THE OHIO State University football program received an early Christmas present last week. Unfortunately it was five helmets full of coal.

The Buckeye Nation was stunned when it learned that five of its players — including star quarterback Terrelle Pryor — had been sanctioned by the NCAA for selling football-related merchandise. Some of the items were the famous “golden trousers” received for beating Michigan as well as Big Ten championship rings.

The players in question said they sold the items to help their respective families. We, however, view it as selfishness, as the five fallen Buckeyes knew the rules and possible penalties that would result.

The foolish five put their well- being before the best interests of the team. Football is the ultimate team game; unfortunately, Pryor, Daniel Herron, DeVier Posey, Mike Adams and Solomon Thomas failed to buy into the team-first concept.

The NCAA was correct in suspending the players for their selling sprees. But we disagree on how the NCAA meted out the punishment.

The five Buckeyes will not begin serving their suspensions until the 2011 season. They are allowed to play in the Sugar Bowl against Arkansas.

We disagree.

Discipline — to be effective — needs to be swift and fair. We believe the NCAA is fair in handing out five-game suspensions. The NCAA is off the mark, however, in waiting until next season for the penalties to kick in.

Many of those five will now likely head to the NFL next year in the wake of the developments. Thus, they escape any punishment, only to leave the OSU program with a black eye.

Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel should step in and pick up the ball the NCAA has dropped in this unfortunate scenario.

Tressel, as we see it, should suspend the five players for the Sugar Bowl and make a statement that Ohio State will not stand for such activity in its football program.