EXCLUSIVE: In his Ohio State debut against Akron two weeks ago, freshman Buckeye quarterback Braxton Miller passed for 132 yards and a touchdown in OSU’s 42-0 shutout of the Zips.
After the game, Ohio State head coach Luke Fickell was asked if he planned to continue both playing Miller and fellow quarterback Joe Bauserman, who started against the Zips.
We know we need them both, and I think that’s the most important thing. Those guys work great together. They’re not going to be distracted by the things that are outside and all the outside influences. We know we’re going to need them both. We’re just going to give them all the ability to put them in situations and see how they handle it, and still continue to let them compete. They know we have confidence in them, but they’re willing to work together and we’ll see how it grows.
Seven days later against Toledo at Ohio Stadium, Miller failed to play a down. After the game, Fickell was asked why the highly-touted quarterback remained on the sideline - and if an injury was the reason:
We don’t have any regrets. I don’t think we are going to look back and regret it. Obviously you look back every week, and try to find ways that you can get better, but Braxton was dinged up a little bit, practiced more so on Thursday and a little bit on Wednesday, but you know, we had a plan going in that maybe it didn’t quite happen exactly how you do.
You’ve kind of got to adjust on the run. And you know, we are not going to look back on it. We know that most importantly, we’ll make sure that those guys mind are right and they understand the situation we are in. We communicated with them so that there’s no guesswork involved and to me the most important thing is that they can stay focused and move forward and not dwell upon the past.
Moments later at the presser, Fickell was asked, “Just to clarify on Braxton, his health did play a role in the decision on Saturday?”
Fickell:
I didn’t say that. I said that he was dinged up a little bit early in the week and we had a plan going in, maybe we adjusted the plan a little bit, but most important thing is that, hey, we’re all moving forward with it. We understand it, those guys understand it. You have a plan going into the game and as long as you communicate with them, we’ll make sure we all handle things the right way and most importantly we have to do what’s best for the team.
Benching Miller wasn’t the only adjustment Fickell made when it came to playing time before the game in question.
Tuesday before the Toledo game, Fickell indicated Ohio State players Jordan Hall, Travis Howard and Corey Brown would likely be available to play after serving a one game suspension for taking envelopes containing cash at a Cleveland charity event last February. But the Friday before the game at Ohio Stadium against the Rockets, the NCAA released a statement blocking the reinstatement of the trio.
A day later - to the surprise of many - Miller took the same number of snaps against game as Hall, Howard and Brown did: zero.
In its original report to the NCAA detailing the violations committed by the aforementioned trio, the NCAA noted that two additional “current student-athletes” attended the same charity event where Hall, Brown and Howard received $200 each in envelopes utltimately provided by longtime Ohio State booster Bobby DiGeromino.
On [redacted], 2011, five current football student-athletes and two former student-athletes attended a charitable event in Cleveland. Three of the current student-athletes received impermissible monies at the charitable event - a violation of NCAA Bylaw 12.1.2.1.6. Further, a violation of NCAA Bylaw 12.5.1.1.(a) occured since the student-athletes did not receive prior written approval for attending the event this year.
Ohio State also noted in its original, Sept. 1, 2011, report to the NCAA of the two “current student-athletes”:
.. they did observe [redacted] carrying several envelopes during the event.
The two “current student-athletes” referred to by Ohio State in its report to the NCAA - with the names redacted by the the school in its release of the report to the media - are Braxton Miller and current Buckeye football player Nathan Williams.
Williams also sat out of the Toledo game and will miss the Miami game due to a knee injury.
Though I cannot confirm Fickell didn’t play Miller against Toledo because the QB was named in the NCAA report - particularly after the NCAA’s last-second Toledo game blockade of Hall, Howard and Brown - you can’t help but wonder if it was a contributing factor.
Brooks can be reached on Twitter, Facebook and directly at sportsbybrooks@gmail.com
8:02 pm on September 14th, 2011
There is no proof miller or Williams were there? Is this pure speculation or proof? Genuinely interested. Just curious of it’s speculation?
8:12 pm on September 14th, 2011
OSU had better hope that the NCAA Investigative arm doesn’t look into this too much…they’ll see that this (or something similar) has been going on for YEARS.
