Sunday, February 27, 2011
As Ohio State students we all have heard about the scandal involving Terrelle Pryor and 5 other football players. All 6 of these students were suspended for NCAA violations. Some of the violations consisted of selling their gold pants, uniforms, and Big Ten title rings. Terrelle Pryor, Mike Adams, Dan Herron, DeVier Posey, and Solomon Thomas are to sit out the first 5 games of next season and repay for what they sold. Jordan Whiting is to sit out for the first game of the season. Do you feel as if this punishment is fair? If not what do you think should have been done? Does this whole scandal make you look down on them or at the university? Do you feel they tainted the true meaning of being a buckeye?
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The punishment fits the crime fairly well. Having them benched for a very short amount of time and making up for the various financial arrangements the players exploited is little to ask.
ReplyDeleteTo answer the question presented, yes the players deserved the punishments that they were given.
However, on the same note, they did not deserve all the negative publicity that they received. Very commonly nowadays, people make an example of such negativity. This certainly isn't the first time any athlete has sold memorabelia or taken advantage of discounted services offered and it definitely will not be the last.
The question is, when it happened in the past, and when it reoccurs in the future, will such explosive media make an example out of them to this degree?
As an athlete, I can vouch for the University's Compliance office for their extensive review of violations ranging from drug use to autographs. I can't believe that this group of young men could be bold enough to sell their belongings without thinking they would face consequences. I think they were let off easy and could have been punished more harshly. However, as I am also a Buckeye, I'd rather have the boys play for Big Ten games!
ReplyDeleteI think that the punishment is fair for these boys. Being a part of an Ohio State varsity sport should have these boys being proud of what they have, not willing to give it away. I’m not sure what the boys really sold the stuff for, if it was money to help their families out or just for the extra cash. Either way is not acceptable. If they need the money then get a part time job like everyone else. Selling the items is like a slap in the face of the University and the students that go here. They should have had more respect for their team and the positions they held.
ReplyDeleteI believe that the players did receive a fair punishment, but i also believe that the media may have blown this issue out of proportion. As said before this is not the first time athletes have used their fame to get things they want and sell memorabelia. They are young adults who have been a little shaken by their fame. They deserve a second chance in the public eye. They made their mistakes and now OSU football will pay for it in the first five games next year.
ReplyDeleteYou know what the first thing you do as an athlete when reporting for preseason training? You sit through meetings run by the Compliance office. So it's not that they didn't know. It's that they didn't care. This is further supported from selling the Big Ten Championship rings and gold pants. Those things are invaluable. They are tokens of all your hard work and accomplishments throughout your athletic career, and they pawned them off for a couple bucks. Now, I'm very against what they did, but I still think that five games may be a bit excessive... but that might come from just being a football fan. Also, I respect that they all are coming back next year and accepting the consequences instead of going to the NFL.
ReplyDeleteI think punishment is deserved for the player's dealings but 5 games might be a little excessive since it not only punishes the players but ultimately the school. Since the NCAA has their rules, it is very though to get out of anything so there isn't really anything that can be done. In selling some rewards, it degrades the school more so than taking benefits. I think the consequences of this was to make a point rather than to actually punish the player's actions.
ReplyDeleteFrom my own perspective, the punishment is relatively fair. The gold pants and uniforms as well as Big Ten title rings are not just the things they naturally are. They represent the honor and pride of buckeye football team and the whole Ohio state people. As the player of football team, they should show their respect to the team, especially the football fans who like them. However, I think we should give them a second chance since they are so important to the whole team. If they are avoided playing games, it is not only the damage of the team, but also the injure of the fans who love them.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, the punishment the players received was excessive for the infraction they committed. While it is against NCAA rules for players to sell gifts given to them by the university while they are still students at the university, rulebreaking gets swept under the rug very frequently when it comes to college and professional athletes. I do not agree with this fact, but it seems to me that everyone should be treated equally if things are allowed to slide. In regards to the negative media attention received by the players and the team, this was completely unfair because it got blown way out of proportion. It was made into a much bigger deal than it was and brought unnecessary embarrassment to the players, the team, and the university for stupid mistakes by only a select number of players.
