Lawmakers want Ohio State’s 2010 football season reinstated

The Ohio State University football team’s 2010 season, released after a memorabilia-for-cash scandal, is set to be reinstated due to recent changes allowing varsity athletes to be compensated, under a symbolic resolution approved by House lawmakers.

The season’s vacancy followed revelations that players in 2009 and 2010 accepted free or discounted money and tattoos from a Columbus tattoo parlor owner and also traded memorabilia like championship rings for cash. The scandal led to the resignation of then-coach Jim Tressel, now president of Youngstown State University.

Last year, the NCAA for the first time allowed college athletes to be compensated for the use of their name, image or likeness.

The NCAA’s 12-1 elimination of Ohio State’s 2010 season, including a Sugar Bowl victory, unfairly hurt players, fans and coaches who had nothing to do with the scandal, a said Representative Brian Stewart, sponsor of the resolution and Ohio State graduate.

The House approved the resolution on Wednesday, but support was not unanimous. Representative Jamie Callender noted that the athletes caught up in the scandal broke rules that would still not be covered by NIL compensation. Representative Nino Vitale questioned the significance of the resolution in relation to other issues before the House.