ESPN College Football

The Big Ten's fiscal year doesn't end until June 30, but the league is headed toward another record revenue total.

According to figures provided to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch by Illinois' athletic department, 11 of the 12 Big Ten members will receive about $24.6 million in shared revenue from the past year. Nebraska, which officially joined the Big Ten on July 1, 2011, isn't receiving a full revenue share yet.

From the Post-Dispatch:

The projected payout is based on budget estimates and is expected to include $7.2 million from the Big Ten Network, a drop from last year's $7.9 million. However, contracts with ESPN/ABC and CBS will result in $10 million per school, which is a 22 percent increase over last year.

Official revenue totals from the 2011-12 fiscal year won't be available until next May, but ESPN.com obtained the league's tax documents from the previous fiscal year (2010-11).

Big Ten schools received between $22,879,703-$22,941,702 for the previous fiscal year (July 1, 2010-June 30, 2011). The league adopts equal revenue sharing, although there are typically slight differences in the individual payouts.

The league's overall revenue rose to $265,078,691 from $232,403,651 in 2009-10. The league paid $251,886,723 to its 11 member schools.

Some notable league expenses included the drug-testing program ($263,378), the kickoff luncheon/football media days ($378,025; the luncheon also generated $148,884 in revenue); and an internship program ($269,500).

Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany earned $1,215,106 in 2010-11. League presidents and chancellors, classified as "directors" for the league, earned between $332,089-$1,168,685. The three highest-paid presidents: Ohio State's E. Gordon Gee, Northwestern's Morton Schapiro and former Penn State president Graham Spanier.

The bottom line is that the Big Ten's financial numbers are strong amid talk that college football's top four conferences -- SEC, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12 -- are distancing themselves from the pack.

It's about winning championships for the Big Ten, but it's also about positioning for the next TV negotiation. The Big Ten's current deal expires after the 2015 season.

Here's your hump day linkage.

• Check out the latest from the BCS meetings here and here and here. Dennis Dodd writes the Rose Bowl will have to relinquish more tradition to remain in the playoff mix.
• Looks like "The Victors" will play at JerryWorld after all on Sept. 1.
• No surprise here, but Michigan State quarterback Andrew Maxwell (knee) will miss the spring game. Spartans' NFL prospects look forward to a big draft weekend. Joe Rexrode writes about the first lady of Michigan State football, who recently passed away.
• Ohio State's Michael Bennett shares some interesting thoughts on the new coaches. Jim Tressel returns to Columbus but doesn't talk football. The Bowtie slams media outlets critical of Ohio State.
• Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio spearheaded the idea of spring scrimmages against other teams.
• Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz seems to be opening up to more new ideas. Ferentz's accessibility is a welcome change, Pat Harty writes. Iowa is in the market for more neutral-site football games.
• Brady Hoke discusses the Michigan-Ohio State rivalry, Ohio State's academic majors sign and other topics. Michigan WR Junior Hemingway boosts his draft stock into the middle rounds.
• Rod Woodson discusses his Purdue career, the current Boilers program and other topics in this Q&A.
• Whitney Mercilus might not be Illinois' only early round selection. It doesn't make the waiting game any easier for Illini draft prospects.
• ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay says Northwestern QB Dan Persa is "limited" as a pro prospect. An interesting look at Northwestern's new partnership with Under Armour.
• Steve Heiser writes Penn State should stop scheduling non-league nobodies. Bill O'Brien's assistants hit the recruiting trail.
• More on the measure approving alcohol sales at TCF Bank Stadium. Some praise for Minnesota's new athletic director.
• Athlon Sports wonders whether Nebraska can win the Big Ten this season.
• Wisconsin's offense struggled in the two-minute drill Tuesday. The Badgers' A.J. Fenton has a new look, literally and figuratively.

Whenever Ohio State president E. Gordon Gee opens his mouth about the subject of sports, something interesting/funny/embarrassing is almost sure to spill out.

Gee has become infamous for his comments about "Little Sisters of the Poor" and hoping Jim Tressel didn't fire him, among others. Now, he's yapping again in response to some criticism by Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema over new Buckeyes coach Urban Meyer's recruiting methods.

As you'll recall, Bielema used the word "illegal" last week while complaining about some of Meyer's recruiting tactics, though he failed to get specific on what exactly upset him.

While cooler heads seem to prevail on that topic late last week after a Big Ten coaches' meeting where Meyer and Bielema reportedly talked, Gee threw some more logs on the fire while meeting with the editorial board of the Ohio State student newspaper, The Lantern.

"We hired the best coach and we went out and got the best kids so get a life," Gee told the paper.

Gee also called the NCAA investigation into Jim Tressel and the football program last year his "year-long colonoscopy."

Bielema caused problems by making comments without a lot of information behind them, so perhaps Gee was in the right to respond. Still, every time I see another one of these Gee quotes, I am reminded of Brian Fantana's advice to Champ Kind in "Anchorman:"

"Take it easy, Champ. Why don’t you stop talking for a while?"

Your regular lunch links are simmering as I type, but there has been substantial reaction to the penalties Ohio State received from the NCAA on Tuesday. You can check out all of ESPN.com's coverage here.

