Ohio State President E. Gordon Gee told The Associated Press, “We have reported a violation, a perceived violation, that we were having discussions with them (the NCAA) about the best way to handle it.”

“We reported that immediately when we found it,” Gee noted and said he could not comment further.

Athletic Director Gene Smith has returned to the campus from New York for a 7 p.m. news conference, along with Gee and Coach Jim Tressel at the Jack Nicklaus Museum on the Ohio State campus.

A two-month Yahoo! Sports investigation has allegedly found evidence that Tressel knew of his player selling memorabilia to Edward Rife – the owner of Fine Line Ink Tattoos in Columbus - as early as April 2010, nearly 8 months before he claims to have found out.

Smith says that the local U.S. Attorney’s office alerted the school on Dec. 7 that some of its players were selling items such as jerseys and championship rings to Rife. Soon after, the school opened an investigation and informed the NCAA of the possible rules violations.

On Dec. 23, quarterback Terrelle Pryor was suspended by the NCAA for the first five games of the 2011 season, along with Dan Herron, DeVier Posey, Mike Adams and Solomon Thomas. All the players were allowed, by the NCAA, to play in the Sugar Bowl. Ohio State posted a 31-26 victory against Arkansas in that game. Another player, Jordan Whiting, was suspended for one game.

Related posts:

1. Tressel has not resigned nor been fired Ohio State AD sources say
2. Tressel remains coach; suspended 2 games, fined $250,000
3. Pryor’s presence important at Ohio State spring warmup
4. Buckeye Headlines; including thoughts from Rich Rodriquez if anyone cares
5. Ohio State doesn’t much give a damn about your outrage