Life goes on for OSU’s ‘Tattoo Five’

Associated Press

COLUMBUS

In many ways, the five-game NCAA suspensions handed to five of Ohio State’s top players and coach Jim Tressel haven’t had much effect on the team’s spring workouts.

“We’ve stuck together,” linebacker Andrew Sweat said. “Adversity happens. We’re coming together to overcome it.”

All but quarterback Terrelle Pryor are practicing with the team this spring. Pryor is recuperating from foot surgery to repair ligament damage and will not play in the team’s spring game.

The other suspended players are leading rusher Dan Herron, top returning receiver DeVier Posey, starting offensive tackle Mike Adams and backup defensive lineman Solomon Thomas. All five will sit out the games against Akron, Toledo, at Miami (Fla.), Colorado and the Big Ten opener against Michigan State for accepting improper benefits from a Columbus tattoo-parlor owner. But they can practice every day with the team up to and after each of those games, including every workout in August.

Herron, nicknamed “Boom,” believes the five can redeem themselves through their play and subsequent actions.

“I’m still myself. I’m still Boom. Everybody knows who I am,” he said. “Everybody makes mistakes in their life. You move on.”

Tressel will also miss the first five games, punishment for knowing about the improper benefits for more than nine months but not notifying his superiors. The NCAA is still investigating his case.

Ohio State has permitted little access to players and Tressel during the three weeks of spring workouts. Reporters have been allowed to watch an occasional practice, but for the most part have had only limited chances to speak with players compared to past years. Tressel spent 10 minutes on one teleconference, mostly talking about the competition at quarterback.

Jordan Hall, a running back who attended Jeannette, Pa., High School, with Pryor, one of his best friends, and thinks he is bearing up well.

“He’s helping all the quarterbacks,” Hall said. “He’s in the film room with the quarterbacks. He’s been like a coach for the quarterbacks this spring.”

Pryor has not participated in contact drills and has spent most of his time tossing a football on the sidelines or closely watching the progress of the four candidates to replace him in those first five games.

For the most part, the Buckeyes have tried to just forget about the impending suspensions.

“To be honest, I don’t think it’s really hit me yet. I try not to think about it because it’s going to be terrible at times,” Herron said. “I can’t let it bring me down.”

That’s the approach the entire team seems to be taking.

“Our approach has been the same as it was the past three springs. We’re just trying to get better. We’re trying to get guys prepared for next season,” center Mike Brewster said. “We really do block everything out. We’re focused on what we need to get done. Things have been normal. We don’t even talk about it.”

Many on the team have read the inspirational book “The Traveler’s Gift: Seven Decisions that Determine Personal Success” by Christian author and speaker Andy Andrews. It’s a tale about a man who loses his job and money but reassesses his life.

Brewster said the book applies to the Buckeyes, who are using the mistakes made by the players and their coach as a rallying point.

“You can get mad or use it to your advantage as fuel to prove people wrong. That’s the attitude we’re going to take — keep working hard,” he said. “Let’s shock the world. Let’s show people what we can do by staying together.”