Jim Tressel knew about the memorabilia scheme conducted by Terrelle Pryor and four other Ohio St. Buckeyes players eight months earlier than originally claimed, according to a report by Yahoo! Sports’ Charles Robinson and Dan Wetzel. In December, the players were suspended for the first five games of the 2011 football season for selling Big Ten championship gear.

Someone reportedly contacted Tressel of the tattoos-for-rings scandal well before the NCAA found out. If the report is accurate, Tressel was aware of Pryor’s actions in April 2010, not December 2010, meaning he permitted the players to participate in the entire football season despite having committed infractions. Again, if the report is accurate.

It’s worth noting Ohio State notified the NCAA of the situation, though the investigation by the university, which preceded the NCAA notification, may have had very little to do with Tressel.

Read the Yahoo! Sports report for a detailed timeline of events.

For more on Tressel and Ohio State, visit Along The Olentangy, SB Nation Cleveland, and Off Tackle Empire.