Ohio State President Gee Touts School’s Compliance

October 5, 2011 /

COLUMBUS — The latest revelations about NCAA violations in Ohio State’s beleaguered football program proves the campus has zero tolerance for rule breaking — not that the campus has bigger problems in its compliance program, President E. Gordon Gee said last night.

“We are the poster child for compliance, and whenever we discover a possible infraction, we resolve and report it to the NCAA, no matter how minor the violation. That’s what we have done here,” Gee said after giving his fall address to faculty.

Ohio State announced on Monday that it was suspending Daniel Herron, DeVier Posey, and Marcus Hall from playing Saturday against Nebraska for being overpaid for part-time work at the company of booster Robert ’Bobby’ DiGeronimo.

Gee said the latest allegations were among several unresolved issues still remaining after school officials and former head football coach Jim Tressel appeared before the Committee on Infractions.

Ohio State is making changes to its compliance program, but Gee said he doesn’t think the most recent incidents are a result of a larger systematic problem. Despite growing calls from some fans and sports columnists for the firing of Ohio State’s Athletic Director Gene Smith, Gee said he doesn’t blame Smith for what has happened.

“I think we are blessed to have an extraordinarily talented athletic director who has proven his mettle through an extraordinarily tough time,” he said.


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