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I’ve been steadily putting my facts together to talk about this insane notion that what Ohio State is guilty of is anywhere close to being as bad as what happened at USC. In doing my research, I found someone who had already analyzed it to perfection as the situation stands right now. So rather than waste my time, I’m posting his version here and giving him full credit for saving me time.
This was posted by Phil Harrison of College Football News:
Phil Harrison – OSU’s Punishment Should Be Less Than USC’s
Follow Phil on Twitter @peharrison
It’s easy to get caught up in the passion of the moment and debate the mystery of what necessitates a “major NCAA violation”, and in so doing consider them all the same. While we’re at it, we would be remiss not to reiterate the obvious – that so far, despite the musings of Sports Illustrated, ESPN, and others, OSU has only been found to have had its coach lie about the covering up of the tattoo scandal. Remember, the players involved in said incident have already made their mea culpas and received their punishment.
It wouldn’t be the first time that ESPN has overblown a story (see Maurice Clarett and Les Miles going to Michigan as exhibits A and B). A story built on allegations and a piling on of offenses from what appear to be everyone with an axe to grind is never the worst case scenario. The lesson to remember here is never drink the toxic poison until after checking the vitals (think Romeo and Juliet).
Everybody calm down.
So, with what we have on the table then as known acts requiring penance – which is the only way you can answer this question – there is a strong argument to support a less severe punishment for Ohio State than what was doled out to USC as a result of the Reggie Bush fiasco.
In both cases it’s really about improper benefits and compliance. As previously mentioned, with the Buckeyes we are talking about players selling memorabilia for tattoos and a coach lying about knowing it was happening, and failing to notify compliance. The lying is the worst part of course, but the improper benefits (those acknowledged to this point) are limited to members of the Scarlet and Gray exchanging goods for services. Yes, it looks like the other cleat may have dropped with the announcement that Pryor is out and the “thousands” of dollars he allegedly made on memorabilia (which may very well prove to be true). But even if Pryor was driving cars around town and making money on things that he owned, you’d still find it difficult to argue that the OSU situation is worse than what USC was doing, again, given the entire magnitude of what we know.
OSU had one man – Tressel – bypassing compliance. USC was cited for failing to HAVE a compliance office – a complete one at least – which created a culture that failed to monitor. OSU had a failure of Tressel, and he is no longer employed by Ohio State.
But back to allegations vs. findings. To date, there has been more piling on with this situation than a WWE cage match. If all of these many allegations are true, why can’t find anyone credible to come on the record and legitimize any of this? So far, we have a player who was in the doghouse his entire career, convicted felons of tattoo parlors, widely-reported allegations which have later proven false ($0 car purchases) and “ex-friends” with their faces hidden on camera blowing the whistle as if they are testifying against the mob. Find me some real corroboration that the NCAA can use, and then we can agree that there should be more to this. Until then there is nothing concrete, and we are all still in a bit of a wait and see mode until August.
How about the other side of that coin – and money being a good segue. Let’s ‘fight on’ to USC and talk about the scope of everything that we do know. Did we mention outrageous benefits? How does a tattoo compare to living in a $700K house, which is what Reggie’s folks got the benefit of? Did you know that a house can provide you with shelter? You can also sleep in it, eat in it, and have company over. Company that might just give you fancy clothes and airplane tickets. One more thing-a house is worth a lot of dough. Add that up with all of the other proven benefits that Bush and his family received (hotel stays, suits, airfare) and it is much more cash than anything that we are talking about with OSU – even if Pryor was signing his name on horseshoes and footballs 24×7.
To make matters even more egregious in the Bush affair, the gifts came as part of an agreement that Bush would use the particular agent after his “amateur” days were over. Once agents get involved (which has not surfaced in the Ohio State case), things hit a whole new level of sanctions. The NCAA may be fickle on a lot of accounts, but it has a stern hand with its tolerance of agents.
Add into that a compliance office that was several people shy of a full house, and Yahtzee!
Let’s also not forget that at the same time, the athletic department in University Park was dealing with another fallen star, and from another sport at that. USC’s basketball program was dealing with the fallout of O.J Mayo (who by the way is from Ohio) and more improper benefits related to agents. It’s bad enough that the star of your football team is on the take, but when impropriety makes its way to the other “revenue” sport, its screams lack of control. This had to factor in the NCAA’s punishment, as both situations were a part of the same investigation.
The governing committee on infractions has shown a reputation for disciplining programs based on their findings of the hard facts, but they have also shown that it is the spirit of those transgressions that can weigh heavily on the punishment. They may not always (or rarely) do it right, but it does go into the recipe. The ingredients in USC’s case caused more harm to the athletic body than what is going on by the banks of the Olentangy.
Everyone is screaming for OSU to get “fair treatment” and receive just as much timeout in the corner as USC (if not more). Put down the pitchforks. If everyone wants fair treatment, then I am all for it. Fairly assessed, the bankrolling of houses, agents, airfare, and fictitious jobs far outweigh discounted tattoos and the subsequent cover up that we know about. Particularly as the coach with the million dollar job and star player having already been kicked off of campus – sorry, left of their own accord. Neither Bush nor USC’s Pete Carroll were ever punished directly (other than losing a trophy).
If some of the other allegations can be substantiated by the NCAA, perhaps then the two situations become closer, but OSU’s situation still doesn’t reach the level of abominations as those that occurred at USC. The Ohio State program should and will get hit hard by the NCAA, but if the ultimate outcome equals or surpasses USC, I would find no fault with Buckeye Nation getting a case
