OSU booster admits to money envelopes

Associated Press

COLUMBUS

A booster says he’s responsible for envelopes containing $200 in cash given to three Ohio State football players that led the NCAA to suspend them for two games apiece, a newspaper is reporting.

Robert “Bobby” DiGeronimo told The Columbus Dispatch that he was behind former Buckeyes quarterback Terrelle Pryor giving the three players the envelopes.

Says DiGeronimo: “I handled it wrong.”

The NCAA suspended the players — tailback Jordan Hall and cornerback Travis Howard, both set to start Ohio State’s opening game, and backup safety Corey Brown — for accepting improper benefits. They were reinstated on Tuesday and could play in the 17th-ranked Buckeyes’ game on Saturday at Miami.

Abdullah big for nebraska

LINCOLN, Neb.

Ameer Abdullah arrived at Nebraska this year without a lot of hype.

The 5-foot-9, 180-pound freshman was largely overlooked in recruiting until his senior year of high school in Homewood, Ala. Alabama didn’t offer a scholarship. Auburn offered, but he wasn’t its first choice at running back.

Husker fans certainly know his name now. Abdullah returned a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown to break open last week’s 42-29 win over Fresno State. He ranks second nationally in kick returns with his 42-yard average.

Irish try to put past behind them

SOUTH BEND, Ind.

Harrison Smith was involved in the final play of last year’s loss at Michigan State and it’s something the Notre Dame captain doesn’t care to revisit.

The senior safety and linebacker Carlos Calabrese were knocked to the ground when the Spartans faked a field goal and holder Aaron Bates threw a game-winning touchdown pass to Charlie Gantt in overtime.

Smith wasn’t reflecting on how crushing the loss was a year ago or how difficult times were in 2007 when the Irish lost their first five games. Lose against the Spartans on Saturday and Notre Dame will be 0-3 for the first time since that season four years ago.

Smith says the time has come to turn the season around with better play on the field.

N. ILLINOIS COACH faces friends at Wisconsin

DeKALB, Ill.

Northern Illinois coach Dave Doeren insists this week’s game against No. 7 Wisconsin is no different from any other on the Huskies’ schedule.

Never mind that he spent the last five years in Madison, the longest stop in his professional career. Or that he’s been friends with Wisconsin’s co-defensive coordinators so long he considers them brothers. Or that he knows the Wisconsin players so well he refers to them by their first names.

When the game starts, Doeren says, his only concern will be Northern Illinois. This week, Doeren says, “is about us playing against them.”

FSU downplays talk about realignment

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.

Florida State athletic director Randy Spetman says that though the university is keeping a watchful eye on the changing landscape of collegiate athletics, the Seminoles are comfortable in the ACC.

Spetman downplayed brief “informal discussions” some trustees had about possible conference realignments at the end of last week’s board meeting.

The latest move has Texas A&M moving to the Southeastern Conference, leaving that league with an odd number of teams at 13. Haggard says that there has not been any talk with the SEC about possibly switching leagues.