Here's a roundup:

• Colleague Mark Schlabach: "It might not be a new day for the NCAA, but it's certainly a breath of fresh air. Even a program like Ohio State isn't immune from paying the price for its sins."
• The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer's Terry Pluto: "If you are an Ohio State fan, you should be angry today -- not at the NCAA, but at athletic director Gene Smith and the school's athletic administration."
• The Columbus Dispatch's Bill Rabinowitz: "Whatever misfortune and obstacles the Buckeyes faced in going 6-6 this fall, they didn’t enter the season with a ceiling on their expectations. One of coach Luke Fickell's rallying cries was that despite the adversity, the Buckeyes’ goals hadn’t changed. Next year's goals must."
• The Detroit Free Press' Drew Sharp: "When the klieg lights went dark, they popped champagne corks in Columbus on Tuesday night. Forget the tattoos. They got away with a questionable 10-year relationship with a rogue booster who provided players with impermissible benefits."
• The New York Times' Pete Thamel: "The fact that Ohio State did not self-impose a bowl ban this season, in the wake of firing Tressel and dealing with a slew of suspensions that handicapped the team, showed the university’s confidence that the penalties would not be this significant. Smith said he arrived at the decision based on precedent and three consultants used by the university."
• The News-Herald's John Kampf: "It took the Buckeyes pretty much a calendar year, but they got it right by, in essence, saying they will collectively sit down, shut up and take their proverbial medicine. Wouldn't it have been a lot easier to have done this, say, last December? Or in any month since?"
• SI.com's Andy Staples: "The next football coach at the University of Akron is ... Jim Tressel. I know this sounds crazy, Tom, but hear me out. Sure, Tressel knowingly played ineligible players for an entire season and lied about it to the NCAA. Sure, cheating and lying are bad. But do you know what else he did? He won. And the Zips need to start doing some of that."
• Yahoo! Sports' Matt Hinton: "Today's response was hardly a slap on the wrist. But compared to the book the committee threw at USC for lesser offenses, it is… well, it's a significantly smaller book: A one-year bowl ban as opposed to two, nine suspended scholarships as opposed to thirty. In another year or two, USC's roster will be slashed by a full third of its usual depth. Under Tressel, Ohio State consistently operated well under the NCAA's maximum scholarship caps, anyway -- from 2008 to 2010, in fact, the Buckeyes used 11 fewer scholarships on new recruits than they were allowed in those three recruiting classes, with no sanctions in sight. The double standard is obvious enough. And the reason is just as clear: The NCAA is significantly less concerned with actions that is with reactions."
• CBSsports.com's Dennis Dodd: "The NCAA showed some stones a lot of us didn't know it had. The bowl ban was unexpected. Experts were predicting there would be no such penalty. This one hurts in Urban Meyer's first season. But only his first season."
• The Sporting News' Matt Hayes: "They're elated in Columbus. Elated that after a year through the NCAA and public perception ringer, this is what it boils down to: The university fired a coach who was close to retiring anyway, and hired the best coach in the college game as his replacement. Now that's hitting the sweet spot."
• The Los Angeles Daily News' Scott Wolf: "The Ohio State University president Gordon Gee and athletic director Gene Smith used their well-known political instincts and served up former coach Jim Tressel as the scapegoat the NCAA needed. USC offered a tone-deaf athletic director (Mike Garrett) and a sports-knowledge impaired president (Steven Sample) during a torturous investigation process."
• FoxSportsOhio.com's Bruce Hooley: "The NCAA's imposition yesterday of a one-year bowl ban, additional scholarship sanctions and three years probation finally ends a scandal at Ohio State that Tressel turned from a mole hill into a mountain. All of that could have easily been avoided had Tressel come clean right away with knowledge of player misconduct that was no more than a simple secondary violation of NCAA rules."
• SI.com's Stewart Mandel: "It's possible the Ohio State case will replace USC as the new baseline for those cases. Personally, I think Tuesday's ruling was perfectly reasonable. Neither a one-year bowl nor nine docked scholarships will cripple the program, but preemptively rendering Urban Meyer's first team ineligible for the Big Ten title is no slap on the wrist, either."
• Some questions and answers about Ohio State's bowl ban.
• Ohio State president E. Gordon Gee discusses the penalties. So does Buckeyes AD Gene Smith.

In trying to explain why Ohio State didn't self-impose a bowl ban for this season, athletic director Gene Smith told The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer, "I know that Buckeye Nation is all about next year."

Smith is right. But Ohio State's outlook for next year isn't quite as bright as it was a few hours ago.

The NCAA's infractions committee on Tuesday handed down a 1-year postseason ban for Ohio State that goes into effect for the 2012 season. It means the Buckeyes won't play in the postseason for the first time since 1999. It also means the Buckeyes won't play in the 2012 Big Ten championship game, even if they have the best team in the Leaders division.

I saw Ohio State as the Leaders division favorite heading into 2012. Wisconsin now becomes the clear-cut frontrunner to repeat as division champ.

The ban is a tough blow, at least in the short term, for Ohio State and new coach Urban Meyer who, like many in Columbus, didn't see it coming. Meyer had been telling recruits that he didn't expect a bowl ban or much more severe penalties than the ones Ohio State had self-imposed. Ohio State also will lose three scholarships in each of the next three years -- four more than what the team had self-imposed.

It doesn't appear that the bowl ban will severely hurt Ohio State's recruiting, which has surged since the school named Meyer its coach late last month. The father of Meyer's biggest recruiting prize, ESPNU 150 defensive lineman Noah Spence, told colleague Jared Shanker that his son remains firmly committed to the Buckeyes.

"Noah's still committed and coach Urban Meyer is like family to us," said Greg Spence, Noah's father. "Noah told me he's not committed to Ohio State for four years but committed to them for life. He feels great about his decision. I don't think anyone thought a bowl game would be taken away but always knew it was a possibility. It could have been worse. At this point I spoke with my son and he stands by his commitment."

Another recruit, tight end Luke Roberts, told Shanker that while he's "disappointed" by the NCAA's ruling, he still plans to enroll early at Ohio State.

