Written by Mike Perry

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Remember where you heard it first...the Ohio State football program and head coach Jim Tressel are going to end up with the proverbial slap on the wrist. Many are speculating that the man that has come to be known as "The Sweater Vest" in Columbus is in very hot water, and could possibly have coached his last game with the Buckeyes. This is not going to be the case...and the shame of it all is that it should.

At the end of last week the NCAA send Ohio State president E. Gordon Gee a "Notice of Allegations" that savaged Tressel for his role in the cover-up of what has come to be known as "Memorabilia-gate." The NOA pretty much called Tressel a liar for how he acted, who he talked to about the problems, who he failed to notify about the problems and the aftermath of his decisions.

What happened, in a nutshell, is this – certain members of Tressel's team sold or traded memorabilia (Big Ten championship rings, gold pants charms, game-worn cleats, etc.) to a Columbus tattoo parlor owner. These actions made the players ineligible to compete. Tressel was informed of this problem and failed to report it to anyone in athletic administration at Ohio State. He let the players play, then signed the statement of compliance at the end of the season stating, in no uncertain terms, that he did not knowingly use players that violated eligibility rules in games during the season.

The man lied. When he signed that piece of paper at the end of the season he became a liar. The man that recently published a self-help book titled "The Winner's Manual" which featured the following passage on the first page of its prologue:

"I've seen the positives of setting a goal and pushing a team of players to achieve it, working together and striving for something as a team. But I've also seen the destructive force of that kind of ruthless search and what it can do to young people and the coaches who try to win at all costs."

Jim Tressel, for lack of a better term, is a hypocrite. He has not only tarnished his personal reputation, he has sullied the football program at The Ohio State University. He has no credibility left with anyone viewing the situation impartially. None. Zero. Nada.

However, Ohio State and Tressel will sail through this dark period virtually unscathed. Yes, Tressel has accepted a $250,000 fine and will, along with the violating players, sit out the first five contests of the 2011 season. The wins Ohio State posted during the 2010 season, including a win over Michigan and a victory over Arkansas in the Sugar Bowl, will probably end up being vacated. But you can bet your bottom dollar there will be no post-season ban or harsh penalties forthcoming from the NCAA.

Why am I so sure of this? This is a fairly easy question to answer.

Ohio State is a cash cow for the NCAA. Every year Ohio State ranks near the top of NCAA in merchandise sales. Wherever the Buckeyes play a bowl game you will see throngs of scarlet and gray-clad fans overwhelming the stadium. The Buckeyes are one of the most loved, and most hated, athletic programs in the country. Their football program, since Tressel took over, is always among the nation's best and is guaranteed to bring big television ratings. If the Ohio State football program was given a post-season ban, even for one season, it would cost the NCAA and the Big Ten a ton of money.

In the NOA the NCAA did not cite a "lack of institutional control" as being present in the Ohio State athletic department. This is a clear sign the NCAA does not plan on lowering the boom. A lack of institutional control means the athletes have virtually no restrictions or structure...that they do whatever they want and the University could care less. This is the most serious allegation the NCAA can make about a university, and usually leads to major discipline.

The NCAA can also accuse a program of failing to monitor its athletes. This, also, is a serious allegation and will lead, usually, to stiff discipline. This accusation means the NCAA thinks the university has some structure, but has not been diligent enough in keeping track of its athletes' behavior.

The NCAA did not accuse the Buckeyes of either one of these problems. Though, as the investigation continues, the NCAA could amend the Notice of Allegations, but this rarely happens.

Here is what will happen (remember, you heard it here first): The NCAA will accept the sanctions Ohio State came up with – the five-game suspensions for the offending players and Tressel and the $250,000 fine for Tressel .

The NCAA will also add the following punishments: Five years probation for the Ohio State football program, the loss of five scholarships and the wins in 2010 will be vacated. This will mean Ohio State will forfeit its 2010 Big Ten championship. However, when you think about what could have happened to the Buckeyes' football program these are very minor issues. The Buckeyes know who won those games on the field and, regardless of if they are vacated the players will still consider themselves the best team in the conference last year.

The scholarship losses will sting a little, but this will mean Tressel will have five less freshmen to red-shirt. And the probation is meaningless because, after a mess like this Tressel would have to be one of the stupidest people alive to not walk the straight and narrow from now on.

The initial violations were minor. In fact, the rule is fairly stupid. Here are athletes making a ton of cash for their college and the NCAA...who really cares if they make a little money on the side? However, the cover-up turned this entire situation into a full-scale mess. Ask Richard Nixon (well, you really can't ask him because he passed away, but you know what I mean), the cover-up is always worse than the crime.

As things stand, Jim Tressel is a man with no credibility. Don't think this will not be used against him and Ohio State down the line when opposing coaches are in the living rooms of prospective recruits, talking up their programs while talking about the liar that is in charge at Ohio State.

So, I guess, Tressel is not coming through this unscathed. However, those that are calling for his head on a platter, those wanting him to lose his job are going to be disappointed. Tressel is not going anywhere and, the first time the Buckeyes win a big game over a ranked opponent, all will be forgiven by even the most pissed-off Ohio State fan.

You can bank on it.