Ohio State Allegations: Violations Show Jim Tressel Is Right in NCAA Crosshairs

On Monday, the NCAA released its letter of allegations about Ohio State's violations stemming from "Tattoogate" and Jim Tressel's cover-up of emails from lawyer Charlie Cicero.

Unfortunately for Tressel, the letter stated that the university did not appear to have a "lack of institutional control," especially after OSU AD Gene Smith threw Tressel under the bus, saying he was upset by how Tressel treated the initial press conference.

If this is true, all the punishment is on Tressel, and Tressel alone.

Even though the NCAA can't physically fire Tressel, his career and legacy will be forever tarnished.

The program now has to assess itself and find out what will be the best way to go with the future of the football team.

In light of these allegations, the university has been very open and cooperative with the NCAA as far as access to questionable information.

Based on the information released, it seemed clear that Tressel kept the information to himself without the knowledge of Smith or university president E. Gordon Gee, even though he approached the FBI about the emails.

Tressel's error in judgment could be one that—even if he doesn't get fired—would put a big asterisk on his legacy.

Even though the university might not have to deal with the lack of institutional control bill that USC got hammered for in 2010, it may still have to deal with a problem that is just as severe.

Former OSU basketball coach Jim O'Brien was accused and punished for paying a recruit $6,000 to come to Ohio State in 2006, which technically falls under a repeat violator status.

If the NCAA decides to follow through with that barrier, it can ramp up the punishments for the OSU football program, which means as much as being banned from bowl games—including the Big Ten's first-ever conference championship game.

The NCAA can also—in addition to a possible probation, vacating of wins outside of the 2011 Sugar Bowl, in which the NCAA told OSU to play their suspended players and a bowl ban—force OSU into a show-cause penalty where the university has to prove beyond reasonable doubt that Tressel should stay at his current post.

Remember, Tressel is an employee of Ohio State, which means that the NCAA cannot fire him under any circumstance.

Only Smith and Gee have that right.

However, the language of the allegations reveals that Tressel was at fault for the coverup, which could hurt the program for the next few seasons.

August 12 is when Tressel, Smith and Gee will go in front of the NCAA Committee on Infractions to answer these allegations, and it may take up to two months for the mystery of the scandal to finally end.

Most likely, the school might be forced to let him go at some point.

Odds are, the stiffest punishments will be aimed at Tressel, not the program directly, as he is right in the crosshairs of the investigation.

He could miss the entire 2011 season, be fined much more money or possibly be forced out of his job by Smith and Gee.

Even though the letter reveals what fans already know about the situation, the collar on Tressel's sweater vest might be tightening more than it ever has.

For more college football news and information, follow me on Twitter @bielik_tim.