Shanker writes:

Though Ohio State is clearly disappointed with the bowl ban, it is only one year and won’t hold its recruiting efforts back much. Meyer's first full class will be next year's 2013 class, and by then, the Buckeyes will have already served their bowl ban. Meyer will able to recruit freely without recruits asking questions about penalties.

The biggest blow to Ohio State's recruiting efforts is the loss of nine scholarships over Meyer's first three full recruiting classes. The Buckeyes will have to sit at 82 scholarships instead of 85, and those are tough losses as Meyer attempts to bring in players who fit his offensive and defensive philosophies and schemes. And with the Big Ten's strict rules on oversigning, there is little wiggle room to work around those reductions.

Meyer and his staff will have to be prudent with their scholarship offers. But Meyer's star power on the recruiting trail coupled with the fact that the ban is only one year shouldn't dissuade too many recruits. A two-year ban would have been much more damaging.

The ban could impact whether some players return for their final seasons at Ohio State. But other than defensive lineman John Simon and perhaps tight end Jake Stoneburner, Ohio State lacks many juniors who will consider making the jump to the NFL. Both Simon and Stoneburner love Ohio State, but you couldn't blame them for leaving.

Bottom line: The ban shouldn't impact the roster much more than a normal coaching change does.

Ohio State certainly could have benefited from bowl practices next winter, especially since many view 2013 as a potential breakout season for the Buckeyes under Meyer. The ban also will test Ohio State players if the team struggles early, although there's always the incentive to beat archrival Michigan in late November.

It will be interesting to see if the situation impacts other members of the athletic department, including Smith. President E. Gordon Gee has publicly supported Smith, but the AD has been criticized for his handling of the case.

In the short-term, the ban stings a bit, but the long-term effects appear minimal.

The penalties could have been worse, and Ohio State still has some momentum with the Meyer hire.

It's official: Urban Meyer is Ohio State's head football coach.

The school announced Monday afternoon that Meyer has agreed to a six-year contract that will pay him a base salary of $4 million per year. Meyer's contract includes performance bonuses for the team's on-field performance -- including $250,000 for reaching the BCS National Championship Game -- as well as players' academic performance.

Luke Fickell will coach the Buckeyes in an upcoming bowl game and remain on Meyer's staff.

Here are some official statements:

President E. Gordon Gee: "In Urban Meyer we have found an exemplary person and remarkable coach to lead the University's football program into the future. As an alumnus, he understands and believes in the core academic mission of the University. As an Ohioan, he shares our common values and sense of purpose."

Meyer: "I am honored and humbled by the opportunity to return to Ohio State. This university and the state of Ohio have enormous meaning to me. My duty is to ensure that Ohio State's football program reflects and enhances the academic mission of the institution. I am part of it, I believe in it, and I will live it."

Here's a link to Meyer's contract, which goes into effect today through Jan. 31, 2018.

Some notes:

• Meyer will receive a retention payment of $450,000 if he's still the coach on Jan. 31, 2014; he'll receive $750,000 if he's still the coach on Jan. 31, 2016; and he'll receive $1.2 million if he's still the coach at the end of the contract in 2018.
• Meyer receives $50,000 for winning a Leaders division championship; he receives $100,000 plus an additional year on his contract if he wins the Big Ten championship; he receives $150,000 for reaching a BCS bowl game (not national title game).
• Meyer receives a $1,200 monthly stipend to cover the expenses of two cars.
• Meyer can use a private jet for recruiting visits 200 miles from Columbus. He also receives personal use of a private jet 35 hours per year of the contract.

Much more to come.

Some of you might have caught this already, but there's an interesting nugget from today's Ohio State's NCAA violations news in the letter written from university president E. Gordon Gee to athletic director Gene Smith.

Gee wrote to Smith, "I am disappointed that this is where we find ourselves. You know I find this unacceptable."

Gee could be trying to show remorse and disappointment for the school's latest NCAA rules violations. He has been publicly supportive of Smith throughout the past 11 months since the first violations surfaced.

But the letter seems pretty direct and could indicate a shift in Gee's thinking about Smith regarding the athletic departments monitoring -- or lack thereof -- of former booster Bobby DiGeronimo. We likely won't know until the penalty phase is compete and Ohio State's NCAA case is closed, but his letter is worth noting.

ESPN.com recently received a copy of the Big Ten's Form 990 tax return for the fiscal year ending in June 2010, the most recent data available. While there are no major surprises in the records, reviewing the tax return illuminates the league's financial state.

The Big Ten reported $232,403,651 in total revenue for 2009-10 fiscal year. That's up from $221,990,529 -- an increase of 4.5 percent. The conference reported $217,721,387 in revenue from 2007-2008.

The Big Ten reported $236,899,518 in total expenses for the '09-'10 fiscal year

Each Big Ten school received in excess of $20 million from the league, with the exact amounts varying. Michigan State received the most at $20,141,838, followed by Ohio State ($20,083,504) and Purdue ($20,080,504). Northwestern and Iowa received the least at $20,032,504 each, though they're not exactly clipping coupons.

In all, the conference paid out $220,620,959 to its member schools during the fiscal year. Schools received just over $19 million each in the previous fiscal year.

The form also shows that Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany was paid $1.623 million, making him the highest paid commissioner in college sports, as has been previously reported. Ohio State president E. Gordon Gee might have had a tough year off the field, but he was paid $2,531,327 for the fiscal year cited. Penn State's Graham Spanier was the second highest-paid Big Ten president at $813,855, followed by Michigan's Mary Sue Coleman at $786,849.

The Big Ten's Form 990 for the 2010-2011 fiscal year will not be available until next spring.

