More Buckeye Bad News: Three Suspended Players Still Out for Toledo

Just when you thought the Buckeyes might be able to play a game without much distraction, along comes this news late today–

Defensive backs Corey Brown and Travis Howard and running back Jordan Hall will not play for the Ohio State football team in a game against Toledo on Saturday in Ohio Stadium after the NCAA announced today that they have not been cleared to return to competition.

In a brief statement on its website, the NCAA said that the three players — suspended before the season opener against Akron for accepting $200 for attending a charity event this year — merited a minimum two-game suspension. The NCAA also said that facts submitted by OSU “raised further questions that need to be answered before the reinstatement process is complete.”

Amazing.

Once again Ohio State finds itself answering questions about distractions instead of completely focusing on the task on hand. And as much as I’d like to rail against the NCAA this time, the University seems to be as much to blame for assuming that these players would be re-instated.

Here’s the understatement of the year- the NCAA and Ohio State are not on the same page when it comes to these matters. Ohio State’s athletic department seems to be mis-interpreting the rules and the punishments.

At least it appears that Jamaal Berry is healthy enough to play. That means three running backs this week.