Re: My take on the Ohio State situation

[Michael W Pickens]

Do you really think what he said was that harsh?  We are talking about a 
high-school kid here.  Kids say stupid things all of the time.  My 
daughter came home the other day and said that if I pull both wings off a 
cicada that its head will pop off.  After trying it dozens of times we 
proved that she was wrong.  Just kidding we don't get cicadas up in my 
neck of the woods.  Of course she is just now out of kindergarten but I'm 
just trying to make a point. 

Jamar put himself in a bad position and needed to give himself an out.  He 
had to cover his back so to speak.  I'm not sold that another JC player is 
the answer to our point guard situation and would love for Jamar to come 
back to UC.  After he puts on a Bearcat Uniform he becomes part of the 
family and all will be forgiven.  We were all hurt by what he said but I'm 
willing to give him a second chance and I think it would be a good fit for 
him as well.  We don't have to have him but it would be nice to have him. 
I'm just not sure how we could fit him or Twig on our team.




"Keith Wedinger" <address@hidden> 
06/09/2004 09:27 AM
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[UC Basketball] My take on the Ohio State situation






Yesterday, I took my family to Kings Island and I was away from any and 
all
news all day long.  So, imagine my surprise when I open this morning's
Columbus Dispatch to see the headline, "O'Brien Fired".

Before I comment on this situation and its possible effect on UC, let me
state that over the years, there is an important lesson I have learned. 
Try
to take the high road.  The temptation to "slam" OSU's program to anyone
who'll listen is certainly there especially when you consider the moral 
high
road OSU tries to take over UC.  But, in the end, what would that
accomplish?

Now, my thought on this.

Did O'Brien deserve to get fired?

That's a tough one to answer.  I do not believe that the $6,000 payment is
the only thing in play here.  The past two seasons especially the last one
were not very good.  You can say that last season was quite bad.  Also, I
think there may be other violations.  Apparently, the lawsuit that 
triggered
all of this had to do with the lack of payment for services rendered with
regards to a player staying at a booster's house and that the $6,000 
payment
was simply evidence in this lawsuit.  So, we actually have improper 
payments
related to two players.

How will the NCAA respond?

It is my belief that if the NCAA looks hard enough and long enough at any
major college program in the country, they will find something.  The key 
is
to not give the NCAA a reason to look.  Unfortunately for OSU, the NCAA 
now
has reason to look.  And OSU is about to find out how long and hard the 
NCAA
can look.  When you break rule #1 (you cannot pay players), the NCAA gets
VERY interested.  This could get very ugly for OSU.

Who also should take the fall for this?

I think there will be some serious heat on the OSU AD, Andy Geiger.  The
football program has had several off the field problems since Tressel took
over (Clarett, arrests).  And now, the basketball program has violated 
NCAA
rule #1.  Tressel and O'Brien were Geiger hires and both were advertised 
as
hires that restore the honor and good name of OSU athletics.

How will this affect UC?

Well, question #1 is what happens to Jamar Butler.  Jamar is hinting that 
he
may not go to OSU now.  Unfortunately for Jamar, the NCAA rarely releases 
a
player from his National Letter of Intent because of a coaching change.
But, it will release a player if NCAA rules violations result in 
probation.
Regardless, Jamar burned some bridges with his comments about UC and he 
may
have burned his relationship with Huggins.  I think Jamar may be better
served by going elsewhere if he leaves OSU.  Question #2 is, will OSU 
pursue
Bob Huggins?  I am 99% certain that they won't.  OSU with it's comments
about UC and the implications about how Huggins runs the program have 
pretty
much eliminated that possibility.  Question #3, will OSU now schedule UC 
in
basketball?  That really depends on who OSU hires as its coach and how 
hard
the NCAA comes down on OSU.  UC will not schedule OSU if OSU is unable to
play on TV.

Keith Wedinger
Bearcatnews.com
Sciotofootball.com

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