Jim Tressel has resigned from Ohio State, and many folks believe his boss will be next.

But athletic director Gene Smith can breathe a bit easier, at least for the moment.

Ohio State president E. Gordon Gee told reporters Wednesday that Smith's job is safe despite the controversy enveloping the school's football program. Gee expressed concern about the recent allegations and the confirmed violations by players and Tressel, but he was firm in his support of Smith.

Gee said he couldn't say much at the moment on the advice of the university's attorneys. But he did acknowledge events in recent months drew attention to how the university monitors athletes' compliance with NCAA rules.

"It raises a legitimate question of how did some of these things happen," Gee said. "If it's not working, then we make it work."

Ohio State's compliance staffers can't feel too comfortable right now.

As for Smith, while Gee's comments are encouraging, we all remember what Gee said about Tressel back on March 8. Smith can't feel too comfortable until Ohio State's situation with the NCAA reaches a conclusion.

Sorry it's a day late, but I didn't forget you guys. Be sure and send in more questions and comments for another mailblog later this week.

Let's get to it ...

JC from Columbus, Ohio, writes: The players/future recruits love him, but would it at all be a possibility, Adam, that Luke Fickell stays at Ohio State and works as Defensive Coordinator even if he doesn't get the permanent head coach job? Why would he stay? If he isn't handed the job now, isn't that a sign that he'll never get the job and it's time to move on (which would be a shame)?

Adam Rittenberg: Totally disagree with your last point, JC. Fickell absolutely would have a chance to land the Ohio State job down the line even if he doesn't get the permanent gig after the 2011 season. Let's say he doesn't get the job and goes out and proves himself as a head coach elsewhere. The guy is only 37. He'd definitely have another shot to coach in Columbus, and his credentials as a Buckeye player and coach would help him. Whether he would stay on as an assistant for the next OSU coach is an interesting debate. I doubt he would because it would be a new regime and Fickell needs to become a head coach sooner rather than later, but you never know. He has roots in Columbus and a ton of passion for Ohio State.

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Shannon from Texarkana, Texas, writes: When did Petrino change lanes? He never said he would have liked to play Ohio St. without the aforementioned players, he stands by wanting to play Ohio St. with their best players. What Petrino is pointing to is the NCAA loophole that allowed them to play, that's all. And like you said, many agree with Petrino.

Adam Rittenberg: Shannon, it still sounds like two viewpoints to me. If you want to take issue with the NCAA loophole, that's fine. Run with it. Hammer the NCAA, the Sugar Bowl and the Big Ten because all parties deserve it. But don't keep talking about wanting to face Ohio State's best team as well. We all know Arkansas would have faced a shell of the Buckeyes squad had Terrelle Pryor and the others been suspended. I'm fine with Bobby Petrino making the argument against the loophole. But if he does, stop talking about wanting to face the best Buckeyes team.

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Devin from East Lansing, Mich., writes: Hey Adam,Great blog. I've got a question as a Michigan State student and fan (and I'm sure fans out there from other schools have the same question)-- How do you see MSU's chances of a Big Ten championship change (or Iowa's, Nebraska's, Wisconsin's, etc.) with the exit of Tressel and the possibility of further sanctions and such for OSU?

Adam Rittenberg: Overall, Michigan State's chances would improve if Ohio State can't compete for a Big Ten title. The same goes for the other 10 squads in the league. I would point out, however, that divisional play really changes how you should look at your team's chances for league championships, BCS bowls, etc. Michigan State must first worry about winning the Legends division, which doesn't include Ohio State. I'd say any penalties for Ohio State impact Leaders division teams more than they do Legends division teams.

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Andrew L. from Columbus, Ohio, writes: Adam, I have been following your coverage of the Tressel collapse (I refuse to say enjoying but it is well done). One point I have noticed several commentators making is that Gee and Smith need to go as well. I can understand the calls for Smith to go but calling for Gee's head over this ignores the University part of The Ohio State University. Ohio State has over 64,000 students, most of whom are not on the football team, and a budget bigger than Delaware's. Gordon Gee has done great things for the school and I am much more concerned with the university as a whole than I am with the football team. President Gee has made some mistakes in handling this, but that is why he has Gene Smith. I frankly, hope he keeps paying more attention to Ohio State as a university that has a football team (along with any other student organization you can imagine - ie the Scrabble Club) than as a football team that is attached to a university.

Adam Rittenberg: Andrew, a university president should be evaluated on more than his somewhat indirect handling of the football program or the football coach. I agree that Gene Smith will face greater scrutiny here because football/Tressel falls directly under his responsibilities. That said, E. Gordon Gee certainly can be criticized for his foolish remark at the March 8 news conference. You could also take issue with how long it took Ohio State to part ways with Tressel. Ohio State football is a huge part of The Ohio State University, but it's not the only part. Gee should be evaluated accordingly.

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Craig from Fort Wayne, Ind., writes: Adam, long time Boilermaker fan here and I just wanted to get your perspective on the program. Do you think Purdue football is dead for at least the near future? It seems as though the hiring of Danny Hope has not gone as planned and after 3 consecutive losing seasons (2 under Hope, 1 of those with a blown up roster), all the momentum from the Tiller era has been lost. I understand the schedule is set up for a bowl run this year, but is making a low tier bowl really going to revitalize the program? My beloved Boilers seem to have little in the way of a legitimate down field threat and are going to have to rely on their defense to win games this season. That paired with the fact that after this year the Boilers schedule seems to take a turn for the difficult in the coming seasons and it just appears to be a recipe for spinning tires. What does Purdue have to do to get back on the right track and if Hope doesn't work out has the AD burnt up to much good collateral from the Tiller era to attract a decent coach?