8:16 pm on September 14th, 2011
Amazing… 3 black quarterbacks and all 3 have committed NCAA violations. Miller wasn’t even on campus a month when this happened! When will they realize the cost of “athleticism”??
8:28 pm on September 14th, 2011
So you think Ohio State operated on Nate Williams knee today just to cover up this? Brooks you are really reaching. Ohio St self reported all of this. Did you watch the Akron game? OSU didn’t play Miller until the game was out of reach. He played one series in the first half. He didnt play in the Toledo game because A) he didn’t practice due to an injury B) Ohio St almost lost the freaking game to a MAC school and they didn’t want to risk him.
9:11 pm on September 14th, 2011
“Amazing… 3 black quarterbacks and all 3 have committed NCAA violations. Miller wasn’t even on campus a month when this happened! When will they realize the cost of “athleticism”?”
Wonderful, racism here.
I really hope you’re not an Ohio St. fan because you’re fucking disgusting.
Eat a bullet.
9:22 pm on September 14th, 2011
“They need to shut down OSU and Aubarn completely.”
You need to be shut down immediately. Go drink your Haterade.
9:36 pm on September 14th, 2011
They need to shut down OSU and Aubarn completely..
10:23 pm on September 14th, 2011
Yeah, BM was there and he was holding copies of those “Cashed checks to Terrelle Pryor” that you reported a few months ago.
10:43 pm on September 14th, 2011
funny thing, brooks….OSU’s letter is dated Sept 1. Nowhere in your “article” did you mention Miller’s playing time vs Akron which, incidentally, was on September 3rd. he played one series in the 1st half and multiple series’ in the 2nd half. The three players mentioned in the letter were suspended the first two games. Given all of this, do you not think its reasonable to suggest that OSU cleared Millers’ name beforehand? No playing time vs Akron was simply a matter of surviving Toledo with a senior quarterback. move along, folks….
12:13 am on September 15th, 2011
It is so cute to watch you Ohio fans bust SBB’s chops. Sooner or later, THE Dirtiest Program in College Football will pay for their wanton disregard for the rules. I’m just glad someone with a national following isn’t falling for Mark Emmert’s misdirection of the public to Miami so that he can let BFF Gordon Gee have a free pass.
Meanwhile, Buckeye fans, keep believing the load of horse pucky that your Columbus press has been feeding you for fifty years about how your program “does things right.”
8:47 am on September 15th, 2011
In the eyes of Buckeye fans, has OSU EVER done anything wrong? Anytime a report comes out about OSU violating rules, OSU fans pull the same “nothing to see here” act and blame the messenger rather than see the faults of their program.
9:38 am on September 15th, 2011
I like the fact he is “reaching ” for a story and people said he was “reaching’ for a story with TP being involved in the money and then blowing the whistle… OSU fans pretty much know the best thing for them is TP not talk to the NCAA about all he knows. There is no conspiracy theory too out there on this one
11:48 am on September 15th, 2011
Dude you are absolutely crushing. Ive got your Twitter feed as my #1 bookmark now too.
1:31 pm on September 15th, 2011
The two redacted names are TP and Jon Newsome…neither are with the team any longer.
6:41 pm on September 15th, 2011
I’m sure he’s drafting a correction as we speak….
9:26 pm on September 16th, 2011
chette williams was there also looking for work. He knows the NCAA Guillotine has been released on the boogs… roaches always seek roaches.
1:26 pm on September 20th, 2011
OSU lovers and haters are equally nuts. calling Ohio state the dirtiest team in college is like calling someone the biggest red neck in texas. defending what they did is stupid- ALL NCAA teams are dirty. each team has their own way instead of giving the parents a house or money, or aborting an unplanned kid, or getting whores, free grades/papers, nike deals etc…. it was hundred dollar handshakes (envelopes), bartered tattoos and free rent-a-cars. all of you are nuts and need to realize your favorite team is corrupt. just like your favorite player took roids and will leave town for the last penny. my only issue with brooks is his obsession with OSU i would like to see him hit the other crooks as hard.