Posted by Chip Patterson

Part of Ohio State's school-imposed punishment for former head coach Jim Tressel was to attend an NCAA rules seminar this weekend in Tampa. The punishment was issued well before recent revelations regarding Tressel and former Buckeye quarterback Terrelle Pryor, when both thought there was a chance of taking the field in 2011.

But after Tressel's resignation and Pryor's hasty exit, the former head coach opted to skip the rules seminar this weekend. Gene Marsh, Tressel's attorney for the upcoming meeting with the NCAA Committee on Infractions, told The Columbus Dispatch he understood why Tressel did not attend the seminar. Marsh pointed out that Tressel, who has done no interviews since his resignation, would likely draw unnecessary media attention to the event - which was meant for much more than Ohio State.

Also attending the seminar were Connecticut men's basketball coach Jim Calhoun and former Michigan football coach Rich Rodriguez, among others. Because of the resignation, Tressel will not be obligated to attend Ohio State's meeting with the Committee on Infractions on Aug. 12. Marsh also told the Dispatch that he is unsure if Tressel will appear at the meeting.

Should the COI hold their meeting without Tressel, it could have an effect on where the blame is placed as the committee sorts through the details of the violations. Some have suggested that Tressel should be present in order to have a chance to defend himself, others believe that less emphasis on the former coach will lead to more blame placed on the university. One thing is for sure, if Tressel skips the COI meeting as well there will be a lot less questions answered and more speculation into the shady ongoings with the football program in Columbus.

Posted by Chip Patterson

With every NCAA investigation there are different pivotal steps in the process, one of the most relevant in regards to possible punishments is the notice of allegations. According to a report on InsideCarolina.com, the NCAA has told UNC officials to expect a notice of allegations "on or around June 10" as a result from the investigation into improper benefits and academic misconduct within the football program.

The report cites sources who believe that the notice of allegations will highlight nine different infractions, mostly stemming from previous relationships with assistant coach John Blake, tutor Jennifer Wiley, and former player Chris Hawkins. The loss of scholarships and probation is expected, and some close to the program believe forfeiting wins is a possibility. It is widely assumed at this point that North Carolina will avoid the "lack of institutional control" charge.

Keep it here at the Eye on College Football for more on this story as it develops.

Posted by Chip Patterson

The Ohio State football community was rocked early Monday with the news of Jim Tressel's resignation as the head football coach. This may end up being a Memorial Day that Buckeyes fans would rather forget, particularly if star quarterback Terrelle Pryor ends up receiving further punishment for receiving impermissible benefits.

Trouble at OSU

McMurphy: What took so long? Video: Fan reaction from Columbus Jacobi: Was Tressel's tenure worth the problems? Fischer: Expect a recruiting hit to the Buckeyes

The Columbus Dispatch reported Monday afternoon that the NCAA and Ohio State are conducting an independent investigation of Terrelle Pryor, according to sources close to the situation. The school would not confirm whether Pryor is being investigated, but sources informed the Dispatch that this is the "most significant inquiry to date." Pryor has been questioned by OSU compliance officials before, but after seeing Tressel's tale come to a screeching halt there is plenty of reason for concern in Pryor's case.

Pryor has already been suspended for the first five games of the 2011 season for selling or exchanging memorabilia for cash and tattoos, so it is hard to imagine any good ending to further investigation. Since that December suspension, more details have emerged that tie Pryor to different automobiles and signed uniforms.

With all the buzz around Pryor, particularly with rumors of more Ohio State related information to be released in the coming days, it is not unlikely to imagine that Pryor may have played his final game in a Buckeyes uniform.

Posted by Chip Patterson

While the college football offseason has provided us with plenty of off-field news to talk about, few headlines have stirred the BCS pot quite like the reports of financial improprieties with the Fiesta Bowl. Many believe that the Fiesta Bowl, as well as the Insight Bowl, could both be in jeopardy of losing their licenses when the bowls are reviewed by the Postseason Bowl Licensing Subcommittee at an annual meeting in New Orleans next weekend. On Thursday Nick Carparelli, Jr., the chair of the Football Issues Committee, announced that any specific decision on the two bowls would be delayed until another time.

