Columbus Dispatch Article on buckeye troubles?

[buckeyegrad02]

Has anybody read this? I don't have a subscription but I heard about it and wanted to get some more info on it.

[jimotis4heisman]

http://www.dispatch.com/football/foo...223-A1-01.html

Booster, quarterback to pay for blunder
But OSU protecting contributor’s identity
Thursday, December 23, 2004
Jill Riepenhoff
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH


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As Troy Smith watches As Troy Smith watches the Alamo Bowl on television, the booster who improperly gave the Buckeye quarterback something of value last spring awaits his or her punishment from Ohio State.




A source yesterday confirmed that Smith accepted an undisclosed "extra benefit" from an officially sanctioned booster, a violation of NCAA Bylaw 16.12.2.1.

Though Smith’s reputation has been tainted by the incident, the name of the booster who tripped the rising star likely will remain secret.

"It’s not something we disclose," Athletics Director Andy Geiger said yesterday. "We live in a litigious age and we handle it privately."

NCAA rules require Ohio State to blackball a booster who gives athletes something of value.

If Ohio State determines that the booster acted improperly, he or she forever will lose the right to buy tickets to OSU athletic events and will be dropped from the mailing list, Geiger said.

But, he said, the university also will follow its longtime practice of protecting the booster’s identity.

The allegation against Smith surfaced last Thursday through a signed letter sent to the athletic department’s compliance office. Geiger said the violation occurred in March or April.

On Monday, Ohio State announced that it had suspended Smith, 20, a third-year sophomore, for the Alamo Bowl. The suspension could stretch to the first game next fall if the NCAA determines that OSU’s punishment was too lenient.

At Smith’s request, Geiger and Tressel promised not to reveal details of the infraction, Geiger said.

Smith returned Tuesday to his home in Cleveland. His teammates left yesterday for San Antonio, site of the game.

"We’ve been very upfront and very open, but we’re going to protect our kids," Geiger said. "People don’t always have to know everything there is to know."

The OSU Board of Trustees also remains silent on the latest Buckeye black eye. Telephone messages left for seven of 11 board members were not returned.

Sports ethicist and Ohio State professor Bill Morgan said Smith’s troubles point to one of the troublesome necessities of big-time college sports — boosters.

Former Buckeye Maurice Clarett said that boosters gave him cash, cars and cushy jobs — allegations university officials say they haven’t been able to corroborate. And former basketball player Sloboban "Boban" Savovic had a questionable relationship with a booster.

Athletic departments need booster money to stay competitive in the multibillion-dollar industry, said Morgan, a former member of the Drake Group, a national organization of university officials lobbying to de-emphasize collegiate sports.

"There’s no way you can live without these folks, but there’s no way you can live with them," he said. "These are systemic problems."

Boosters, Morgan said, generally are not alumni. They are a group of folks who donate money to athletic departments for special perks and privileges.

At Ohio State, boosters include members of the Buckeye Club, Buckeye Boosters, Varsity O and other organizations. They also include people who have employed athletes or have received season football tickets.

The Buckeye Club is the athletic department’s most profitable fund-raising arm. During the fiscal year that ended June 30, members kicked $7.5 million to the athletic department, representing nearly 10 percent of the department’s $76 million in revenue. Money generated from all other booster organizations amounted to $792,000.

Boosters generally are given the opportunity to buy season football tickets in prime Ohio Stadium locations.

The most generous boosters travel on airplanes with the team to away games. Some get access to football practices, which are closed to many individuals.

"It’s just not a morally healthy environment," Morgan said. "Anything you can do to insulate boosters from the team is a step in the right direction."

Dispatch reporter Kathy Lynn Gray contributed to this story.

jriepenhoff@dispatch.com

http://www.dispatch.com/football/foo...223-A2-06.html

Who’s a booster
Thursday, December 23, 2004

Ohio State University
Anyone who meets at least one of these criteria — currently or in the past — is considered a supporter of Ohio State University athletics and therefore subject to NCAA rules:

• Members of Buckeye athletics booster organizations

• Financial donors to the athletics department or a booster group

• Those who help recruit a prospect

• Contributors of benefits to an athlete or his or her family or friends

• Promoters of Ohio State’s athletics program

• Employers of athletes or people who help arrange jobs

• Parents or legal guardians of an athlete • Season-ticket holders

[gregobucks]

"Though Smith’s reputation has been tainted by the incident, the name of the booster who tripped the rising star likely will remain secret." THIS is ridiculous.

