{mosimage} Every team gets a turn wherein the news switches from the game on Saturday to the police blotter. Ohio State gets its turn last evening.

It is being reported in Columbus that QB Antonio Henton was arrested for solicitation in a sting operation.

Henton is a redshirt freshman listed as the 3rd string QB on the depth charts. Although listed as 3rd team, it appeared he was becoming our 2nd team QB. To take advantage of his mobility, it looked like the Buckeyes were developing a package to highlight his skills. It was going to be interesting to see how the use of Henton would or would not develop as the season progressed. Our guess is the development on a Henton package is history for now.

We have seen no statement from the athletic department, nor Coach Tressel at this point, but regardless you can figure doghouse.

I am a subscriber to the theory that "boys will be boys". I further believe if this is the worst thing Antonio ever does Moma Henton should thank her lucky stars. That said, come on Antonio. Did you get out of bed yesterday and decide to be an idiot?

Henton Arrested, Suspended From OSU Football Team

By Jeff Rapp
Posted Sep 25, 2007

EDITOR'S NOTE -- Here is a free video link to OSU coach Jim Tressel's comments on the Antonio Henton situation as well as general comments on the Northwestern win (video clip is 15 minutes; special thanks to ScoutingOhio.com):

A spare $20, a trip to a seedy area of town and a costly “error” have led to a boatload of trouble for Ohio State quarterback Antonio Henton.

A redshirt freshman from Fort Valley, Ga., Henton, 20, was arrested at 8:27 p.m. Monday in Columbus and charged with soliciting, a first-degree misdemeanor. He was held overnight in a holding cell and appeared in Franklin County Municipal Court this morning before Judge Amy Salerno.

The initial court appearance was a bond hearing and Henton did not enter a plea according to reporter Scott Gerfen of WTVN – despite an Associated Press report that claimed he has pleaded not guilty.

In fact, Henton did not utter a word before the judge. He entered in blue jail attire, looked down as soon as he took his seat and did not speak as Salerno explained the charges and, reportedly, publicly admonished Henton for his actions, pointing out that he had let down his team, university and community.

Salerno also set bail at $2,500, meaning Henton needed $250 from a bondsmen to get out. It was not known at time of print if Henton had yet posted bail and been released. He appeared in FCMC with a court-appointed lawyer.

Henton was arrested near the intersection of North High Street and East Sixth Avenue, just south of campus, by an undercover female Columbus police officer, who claimed in the official complaint that Henton attempted to “engage in sexual activity for hire” and offered to pay $20 for “vaginal intercourse.”

Gerfen told Bucknuts.com that WTVN’s news department has learned that the arrest was part of sting operation by the city to “clean up” that area of town, where prostitution and drug use are among the most common crimes.

The misdemeanor carries an initial fee of just $76 but could be much more costly. Lara Baker, chief prosecutor in the city’s attorney’s office, said the soliciting charge carries a maximum penalty of six months in jail and $1,000 fine, but generally results in a small fine.

Henton already has paid in the court of public opinion and with the Buckeyes. Head coach Jim Tressel announced this morning that the young QB has been suspended indefinitely and will cease engaging in football activities for now.

“Antonio Henton has made an error,” the coach told reporters just after noon at the outset of his weekly luncheon/press conference. “I haven’t had a chance to talk to him. As mentioned in the release obviously we are disappointed to say the least. We’ve got to, first and foremost, do what we have to do to make sure that Anotonio is well-cared for, and then of course there are privileges and responsibilities and so forth and he will be suspended indefinitely and obviously he will not travel to Minnesota.

“Beyond that, I haven’t had a chance to talk with him nor do I know much about any more than you do, perhaps. Those types of things, I think in my mind, feel worse than the good feeling that you have when win games and get to talk about someone’s great performance, or whatever. But that’s just the nature of the way you feel. But we’ll handle the situation and what’s best for the young person and obviously what’s right for the team.”

Tressel has been stern with past infractions but newly named university president E. Gordon Gee said upon being rehired by the school that he would like to install a “zero tolerance policy” on serious offenses by students and student-athletes in the future. Gee’s office, however, has not yet been involved with the Henton infraction.

“From what we understand the offense was in terms of what it was called, we were told it was a misdemeanor,” Tressel said. “Within our athletic department policy we do not have defined sanctions for misdemeanor. Those are usually left up to the sport. But what action we have taken thus far has been solely football initiated.”

