2011 College Football Offseason

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Jenkins could end up being a coveted player in the supplemental draft if he declares. Had he declared for the draft, he might have been the fourth CB taken and maybe a second round pick.

 

Even with his concerns, he could be a second-third round type player in the supplemental draft.

 

I think you're knocking his talent a bit; Jenkins could have snuck into the first round in the real draft if there were no concerns about his character.

 

I agree with you on his talent. I figured character would have pushed him to the top of the second. If he's eligible for the supplemental draft, I wonder how high he will go. My guess is someone will be willing to risk a second rounder on him, especially a team who misses out on one of the CB's in this year's draft.

[Banedon]

WASHINGTON -- The Justice Department has sent a pointed letter to the NCAA asking why there isn't a playoff system for college football, saying "serious questions" continue to be raised about whether the current Bowl Championship Series complies with federal antitrust laws.

 

In a letter this week, the Justice Department's antitrust chief, Christine Varney, asked NCAA President Mark Emmert why college football doesn't use a playoff system to determine its national champion, while other NCAA sports do; what steps the NCAA has taken to create one, and whether Emmert thinks there are aspects of the BCS system that don't serve the interest of fans, schools and players.

 

"Your views would be relevant in helping us to determine the best course of action with regard to the BCS," she wrote.

 

Varney noted that the attorney general of Utah, Mark Shurtleff, has announced that he plans to file an antitrust lawsuit against the BCS, and that 21 professors recently sent the department a letter asking for an antitrust investigation.

[NOLA]

Uh oh. The plot thickens.

 

http://collegefootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/05/07/o-h-uh-oh-buckeyes-to-probe-car-sales-to-players-and-relatives/

 

 

O-H! UH-OH! Buckeyes to probe car sales to players and relatives

Posted by John Taylor on May 7, 2011, 9:44 AM EDT

 

Well, here we go again.

 

Even as The Ohio State University is in the midst of a major quagmire created by the lies and cover-up of its head coach, now they may have yet another issue to deal with. And one that the NCAA may very well have a significant interest in.

 

Prompted by a Columbus Dispatch investigation that began in 2007, the OSU’s associate athletic director and head of compliance told the paper that the school will take a look into the sale of at least 50 used vehicles to student-athletes — mainly football players — and their relatives. According to the Dispatch‘s report, the probe will center on two Columbus dealerships – Jack Maxton Chevrolet and Auto Direct — and whether or not the players and/or their relatives were given deals not offered to the general public. While the two dealerships are not connected and have different owners, Aaron Kniffin was a salesman at both businesses; the Dispatch describes Kniffin as the common thread in two dozen transactions.

 

Kniffin, if you recall, was the salesman whose name was connected to a previous investigation of vehicles being driven by quarterback Terrelle Pryor. OSU cleared Pryor of any wrongdoing in that case.

 

And, at least for now, the OSU compliance official sees the same ending in this latest case.

 

“We’ll take a step back, we’ll take a look at the transactions and the values, and we’ll make some determinations in consultation with the (Big Ten) conference office and go from there,” Doug Archie told the paper.

 

“I have nothing to believe a violation has occurred.”

 

The report, which again can be viewed by clicking HERE, is very detailed and extensive but well worth the time it takes to pour over, but here are a few of the highlights — or lowlights, depending on the amount of scarlet & gray clothing littering your closet.

 

– Jack Maxton owner Jeff Mauk and Auto Direct owner Jason Goss were interviewed by Archie Friday and both individuals denied giving special treatment to players or their relatives. The Dispatch reports that Goss and Kniffin attended seven football games — including the 2007 national championship and 2009 Fiesta Bowl — as guests of players who were members of the football team at the time. Goss denied that he was a guest of any player to whom he sold a vehicle.

 

– For the biggest red flag from the entire potential situation unearthed by the Dispatch, we’ll allow the paper to spell it out here:

 

Public records show that in 2009, a 2-year-old Chrysler 300 with less than 20,000 miles was titled to then-sophomore linebacker Thaddeus Gibson. Documents show the purchase price as $0.

 

Mauk could not explain it. “I don’t give cars for free,” he said. Gibson said he was unaware the title on his car showed zero as the sales price. “I paid for the car, and I’m still paying for it,” he said, declining to answer further questions.

 

– Former running back Maurice Wells‘ mother, who lived in Maryland at the time, bought a vehicle from Kniffin while he was an employee of the Chevrolet dealership. That transaction is one of the four dozen or so under investigation.

 

– The mother and brother of star quarterback Terrelle Pryor, suspended for the first five games of the 2011 season for receiving impermissible benefits in an unrelated case, also purchased vehicles from Kniffin. The transactions involving the relatives of Pryor and Wells are three of the eight involving individuals related to current or former Buckeyes student-athletes. Archie told the paper he was aware of all the transactions involving players being looked into by the Dispatch — the owners of the dealerships stated they routinely call Archie whenever an OSU athlete is going to purchase a vehicle from them — but he was not aware of the purchases made by the relatives of players.

