was aware for more than nine months – including throughout his team's 12-1 season in 2010 – of the players' improper benefits, ESPN reported.
"Throughout this entire situation, my players and I have committed ourselves to facing our mistakes and growing from them; we can only successfully do this together," Tressel said in a statement. "I spoke with athletic director [Gene] Smith, and our student-athletes involved, and told them that my mistakes need to share the same game sanctions."
Ohio State had learned of Tressel's knowledge of his players' NCAA violations while preparing a seven-page appeal to the NCAA of the players' suspensions. On March 8, the university announced Tressel would sit out the first two games of the 2011 season.
The NCAA has yet to rule on Tressel's punishment.[[In-content Ad]]
Last week, the NCAA denied Ohio State's appeal on behalf of the suspended players, including starting quarterback Terrelle Pryor.
The players were suspended for the first five games this fall for selling autographed memorabilia and receiving discounted tattoos.
Tressel had received a two-game suspension by Ohio State after it was discovered he had not notified the NCAA, his Ohio State bosses or the school's compliance department that he was aware for more than nine months – including throughout his team's 12-1 season in 2010 – of the players' improper benefits, ESPN reported.
"Throughout this entire situation, my players and I have committed ourselves to facing our mistakes and growing from them; we can only successfully do this together," Tressel said in a statement. "I spoke with athletic director [Gene] Smith, and our student-athletes involved, and told them that my mistakes need to share the same game sanctions."
Ohio State had learned of Tressel's knowledge of his players' NCAA violations while preparing a seven-page appeal to the NCAA of the players' suspensions. On March 8, the university announced Tressel would sit out the first two games of the 2011 season.
The NCAA has yet to rule on Tressel's punishment.[[In-content Ad]]