Tressel, who found out about the arrest last night while watching game film on Minnesota, OSU’s next opponent, seemed glum when addressing the subject and expressed grief in a statement put out by the university earlier in the day.

“It’s a great disappointment for our Buckeye football family, and we are very concerned for Antonio,” he said. “We want to help him utilize any available resources, including counseling, to deal with any problems and seek solutions. Antonio is keenly aware of the standard we have for ourselves, and that makes this even more disappointing.

“Antonio will not lose any academic privileges as an Ohio State student, but he will certainly be suspended indefinitely in terms of his athletic privileges. Specifically in the short term, he will not be traveling with us to Minnesota this weekend.”

At the press luncheon, Tressel admitted the situation is a setback for the program.

“I think any time you’re doing what ought to be done you feel that’s progress,” he said. “The moment that you don’t, you feel that you’ve regressed. We don’t like to regress.”

OSU safety Kurt Coleman said all of the Buckeye players are repeatedly warned to stay away from wrongdoing.

“Coach Tressel preaches it every week,” he said. “Right before we leave after games he always tells us to be good and do the right thing.”

Tressel at times appeared uneasy by the development. Several of the players were stunned.

“I really don’t know anything about what’s going on or the details of it,” starting quarterback Todd Boeckman told Bucknuts.com while Tressel was still addressing the media. “I think about 10 or 11 o’clock (this morning) I just kind of got the news and I really don’t know what to say because he’s such a great kid. Hopefully when it’s all said and done he’ll be all right.”

Boeckman said the team has no choice but to trudge onward.

“You’ve got to keep your head up and work on being a team,” he said. “We can’t go out there and say, `We lost one guy, here goes our season.’ We’ve got to keep on trucking along and moving.”

Coleman said the team will have to respect whatever decisions the coaches make, but added that he supports Henton and will pray for him.

“I love Antonio to death,” he said. “He’s my brother.”

One reporter mentioned to Tressel that Henton either planned to or had pled not guilty to the charge.

“In my mind right now nothing changes anything until I know something,” said the coach. “And as always we defer to the legal process and then adjust accordingly. But at this point, what I know is what I know. What I think needs to be done we’ll do until I find out otherwise.”

Tressel did not commit to a timetable for reinstating Henton but intimated that he wants to see how the legalities unfold first.

“I would think in most cases you need resolution to situations but I don’t know about every case,” he said.

Henton was a big-time prospect while starring at Peach County High School in Fort Valley. As a senior, he tossed for 2,117 yards and 30 touchdowns and was named the 2005 Georgia offensive player of the year.

Henton has thrown six passes on the season and has completed three for 57 yards and one touchdown. He also has rushed nine times for 41 yards, fourth-most on the team.

In the 58-7 win over Northwestern Saturday, Henton outshone fellow reserve QB Robbie Schoenhoft. He was just 1 for 4 passing but hit a 20-yard connection and added 31 yards rushing in moving the Buckeyes downfield. In all, he totaled a career-high 20 plays vs. Northwestern.

“It’s unfortunate,” said former OSU coach and WTVN radio analyst Earle Bruce, who like all head coaches occasionally had to the deal with player brushes with the law. “He was making a move at the quarterback position and making strides, and you’d like to see that not happen.”

Tressel said true freshman Joe Bauserman will be elevated to third-team quarterback and will travel to Minnesota for the team’s nationally televised game with the Gophers (8 p.m. Eastern, ESPN2). The 6-2, 220-pound Bauserman was splitting time almost evenly with Henton on the scout team but was behind the top three on the depth chart as he continues to get back to football form after a stint of minor league baseball.

“He’ll carry the load there for sure and obviously will be our third quarterback and will travel with the team,” Tressel said.

“I think Joe’s really come on. He hadn’t thrown a football for three years and so the first week or so it was a little different and he didn’t look like a guy who threw a 90-whatever-mile-an-hour fastball. Then all of a sudden when he got his experiences back there you could see that he’s got great pop in his arm.”

Tressel said his first order of business with the players at practice today is to inform them of what happened with Henton.

“We’ll tell them what we know,” he said. “Unfortunately they hear things before we can collect them all together. We’re not in preseason camp playing in a dorm together or whatever. We’ll address it first and foremost like we’re doing here and then we’ll move on, which we have to do, and handle it as it goes.”

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