ReplyDeleteI think punishment is fair.Because as team members of football in OSU,they should not sell the rewards which stands for honor. As long as they sell it,it showes their unrepect of the effort. So limit their chances on playing games is actually fair.
ReplyDeleteI think the punishment is fair for these 6 athletes who violated the rule of selling memorabilia to someone else. Though letting them sit out of 5 games would cause lose for the sport team and also school, at least, they got punishment that made them know how serious the consequence of such personal behaviors and also prevented such thing happening again, giving a remind and warning to other athletes. In the long run, it would benefit both the sport team and the school.
ReplyDeleteI think the 5 game suspension is a little excessive for a scandal that occurred two years ago. By suspending the players from games, their teammates are also being punished which is unfair. Yes, these guys had to have known they were not allowed to sell these gifts because of all the rules laid out at the beginning of the season, but this is overkill. Repaying the money to the university would have been the perfect punishment alone. That way only these 6 players would be affected and not the rest of their team, the university, and their fans. Since the punishment is set in stone, they now just need to work on regaining a better reputation in the eyes of the media and their fans after all of the negative publicity.
ReplyDeleteThe punishment may be suitable, not only because these men do not get to play, but also, they must face the embarrassment from the public. I do not understand why Jordan Whiting’s punishment was less severe than any of the other players. I do not think that this scandal reflects the attitude for the university. This scandal does reflect negatively on those players involved. Only time will tell if this punishment was sufficient enough to teach the players a lesson.
ReplyDeleteIt is clear that these athletes need a punishment for their actions, but I do not believe the one they were given was the proper one. I think that giving them probation of 5 games is a little excessive. Having the athletes pay for the items they got for free and making them sit out for 1-2 games should be enough punishment. The problem with this punishment is that it not only punishes the athletes involved, but also punishes their teammates and fans. The punishment should be strong enough to teach them a lesson, but not so strong that it ruins their careers.
ReplyDeleteI think that the punishment that players received was excessive. When you break a rule you should be punished, and I feel the scandal did hurt the schools reputation. However, I am not entirely sure I agree with the rule, I feel if someone owns property they should be able to sell it.
ReplyDeleteI believe that a person has every right to do what they want with their own property. However, selling a treasured item such as their Big Ten title rings seems to me to be just plain selfish and uncaring. Those rings aren't a prize to be repackaged and resold, those are meant to go on the mantle when you're older and tell your kids about how you played football in college. Selling them is a mockery to the spirit of the game.
ReplyDeleteI definitely believe that the punishment is unfair. Not because I am a huge Buckeye fan, but because players who get in trouble with the law receive lesser punishments then our players. Our players did not technically do anything illegal, since they sold their own possessions, they just violated NCAA rules. I believe that they must receive some sort of punishment, since they broke the rules of their league. However, a 2 game suspension seems much more reasonable. I do not look down on the university at all, but i did look down on the players at first because they are hurting our chances at a title next year. However, after each player played a starring role in our victory in the Sugar Bowl, and Pryor apologized to the fans after the game, I have forgiven them. Let's win a championship next year!
ReplyDeleteThese Ohio State players committed no crime. They didn’t steal anything. They were simply trying to find a way to help their families. Selling personal items for money to help one’s family is not at all selfish. They all sold memorabilia of their almost over college football career in order to help their families financially because they cannot have a job due to the complicated and timely football and academic schedule. They rightfully earned these personal possessions and should have every right to sell their belongings. Breaking the NCAA rule is not breaking the law and I feel that their punishment is too harsh. It is understandable for them to have to repay what they sold but having them suspended for the first 5 games is going overboard. What doesn't make sense to me is that once a player is graduated, they are able to sell things like their autographs. So why are they not able to sell the belongings that they earned while they are still in school?
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