NCAA Football Fans Speak Out about Ohio State's 'Sanctions'

Following Ohio State's announcement of its self-imposed penalties for former head coach Jim Tressel's indiscretions, anonymous Internet posters and talking heads are still calling for the "death penalty" and laughing at the apparent lightweight self-punishment the Buckeyes will endure, according to The Cleveland Plain Dealer.

Four NCAA football fans offer differing views and opinions about the vacating of the 2010 season and two-year probation. Can you guess which fans bleed maize and blue?

"Vacating the entire 2010 season is an unnecessary gesture. It makes no difference to schools like Michigan to have an additional win with an asterisk next to it from last season. It doesn't change anything. It's not like teams with five wins last year can go back in time and become bowl-eligible with the extra win. I take issue with the two years of probation because it punishes kids who had nothing to do with this issue. I feel the same way about the sanctions placed on USC. Symbolically, the vacated games are a way for OSU to acknowledge that they competed with ineligible players, I suppose, but beyond that, I don't see any purpose in further sanctions by the NCAA. Tressel's gone and Pryor's gone. It's over, as far as I'm concerned." -- Eric R. Ivey, Danville, Ind.

"Yep. That should do it. The coach who caused this is gone, the players have already received their punishment and OSU stepping up for more self-flagellation ahead of Aug. 12 will be enough to put this in the rear view mirror. For conspiracy theorists only: yes, OSU has been in discussions with NCAA bishops and pope and they have already agreed that this should do it. If there are further sanctions, this theory is wrong. If the NCAA says this will do it after Aug. 12, you can be 100% sure the deal was struck behind closed doors earlier. Money talks and OSU is a big player in the money game called college sports. Done deal." -- Lenny Kolada, Columbus, Ohio

"Ask the SoCal fans if forfeiting games hurt them when they were on probation... no. What's different for Ohio? A more flagrant infraction. Tressel knowingly used ineligible players, covered it up and lied about it repeatedly. The administration was incompetent in handling the situation. Their penalty should have real teeth, like post season bowl bans and significant loss of scholarships for several years." -- Langley Cornwell, Charleston, S.C.

"I don't think it has any impact on any involved parties, nor the situation to vacate the 2010 season. What good is an asterisk next to something printed on a piece of paper? It gives teams a fake win, because all we will remember is what really went on during the game. I would rather wait to see Michigan actually beat Ohio State in a legitimate battle than to get one on a technicality. The Columbus Dispatch website doesn't care and is still running the number of days since the Wolverines beat the Bucks. Coaches who are knowingly playing ineligible players and otherwise breaking NCAA regulations deserve more than a retroactive slap on the wrist. Or in Tressel's case, more than just a forced 'retirement' being implemented for cooperation in lieu of paying a fine and being let go. Hit them where it really hurts and develop a set of standards instead of picking and choosing how to handle situations and put an end to all of this throughout all of the schools." -- Andrea Coventry, Rochester, N.Y.