Ohio State Football Adds Additional Punishment, Takes Away Sugar Bowl Profits

For four hours, Ohio State faced the NCAA regarding its scandal in which football players exchanged memorabilia and tickets for discounted goods and services.

From 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., athletic director Gene Smith, President E. Gordon Gee and other Ohio State representatives answered questions about the scandal that became public in December 2010.

According to WBNS-10, Smith added an additional punishment to the football program.

"Consistent with vacating the 2011 Sugar Bowl, and in addition to our previously announced corrective and punitive actions, we also shared with the committee our decision to forfeit our share of the Big Ten's payment for having played in that game," he said.

This means that Ohio State would give back approximately $338,000. 

Former coach Jim Tressel also attended the hearing. Though Tressel's appearance was not mandatory, he released a written statement. 

"I had an open and constructive exchange with the committee on infractions. They were well prepared and will now go about their work in deliberations. Again, I would like to apologize to the Buckeye nation, most especially to the players, staff and fans who remain so dear to me."

The university's president Gee released a statement as well: "Throughout, we have been determined to do what is right in responding to the information we discovered."

"As we move forward, I am committed to ensuring that The Ohio State University is a model for other colleges and universities. Our institution expects nothing less."

New head football coach Luke Fickell also attended the hearing, but he did not address the media.

The NCAA will most likely release its decision in eight to 10 weeks. The NCAA will either accept Ohio State's proposition for self-punishment or dole out additional consequences.