"It’s not something we disclose," Athletics Director Andy Geiger said yesterday. "We live in a litigious age and we handle it privately." - WRONG!!!! Let the public know. I am getting tired of the haves (boosters who buy there way into privileges) getting more and more and the have nots (namely the students) getting less and less. I realize the boosters bring in $ but it shouldn't be done at the cost of OSU's integrity.

"If Ohio State determines that the booster acted improperly, he or she forever will lose the right to buy tickets to OSU athletic events and will be dropped from the mailing list, Geiger said." - (sarcasm font) Ouch! They are off the mailing list. That’s gonna leave a mark! You tell me their best buddy booster isn’t going to continue to supply these idiots with primo seats as long as they continue to supply the $. How can we keep Geiger accountable for this without knowing who these idiots are? They will continue to get their booster seats.

But, he said, the university also will follow its longtime practice of protecting the booster’s identity. - This is wrong wrong wrong. I am a lifetime member of the Alumni Club and by God I have the right to know what friggin' idiot is helping to taint my alma mater's good name in athletics. This is totally unacceptable to me. Why are they protecting the perpetrators? They have no rights. Apparently, according to Geiger, they had the right to pay players without getting caught, we should have the right to know who is stupid enough to pay the players.

"Boosters, Morgan said, generally are not alumni. They are a group of folks who donate money to athletic departments for special perks and privileges." - I accept this to a point. It is ridiculous to continue to allow these people access if they are going to pay these players like that. Take away a perk or two, and they will begin to police themselves.

"Boosters generally are given the opportunity to buy season football tickets in prime Ohio Stadium locations." - Another example of students getting screwed.

"The most generous boosters travel on airplanes with the team to away games. Some get access to football practices, which are closed to many individuals." - Just pathetic. Golly. If I win the lottery, I’d love to buy my way into a practice or two. It is capitalism at it’s best. I accept that. I don’t accept continually exposing the players to this sort of activity if these boosters aren’t going to play by the rules.

Look. I understand the nature of the beast. I understand this goes on in every large university. I understand we need booster money. I understand the relationship between giving more perks for $ and the program gets more $ from boosters. I understand that if the boosters didn’t get this close access to the players through the perks, that the $ would still invariably end up in the athletes hands somehow and it is up to the player to refuse the $. I understand and accept this.

What I don’t understand is Geigers reluctance in trying to tame this beast. Why protect their identity? Will we lose $100,000 a year because a couple of boosters would throw a temper tantrum if Geiger changed the policy of keeping the cheaters anonymous? So what, there’d be others willing to step in and take up the slack. Isn’t that the argument always being made when defending this beast in the first place?

I say make them known to the Buckeye community and this sort of thing would be less likely to happen. If they are businessmen their reputation would be tarnished. It deserves to be tarnished. We as Buckeye fans can better monitor (I realize, responsibly is yet another argument), whether these boosters are actually being assessed these punishments. I really don’t trust Geiger much anymore. This booster stuff seems like some sort of exclusive club with special handshakes, secret code words, and expensive decoder rings.

[NFBuck]

This is really getting rediculous.

[BuckeyeSkins]

I read those articles in the paper this morning and if I hadn't been sitting down I would have fallen on my ass. Troy admitted he made a mistake. He knows it, we all know it. But then it's OK to smear his name all over the place for making the mistake but the individual who is also to blame for the trouble gets to remain anonymous. I could be way off base here but seems to me the asshole who started all this should have his/her name up in lights and take the heat equally with Troy. Oh that's right, I forgot, as a booster he/she gives lots of money to the school so they don't want to offend this person and loose that money.

Just my feelings on the whole situation. Right or wrong.

