Yahoo Sports is reporting that Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel knew that several players on the Buckeyes’ football team was selling memorabilia eight months before the report came out last year.
Tressel received information that players were selling memorabilia to a local tattoo artist as early as April 2010, Yahoo is reporting.
According to the report a “concerned party” reached out to Tressel back in April.
A federal probe led to the information coming out that Terrelle Pryor, Dan Herron, DeVier Posey, Solomon Thomas and Mike Adams, sold memorabilia to Edward Rife.
Back in December, the five players were notified that they will be suspended for the first five-games of next season, and Tressel told the players that they could only play in the Sugar Bowl if they pledged to return next season, and not skip out and go to the NFL without serving their suspension.
The NCAA doesn’t allow players to receive free merchandise or services because they are athletes.
According to the original report the players sold championship rings and signed autographs for discounted tattoos.
In December, Tressel said he was disappointed with the players because not only did they break the rules, but they sold what he thought were important pieces of memorabilia that they can use to look back on their college football career.
