Jim Tressel's slap on wrist at Ohio State latest hypocrisy in college sports
Ohio State coach Jim Tressel celebrate happier days in Columbus following a 37-7 win over Michigan. The Buckeyes aren't celebrating anymore, after Tressel was suspended for two games and fined $250,000 on Tuesday.
Lon Horwedel | AnnArbor.com
Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel had tears welling in his eyes as his two-game suspension and $250,000 fine was announced Tuesday.
Cry me a river, says Paul Newberry.
The federal investigation into a memorabilia-for-tattoo arrangement in Columbus exposed the latest soiled septic tank in the college sports world, he writes.
The suspension and fine amount to a piddly slap on the wrist, one that serves him and his school well, but once again demonstrates that college athletes are mere held to a tougher standard because ... well, they don't bring in the money like Tressel does.
Comments
D21
Wed, Mar 9, 2011 : 10:58 p.m.
Not many people will recognize the name Ray Isaac, as he isn't exactly a household name. Ray Isaac was Tressel's star quarterback at Youngstown State. Ray Isaac was given approximately $10,000 in cash, and also given cars to drive during his tenure at Youngstown. Fellow players at Youngstown knew of the cars and the money that Isaac was receiving, including star running back, Shawn Patton. Patton admitted that there was no way that Tressel couldn't have known about the cars that Isaac was driving around town, or of the cash that Isaac was receiving. The NCAA investigation found that Tressel had no knowledge of Isaac's wrongdoings and was never punished. However, when your star player is driving around in different cars all the time, it is pretty hard to believe that he did not notice.
PortageLkBlu
Thu, Mar 10, 2011 : 12:10 a.m.
I think your point is well taken.
D21
Wed, Mar 9, 2011 : 9:40 p.m.
Contact the NCAA and tell em how you feel about this: The National Collegiate Athletic Association 700 W. Washington Street P.O. Box 6222 Indianapolis, Indiana 46206-6222 Phone: 317/917-6222 Fax: 317/917-6888
D21
Wed, Mar 9, 2011 : 9:35 p.m.
At some point Tuesday night, Ohio State President Gordon Gee also was asked whether he considered firing Tressel. "Are you kidding?" Gee said with a chuckle. "I'm just hoping the coach doesn't dismiss me." No one else is laughing. The Sugar Bowl should be suspended for the next 5 - 10 years for lobbying to the NCAA to allow the suspended Buckeye players to play in it's worthless bowl game. Tressel, President Gee Whiz, and AD Smith all should be fired and the OSU gets a drastic punishment that can only help them in the long run by restoring the integrity of it's football program. GO BLUE, PANCAKE THE BUCKEYES!
oldblueypsi
Wed, Mar 9, 2011 : 8:52 p.m.
Bet OSU is now asking "Where is John Cooper when we need him?"
sandi
Wed, Mar 9, 2011 : 8:38 p.m.
osu did not do enough to the vest. this is serious. the ncaa needs to take swift and serious actions againist him. the ncaa should not have let the 5 players that were proven guilty play in the bowl game, but because it's ohio state they got to play and have to sit out 5 easy games. i'm so sick of the ncaa not being tough enough on them. i am a michigan fan living in columbus, ohio and i see where this state thinks they can do no wrong. the players did wrong and now the coach has to. let's just see if the ncaa has the nerve to really punish the great buckeyes and the vest
Blu-dogg97
Thu, Mar 10, 2011 : 4:33 p.m.
super buck why don't you go to O-LIE-O live dot com.. instead of this one.. such a troll..
superbuck
Wed, Mar 9, 2011 : 11:33 p.m.
Move back to Michigan.
turbonerd
Wed, Mar 9, 2011 : 8:01 p.m.
I think the picture above is not a cult. It is their O-H-I-O cheer but they are misspelling it. O-H-Y-O?
friend12
Wed, Mar 9, 2011 : 7:39 p.m.
I am guessing the punishment won't be enough for the NCAA. Further suspension or possibly like USC lost bowl eligibility are real possibilities.
cutty240
Wed, Mar 9, 2011 : 7:05 p.m.
All programs have good runs in College Football.Miami did in the 80's,Neb,in the 90's Fla,USC.and they all got in trouble.Well Ohio State is strarting down this same road.The end of their Run is closer than THEY realize.The wagons are circling around Tressell.Michighan better sieze the moment.Peace out Cutty/240
PortageLkBlu
Wed, Mar 9, 2011 : 6:51 p.m.
ah, hello boys and girls I must say, some of you guys sound like your about 10 yrs. old and naive as hell. This college football is a multi-billion dollar business which is surrounded by gambling just what the heck do any of you expect. I'm surprised the problems are not greater in college ball and very well could be headed that way. Wasn't Bo making around eighty-thou.. These coaches are being made rich and it ain't to come in second. We'll see how much hollier than thou talk comes from my Mich. if Brady doesn't win big including beating the bucs by year 3. Bo was filling up the stadium every year especially after he beat the bucs in 69. Bo wasn't filling the stadium becuase of his good looks he was winning the big 10 lousy bowl record but winning enough in the 10 and that boys and girls is even more important now with the big pay check in fact, it's a must that Brady Hoke will come to realize shortly. Tressel was dead wrong in this, it sounds like he's joining the other big time coaches that are coaching scared.
Amaiz'nblu
Wed, Mar 9, 2011 : 5:57 p.m.
Yeah Suckerbuck... cause Urban Meyer was soooo good at keeping his kids out of trouble.. 30 arrests in 6 years.. you can have him.. i would rather root for a school with integrity and morals.. and academic standards then OSU... your gonna trade one scandelous coach for another go for it buddy...
Amaiz'nblu
Wed, Mar 9, 2011 : 8:54 p.m.
Sure was! thats why we traded him in for a diamond.. not tatoos
superbuck
Wed, Mar 9, 2011 : 6:34 p.m.
And your last coach was a pearl
michboy40
Wed, Mar 9, 2011 : 5:39 p.m.
cmottdibbler, Good call. This scandal shall heretofor be named, "Dye and Lie" Tress is the "evil genius" of the big ten. He has weeved a briliant web of a program based on integrity, family values, and molding boys into men. Yet, his current crop of pre-nflers do not even care enough about the traditions of the university to keep themselves out of trouble. They sell things that most ball players would charish for the rest of their lives. They are nothing that Tress claims to be building, yet Tress seems OK with protecting them and coddling them, so what does that say about what he is really selling?
YHS66
Wed, Mar 9, 2011 : 4:43 p.m.
Judging by his use of capitalization, spelling, and grammar, I would say doug sportal is an OSU grad.
redwingshero
Wed, