By: Robbie Neiswanger (ArkansasNews.com) -

NEW ORLEANS — The NCAA’s decision last week to suspend five Ohio State players for five games to start the 2011 season has become the unexpected story of the Sugar Bowl.

But Ohio State receiver DeVier Posey, who was one of the five players punished for selling personal awards and memorabilia before his college eligibility expired, said Thursday it won’t be a distraction for the Buckeyes.

“I don’t feel like something I did two years ago is going to bother me too much today,” Posey said after Ohio State’s practice. “I’m just really trying to focus on the Allstate Sugar Bowl and playing Arkansas on Jan. 4.

“I think it has more effect on you guys than us.”

Ohio State, which arrived in town Wednesday night, held its first practice in the Superdome on Thursday. It’s no surprise the on-the-field work wasn’t the most popular topic of conversation following the workout, though.

Instead, the Buckeyes were doing their best to deflect the notion they were facing an overwhelming distraction because of the NCAA cloud that descended on Columbus, Ohio just before Christmas.

Ohio State announced five players — Posey, quarterback Terrelle Pryor, running back Dan Herron, left tackle Mike Adams and defensive end Solomon Thomas — would be suspended the first five games of the 2011 season for committing NCAA violations.

But the part that has rubbed some wrong: The NCAA opted to keep the players eligible for the Sugar Bowl.
So the Buckeyes are at full strength as they prepare to play the Razorbacks next Tuesday night.

And Ohio State insisted Thursday its focus is on the task at hand.

“Everyone knows the big picture right now is we need to get ready for Arkansas,” Ohio State center Mike Brewster said. “We want to send our seniors out on a good note. That’s all we’re really focused on right now. Everyone knows no matter what happens we love each other. …

“Our team can only get stronger from everything.”

Distraction or not, Arkansas expressed its pleasure the Buckeyes would have all of its stars on the field.

The Razorbacks found out shortly before a team meeting the NCAA was hitting Ohio State with suspensions. At the time, they didn’t know what it would mean for the Sugar Bowl but Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino told his players not to worry about anything said over Christmas.

“We all talked about how we hoped there’s nothing to the situation,” Petrino said. “We want them to be eligible for the game. We get to a bowl game of this magnitude, you want to play against their best players.

“I think we’re fortunate that they’re eligible to play.”

Arkansas’ players echoed Petrino’s sentiments after Thursday’s practice, which was its second in New Orleans.

“We want to them to play,” Arkansas receiver Jarius Wright said. “We want to play Ohio State’s best players. We want to do it not only for us, but the fans. It’s a big BCS game. A lot of people will watch. We want it to be a great game.”

Each suspended Ohio State player is draft eligible at the end of the season, but coach Jim Tressel revealed Thursday they had to agree to one condition before being allowed to travel to New Orleans. All five must return to Ohio State for the 2011 season instead of entering the draft……

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