Adam Rittenberg: Craig, I realize it has been a tough time for Purdue fans and there seems to be little to no buzz around that program right now. That said, the 2011 team boasts some talented players on both sides of the ball. I'm really excited about guys like receiver Antavian Edison and cornerback Ricardo Allen. You also have players like running back Ralph Bolden returning to the fold. So there's hope for better things this season. It's hard to evaluate Hope right now, but this is undoubtedly a big season for him. He needs to show Purdue is headed in the right direction and can start making bowl games again. If Purdue falls short of the postseason, we could see a change.

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Colin from Atlanta writes: Hey Adam long time reader first time writer.I felt this way before this Jim Tressel mess but especially with whats going down at Ohio State aren't the next 2-3 years really important for the Wisconsin football program to really take the next step and become a true power in the Big Ten?

Adam Rittenberg: Colin, I'm not the first person to write this, but Wisconsin could stand to gain the most from Ohio State potentially taking a step back during the next few years. The Badgers have been competitive with the Buckeyes, although Wisconsin hasn't been the Big Ten's top dog until the late 1990s. The fact that Wisconsin plays in the same division (Leaders) as Ohio State is extremely significant, and the Badgers could really move into a powerhouse position if they were to repeat as Big Ten champions this fall. While other teams could benefit as well, Wisconsin might be the most direct beneficiary.

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Michael from San Francisco writes: Adam-In regards to Feldman's article, why would a big name be more interested in the OSU position that they were in the Michigan position? Michigan had difficulty (twice) getting the candidates they wanted, not to mention being unable to draw high profile names like Gruden, Stoops, etc. Why is OSU going to be so much more successful while they are under severe NCAA sanctions (or at least the threat of severe sanctions)? Wouldn't the big names wait for the Penn State or Texas positions?

Adam Rittenberg: It's hard to say, Michael. Ohio State has a lot of positives, and the program has been more dominant in recent years than either Michigan or Penn State. I also would disagree Michigan struggled to attract top candidates after Lloyd Carr's resignation. Les Miles was interested for a time, and Rich Rodriguez came to Michigan as a pretty big name. It's hard to tell how big-name candidates will view Ohio State without knowing what type of penalties the Buckeyes program could be facing. My colleague Ivan Maisel thinks big-time candidates will stay away from Ohio State, while I'm more optimistic there will be interest. We'll have to see.

Jim Tressel's resignation and the fallout for Ohio State football dominated the headlines throughout a Memorial Day none of us will forget any time soon.

Many of the columns I read turned the focus to three other figures in this saga: Ohio State president E. Gordon Gee, athletic director Gene Smith and quarterback Terrelle Pryor.

Here's a look at some of the Tressel takeaways from around the Web:

Yahoo! Sports' Dan Wetzel: "The NCAA’s original investigation centered exclusively on Tressel’s mistake. As more and more dirt comes out, it can -- and likely will -- begin a second investigation. It’s a snowball effect and there is no reason to think the media is going to stop looking now. This is what will be most painful for Ohio State. This is the willful turning of a simple case (the original tip) into a major one (Tressel’s cover up) into potentially a monster (any ensuing violations). It’s a series of self-inflicted wounds."

FoxSportsOhio.com's Bruce Hooley: "Tressel exposed himself then as an enabler and apologist for the player whose dealings with the owner of a Columbus tattoo parlor ultimately trashed the OSU coach’s previously unimpeachable reputation for integrity and character and forced his departure from a job that once seemed his for as long as he wanted it."

CBSsports.com's Gregg Doyel: "So, no -- what happened Monday wasn't enough to save Ohio State from the wrath of the NCAA. Nor should it be. Jim Tressel, and Tressel alone, was the guy who knew since April 2010 of violations involving some of his best players. That's true. But neither of the two people above him on the school hierarchy -- not his direct boss, not his school president -- thought what he'd done was bad enough to warrant his removal."

SI.com's Andy Staples: "If the three highest profile players of a big-time coach's career all got dinged by the NCAA, you would think that coach might be dirty. So why, after Maurice Clarett, Troy Smith and Terrelle Pryor all faced NCAA sanctions, did people still think Ohio State coach Jim Tressel was squeaky clean? Why, after Tressel admitted in March that he played ineligible players and lied to the NCAA about it, did people still rush to his defense, claiming him an otherwise perfect coach who made one little mistake? Because Tressel, Ohio State and a compliant media -- yes, I'm just as guilty as the other two parties -- sold that narrative so well."

The Columbus Dispatch's Rob Oller: "Ultimately, Tressel's tendency to micro-manage may have been his undoing, In contrast to the man he replaced -- Cooper was brought down in part by a hand's-off approach that allowed his detractors to accuse him of losing control of his players -- Tressel tried to do it all himself. So when emails hit his inbox with troubling reports that should have been shared with his superiors, Tressel instead kept the information mainly to himself, forwarding it to the hometown mentor of Buckeyes quarterback Terrelle Pryor. When Tressel denied knowledge of the incriminating email contents -- OSU players were trading memorabilia for money and tattoo discounts -- the road to ruin was freshly paved."

The New York Times' Pete Thamel: "As Ohio State football, one of the most powerful brands in college sports, prepares for what appears to be an uncertain season, the big question will be whether the N.C.A.A.’s unpredictable enforcement arm assures that more difficult seasons could follow. Tressel’s resignation appeared to be the Ohio State president E. Gordon Gee’s acknowledgment that the university was in an untenable position with its star coach."

