COLUMBUS, Ohio — In a sharply worded rebuke of Ohio State’s Jim Tressel, the NCAA on Monday accused the 10-year coach of withholding information and lying to keep Buckeyes 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, because 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.
The NCAA could accept Ohio State’s suggestion of sanctions — a five-game suspension and $250,000 fine — or could levy much more severe penalties, including compelling Ohio State to fire Tressel.
• Nebraska football coach Bo Pelini received a five-year contract that gives him an immediate $425,000 raise, to $2.775 million, and will pay him more than $3 million a year starting in 2014.
• The NCAA cleared Barry Brunetti, a transfer from West Virginia, to play at Mississippi, giving the Rebels three scholarship quarterbacks for the upcoming season.
• Nine of the 11 members of an NCAA panel that will help decide the Fiesta Bowl’s fate attended a bowl-sponsored retreat that included free meals, resort rooms and golf outings. The nine members, including Colorado athletic director Mike Bohn, showed up on a 2008 “Fiesta Frolic” attendee list obtained by Playoff PAC.
The NCAA Postseason Bowl Licensing Subcommittee is scheduled to meet with Fiesta Bowl officials this week in New Orleans, but won’t make a decision on whether to revoke the bowl’s license until later this spring.
“This is a jury of the bowl’s former freeloaders,” charged Bryson Morgan, co-founder of Playoff PAC, which advocates switching to a playoff system to determine a national college football champion.
Lidstrom headlines Norris list
NEW YORK — Zdeno Chara of the Boston Bruins, Nicklas Lidstrom of the Detroit Red Wings and Shea Weber of the Nashville Predators are finalists for the Norris Trophy awarded to the NHL’s top all- around defenseman. The winner will be announced June 22.
• Chicago Blackhawks forward Bryan Bickell underwent surgery to repair a lacerated tendon in his wrist and will miss tonight’s Game 7 against the Vancouver Canucks.
Footnotes.
Hilary Knight scored 7:48 into overtime as the U.S. defeated Canada 3-2 in Zurich for its fourth women’s world hockey title in the last five events.
• Karl Hobbs was fired as the basketball coach at George Washington after going 166-129 over a 10-year run.
• Temple assistant Matt Langel was hired to succeed Emmett Davis as Colgate’s basketball coach.
• Barcelona defender Maxwell will miss the first leg of the Champions League semifinal against Real Madrid on Wednesday because of a groin injury.
The Associated Press
