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The head of a law firm that helps schools deal with the NCAA said the Ohio State punishment of Jim Tressel appears lenient.
Michael Buckner spoke with The Columbus Dispatch and offered his analysis of the two-game suspension and $250,000 fine given to Tressel by the school for failing to reveal information about possible violation by two of his players.
"Just looking at it, it may seem a little light, especially in light of the fact Tressel didn't report it to the university within a reasonable period of time," Buckner said.
The Dispatch noted the NCAA has sanctioned 27 schools since 2006 for violating bylaw 10.1, which requires coaches and others to be truthful and forthcoming about possible NCAA violations. Of the 12 coaches involved, only one kept his job. The others either resigned or were fired by their schools.
"In those periods when he had an opportunity and a duty to disclose, he failed to do so," Buckner said. "I think the NCAA could also come back and add failure to monitor or failure to promote an atmosphere of compliance. Those are program violations.
"With those three (including the bylaw 10.1 violation), you could look at the two-game suspension and the fine to be the minimum."
ESPN reported Ohio State initially considered suspending Tressel for spring practice and summer camps, according to Ohio State's original self-report document sent to the NCAA, dated March 8 and signed by university president E. Gordon Gee, Smith and faculty athletics representative John Bruno, the school wrote:
"This letter will review the institution's inquiry and also define the corrective and punitive actions, which include suspending him from coaching several games during the 2011 football season, reducing his salary, and precluding Coach Tressel from having any involvement with spring practice or summer camps in 2011."
Ohio State athletic department spokeswoman Shelly Poe told ESPN in an email that Tressel would participate in spring practice and summer camps, pending the NCAA's decision on the case.
The Dispatch also revealed the name of the man that tipped off Tressel to the violations. Christopher Cicero, a Columbus lawyer, sent emails last spring regarding the activities of tattoo-parlor owner Edward Rife, who purchased items from Buckeyes players.
Cicero, who was a walk-on player at Ohio State in the '80s, represented Rife when the latter was a witness in a murder trial. He also represented Santonio Holmes in a disorderly conduct case when the NFL player was with the Buckeyes in 2003.
Follow Erick on Twitter at @erick_smith
See photos of: Ohio State Buckeyes, NCAA
Source: http://rssfeeds.usatoday.com/~r/UsatodaycomSports-TopStories/~3/UYFjiOrhNno/1
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