NCAA sharply scolds Tressel

COLUMBUS, Ohio – In a sharply worded rebuke of Ohio State’s Jim Tressel, the NCAA on Monday accused the 10-year football coach of withholding information and lying to keep players on the field who had accepted improper benefits from the owner of a tattoo parlor.

In a “notice of allegations” sent to the school, the NCAA said the violations relating to the coach are considered “potential major violations.”

Ohio State was not cited for the most serious of institutional breaches since Tressel hid information from his superiors for more than nine months.

The university has 90 days to respond to the ruling body of college sports’ request for information before a scheduled date before the NCAA’s committee on infractions on Aug. 12 in Indianapolis.

In a 13-page indictment of Tressel’s behavior, the NCAA alleged he had “permitted football student-athletes to participate in intercollegiate athletics while ineligible.”

It also said he “failed to deport himself … (with) honesty and integrity” and said he was lying when he filled out a compliance form in September that said he had no knowledge of any NCAA violations by any Buckeyes players.

Tressel appeared at an awards banquet outside Cleveland on Monday night. He ignored reporters’ questions about the NCAA allegations on his way to the ballroom to present a coaching award named for his late father, Lee Tressel.

While making the presentation, Tressel said, “There is nothing more important than the team and nothing more important than the kids.”

Before the program ended, Tressel was escorted out a side door and into a waiting car.

Athletic director Gene Smith said he would have “no comments until the case is resolved.” The university issued a statement that the allegations were consistent with what it had already self-reported to the NCAA on March 8.