>>> NCAA news release on Ohio State violations 
 
 Terrelle Pryor and four of his Ohio State teammates will be suspended from the first five games of the 2011 season because of NCAA violations, the school and NCAA announced today. All five will be eligible to play in the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 4. 
 
 Not that it made the news that much more palatable, Ohio State coach Jim Tressel said. 
 
 "There is a gut-wrenching feeling when you lose a game, and then there is one that goes beyond when you don't feel as if you did what you should do as people," Tressel said. "So whatever the next step of gut-wrenching is, that's the way you feel, and we feel a responsibility for our kids on and off the field. Obviously, it's painful." 
 
 The other four involved in the five-game suspension next season are wide receiver DeVier Posey, running back Dan Herron, left tackle Mike Adams and backup defensive end Solomon Thomas. The five were sanctioned for first accepting discounted rates on tattoos and then letting that escalate into selling personal OSU memorabilia to the owner of a local tattoo parlor for thousands of dollars over a period starting in 2009. Also, backup linebacker Jordan Whiting will miss one game. 
 
 But all six will be eligible to play in the Sugar, NCAA vice president of academic and membership affairs said in the NCAA news release announcing the sanctions. There are allowances for that, he said. 
 
 "The policy for suspending withholding conditions (suspensions) for bowl games of NCAA championship competition recognizes the unique opportunity these events provide at the end of a season, and they are evaluated differently from a withholding perspective," Lennon said. "In this instance, the facts are consistent with the established policy." 
 
 The problems came to light as a result of a federal probe into the affairs of the tattoo parlor owner. Smith said the U.S. Attorney's office notified OSU officials on Dec. 7 that during the searches related to the probe, a stash of OSU memorabilia signed by the players in question was discovered. 
 
 The subsequent investigation by the OSU compliance office led to interviews with the players and then the suspensions. This is what each of them will have to repay to regain elibility next season: 
 
 Adams must repay $1,000 to a charity for selling his 2008 Big Ten championship ring 
 
 Herron must repay $1,150 to a charity for selling his football jersey, pants and shoes for $1,000 and receiving discounted services worth $150 
 
 Posey must repay $1,250 to a charity for selling his 2008 Big Ten championship ring for $1,200 and receiving discounted services worth $50 
 
 Pryor must repay $2,500 to a charity for selling his 2008 Big Ten championship ring, a 2009 Fiesta Bowl sportsmanship award and his 2008 Gold Pants, a gift from the university 
 
 Thomas must repay $1,505 to a charity for selling his 2008 Big Ten championship ring for $1,000, his 2008 Gold Pants for $350 and receiving discounted services worth $155 
 
 Whiting must pay $150 to a charity for receiving discounted services. 
 
 "We will appeal the game suspensions," Smith today said at a news conference, but he also praised the NCAA for reacting quickly to the situation. 
 
 Smith went on to say that the U.S. Attorney's office assured them that as far as the players' involvement was concerned, "this is not a criminal case. ... And it is not an agent or booster case." 
 
 If players miss do miss five games next year, they would sit out contests against Akron (Sept. 3), Toledo (Sept. 10), at the University of Miami (Sept. 17), Colorado (Sept. 24) and the Big Ten opener against Michigan State (Oct. 1). 
 
 tmay@dispatch.com ||||| FILE - This nov. 27, 2010, file photo shows Ohio State's Terrelle Pryor, left, celebrating with quarterbacks coach Nick Siciliano after an NCAA college football game against Michigan, in Columbus, Ohio.... (Associated Press) 
 
 FILE - This nov. 27, 2010, file photo shows Ohio State's Terrelle Pryor, left, celebrating with quarterbacks coach Nick Siciliano after an NCAA college football game against Michigan, in Columbus, Ohio.... (Associated Press) 
 
 Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor and four other Buckeyes were suspended by the NCAA for the first five games of next season for selling championship rings, jerseys and awards, and receiving improper benefits from a tattoo parlor. All can still play in the Sugar Bowl against Arkansas. 
 
 Along with Pryor, running back Daniel Herron, wide receiver DeVier Posey, offensive lineman Mike Adams and defensive end Solomon Thomas must sit out and repay between $1,000 to $2,500 to charity. 
 
 Pryor must repay $2,500 for selling his 2008 Big Ten championship ring, Fiesta Bowl sportsmanship award and his 2008 gold pants, a trinket given to players who are a part of a team which beats rival Michigan. 
 
 Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith said the school will appeal the suspensions. 
 
 "While we believe sanctions should be rendered, we do believe they are severe," he said Thursday at a news conference. "We do believe we can give mitigating circumstances for the NCAA to consider." 
 
 The NCAA did not suspend the players for Jan. 4 Sugar Bowl against the eighth-ranked Razorbacks because the "student-athletes did not receive adequate rules education during the time period the violations occurred." 
 
 "These are significant penalties based on findings and information provided by the university," Kevin Lennon, NCAA vice president of academic and membership affairs, said in the release. 
 
 Lennon said a game was added on to the usual four-game penalty "because these student-athletes did not immediately disclose the violations when presented with the appropriate rules education." 
 
 Pryor is the team's star, while Herron is the leading rusher and Posey is the second-leading receiver. Adams is a starter at left tackle and Thomas a top sub on the defensive line. 
 
 A sixth player, linebacker Jordan Whiting must sit out the first game of the 2011 season and pay $150 to a charity for the value of services that were discounted by the tattoo artist because he was a Buckeyes player. 
 
 "We as coaches feel the buck stops here," coach Jim Tressel said. "We're the ones who need to make things even more crystal clear." 
 
 Smith said Ohio State was not "explicit" in instructing players about the sale of apparel, awards and gifts. 
 
 Adams must repay $1,000 for selling his 2008 Big Ten championship ring. 
 
 Herron must repay $1,150 for selling his football jersey, pants and shoes for $1,000 and receiving discount services worth $150. 
 
 Posey sold his 2008 Big Ten ring for $1,200 and also received discount services.
– And there was much joy in Michigan: Five Ohio State Buckeyes—including star QB Terrelle Pryor—have been suspended by the NCAA for the first five games of next season for selling rings, jerseys, and other goodies to make a buck, reports the Columbus Dispatch. They will, however, be able to play in this year's Sugar Bowl. The school plans to appeal. Some of the players also received what the NCAA deemed improper discounts from a tattoo parlor. All have to give between 1,000 to $2,500 to charity to make up for their profits. Pryor sold his 2008 Big Ten championship ring and his 2008 "gold pants," which the AP describes as "a trinket" given to players on a team that beats Michigan.