OSU Players Docked by NCAA

(Columbus, Ohio) Players on the Ohio State University football team have been sanctioned by the NCAA for receiving favors in exchange for autographs and sports memorabilia.

Student-athletes Mike Adams, Dan Herron, DeVier Posey, Terrelle Pryor and Solomon Thomas will be ineligible to play in the first five games of the Buckeye's 2011 schedule.

The players were cited for the following:

• Adams must repay $1,000 for selling his 2008 Big Ten championship ring.

• Herron must repay $1,150 for selling his football jersey, pants and shoes for $1,000 and receiving discounted services worth $150.

• Posey must repay $1,250 for selling his 2008 Big Ten championship ring for $1,200 and receiving discounted services worth $50.

• Pryor must repay $2,500 for selling his 2008 Big Ten championship ring, a 2009 Fiesta Bowl sportsmanship award and his 2008 Gold Pants, a gift from the university.

• Solomon must repay $1,505 for selling his 2008 Big Ten championship ring for $1,000, his 2008 Gold Pants for $350 and receiving discounted services worth $155.

• Jordan Whiting must sit out the first game next year and pay $150 to a charity for the value of services that were discounted because of his status as a student-athlete.

Notably, Pryor's selling of the miniature gold pants, symbolizing a win over archival Michigan, has been viewed as somewhat disrespectful by Buckeye traditionalists.

In any event, the players will be able to play in this year's Sugar Bowl. The NCAA concluded that they didn't adequately understand the rules this year.