[Husker] Ohio State Players Will Return Next Year

[Andrew Ditmore]

I apologize if this is already being discussed, as I am subscribed to the
digest, so I don't get all the Husker List e-mails real time...

Within the last hour Ohio State coach Jim Tressel has announced that all of
the suspended players have pledged to return next year.  Apparently, they
had to make this pledge in order for them to be allowed to play in the
Sugar Bowl.  According to Tressel, the players would not have traveled with
the team to the Allstate Sugar Bowl if they had not pledged to return in
2011.   Tressel said he wanted to make sure that the players wouldn't
"skirt the consequences" by playing in the Sugar Bowl, then declaring for
the NFL draft and avoiding any punishment.

Some how this doesn't smell quite right to me, although I can't put my
finger on exactly why it bothers me.  It probably stems to the fact that
the suspension doesn't start until next year in the first place.  Several
kids at other schools, including Nebraska, have had some lapses in
judgement over the last few weeks, and they won't be able to play in this
year's bowl games.

I'm also not sure how OSU might be able to enforce such a pledge once the
players have already played in the bowl game, or what the consequences
might be if they were to change their minds.  If they were to go ahead and
go pro, you might call their character into question, and I suppose that
could impact their draft position, but really, can they be held to this
pledge?

Read the whole story here:
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/bowls10/sugar/news/story?id=5970169