Ohio St. football players cleared over fundraiser

They attended an Akron dinner to raise money for their families to go to Arizona.
COLUMBUS (AP) -- An Ohio State investigation has concluded no NCAA rules violations occurred at a spaghetti-dinner fundraiser in Akron to help families of four Ohio State players attend the national championship game.
The players could have been suspended if they were found in violation of rules that prohibit athletes from receiving special benefits.
"The bottom line on this issue is: Did these student-athletes receive an extra benefit or not?" NCAA spokesman Bob Williams said. "Everything that I have heard is that they did not."
Starting tailback Antonio Pittman and his backup, Chris Wells were at the Dec. 23 spaghetti dinner but left midway through after Paulette Wells, Chris Wells' mother, called Ohio State offensive coordinator Jim Bollman to ask whether it might violate NCAA bylaws. Bollman advised her to have the Buckeyes players leave the event, which they did.
No rule violations
"We have thoroughly investigated this situation and feel confident that no rule violations occurred," said Doug Archie, Ohio State's associate director of athletics for compliance. "We have talked to all the principals involved and are confident that the players and their families had no prior knowledge of the event. Additionally, no money was given to anyone associated with the Ohio State football program. Those are the litmus tests."
Williams said the matter could still be revisited by the NCAA, if it learns of something beyond what Ohio State discovered in its investigation.
"It could be independently looked at and that happens all the time," Williams said. "If it looks like there are other issues that need to be looked at, then of course they'd be looked at."
The families of sophomore defensive end Lawrence Wilson and senior defensive back DeAngelo Haslam also would have benefited from the event but did not attend. All four players are from the Akron area.
In Gainesville, Fla., Gators coach Urban Meyer said Ohio State's players should not be penalized because they didn't knowingly do anything wrong. He said the situation reveals how hard it is for parents to travel to see their sons play.
"That's awful that the parents sometimes can't go see their players play," he said. "When I see things like that, I'd love to help the parents too get out there because they need to go see their kids play. Some of the parents told me what it cost to go watch this game. It's nuts."
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