Wednesday I reported that a number of Ohio State Buckeye football players had gotten tattoos at the same establishment in Columbus. That information followed up unpublished rumors, first noted by Dave Biddle of Bucknuts.com on Twitter, that the method of payment for tattoos by OSU football players may have caught the attention of the school’s compliance office.
Following my initial post on the subject, FOX 28 in Columbus reported that the school was considering suspending some Buckeye players from the Sugar Bowl game against Arkansas on January 4th. Though FOX 28 did not mention tattoos as the source of the possible suspensions, the COLUMBUS DISPATCH later reported that tattoos were indeed at the center of a compliance inquiry.
Ken Gordon of the Dispatch first linked Ohio State player tattoos and “discipline” in the main media with this Tweet:
Ohio State is investigating possible violations involving players getting tattoos in exchange for autographs. Some discipline likely.
Wednesday night during the Boise State-Utah Las Vegas Bowl telecast on ESPN, Brent Musburger and Kirk Herbstreit noted the Ohio State tattoo issue with Herbstreit reporting that an IRS raid on a Columbus tattoo parlor turned up autographed items from OSU players that may indicate a breach in compliance.
Gordon and Tim May of the Dispatch later added that “law enforcement” may have initially alerted Ohio State to the possible problem:
The probe apparently was the offshoot of another investigation by law-enforcement agencies of possible unlawful behavior by the parlor owner, sources said. During a search for evidence, a stash of memorabilia signed by some current and former Ohio State players was found, the sources said, and law-enforcement officials made school administrators aware of it.
Meanwhile, wednesday evening Terrelle Pryor took to Twitter to clarify the nature of his own tattoo transaction.
“I paid for my tattoos. GoBucks”
It’s important to note that I never accused Ohio State players of any manner of impropriety in my initial report, instead only pointing out that multiple Buckeyes were using the same tattoo establishment to get inked.
An official Ohio State announcement regarding the status of Buckeye football players reportedly may come as early as Thursday.
UPDATE: All Vegas sports books have now pulled the OSU-Arkansas line.
UPDATE: Ohio State football player Michael Brewster addressed the situation with a Tweet early Thursday:
For the record I got all my tattoos done in orlando at Hart and Huntington at Universal City Walk
By revealing where he got the tattoos, it’s reasonable to assume Brewster is affirming that he paid for his own tattoos.
Follow Brooks on Twitter for real-time updates.
12:39 am on December 23rd, 2010
FIRST: GO BLUE!
FACT: No university in America pours more money into its football program than Ohio State. The Buckeyes spent $32.3 million for the 2008-09 school year, according to figures from the U.S. Department of Education’s Equity in Athletics. The 2008-09 school year is the most recent data that is available.
the NCAA needs to get its head out of its ass… and show some leniency on some of these “gift” issues. OR PAY these major revenue generators( players) there fair share.Tattoos, a free meal, discounts… WTF! The NCAA rules committee is out of control and needs to get a freakin mirror check. If I had a ticket to one of these BOWL games where star players were suspended I would be demanding a refund on principal alone.
12:48 am on December 23rd, 2010
What is the big deal here?????????
Is it a matter of paying for a tattoo? or getting a tattoo for the exchange of an autograph?
There has got to be more important stuff to report guys.
2:53 am on December 23rd, 2010
I work in a tattoo studio and i can tell you this much. NO TATTOO STUDIO WILL TELL THOSE PPL THE TRUTH. False records can we made up by simply writing up fake reciepts and lies will be told. Although i hope they paid for thier tattoos, even if they didnt that tat studio will never let our buckeyes go down, arkansas goes down smokin.
3:16 am on December 23rd, 2010
Solicitaion and acceptance. In Auburn’s case it was only solicitaion, which is not a violation. Poor ‘ol OSU —- every time they play an SEC team they get beat. Now, at least, they have an excuse. OSU entered 2 national championship games ranked 1 vs LSU and Florida, and came out losers —– by a combined total of 41 points. The Big10 has never beaten an SEC team in a BCS game.
9:11 am on December 23rd, 2010
Gong….”the Big 10 has never beaten an SEC team in a BCS game”?
Have you been in the eggnog already? That couldn’t be more wrong…the Big Ten has a winning record against the SEC in BCS bowls.
9:21 am on December 23rd, 2010
So star players should not be punished but if it’s a 2nd or 3rd string guy, your’e ok with that to make it go away. Don;t worry Buckeyes, your school will not hold out any players for the Sugar Bowl, remember Clarett, otherwise, the city of Columbus would burn to the ground. But this won’t go away.Like he says, Maybe Pryor shouldn’t play football.
9:44 am on December 23rd, 2010
JS……The SEC’s record against the Big Ten is 3-1 in BCS bowl games. The SEC is 14-5 overall in BCS bowl games. The Big Ten is 10-11 in BCS bowl games. The SEC has 6 BCS National Championships (6-0) and the Big Ten has 1 (1-2).
9:52 am on December 23rd, 2010
Hawgs will go down…..??? What? With that 3rd grade offense you have with Obama running the show? No one in Arkansas wants you to be without Prior or anyone else — We were shocked to hear this news. We don’t want any excuses. You lose by 3 TDs with your stars. More without.
9:53 am on December 23rd, 2010
Good grief, just what we need….more of these absolute IDIOT knucklehead athletes getting those disgusting tattoos. Guess that is suppose to be their “manhood”. Geez. And then they wonder why they can’t get jobs (other than WalMart greeters and refuse collection officials) once their playing careers are over. Just what a want to see when I interview sales reps for my company…..tats from below their ears down to who knows where. Idiots indeed.
11:00 am on December 23rd, 2010
Believe it or not, not everyone needs to beg for a sales rep job working for some asshat like “Charlie Brown.”
Some people actually offer something of value to the world. Others make their own way without needing the approval of judgmental pricks who make their living pimping the work of others- tattoos or not.
11:27 am on December 23rd, 2010
I’m with Charlie. The lack of professionalism when I need them to respectfully represent me and my company would cause me to reject these obviously immature, irresponsible individuals.
Not seeing the value of permanently disfiguring your body. Indicates a clear lack of judgment as well as ability to see down the road.
11:35 am on December 23rd, 2010
Boom Herron and Mike Adams are the only players the Bucs might miss. Adams was the overall #1 offensive lineman in the country as a HS Senior (according to Rivals.com). Herron is a track star who has trouble finding the holes and blocks.
1:49 pm on December 23rd, 2010
Buckeyes fans, you guys are tools and OSU administration should all be thrown in the slammer. First, Gee embarrasses himself with pro-BCS comments now the Buckeyes do this to themselves. Hilarious. Give me playoffs now!
4:59 pm on December 23rd, 2010
Will they let you work at Burger King with all those tattos?
6:35 pm on January 18th, 2011
i am the artist from fine line ink who tattooed theas young men and i was payed for all most everything i did. the only exceptions that wer made wer for the players i thought of as friends for birthdays and such. wich i do for all my friends… the autographs wer not in payment. we are all buckeye fans and its just cool to have stuff like that. Go Bucks