[Alan]

it is probably best that this boosters name not be made public....as ridiculous as it sounds...

if you think you fell off your chair reading that story....imagine what you would do if this name came out...

[OSU SPORTS]

Like everything in our society,litigation is always a concern.Not releasing the name of the booster has little to do with helping the booster,just a prudent measure to protect the school against possible litigation.The other obvious concern is that the "lunatic fringe"part of the fan base might try to pull a Charles Bronson and avenge the deed.Death threats have become commonplace in NFL cities and other hotbeds of sports.But the name will probably surface because the media has no such restraints and feels like it is their duty on earth to right every perceived wrong on the planet,which in itself is a joke.I have no interest in knowing who the person was,but I would like the Universities to be empowered to take legal action against some of the offenders who cause harm to the U.They should also limit access to the players.

[Alan]

its really amazing that the boosters name has never come out before.....talk about conspiracy theories....

the only way the name comes out is if the other big boosters (who do it the proper way) are done with said booster who cant control himself.....

[sandgk]

Originally Posted by Alan

it is probably best that this boosters name not be made public....as ridiculous as it sounds...

if you think you fell off your chair reading that story....imagine what you would do if this name came out...

For my money Alan a more interesting question is who dropped the dime and why.

I'm guessing tOSU's official policy is to keep the name at the bottom of the signed letter under wraps.

[CriticalSteve]

Arrested and released, player still with team
Friday, December 24, 2004
Ken Gordon and Tim May
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

Dukes is the fifth Buckeyes player to be charged with a crime in the past year, joining Branden Joe, Louis Irizarry, Ira Guilford and A.J. Trapasso. A sixth, Lydell Ross, was investigated but not charged.

[osugrad21]

Might be a slight reach to use the same context for "crime" when discussing Joe/Trepasso alongside Izzy/Guilford...

Over-indulging college students are not on the same level as violent offenders

[martinss01]

for those who think this persons name should be revealed. my question is "for what purpose"?

last i checked financial donations ARE NOT illegal. technically the booster has commited no offense. its kind of like copyright infringement. its not illegal to record any copyrighted material. it is however illegal to distribute it. as a college athlete it is illegal to accept money from boosters. as a booster, it is not illegal to give money to student athletes. is it a double standard? yes. is it fair? no. but then, can any of you explain to me a single part of life that is?

smith accepted the help. he's at fault. its just that simple.

[gregobucks]

"last i checked financial donations ARE NOT illegal. technically the booster has committed no offense"martinss01

What about Ed Martin and Michigan? I don't know any of the details but it seems there was litigation in that case before he died.

Whether OSU discloses the boosters name has nothing to do with the act being legal or not. I don't care. It is immoral and should be dealt with from both ends. The giver, in my opinion, is just as guilty as the receiver regardless of what you or the "rules" say.

If I walk up to a college athlete and offer him/her money, I know darn well that I am doing something wrong because I have enough intelligence to understand the moral ramifications of this act which will have no impact on me personally. However, if the young man/woman accepts the money it has instantly become a broken rule. Hmmm. Seems like a bit of a farce. Why aren't these boosters held accountable? They should be if they aren't. Losing a subscription to a stupid newsletter should not be the only punishment.

Geiger should release this idiots name. His/her name will not be released and he/she will continue to receive tickets and perks through his/her best friends who conveniently and coincidentally also have hundreds of thousands of dollars to spend getting their seats on the 50 yard line at the Shoe and court-side at the Schott. Geiger is protecting his investment by not releasing the name. This whole thing is a joke.

[Jaxbuck]

My SWAG as to the booster in question: Either George Steinbrenner or, as previously noted in another thread, a memeber of the Schottenstein(sp?) family.


If it were just some schmo the name would be out already. It takes big time money and clout to make people scared to name names in a situation like this.

Just a guess.

[trinitytex]

"What about Ed Martin and Michigan? I don't know any of the details but it seems there was litigation in that case before he died."


I believe Ed Martin's troubles were because of illegal gambling and tax evasion. The whole C-Webb thing was a way to launder the money he made from the illegal gambling activities and those came out. The money laundering may have been illegal, but not because he was a booster giving the cash to a student-athlete.