Ohio State suspends football coach Tressel for NCAA violation

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio State suspended football coach Jim Tressel for two games and fined him $250,000 on Tuesday for violating NCAA rules by failing to notify the school about information he received involving two players and questionable activities involving the sale of memorabilia.

Tressel also will receive a public reprimand and must make a public apology. The NCAA is investigating and could reject the self-imposed penalties and impose additional sanctions.

Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith said he never seriously considered firing Tressel for violating his contract, which specifies that he must immediately report any – the word is underlined in the contract – information which pertains to violations of NCAA, Big Ten or Ohio State bylaws and rules.

“Wherever we end up, Jim Tressel is our football coach,” Smith said. “He is our coach, and we trust him implicitly.”

Last December, the NCAA suspended quarterback Terrelle Pryor and four teammates for the first five games of the 2011 season for selling jerseys, championship rings and trophies to a local tattoo parlor owner. The suspensions came 16 days after the U.S. attorney told the school of a federal investigation that included players.

The school did not learn until January, however, that Tressel had been tipped off to the federal investigation back in April.

“Obviously I’m disappointed that this happened at all,” Tressel said. “I take my responsibility for what we do at Ohio State tremendously seriously and for the game of football. I plan to grow from this. I’m sincerely saddened by the fact that I let some people down and didn’t do things as well as I possibly could have.”

Yahoo! Sports first reported Tressel’s prior knowledge of the possible improper benefits on Monday.

The Buckeyes coach said he kept quiet out of fear for the safety of the two players connected to the federal, criminal drug-trafficking case. That investigation prompted an Ohio State and NCAA investigation involving players selling memorabilia and getting discounted tattoos.

The Buckeyes open next season with games against Akron and Toledo, likely playing those without their coach and their quarterback.