Three More Ohio State Players Are Suspended

Less than two days before the start of the new Ohio State football season, three more players have been suspended and will not play in Saturday's opening game against Akron. Ohio State says that the three players, running back Jordan Hall, along with defensive back players Corey Brown and Travis Howard received "impermissible benefits of $300 or less earlier this year," according to the Associated Press. The acceptance of the impermissible benefits apparently came during a charity event earlier this year.

The fact that the benefits received were valued at less than $300 may be a significant factor in decisions made regarding this latest incident of infractions committed by OSU players. The NCAA Guidelines allow for players accepting gifts valued between $100 and $300 be issued a penalty of suspension for ten percent of the season, as reported in the Cleveland Plain Dealer article, "Three more Ohio State Buckeyes suspended for Akron game, including starting running back Jordan Hall." That ten percent suspension amounts to one game in a regular season of twelve games.

Ohio State is still awaiting word on what sanctions will be administered by the NCAA for rules infractions discovered earlier and has several players already suspended. Although things may have gone well for Ohio State in the August hearing regarding the earlier rules violations, the newly discovered violations could possibly have an impact on the August hearing.

Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith stated that Ohio State is committed to institutional integrity and that everyone must be held accountable for their "lapses in judgment."