Ohio State Responds to NCAA Allegations, WIll Vacate All Wins from 2010

ESPN.com reported Friday afternoon that the Ohio State Buckeyes responded to NCAA charges of major violations by proposing vacating all wins from their 12-1 season in 2010. This includes the 2011 Sugar Bowl.

WBNS Channel 10 also reported the Buckeyes would make changes to their compliance department and place themselves on probation for two years. Former head coach Jim Tressel's status would also change from resigned to retired under these proposed violations.

These proposed sanctions by the Buckeyes come as no surprise, because the NCAA was almost guaranteed to take those wins and place Ohio State on probation anyway for knowingly playing ineligible players.

The NCAA has accused Ohio State of having players receive improper benefits and an attempted cover-up.

Ohio State athletic director, Gene Smith, told the Associated Press yesterday he was not optimistic about the NCAA being lenient on the Buckeyes.

"I feel good about how we collaborated with the NCAA and about what you'll see in our response," Smith said. "But I am disappointed in where we are" in terms of violations.

In retrospect, this means absolutely nothing. Everyone knows Ohio State won those 12 vacated games on the field and no one will forget about that. The only difference is, when younger generations begin to look back at the Buckeye record books, they will see an 0-1 season for 2010.

I think the NCAA may not have hit the Buckeyes as hard if they placed some harsh sanctions on themselves, but what this tells me is that Ohio State thinks they can make it out of this scandal relatively unscathed, by placing the majority of the blame for this scandal on Tressel.

Tressel resigned at the end of May for not passing along e-mails, which contained information regarding Terrelle Pryor, Dan Herron, Devier Posey and two other players committing major NCAA violations in April of 2010, to the Ohio State compliance department.

Tressel also signed a document in September of 2010, which said he did not know of any violations within the Buckeye program.

Ohio State is set to appear in front of the NCAA committee of infractions on August 12. There will likely be a lot more punishments doled out to the Buckeyes after their hearing concludes.

ESPN.com also reported Gene Marsh, the attorney for Tressel, told the Associated Press that the embattled coach will appear before the infractions committee.

There is not too much more information or commentary at this time, but be sure to check back for more updates!

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