ESPN Is Suing Ohio State. Yes, Really.

Hmmm

ESPN, the good guys/bad guys of sports in general, is now suing Ohio State for the simple fact that OSU did not release Jim Tressel's emails that were about Terrelle Pryor and the Tat-Gate. OSU denied the public records request by citing FERPA, a federal law designed to protect the privacy of students.


ESPN lawyer John Greiner, based in Cincinnati, said in the court filing that the events surrounding OSU football are sad.

Tressel did not forward the e-mails to his superiors at OSU or to the NCAA, a decision which ultimately lead to his ouster under pressure from Ohio State officials. Meanwhile, Pryor decided to leave OSU and apply for the NFL’s supplementary draft after Tressel was shown the door.

In the lawsuit, ESPN says that OSU is “aggressive and misguided” and “equal parts cynical and hypocritical” for claiming they are prohibited by FERPA from releasing the communications that concern Sarniak. Noting that Sarniak is neither a parent or guardian of any player on the team, the lawsuit states that OSU hasn’t indicated the records would discuss grades, financial aid or other items covered by FERPA.

OSU has 21 days to respond to the suit once it is served with papers.