08-21-2003, 07:26 AM
<a href='http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaaf/news?slug=ap-ohiost-autographprobe&prov=ap&type=lgns' target='_blank'>Yahoo! article</a>
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- The NCAA has reinstated 10 Ohio State football players who were ruled ineligible by the university last week for signing autographs at a health care group's convention in May, according to a published report.
The players, who were allowed to practice but could have missed at least one game, were ruled ineligible by the school on the day it disclosed the violations to the NCAA, according to The Columbus Dispatch.
The NCAA reinstated the players after determining that mitigating circumstances contributed to the violations, athletic director Andy Geiger said.
What mitigating circumstances? Makes no sense to me, but then I'm not a crimi...er 'Ohio State Athletic Director'.
``Everybody is eligible,'' Geiger told the newspaper. ``We were confident that was how (the NCAA) would rule because they already had given us a verbal indication that would be the case.''
Geiger confirmed that the group included some prominent players, including two-way starter Chris Gamble, but not tailback Maurice Clarett. He declined to list names.
A message requesting comment was left with the NCAA at its headquarters number in Indianapolis. A message also was left for Geiger at his home number.
The players were paid an hourly salary for working at a booth operated by a central Ohio health care company at the Ohio Health Care Association's convention May 5-8 in Columbus.
Part of the work included signing autographs for people at the convention, said Heather Lyke, Ohio State's associate athletic director in charge of compliance.
``The issue is, what work were they getting paid to perform?'' Lyke said. ``Simply signing autographs is impermissible. You can't get paid based on the value you bring to a company based on your reputation as a student-athlete. Other people in the company weren't there signing autographs.''
The players earned different amounts because some worked longer than others. None received more than $200 and some received less than $100, Lyke said.
The NCAA reinstated eligibility in part because the university followed procedure in dealing with the violations, she said. Players issued statements of wrongdoing, were required to forfeit their convention job earnings and no longer can work with the health care company.
Under NCAA rules, the money the players earned goes to the university, which in turn donates it to the charity of the player's choice.
The NCAA also took into account that the players worked for a company that had employed them previously without incident.
What exactly do they do for this company?
Ohio State learned of the violation about two weeks ago while reviewing athletes' work records.
Geiger described the violation as an honest mistake.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- The NCAA has reinstated 10 Ohio State football players who were ruled ineligible by the university last week for signing autographs at a health care group's convention in May, according to a published report.
The players, who were allowed to practice but could have missed at least one game, were ruled ineligible by the school on the day it disclosed the violations to the NCAA, according to The Columbus Dispatch.
The NCAA reinstated the players after determining that mitigating circumstances contributed to the violations, athletic director Andy Geiger said.
What mitigating circumstances? Makes no sense to me, but then I'm not a crimi...er 'Ohio State Athletic Director'.
``Everybody is eligible,'' Geiger told the newspaper. ``We were confident that was how (the NCAA) would rule because they already had given us a verbal indication that would be the case.''
Geiger confirmed that the group included some prominent players, including two-way starter Chris Gamble, but not tailback Maurice Clarett. He declined to list names.
A message requesting comment was left with the NCAA at its headquarters number in Indianapolis. A message also was left for Geiger at his home number.
The players were paid an hourly salary for working at a booth operated by a central Ohio health care company at the Ohio Health Care Association's convention May 5-8 in Columbus.
Part of the work included signing autographs for people at the convention, said Heather Lyke, Ohio State's associate athletic director in charge of compliance.
``The issue is, what work were they getting paid to perform?'' Lyke said. ``Simply signing autographs is impermissible. You can't get paid based on the value you bring to a company based on your reputation as a student-athlete. Other people in the company weren't there signing autographs.''
The players earned different amounts because some worked longer than others. None received more than $200 and some received less than $100, Lyke said.
The NCAA reinstated eligibility in part because the university followed procedure in dealing with the violations, she said. Players issued statements of wrongdoing, were required to forfeit their convention job earnings and no longer can work with the health care company.
Under NCAA rules, the money the players earned goes to the university, which in turn donates it to the charity of the player's choice.
The NCAA also took into account that the players worked for a company that had employed them previously without incident.
What exactly do they do for this company?
Ohio State learned of the violation about two weeks ago while reviewing athletes' work records.
Geiger described the violation as an honest mistake.