Ray Small tries to backpedal his way into Ohio State’s heart

Former Ohio State receiver Ray Small, who told an Ohio State student newspaper that he sold Big Ten championship rings and other memorabilia, and received special deals on cars while at Ohio State, is now changing his story.

Shocking.

Small's comments in The Lantern were picked up and scrutinized by every major news outlet and subsequently, Small became a bigger enemy of Ohio State than the NCAA.

So naturally, Small started to backtrack Friday in an interview with WBNS-10TV.

"It's hard being an athlete," Small told the television station.�"That was basically what I was saying.�(The Lantern author) just flipped my words around and make the whole Buckeye Nation hate me."

However, The Lantern told the television station that it stands by its story and that it recorded its interview with Small.

It's no wonder Small is trying to flip his story. After The Lantern article came out, Small took some heat from former teammates.

"Show me a coward and I will show you Ray Small," center Mike Brewster said through his Twitter account Thursday.�"He isn't part of the sacred brotherhood anymore. Never on time, never accountable, never sacrificed for the team. Can you trust his word?"

But Small's change of heart is odd considering he is quoted in The Lantern story: "I don't see why it's a big deal."

Small's comments were just another punch in the gut for an Ohio State program that has endured a beating worse than Buster Posey. It seems like every day something new surfaces about improprieties and lack of institutional control. Small not only confirmed what we already knew -- five Ohio State players will miss the first five games of the 2011 season after selling memorabilia -- but he also showed that there was a blatant disregard for the rules by some Ohio State athletes.

"[Some student athletes] don't even think about NCAA rules," Small said.

It's too late to backtrack. The damage has already been done. And with The Lantern claiming it has�the interview on tape, Small is left to deal with the repercussion of telling the truth.

Dido Joss Stone Majandra Delfino Maria Bello Jennifer Gareis