The Los Angeles Times' Chris Dufresne: "Hubris is part of the plague of being one of the most powerful people in town, as Tressel was in Columbus. Control freaks think they can control things. Control freaks with power think they can control everything. Tressel's 106 wins in 10 years, 2002 national title and 9-1 record vs. Michigan made him virtually unimpeachable. It must have made him think he didn't need to disclose NCAA violations even as he signed a 'certificate of compliance' form in September certifying he knew of no violations in his program."

CBSsports.com's Brett McMurphy: "Any other coach would have been tossed aside months ago. Yet for reasons known only to Gee and athletic director Gene Smith -- still employed, at least, as of Monday morning -- Tressel was allowed to remain as the Buckeyes' coach even after the school discovered a paper trail of violations longer than the Script Ohio."

The Sporting News' Matt Hayes: "There are two ways this can go. Ohio State can believe firing Tressel will appease the NCAA infractions committee and take their chances with the looming sanctions. Or the board of trustees at the university can realize two thirds of the problem are still employed, fire Gee and Smith and show the NCAA that they truly are committed to starting anew."

Forbes.com's Roger Groves: "Despite all that success and giving Tressel every benefit of the doubt in his protective intentions, there are at least two overarching lessons. First: No one is bigger than the university. ... Lesson Two: Mistakes are forgivable. But covering up the mistakes and hypocrisy…not so much."

The Cleveland Plain Dealer's Doug Lesmerises: "Tressel's resignation on Monday is not Pryor's fault. But the Tressel-Pryor relationship is one of its root causes. Though Tressel is done, Pryor's Ohio State career continues, his senior season to be filled with not with a Heisman Trophy run but a perhaps awkward return after his current five-game suspension. He'll return under interim coach Luke Fickell, whom some suspect may provide more across-the-board discipline, and to an OSU fan base that may be uncertain of how to greet him."

AOL FanHouse's Greg Couch: "This is about crisis management. It’s about isolating and finger-pointing and butt-saving. First, Tressel-Smith-Gee blamed a couple of players for doing the wrong thing, and suspended them (after the bowl game). The players were the only ones in the box. But then, as real investigations continued, Smith-Gee had to throw Tressel over, too. Now, he’s in the box.

The Cleveland Plain Dealer's Terry Pluto: "No matter if he was encouraged to do so by OSU officials, or if he came to the realization that the NCAA investigation would never let up until he left -- leaving this way was the right thing to do."

The Detroit Free Press' Drew Sharp: "Tressel wasn’t surviving this. There was no way. He blatantly lied to his superiors and NCAA investigators, breaching explicit terms of his contract. But Tressel became leverage for the university with the NCAA. His bosses defiantly stood by him. Forcing out a coach they so staunchly supported just weeks earlier -- and who was so successful against the Buckeyes’ arch enemy -- sends another signal to the NCAA that Ohio State is sternly policing itself, purging the program of the root of the compliance problems."

Hoping everyone has a great weekend, especially those attending spring games!

Send in those questions for Tuesday's mailblog.

Ryan from New Zealand writes: Hi Adam, A lot of attention has been paid to rebuilding Michigan's defense and the changes to the offense. But, I haven't heard anything about their special teams changes. Notably, have they found a kicker yet? This was a huge problem last year and really created problems. Do you think they have fixed this problem area?Also, do you know when teams will release their 2011 schedules?Thanks,Ryan

Adam Rittenberg: Ryan, the kicker situation still looks very shaky. Seth Broekhuizen and Brendan Gibbons both missed field-goal attempts in the spring game, although to be fair, that's only a sliver of what they did in practice this spring. Incoming freshman Matt Wile will have a chance to win the job in preseason camp, but until someone starts getting it done in games, you should worry. ... The full schedules should be released soon, along with the Big Ten's prime-time schedule of games.

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Dan from Scottsdale, Ariz., writes: I'd like to get your thoughts on the Jack Nicklaus take about Tress "taking the hit". Although Nicklaus claims to know nothing, he's really stirring the pot isnt he? If he's right and Tress wasn't the only one who knew, wouldn't that directly signal the NCAA to keep digging? And wouldn't Nicklaus' comments effectively end any relationship he'd have with Gee and Smith? Seems like the type of comments a well known alum would say to burn his bridge. Unless he can back them up, his comments seem reckless, careless and useless to me.Also, you took it easy on Pete from Chicago (from Wednesday's chat) regarding PSU feeling unwelcome to the B1G due to the OSU/Michigan rivalry. You subtly let him know about experiencing success. I'll not so subtly remind him PSU has pretty much been a doormat to UM since they joined the conference. Until recently UM has completely owned PSU and probably still would if they hadn't pushed Carr out...

Adam Rittenberg: Nicklaus has his own museum on Ohio State's campus -- right next to the football complex, actually -- so he probably can say what he wants and avoid major repercussions. But it's interesting for sure, and I can say there are a lot of folks around the Big Ten who share this opinion about other people besides Tressel knowing what was happening at Ohio State. The NCAA definitely is digging for more information at Ohio State, not only about this situation but anything else that might come up. While I highly doubt Nicklaus knows more than Gene Smith and Gordon Gee about what happened, it's interesting that he has chosen to speak out.

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Kyle from Denver writes: Any news on Chris Borland from your Madison visit? I see you didn't mention him on the linebacker depth chart. Is the shoulder still an issue or will he be back competing for a starting role? After his stellar freshman year lets get this man-child on the field again!

Adam Rittenberg: Kyle, I caught up with Chris and he's still working his way back from the shoulder surgeries. He's doing agility drills and recently started lifting again, which is a good sign. He expects to be medically cleared in a few weeks but won't participate in full contact until preseason camp. If Borland can stay healthy, he'll provide a huge lift at linebacker for the Badgers. Wisconsin really could use his playmaking skills after losing J.J. Watt.

