The Ohio State Buckeyes suspended defensive end Noah Spence for three games, including the Orange Bowl tonight versus Clemson. And the “Big Ten rules violation” Noah Spence committed really sounds like a performance enhancing drug issue. The Columbus Post-Dispatch reported that Noah Spence tested positive for an unapproved dietary supplement. So it must be a substance that the league deems, whether rightfully or wrongly, enhances performance.
Like the Michigan State Spartans and the Max Bullough suspension, this is literally a game-changer.
Ohio State announced the ban on the morning of New Year’s Day (always pick a holiday to release bad publicity, wink, wink) after an appeal of the penalty by Noah Spence’s parents and the Ohio State Buckeyes athletic department was denied. No one who covers the team regularly seems to know what crime Spence committed.
In addition to the Orange Bowl Noah Spence will miss the first two games of the 2014 campaign. Kent State on Sept. 13 is the next game he can play in. The Buckeyes’ first two games next year are against Navy and Virginia Tech, so no big deal. Noah Spence leads the Ohio State Buckeyes with eight sacks this season and ranks second on the defense with 14.5 tackles for loss.
Paul M. Banks is the owner of The Sports Bank.net, an affiliate of Fox Sports. He’s also an analyst for multiple news talk radio stations across the country; with regular weekly segments on NBC and Fox Sports Radio. Follow him on Twitter (@paulmbanks) and RSS Catch him Tuesdays talking Illini and Northwestern for KOZN 1620 The Zone, Fridays talking Chicago Bulls and Bears for WAOR 95.7 The Fan