Lawmakers introduce resolution to reinstatement 2010 Ohio State wins

State lawmaker Brian Stewart, a republican from Ashville, Ohio and two-time Ohio State graduate, sponsored a resolution this week which calls for the 12 wins from the 2010 season marred by “tattoogate” to be reinstated as part of the Buckeyes’ official program record.

According to the Columbus Dispatch, Stewart says that the NCAA’s scrubbing of the record unfairly hurt players, fans and coaches without addressing the actual issue of what happened. He also cited the recent changes in NCAA rules, including the NIL laws which allow players to make money off their name, image and likeness.

In 2010, Ohio State had its football wins vacated after “tattoogate” led to an NCAA investigation into the impermissible benefits provided to student athletes in Columbus, Ohio. Players Mike Adams, Daniel Herron, DeVier Posey, Terrelle Pryor and Solomon Thomas were suspended five games for selling personal memorabilia in exchange for tattoos.

As a result of the incident, head coach Jim Tressel resigned and the school vacated its 12 wins, including the Big Ten championship and Sugar Bowl, from the school history. Two years of NCAA probation also followed the investigation.

Ohio State players call for 2010 reinstatement

Pryor issued a letter last year along with DeVier Posey, Dan Herron, Mike Adams and Solomon Thomas to the NCAA and Ohio State. The five former Buckeyes had their careers suspended for selling memorabilia for tattoos over a decade ago.

The group, referring to themselves as the Tattoo 5, called for the wins from the 2010 Ohio State team to be reinstated. Ultimately, the tattoo scandal resulted in Ohio State coach Jim Tressel’s resignation — with the entire situation looking worse in hindsight after the NCAA finally granted Name, Image and Likeness right to players this summer.

The letter comes less than two weeks after Ohio Governor Mike DeWine issued an executive order and an interim policy was passed by the NCAA, allowing student-athletes to turn profits based on their fame.

“Now that the fundamental right has been granted to a new generation of athletes,” the letter states. “Now that they have finally have the freedom to share in some of the millions of dollars in revenue they generate for their coaches, their institutions and the NCAA as a whole, we would like to see our hard won accomplishments reinstated.

“We are calling for our school records and legacy to be restored so that Buckeye Nation can look at us with the same love and fondness that we’ve always had for them. We look forward to one day telling our story and the Tattoo 5 forever being a legitimate part of Ohio State’s glorious history.”