Ohio State football fans received two bits of bad news yesterday, when it was reported that senior running back Carlos Hyde had been indefinitely suspended from the Buckeye football team and junior cornerback Bradley Roby would be withheld from Big Ten media day activities.
Hyde’s suspension resulted from an alleged assault on a woman that occurred at a downtown Columbus bar. Although Hyde has not been charged with a crime, he is a person of interest. And until the matter is cleared, the Buckeyes will keep Hyde on suspension.
Both The Columbus Dispatch and ESPN have reported that Hyde is only on suspension, after The Dispatch initially claimed that the Buckeyes booted Hyde. Although, ESPN claims sources that can provide surveillance video that’s “contrary to what’s being reported.” Whatever Hyde’s status, for the moment he isn’t a Buckeye, and the squad is now without a running back who contributed 17 touchdowns last season.
Roby, an ESPN first-team All-American last season, could face additional punishment other than being withheld from Big Ten media day, as the cornerback was arrested Sunday morning in Monroe County, Indiana, after refusing to leave a bar. Those additional disciplinary actions could become reality if more, well, “bad” information surfaces against Roby. Roby was the Buckeyes’ lynchpin in the secondary last season, breaking up 17 passes and intercepting two, and was expected to lead an Ohio State defense looking to replace seven defensive starters.
But it wasn’t all grey skies in Buckeye World yesterday. Grant Reed, the 12-year-old Ohio State fan who beat cancer after naming it “Michigan,” received four tickets to see the Buckeyes play the Wolverines in Ann Arbor this November.
The person who gifted Reed the tickets?
UM head coach, Brady Hoke.
According to a NBC4i story, “Grant’s father, Troy, said his son did not hesitate to answer the coach. ‘He gave a very clear yes—he’s very excited.’ Troy said.”
So at least one Buckeyes fan had a smile on his face yesterday.
Photos: Getty