Whether or not Ohio State’s at full strength personnel-wise for their Sugar Bowl showdown with Arkansas all of a sudden remains to be seen, but an answer could be coming in the very near future. or not. It just depends.
Rumors began bubbling just below the surface a couple of days ago that upwards of a dozen members of the Buckeyes football program were being questioned in regards to receiving impermissible benefits and could face sanctions ahead of the bowl game, up to and including suspension. The Columbus Dispatch now reports that the school is investigating allegations that players received ink in exchange for autographs from a local tattoo parlor.
School officials told the Dispatch that no players had been suspended, and would not even acknowledge that an investigation was taking place. OSU became aware of the potential issue when police were investigating the parlor owner on an unrelated matter and found memorabilia signed by current and former Buckeyes.
The Dispatch did not name the names of the players under investigation by the school. That, of course, did not stop our buddy SportsByBrooks from publicly fingering nine of the players believed to be a part of the probe. One of those players mentioned by name by Brooks is the biggest current Buckeye fish of all, Terrelle Pryor.
The junior quarterback took to Twitter Wednesday night to pronounce his innocence in the manner.
As for the players’ eligibility for the bowl game and beyond? The Dispatch writes that the investigation could linger and might not be wrapped up before the game. Of course, all that means is that it could push off any eligibility issues for any player involved until the start of the 2011 season.
