The news that Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel lied to the NCAA regarding when he knew his players sold memorabilia in exchange for free tattoos changes everything.
No longer is Tressel above reproach. He now falls into the same category as other head coaches at the football factories throughout the country.
That’s the shame of it all. And the coach knew better than to cover it up.
However, save the moral indignation regarding whether or not Tressel should keep his job. Of course he should. It was not a recruiting violation, and it certainly doesn’t compare to the mess involving Cam Newton.
But it does stink.
Look, if Tressel had finished 8-4 the last three years, the choice he made to hold back evidence in this situation would have been enough to fire him. If you aren’t winning, the administration can come up with a ton of reasons to get rid of you.
Remember when Iowa State basketball coach Larry Eustachy was shown drinking with coeds and lost his job in 2003? The incident occured after records of 12-19 and 17-14. If the same thing had happened in 2001 after seasons of 32-5 and 25-6, the first year being an Elite Eight appearance, would the coach have been canned?
For all of the things that went on at USC (allegedly), remember that Pete Carroll resigned. He didn’t get fired. That’s reality.
People put Tressel on a pedestal. They didn’t think he was the typical football coach who cared only about winning. He cared about his players.
It turns out that he cares about them because they can help him gain victories.
The Ohio State administration should have made the correct decision back in December and suspended the players involved, including QB Terrelle Pryor, for the Sugar Bowl.
It would have shown everyone that integrity was more important than winning football games. That would have made Ohio State different.
The BCS bowl folks probably put pressure on the university to play the players involved, but the school should have done what seemed right at the time. The five players should have been held out of the game against Arkansas.
Had Tressel come forward with the information he received in April, Pryor and the rest would likely have missed games last season, a season the Bucks thought they could contend for a national title.
Winning got in the way.
That’s why the feeling here is more disappointment than anger. We thought Tressel was a throw back to the teacher in high school, who just happened to coach football on the side.
This shows that this perception isn’t true, he’s the same as every other football coach at perennial top ten programs. Buckeye fans feel betrayal toward the man who wears the sweater vest.
The NCAA will likely add to the sanctions the university put on Tressel and the football program. The players received a five game suspension, while the coach received a two game penalty with a $250,000 fine.
That’s not going to fly, especially since the Buckeyes first two games are against Akron and Toledo. The NCAA may make the suspension be for the first two Big Ten games or even longer.
It’s a sad situation at Ohio State. The college football fans of the state of Ohio expected more from the coach. However, it doesn’t mean he should lose his job.
As for vacating wins, that’s the dumbest thing the NCAA does. We all know Michigan’s Fab Five went to two basketball title games, and we know Ohio State won the Sugar Bowl. Everyone saw these things happen, no governing body can take that away.
Tressel screwed up. One mistake is okay. Any further errors will cost him his job.
MW
Cleveland Sports Perspective 