“We are delaying our overall licensing review and decision of the Fiesta Bowl and Insight Bowl until we can discuss these details with bowl officials and fully examine all appropriate information,” Carparelli explained in an official release.

The licensing subcommittee has asked bowl representatives to provide details as to how they will improve the management of the bowls and their finances, including future business plans. For the organizers of the two bowl games, the extension comes as good news. Now the big-wigs who have not been removed from their post can have more time to clean up the mess. They will fight in the coming months to prove the Fiesta Bowl's validity as a principle member of the Bowl Championship Series, while Jerry Jones and the Cotton Bowl wait patiently with baited breath.

Posted by Chip Patterson

Former Oklahoma State wide receiver Dez Bryant may have done more harm than good during his last year in Stillwater, being ruled permanently ineligible in October 2009 for lying to the NCAA about his relationship with Deion Sanders.  While Bryant sat on the sidelines, the Cowboys dropped three of their last six games and finished second in the Big 12 South in a down year for rival Oklahoma.

Now a recent lawsuit brought against Bryant may have more negative implications on the Oklahoma State football program, and these could be much more serious.  The lawsuit claims that the star wideout began receiving jewelry, tickets, and loans totaling more than $600,000 beginning in June 2009.  The Associated Press is reporting that Bryant was expected to pay back receipts by July 30, 2010 or "when he signs his first Marketing or Sports Contract."

"That's new information to us," said associate atheltic director Kevin Fite addressing the claims.  "It's somethign we are certaintly going to look at."

If Bryant did receive goods or loans while still eligible with intentions of paying them back when he turned professional, it is a pretty blantant violation of the NCAA amateur rules.  If it can be proven that Oklahoma State knew about the arrangements, they could face further prosecution from the NCAA.  Which is why there is no surprise they are acting so quickly to look into these claims.

Keep it here with CBSSports.com and the Eye On College Football for more as this develops

Posted by Chip Patterson

With the NCAA investigation into Ohio State and head coach Jim Tressel still unresolved, the local media is bound to do some further digging on the topic.  As we saw this past season in the high-profile cases of Auburn and North Carolina, the paper trail can reveal much more about the situation at hand, or in some cases misdirect the focus of violations in the first place.  For Ohio State, this bit of information may raise more questions than it answers.

The Columbus Dispatch is reporting that when Tressel received the famous emails of warning regarding his players selling memorabilia to a local tattoo parlor, he forwarded them to a man close to star quarterback Terrelle Pryor.  Ted Sarniak, 67, is described as "a prominent businessman in Pryor's hometown of Jeanette, Pa."  Sarniak has acted as Pryor's mentor and advisor since high school, and reportedly was the recipient of the warning emails when they were forwarded by Tressel.  

In the news conference to announce the violations against Tressel, the coach nodded when asked if he had forwarded the emails.  He was quickly cut short by athletic director Gene Smith, and has maintained that the reason he kept the information to himself was to protect his players and the confidentiality of the federal investigation against the owner of the tattoo parlor.  Tressel apologized profusely, and has since received a five game suspension as punishment for keeping the information from the university and the NCAA.

But the report also raises questions about Sarniak, and his relationship with Pryor/Tressel/Ohio State.  Of all people involved with the Ohio State football program, why would Tressel choose to inform Pryor's 67-year-old mentor on the issue rather than Pryor's family.  Ohio State has not turned over any email records as of yet, but compliance director Doug Archie was quick to erase any doubts regarding Pryor's relationship with Sarniak.

"Mr. Sarniak and Terrelle Pryor have been friends for a number of years, and their friendship dates back prior to Terrelle's enrollment at Ohio State," Archie said in an email to The Dispatch. "As the friendship developed, Mr. Sarniak is someone who Terrelle has reached out to for advice and guidance throughout his high-school and collegiate career."

When the NCAA investigation concludes, Tressel's five-game suspension and $250,000 fine could be upheld or increased.  A big-name program like Ohio State would prefer that the investigation move quickly, so that the media attention can focus on football rather than independent investigation.  Unfortunately for the Buckeyes, the NCAA has a tendency to take their time with these matters.  

