Urban Meyer on 2010 Ohio State scandal: 'There's no competitive advantage'

It can be strange to look back on scandals of the past in college sports, given where NIL and NCAA enforcement currently stand. Among the most shocking would have been the 2010 Ohio State tattoo scandal.

The scandal involved players trading memorabilia and other gear for tattoos. The most notable player involved was quarterback Terrelle Pryor. That was all before Urban Meyer was at Ohio State, but it did ultimately open the job for him and he lived in the fallout of it. However, as he explained on The Triple Option, it was frustrating to deal with the level of punishment the school felt compared to the lack of competitive advantage that came from the scandal.

“I know this one well because I lived it,” Urban Meyer said. “The 2012 team went undefeated and was not able to compete. We would have played Notre Dame for the national championship that year. So, it was very punitive. Jim Tressel, who I know well. Once again, I know this case because I lived it. I was hired directly after Coach Tressel resigned, and on a competitive scale, it’s one. There’s no competitive advantage.”

The scandal strictly involved current Ohio State players trading for tattoos. It didn’t involve using tattoos or gear to recruit or retain players at Ohio State. Therefore, there wasn’t an aspect of the scandal that helped the Buckeyes to win.

“There were some players trading, from my understanding,” Meyer said. “Which I do know, they were trading memorabilia for tattoos. So, competitive advantage. Zero. One. There’s nothing there.”

In the end, the NCAA brought the hammer down on Ohio State. Then head coach Jim Tressel received a five-year show cause, was fined $250,000, and was forced to resign. The school was forced to vacate its wins from 2010, totaling 12 games. Ohio State also received a postseason ban and a reduction in scholarships over three seasons. That postseason ban likely cost the Buckeyes a national championship in Meyer’s first season, 2012.

“Was it wrong? Yes. Jim Tressel was accused of lying. From my understanding, what the accusation was,” Meyer said. “Was that he signed a letter like we all had to sign… that says you’re not aware of any violations? He was aware of this. He ended it. As a result — so, I think it’s a one, but the inconsistency of that penalty, to this day, still bothers me.”

Today, there likely wouldn’t be an eyebrow raised for trading tattoos for gear. Just 15 years later, it shows how quickly the world of college sports has moved as it tries to catch its footing in the new world.