From the release:

The Ohio State University today announced that the institution and the NCAA enforcement staff have completed their joint investigation into the remaining matters not part of the NCAA’s Committee on Infractions hearing Aug. 12.  As a result, the university has received a supplemental Notice of Allegations from the NCAA and has submitted its response. The filing of this response completes the university’s submissions to the committee. The university is hopeful that the Committee on Infractions will review these materials and render its final decision in the near future.

The recent notice from the NCAA had two allegations. The first was related to the “extra benefits” violations discovered through a joint investigation with the NCAA and publicly announced by the university Sept. 1 and Oct. 3 involving Robert DiGeronimo, who at the time was a representative of the institution’s athletics interests (also known as a “booster”).  In February 2011, he arranged for cash payments of $200 each to four current or former student-athletes at an annual charity event for a nonprofit organization of which DiGeronimo was a board member. Additionally, the student-athletes attended the event without written approval from the athletics director or his designee. Further, DiGeronimo arranged for five student-athletes to be overcompensated by a total of $1,605 while they were employed by businesses owned and operated by the DiGeronimo family.

The second allegation asserts that the institution took insufficient action to monitor DiGeronimo, resulting in a “failure to monitor” allegation, primarily due to DiGeronimo’s overpayment to student-athlete employees and cash payments at the Cornerstone of Hope charitable event. This allegation only concerns a booster and does not relate to any of the issues discussed at the Aug. 12 Committee on Infractions hearing.

You can read up on the NCAA supplemental Notice of Allegations here, here, and here. I would highly encourage you to read the response from Ohio State here and here.

Bottom line, Ohio State has been hit with a Failure to Monitor charge, which was not unexpected. Part of OSU's response, as you can read via the link above, is to forfeit five scholarships over the next three years. To be clear, that's five total and not five each year, so take a deep breath.

We'll have more on this coming soon...

Dave Thurman (9:33 pm)

"The saddest thing in life is wasted talent." - Lorenzo in "A Bronx Tale"

Another can't miss prospect has done just that.  Jamaal Berry, ranked as one of the top tailbacks in the class of 2009 has possibly played his last game in Scarlet and Gray.  Though he flashed some of his amazing potential as a redshirt freshman, Berry has hardly seen the field this year, due at least partially to off the field problems.

Earlier today Jamaal was officially charged with assault and disorderly conduct for allegedly punching a man off campus.  It was the second time in four weeks Berry was charged with assault, and there are strong rumblings that he has a major drug problem as well as possible psychological issues.  All in all it would seem highly probable that Berry, who has been suspended indefinitely, will never suit up for the Buckeyes again.  If that is the case he will join a large group of high school superstars who never panned out at Ohio State.

Players fail to live up to the hype and recruiting rankings for a variety of issues:

-Injuries that keep them from maximizing their potential.  A few of the names that come to mind from recent years are Richard McNutt, Mike D'Andrea (#1 LB in America as a senior), Devon Jordan, Aram Olson, Curt Lukens, Melvin Fellows, and Scott McVey.

-Possibly being overated coming out of high school, or reaching their ceiling early.  Some of the players that fit this description are Jason Ott, Devon Lyons, Kyle Mitchum, Sammy Maldonado, Chad Hoobler, Jamario O'Neal, Connor Smith, Robert Rose, and most recently, James Louis.  You could argue that some lacked football intelligence which stunted their development, and others lacked proper motivation, but in many cases these guys got rave reviews in high school, but never got any better, and were passed by players who weren't as highly recruited. 

-Not being a good fit for the team. I think runing backs Maurice Wells and Lamaar Thomas would have been better served to sign with schools that featured a true spread offense employing lots of bubble screens. Wide receiver Bam Childress, due to his lack of size, probably should have chosen a different desination, as well.  And quarterback Taylor Graham picked the wrong time to come to OSU, since he is a pocket passer, whereas the Buckeye offense is presently designed for a dual threat quarterback.

-Academic issues and off the field problems.  Unfortunately most "busts" have nobody to blame but themselves.  The list of wasted talent in the past 15 years is a lengthy one.  Here are a few of the higher ranked players who messed up, and never maximized their massive ability: Curtis Crosby (grades), Richard Hall (grades), Shawn Price (grades), Marco Cooper (criminal charges), Reggie Arden (criminal charges), Angelo Chattams (criminal charges), Maurice Clarett (where to start?), E.J. Underwood (grades), Ira Guilford (criminal charges), Louis Irizarry (criminal charges), Darius Hiley (grades), Sirjo Welch (grades), Freddie Lenix (grades), Keith Wells (grades, perpetual doghouse or both), Duron Carter (grades), Dorian Bell (violation of team rules), and Jamel Turner (criminal charges).  There are plenty more that could be added to this list, and so Jamaal Berry is in good (or maybe bad) company. What a waste of talent!  Jamaal, we hardly knew you.

Drew Thurman (12:58 pm)

The Buckeyes sit at 3-3, and the Zookster has the No. 16 Fighting Illini out to a 6-0 start. What kind of sick, messed up world is this? Well, a win this week might restore order and balance to things once again. Let's take a look at some of the headlines heading into the matchup.

Rubbing it in our faces. As someone who had the pleasure of living in Central Illinois for seven years and who has frequented Memorial Stadium on numerous occasions, I can tell you that Illinois fans are a bitter bunch. When they aren't grumbling about their own program they typically are showing disdain for most everyone else, not that I'm stereotyping or anything! I've always contended that they are so unhappy at this time of year because of where they live. After the corn and soy beans are harvested the place looks like a scene from a post-apocalyptic movie with gray skies and nothing but barren wasteland.

Well, that wasteland is where Ohio State heads this Saturday, and I can promise you the Illini are looking for blood. Their fans haven't seen a win over OSU at home in 20 years, and they do not care if the Buckeyes come in limping or not. While Ron Zook gave the typical coach speech at his press conference on Tuesday, it was junior defensive end Whitney Mercilus (and Ohio native) who probably summed up what most Illini fans feel.

“This is my bowl game,” said Mercilus, who leads the country with 8.5 sacks. “I get lot of [stuff] from people from back home. They tell me Ohio State is this, Ohio State is that every single year, every single year. I hope we come out here and beat these guys, so I can rub it in their faces and tell them we’re good, too. This year is the year to do it, definitely.”

In fact, he went onto say this.

“When we do win, I’m going to try to rub it in their faces and tell them we are good,” Mercilus said.

Is it a little rude for me to lump all Illini fans in with those comments? Probably, yes. Then again, my family sat in the stands last year as fans cheered when Terrelle Pryor got injured.