 

– On so many players buying vehicles from one or two dealerships, Archie told the Dispatch that “t’s something from a compliance perspective that I would rather not have.” Two former NCAA investigators who requested anonymity told the paper that there’s cause for concern as they’ve never heard of so many athletes buying cars from the same salesman.

 

– Speaking of said salesman, Kniffin, who currently sells vehicles in another state, owes more than $130,000 to the IRS and his $570,000 Delaware County (Oh.) home is in foreclosure.

 

– If you take the the first “n” out of Kniffin, what are you left with?*

 

In and of itself, this latest situation casts Ohio State in a very negative light, at least in the short-term and until it’s proven one way or the other. Add it on to the previous issues, however, and it doesn’t paint a pretty picture of the current state of the flagship football program of the state of Ohio.

 

At some point, the university is going to be forced to take a step back and take a hard look at not only head coach Jim Tressel, but Tressel’s boss, athletic director Gene Smith, as well. Then again, if some of them did that, they’d have to worry about the coach dismissing them. Right, Mr. Gee?

 

(*that was my point, not the Dispatch’s. And it was a joke. Lighten up people.)

[Derwood]

Burn, baby, burn

[Magnetic Curses]

why is the NCAA allowing OSU to do their own investigation? it seems like all they want to do is question the football player and then throw up their hands and declare boys will be boys. they don't seriously want to uncover anything and appear to be actively assisting in some kind of coverup.

 

it doesn't make any sense. of course the school is going to try to protect it's milk supply.

[SpongeWorthy]

Because schools like OSU are the NCAA's milk supply in the same way the football program is OSU's?

[NOLA]

Surely the NCAA will get involved with their own investigators at some point. This keeps getting worse and worse.

I am still waiting for someone to explain to me how Boise State's violations totaled a few thousand, which was repaid by the athletes to a charity, yet they get cited for "Lack of Institutional Control". If this isn't a lack of control I don't know what is. This is shaping up to be nearly SMU bad. OK, maybe not THAT bad, but bad.

[E.J.]

This is getting good.

[dew1679666265]

why is the NCAA allowing OSU to do their own investigation? it seems like all they want to do is question the football player and then throw up their hands and declare boys will be boys. they don't seriously want to uncover anything and appear to be actively assisting in some kind of coverup.

 

it doesn't make any sense. of course the school is going to try to protect it's milk supply.

 

Doesn't the school usually do its own investigation first and then the NCAA double checks everything? I know Tennessee did "internal investigations" during Hostessgate and after Bruce Pearl admitted to lying. Not sure if that was before or during the NCAA investigations, though.

[NCCubFan]

It seems to me that the norm is either for the school to self-investigate first or for a joint school and NCAA investigation, but I don't think it's common for the NCAA to investigate first.

[dew1679666265]

It seems to me that the norm is either for the school to self-investigate first or for a joint school and NCAA investigation, but I don't think it's common for the NCAA to investigate first.

 

If I recall correctly in the Pearl situation, Tennessee self-investigated, punished Pearl and then the NCAA investigation started. I don't believe the NCAA investigated at the same time.

[NOLA]

I have some Penn St and some Michigan friends down here who are downright giddy about what's going on with this. I have a Jim Tressel apologist friend who still doesn't think anything will happen. We're in SEC country so we get no Big 10 news, but what is everybody saying up there. Are OSU fans that naive?

 

On a side note, I saw the LSU spring game and they still have no quarterback. They are seriously overrated. I'm thinking another Cotton Bowl this season.

[NOLA]

I've been doing a lot of "work" from home lately and caught tons of SEC news and spring games. For anyone that is interested, here is what I gather based on what I've heard and seen and people I've talked to who actually cover this stuff. Yes, I have tons of time on my hands. I have the flu.

 

LSU-The defense will be salty and the talent that left will be replaced yet again by All Americans ready to step in. The skill positions are nasty fast. It's the same story though, no one to get the receivers the ball. Mettenberger will be pretty good at some point, but he is not up to speed. He has Jarrett Lee-like interception issues.

 

Bama-Will be Bama. They better be able to run the ball with Trent Richardson because the QBs are new and making no one forget about McElroy-it might take some time. That said, there front sevens on both sides are nearly NFL caliber. Much better as the year goes on.

 

Auburn-Way Down. They are replacing nearly everybody and if you saw them last year you know Cam won most of their games by himself. Independence Bowl if anything. Very nice RB's.

 

Miss State-Ready to make a leap I think. This could be a big year. Their dual threat QB is only getting better and what's more THEY think they are winning the West. Maybe not, but very good.

 

Arkansas-Ready to make another leap. Many think that they will be better with Tyler Wilson at QB who fits Petrino's system better than Mallett. Knile Davis rushed for nearly 1400 yards last year with only half a season as the premier RB. Defense improved tons last year and expecting the same. Strengths are maybe the best receiving corps in the country, RB, defensive front seven. Weaknesses are young but talented OTs and CBs. Plays at Bama and LSU though.

