COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio State tailback Vince Workman, a senior co-captain, was dismissed from the team Wednesday for signing with an agent.
Workman testifed Tuesday in Chicago before a federal grand jury investigating sports agents, including David Lueddeke, with whom Workman said he signed.
Workman told Ohio State Coach John Cooper and Athletic Director Jim Jones Wednesday morning he had accepted approximately $2,000 from Lueddekke, a San Francisco-based agent, beginning with $1,000 at the time of signing in the spring of 1987.
Workman played the 1987 season for the Buckeyes after the signing and the first two games this season.
'Coach Cooper and I met with Vince this morning and he confirmed for us that he had signed with an agent and accepted money from that agent,' Jones said at a news conference. 'That is clearly a violation of NCAA rules and it is my duty to rule him ineligible.'
Cooper said as recently as three weeks ago, when indications of Workman's involvement with an agent emerged, he confronted Workman, who then said he was not involved.
Workman, who also attended the news conference, said he was introduced to Lueddekke by former Ohio State fullback George Cooper, who allegedly signed with Lueddekke and other agents.
Workman said after he talked 'a couple of hours' with Lueddekke at a Columbus hotel, 'he (Lueddekke) had 10 $100 bills there. He offered it to me and I took it.
'I knew it was wrong, but I really wasn't thinking for myself,' said Workman, whose parents are deceased and who has brothers aged 14 and 17. 'I was thinking about my younger brothers. I wanted them to have things we used to wish for when we were younger kids.'
Workman said when he was asked by Cooper, he denied his involvement with an agent because of a letter he received the past summer from Lueddekke. It asked him (Workman) to tear up any papers having to do with their agreement. Workman said he felt that ended his connection with Lueddekke.
Jones and Cooper said they will help Workman remain in school and work toward his degree, although he immediately lost his athletic scholarship.
'Our main concern right now is for Vince Workman,' Jones said. 'We've encouraged him to stay in school. We don't want what has happened to him to keep him from completing his education.
'We still care very much about Vince Workman. We will do whatever we can within the framework of the NCAA and Big Ten rules to help him get through school.'
Workman is the second Ohio State player in the last year to lose his eligibility for illegally signing with and receiving money from an agent.All-America wide receiver Cris Carter was declared ineligible prior to the 1987 season. Last week, Carter pleaded guilty to fraud charges in U.S. District Court in Chicago and faces a possible jail term.
