COLUMBUS — Ohio State released a statement today indicating university’s intent to appeal the five-game suspensions that five football players face at the start of the 2011 season.

The statement reads as follows:

Ohio State has notified the NCAA that it will appeal the reinstatement decisions for its football student-athletes. The university has requested this appeal be heard via a teleconference, which would include university officials and the student-athletes.

The appeal will be heard by the Division I Committee on Student-Athlete Reinstatement, an independent committee comprised of representatives from NCAA member colleges, universities and athletic conferences. This committee’s decision is final. It can reduce or remove the reinstatement conditions, but it cannot increase the conditions imposed by the NCAA national office reinstatement staff. An appeals teleconference date has not been set as cases with student-athletes currently in season will be given priority.

Ohio State student-athletes involved in this case are able to practice, participate in workouts and all other permissible offseason activities, including spring practice and the spring game, which is not competition but rather the final spring practice session.

Additional comments or statements will not be made available to the media or public until after the NCAA committee renders a decision regarding Ohio State’s appeal.

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