Stay tuned to CBSSports.com for more on the Ohio State NCAA Investigation

Posted by Chip Patterson

On Thursday night a pair of reports released details regarding a probe related to Oregon's recruiting.  Charles Ronbinson, of Yahoo! Sports, released a report revealing details from Oregon's expenditure records, which included $25,000 to Will Lyles for recruiting services, and $3,747 to Baron Flenory, a trainer who runs the Badger Sports Elite 7-on-7 camps.  In an ESPN.com report, sources close to the probe said that NCAA officials were looking closely into the relationships between Oregon, highly-touted recruit Lache Seastrunk, and Lyles, his personal trainer and mentor.    

Obviously the most significant figure here is in regards to Lyles, who has considered himself a trainer and mentor to both Seastrunk and current Duck LaMichael James.  Schools often will pay for recruiting services (names, measurements, contact), but the dollar amount paid to Lyles does seem a bit high.

From the ESPN.com report: 

Oregon athletics department spokesman Dave Williford confirmed to ESPN.com on Thursday that Oregon paid Lyles $25,000 for his recruiting services. Oregon's payment to Lyles was made shortly after Seastrunk signed a national letter of intent in February 2010 to play football for the Ducks, choosing them over California, LSU and USC.

Your response, head coach Chip Kelly? 

"Most programs purchase recruiting services," Oregon coach Chip Kelly said Thursday. "Our compliance office is aware of it. Will has a recruiting service that met NCAA rules and we used him in 2010."

The Yahoo! report revealed more about Flenory's tie with Oregon.

Flenory said the payment to him was for a recruiting service that his company set up for Oregon. The package included names, birthdates and other info on potential recruits. Flenory said the package to Oregon was the only one ever sold by his company, because “we stopped doing it because the NCAA said recruiting services could no longer do camps on college campuses. Because we were running camps, we decided that was a better business for us than to sell the recruiting packages”

While the implications of these reports are juicy, it is merely smoke for now. If either man is found to be tied to the recruitment of players to the University of Oregon, the payment to them would be considered an NCAA violation.  If both men can prove they had no part in steering the players towards Eugene, then the Ducks dodged a bullet.  

What do you think?  Leave your response in the comment section below, and stay tuned to CBSSports.com for more as this develops

Posted by Jerry Hinnen

Lane Kiffin's NCAA chickens appear to be coming home to roost.

Both Kiffin's former employers at Tennessee and his current ones at USC have announced today they have been served with NCAA "Notices of Allegations," essentially the list of violations which the NCAA has discovered during an investigation. That list as it pertains to Volunteer football, via the official Tennessee website :

The notice contains the following allegations of violation of NCAA rules against the football program:

• By former members of the football coaching staff: impermissible telephone contact (16 total calls) with prospective student-athletes from Jan. 3-9, 2010.
• By a former assistant football coach: allegations relating to impermissible contacts with prospective student-athletes.
• By a former head football coach: failure to promote an atmosphere of compliance within the football program and failure to monitor the activities regarding compliance of several assistant coaches have also been made against a former head football coach, and permitting a football recruiting intern to make impermissible contact with high school staff during a recruiting visit.

The headlining charge here is the "failure to monitor" violation levied against Kiffin. Though in the past coaches have typically been absolved of blame once they've left their previous university behind, it seems unlikely in this instance, with Kiffin's (well-earned) reputation for ignoring the finer points of NCAA regulations. There may be more forthcoming than the typical slap on the wrist.

As for the Trojans, their Notice of Allegations likely includes the same violations committed by Kiffin (and assistant Ed Orgeron, believed to be the "former assistant" in the second bullet above) in Knoxville. The official statement from athletic director Pat Haden :

"We have received from the NCAA a notice of allegations against Lane Kiffin pertaining to his tenure as the head football coach at Tennessee. The NCAA enforcement process provides for Tennessee and Lane to address those charges. Until that process is completed, it would be unfair and premature for me or USC to comment on this matter.

"However, I will say this: Since his return to USC last year as our head football coach, Lane has been vigilant in making sure he and the football program follow the NCAA's rules and compete the right way. Lane has my support as our head football coach."

Eye on College Football will have more on this story as it develops. Follow our Twitter feed for further updates.