COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — With the dark clouds of an NCAA investigation and impending player suspensions hovering over the program, Ohio State interim coach Luke Fickell doesn’t know exactly what he’ll have to work with this fall.
All he knows is there are difficult times ahead.
Four of the top players still on his roster will sit out the first five games this fall for breaking NCAA rules. Still to be determined are what penalties — more suspensions, postseason bans, recruiting limitations — might be imposed to Ohio State and individuals.
Fickell’s job is to try to get the Buckeyes through the 2011 season. To do that, he’ll have to address several problem areas. During his own first news conference this week, he hinted at how he intends to do that.