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Tony from Ann Arbor, Mich., writes: Adam - Regarding Tressel's job status and relationship with this boss, if you signed a form like that for ESPN and it turned out to be a blatant lie, and it damaged ESPN's reputation in front of the whole county over months or more, cost ESPN hundreds of thousands (or more), and will likely cost ESPN major sanctions from its regulator (the FCC?) -- what would your job status be? What would be your relationship with your boss? Yeah, me too, and the same with everyone else reading this. OSU's handling of this situation sends a very bad message to its student athletes; it's an embarrasment to their university and to the Big Ten, among others. I might be from Ann Arbor, but I'm sorry to see it.

Adam Rittenberg: Tony, the difference is I haven't made ESPN millions of dollars and made ESPN's shareholders (equivalent of Ohio State's football boosters) want to invest millions of dollars. Although that's all part of my grand plan, Tressel still has far greater value to the real power brokers at Ohio State, who ultimately decide when a coach gets fired. These situations really show who has the power at certain schools, and it's often not the president or the AD.

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Nathan from Iowa writes: Hey Adam,What is your opinion on Adam Robinson's possible re-acceptance onto the team? You've had strong opinions on previous situations about allowing people back onto the team after being kicked off for various reasons. Just wanting to hear your opinion on this. I think he should be allowed back on after what happened based on the substance policies set in place at the schools, this just happened at the extremely wrong time. I would still like to see a game suspension because of the timing that it happened, but I think he is a good kid who made a mistake.Thanks!

Adam Rittenberg: Nathan, here's my post on the Robinson situation from back in January. My stance hasn't changed. I agree that Robinson was hurt by the timing of what he did -- right after the DJK situation and the internal examination of athlete drug-testing procedures -- but he shouldn't get off the hook easily. If he meets the conditions I outline in the post -- complete his drug counseling program, undergo frequent drug tests, maintain above-average grades and subject to a zero-tolerance policy -- he deserves another chance.

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Michael from St. Louis writes: Hi Adam - When digging through local papers to fill your lunch links during the offseason, do you ever get the feeling you've read a story a dozen different times already? We get it: Nebraska quarterbacks will be allowed to audible next year. Or last year (and I know you didn't have to go through this): Bo Pelini/Shawn Watson isn't going to name a starting QB until gameday! I guess this is more of a complaint than a question. Please, oh please, God - let the football season start soon.

Adam Rittenberg: Here's to that, Michael! I know what you mean about the links, but it's the offseason and there are only so many storylines when you don't play games between late December/early January and September. I'll try my best to find some links that haven't been regurgitated too many times.

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Tyler from Eden Prairie, Minn., writes: On paper, who do you think has the best speed on the offensive side of the ball? I think Nebraska has to be up there or at the top with Taylor Martinez, Rex Burkhead, Jamal Turner, Kyler Reed, and Kenny Bell. They still have 3 4* RB's that will be there in the fall. And maybe even a freak athlete like Bubba Starling passes up MLB and plays for Nebraska.

Adam Rittenberg: I'd agree on the Huskers, Tyler. Martinez and Burkhead both have shown they can run, and I'm excited to see what Turner and Bell can do in games. It might be wishful thinking on Starling, but you never know what happens with these two-sport athletes. Michigan and Ohio State also boast a lot of speed on offense (when the Buckeyes' top players are in the game), and Purdue and Illinois also have speed because of their dual-threat quarterbacks.

Lot of Tressel-related emails today, which is no surprise. You can send all your comments here.

Dan from The Villages, Fla., writes: Do you think that Coach Tressel was concerned for his players safety after the shooting death of the tatoo parlors partner in the drug business? This case is showing how much Tressel is trying to protect is players from any outside harm. He was wrong in not informing Athletic Director Smith in the beginning, but any further sanctions against his program than the five games and the $250,000 personal fine would be to much considering all his past history.

Adam Rittenberg: Dan, I'm sure Tressel was concerned when he heard about the federal investigation, and he wanted to make sure the players' involvement with the tattoo parlor owner had ended. But he really put himself in a compromising position by not sharing information with the right people, namely Gene Smith and Doug Archie, Ohio State's compliance director. Since no one else at Ohio State knew, Tressel is the only one who can get hammered here. We all know that penalties for Tressel also are penalties for the program, but the program will go on, with or without Tressel as coach. I'd be surprised if more penalties aren't on the way for Tressel/Ohio State.

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Oliver from Columbus, Ohio, writes: Adam, if a change is deemed to be made now rather than later (meaning after the 2011 season or so), is it too late for a program like Ohio State to lure a big-named coach? Would the program probably have to go through the 2011 season perhaps with an interim coach and, if that doesn't work out, hire a coach next December (or so)?Would a big-named coach want to take over OSU right now, in other words, versus next winter?

Adam Rittenberg: Oliver, it would be tough to land a big name right now, but the Ohio State job has incredible appeal whenever it next comes open. This is a program with all the resources to compete for national championships every year, and some of the game's top coaches will be interested. It's important for Smith and E. Gordon Gee to protect the brand and ensure that this situation doesn't result in a major step back for the program. You don't want to become Notre Dame or Michigan, big-name programs that slipped back to mediocrity. Both men are extremely loyal to Tressel, but they have to put the Ohio State football brand first.

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Jesse from New Philadelphia, Ohio, writes: Did Michigan dodge a bullet four years ago by not landing Pryor, or would Rich Rod still be there with a successful team? And will Ohio fans look back at this as a win for Ohio or does Pryor need to have the best Big Ten season of his career to leave the school with a favorable memory?