 

Ole Miss-Wow. Could be a very long year. For the 2nd straight year, whoever starts at QB will not have an SEC snap under their belts. Bolden is a great RB. Defense could be really, really bad. Defensive captain and middle LB tore his ACL in the spring. That coaching seat is going to get hot.

 

If the sinus medication keeps me awake, I will run through the East.

[shnsajax]

So all of thr cheating everyone loves to accuse OSU of might actually br true. The entire athletic department might be gone soon the way this is headed.

[EhDubya]

Maurice Clarett's tell-all with ESPN the Mag years back is looking more and more like College FB's version of the Jose Canseco book...

 

According to Clarett, Tressel arranged loaner cars for him and Tressel's brother, Dick, found him lucrative landscaping jobs that he did not even have to show up for. He says members of Tressel's staff also introduced him to boosters who'd slip him thousands of dollars, and the better he played, the more cash he'd receive. He says boosters eventually began inviting him into their homes or would meet him out in the community....

 

..."What would have become of Ohio State if I said everything?'' Clarett told The Magazine. "Half the team would have been suspended"...

 

...."Me and a player would go into a coach's office. And the coach would be like, 'You met my friend Such-and-Such? He's a good friend of the program. You should check him out sometime.' You go over to his house, you meet him for dinner. You go play with their kids, meet their kids. The boosters know you're in college and need help. They're like, 'You got any money in your pocket?' They make sure you're straight."....

 

....

 

So I'm like, 'Coach Tressel, I can't get back and forth to campus.' This is probably after practice, 6 o'clock, 5 o'clock one night. He gets on the phone and says, this is where I get my car from. He called the man from McDaniel Automotive. He's like, 'I got a player here, Maurice Clarett. He needs a car. Do you have a car out there he can use?'

 

"So the man gets on the phone with me and says, 'What kind of cars do you like?' I say, 'Got any trucks?' He says, 'Yeah, I got two trucks. I got an Expedition and I got a Tahoe here right now.' He's like, 'I'll be there tomorrow morning.' They drove down to give me the car."

 

Clarett says he kept the Tahoe for 11 days, then switched to the Expedition. NCAA Rule 16.12.2.3 states that an institutional employee or representative of the institution's athletic interests is not allowed to provide a student athlete with the use of an automobile. According to Clarett, that is exactly what his head coach did. "This is what Jim Tressel arranged," Clarett says.

 

and maybe this is the next round of digging the NCAA/press should look into. This is also why any change in APR for most schools is bunk. It's easy to keep kids eligible if you have arrangements like this:

 

"The tutor is a professor at the school. I'd sit there with a notepad, and I'd be playing or talking on the phone, and he'd just outline everything in the book, and say, 'This is what you write for your paper.' He'd take a notepad and say, 'Write this, write that.' .... "And they'd tell you like, the old test from winter '02 is going to be the test for January '03. Or the fall of '01 is going to be the next test. They tell you how the tests rotate."

 

"My classes were all independent study," he says. "So I'd show up in like the eighth week of the quarter and do something for the last two weeks, and I'd be fine. A lot of times, during classes, I'd be in the weight room lifting. The coaches would be like, 'You get your class done?' I'd be like, 'I'll get it done the last two weeks.'"

[Tracer Bullet]

I forgot about Clarett. Almost feel bad for him since everyone else was getting away with it.

[shnsajax]

http://multimedia.detnews.com/pix/blogs/newsmakers/2011/05/billboard.jpg

[SouthSideRyan]

I forgot about Clarett. Almost feel bad for him since everyone else was getting away with it.

 

Everyone else was getting away with armed robbery?

Edited May 9, 2011 by SouthSideRyan

[Butterscup1679666578]

Anyone need a QB? Tyler Gabbert transferring.

[treebird]

http://multimedia.detnews.com/pix/blogs/newsmakers/2011/05/billboard.jpg

 

i guess it's cheaper, but putting that billboard up in siberia is really going to limit its impact

[shnsajax]

Agreed, it should have been done in Columbus.

[Derwood]

local radio guys here think that it's way too suspicious that there is so much overlap between the tattoo stuff and this car stuff. they're expecting USC level sanctions (at the very least) if the car stuff is true

[shnsajax]

local radio guys here think that it's way too suspicious that there is so much overlap between the tattoo stuff and this car stuff. they're expecting USC level sanctions (at the very least) if the car stuff is true

 

If the car stuff is true they should go well past anything that was handed down to USC.

[Tracer Bullet]

I forgot about Clarett. Almost feel bad for him since everyone else was getting away with it.

 

Everyone else was getting away with armed robbery?

 

 

I thought the crazy stuff happened after he had left osu and tried to get into the NFL early. No?

[Derwood]

local radio guys here think that it's way too suspicious that there is so much overlap between the tattoo stuff and this car stuff. they're expecting USC level sanctions (at the very least) if the car stuff is true

 

If the car stuff is true they should go well past anything that was handed down to USC.

 

The thing with the car stuff is that it also involved basketball players.

 

This is the definition of "lack of institutional control"