The Ohio State University today announced severe sanctions against its field hockey program in light of several violations committed by the school’s football program.
“The benefits that were given to Maurice Clarett during his time here and the car that Terelle Pryor has been allowed to use, among other violations, will not stand here at OSU,” said OSU athletics director Gene Smith. “We take these things very seriously. As such, our women’s field hockey program is losing three scholarships and may not participate in the BIG 10 tournament.”
The field hockey team will, however, be allowed to participate in the NCAA Tournament if it receives a bid.
“It’s an olive branch to them to improve their behavior,” said Smith. “No one on the football team wants those girls to miss out on a field hockey title, I’m sure of it.”
Football coach Jim Tressel said he was unaware of the punishment.
“I had no idea we had a field hockey team,” said Tressel. “Huh. That’s the one where the girls with the short skirts bend over, right? Nice.”
Smith says he thinks his quick action will show the NCAA that the school’s football programs is playing within the rules. “This is just the first step, too,” he said. “If anything more happens, then we hit women’s swimming. Before long it gets really serious and we go after a men’s sport. Like tennis. Not one of the real ones, of course. But still.”
A source within the NCAA’s compliance office says OSU has taken the necessary steps.
“They didn’t even have to do this,” he said. “They’re one of the top football programs. They should know that we’re never going to punish a program at that level. What’s actually more concerning is that they even brought attention to their indiscretions this way. That’s what we might punish them for. We prefer programs just pretend everything is on the up-and-up.”
Subject: OSU to Harshly Punish Field Hockey Program for Football Violations 
3/4/2011, 6:43 pm