Big Ten: Ohio St. president’s jabs inappropriate

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — The Big Ten commissioner is calling disparaging remarks by the president of Ohio State University aimed at Notre Dame and other universities “inappropriate.”

Big Ten Commissioner James Delany says the recorded comments by Gordon Gee (ghee) don’t represent the opinions of the conference.

Delany said Thursday the conference has great respect for Notre Dame and schools in the Southeastern Conference.

Gee told a university committee in December that Notre Dame wasn’t invited to join the Big Ten because its priests aren’t good partners and joked Catholics can’t be trusted. He also questioned the academic integrity of SEC schools.

Delany says he has communicated his regrets and apologies to Notre Dame and the SEC.

Gee has apologized in a statement to The Associated Press, saying his comments were “just plain wrong.”