Ohio State continues to tackle the Charles Eric Waugh story head-on, releasing a statement on Friday explaining what's happened so far. The school sent out an email and mass text to student athletes on Thursday, alerting them that Waugh, a convicted sex offender, had been contacting current and prospective student athletes using various forms of social media.
The statement comes via Eleven Warriors:
The issue surrounding the individual from Kentucky is being treated by the Department of Athletics as a student-athlete welfare issue. When the University became aware that this individual had been seen in pictures - taken in public places - with student-athletes, proactive precautions were taken and the Department of Athletics alerted more than 1,000 Ohio State student-athletes about this person. The email message also reminded them of the negative implications that can be realized through simple associations on social networking sites. This individual is not associated with Ohio State. He is not a booster. He has not engaged in any activities on behalf of the University. The Department of Athletics will continue to monitor this issue and it will remain proactive in its efforts with regard to precautions for its student-athletes.
Though the incident may have cost the Buckeyes a recruit -- and it's possible Alex Azalone's change of heart stemmed, in part, from his parents wanting him to go elsewhere anyway -- Ohio State has taken an incredibly swift and proactive approach to it all. After learning of Waugh's past, the school immediately alerted its student athletes, and has quickly moved to make sure he has no further contact with any of them.
For more on Buckeyes football, visit Ohio State blog Land-Grant Holy Land, plus Big Ten blog Off Tackle Empire and SB Nation Cleveland.