Adam Rittenberg: This is a fascinating question, Jesse. Despite Pryor's success on the field, would Ohio State have been better off without him? What would have happened if he ended up with Rich Rodriguez at Michigan? I still tend to think Rodriguez would struggle because of Michigan's defensive woes. The Wolverines certainly didn't struggle last season because of their quarterback (Denard Robinson). But Pryor's long-term legacy at Ohio State will be truly fascinating. He has been instrumental in two BCS bowl wins and boasts a sparkling record as the starter. But he's also at the center of a situation that could alter the program's course.

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Joe from Chicago writes: Looking forward to football season and a potentially dynamite Iowa offense. I think this will be the first year that Erik "Soup" Campbell has a group of receivers he recruited or recruited while he was here (McNutt being "recruited" from his previous position, Shumpert would've been recruited by Coach Johnson).Don Shumpert has been called the best pure athlete on the team. Not surprised considering he ran a sub 50 400 meter dash his high school senior year after never having run it before.Kevonte Martin-Manley (dubbed, "KMM") could have played last year. He looks like a future star on practice videos that Morehouse posts.McNutt will likely be the best receiver in the league and CJ has been referred to as one of Iowa's two best receivers. He couldn't block an ant last year though. Where you at Keenan???

Adam Rittenberg: Joe, some really good points here, especially about Campbell working with receivers he recruited to Iowa. McNutt is a stud, but Iowa really needs Keenan Davis, Shumpert or someone else to emerge as a No. 2 option. You're dealing with a new starting quarterback this year, and you want to give that guy as many targets as possible. McNutt and the tight end group help, but Iowa will be looking for more.

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Mark from Battle Creek, Mich., writes: Adam, not only are you correct about wide receiver being Michigan's deepest position, but your forgot about Martavious Odoms, who has been very reliable when healthy over the course of his career, and tight end Kevin Koger who will have a much bigger role in the new offense. Also a few very good young receivers like Miller and Jackson who are anxious to prove themselves, and a highly touted tight end recruit coming in who will probably see the field. What say you sir?

Andrew from D.C. writes: Hey Adam, in both your Spring Superlatives and article on WR depth in the B10, you forgot about Martavious Odoms for Michigan. He could have been one of our top targets last year if not for the early injury that shelved his season. Should be interesting to see how he fits in the new system, though RR's staff had enough faith in his receiving abilities to move him from slot to the outside.

Adam Rittenberg: Mark and Andrew (and others), thanks for bringing up Odoms. I should have included him among the top returning wideouts despite his injury issues last season. The thing with Odoms is he seems like a classic spread-offense wideout, and it will be interesting to see how he transitions to a new system. Michigan's offensive coaches will be looking for more than just pure speed. It's a big year for Koger at tight end, a position that could be featured more in the new system.

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Adam from Baltimore writes: Hey Adam,Regarding the dark horse Heisman candidates, while I think Baker could improve upon his numbers from last year (maybe even up to 1,400 yards), because MSU's offense isn't as flashy as Oregon's, and because he probably will have to compete with his own quarterback for a few votes, I just don't like Baker's chances. I think it would take a really extraordinary year (2,000+ yards, 7 ypc, 25 touchdowns, MSU going undefeated) and Andrew Luck & Kellen Moore having less than stellar years for him to be really in the mix, because as you know this award is now QB driven. They've got the gaudy stats and get the hype. That's why I think it'll be tough even for James to win it this year. Andrew Luck is still probably my front-runner.

Adam Rittenberg: It's going to be tough for any Big Ten player to win the Heisman if Luck has a season like he did in 2010. Same goes for Moore. But Baker is a guy who could put himself in the mix if he puts together a complete season. He was great early on for Michigan State, but the Spartans' rushing attack struggled a bit down the stretch. Michigan State also likely will feature multiple backs, as Le'Veon Bell was very impressive early on and Larry Caper brings something to the table as well. It's a very good group of backs in East Lansing.

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Jim from Green Bay, Wis., writes: What do you think about the Badgers defense, and Mike Taylor to be more specific?

Adam Rittenberg: Taylor is a very solid player, and he and his fellow linebackers might have to lead the way on defense this season. Wisconsin loses an All-American up front in J.J. Watt and two starters in the secondary (Jay Valai and Niles Brinkley). Although the depth in the secondary isn't bad at all, Wisconsin should be a linebacker-led defense with Taylor and Chris Borland, who returns from a shoulder injury.

Stay tuned for more news on the Ohio State situation. Coach Jim Tressel, university president E. Gordon Gee and athletic director Gene Smith plan to hold a news conference at 7 p.m. ET on Tuesday.

The crow E. Gordon Gee ate in New Orleans undoubtedly tasted a little better after Ohio State's Sugar Bowl victory, but the Ohio State president received a few more reminders of his ill-advised remarks when he returned home to Columbus.

By now, Gee might have seen one of the 20 electronic billboards around Columbus that contain the message: "Congratulations to TCU for their Rose Bowl victory -- Little Sisters of the Poor." Last month Gee told The Columbus Dispatch that teams from non-AQ conferences weren't as deserving of a spot in the national title game because they padded their records playing opponents like the "Little Sisters of the Poor." He later apologized, but the damage was done.

TCU validated its non-AQ brethren Saturday by beating Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl Game presented by VIZIO.

It'd be interesting to find out who's actually behind the billboards. I've never been a fan of college football fans wasting money on them, but I doubt the practice will stop.

I'm sure Gee got a laugh out of seeing them. Ohio State fans? Not so much.