What does the typical Ohio State player think of the NCAA? Nothing much, if you want to know.
… Small told The Lantern on Wednesday he profited off of memorabilia while at Ohio State, adding that some student-athletes “don’t even think about (NCAA) rules.”
“I had sold my things but it was just for the money,” Small said. “At that time in college, you’re kind of struggling.”
Small, who played receiver at OSU from 2006-2010, capitalized on the Buckeyes’ success during his college career.
“We had four Big Ten rings,” he said. “There was enough to go around.”
Small said he sold the rings to cover typical costs of living.
“We have apartments, car notes,” he said. “So you got things like that and you look around and you’re like, ‘Well I got (four) of them, I can sell one or two and get some money to pay this rent.”
The wheeling and dealing didn’t stop with rings. The best deals came from car dealerships, Small said.
“It was definitely the deals on the cars. I don’t see why it’s a big deal,” said Small, who identified Jack Maxton Chevrolet as the players’ main resource.
Not a big deal? The NCAA sternly begs to differ with you, young man.
“It’s a privilege to participate in intercollegiate athletics and receive these items,” NCAA spokesman Jeff Howard said. “The athletes should cherish those and not profit from them.”
Ah, yes, 2003. Fun times. Back then, ignorance of the law wasn’t an excuse.
… But Gibson said the players were never told they couldn’t sell the rings. And, frankly, he didn’t understand all the fuss.
“I didn’t know there was a rule,” he said. “I should have a right to do with it what I want.”
Fred, my friend, you were just a little bit ahead of your time there. The NCAA is a much more nuanced bunch these days. Just ask Cecil Newton.
Get The Picture 
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Yes the good ole Days when kicking UGA’s butt was all the rage with the NCAA. Here we sit months later and the NCAA still has nothing on the biggest pay for play scheme in the history of college football. OSU sits on it’s throne daring the NCAA to do anything to it’s program. Well at least the NCAA put an end to USC’s dreams of domination for the next few years.
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Ray is not the only one who is not impressed. Prediction is that the six game self-imposed suspension will be dramatically increased to a seven game self-imposed suspsension amortized over two seasons because Gene Marsh hates bidding against himself
http://www.anamericansportsman.com/2011/05/vindication-for-maurice-clarett.html
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I remember thinking back in ’03 that I didn’t really care one way or the other whether the players sold their rings. Lord knows I’ve sold enough of my Georgia shit on eBay over the years or given it to various friends. Does that make me a bad fan?
But the NCAA decided to make their rules. At the time, I said “So be it.” I just didn’t realize that those rules would only apply to Georgia.
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When Ray Small was arrested while at OSU, he was driving a car with dealer tags……….. hmmm….
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Yep. $8.22/day will put an end to all of this.
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But only for those who know how to budget that huge per diem wisely
http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2011/05/former_auburn_player_mike_mcne_1.html
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I like Ray Small’s honesty. Of course, the NCAA enforcement arm will look incredibly useless if after all of this nothing much happens to Ohio State and/or Tressel.
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+1 brother. If what this Small kids said is true how in the world is this NOT lack of institutional control? Whatever punishment the NCAA hands out to the Buckeyes, OSU needs to forfeit a whole bunch of games, too.
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I just can’t comprehend having a conference championship ring that I sweated and bled for, and then selling it.
That said, I don’t think there should be a rule against it. It’s your property the second that it’s gifted to you by the school, and you should be able to do with your property what you wish. However, there’s a rule against it. And being that Georgia got bitch-slapped for breaking that rule in 2010, and lost three straight games which we could have won because of it, I continue to eagerly await the NCAA handing out some actual punishment to OSU.
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you should be allowed to make money off your name,THIS IS AMERICA,if crowell said “i like locos” and got paid for it then good for him ,the guys who are never going pro are happy to just get a scholarship
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Once again people come with the defense that he has an axe to grind. So I guess we’re supposed to be waiting for a starter who won a national championship and a heisman to come forward before we start to believe that any program is at fault. Last time I checked Mark Richt want anybodys star player. Btw, I thought all the OSU players sold their golden axes after they beat Minnesota.
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Damn, that sonds like SEC shit, 20 years ago.
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Or Awbarn.
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Or SWC.
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I like Tressel but he got what he deserved. Hopefully the NCAA can clean up the rest of college football. Too many corrupt programs out there.
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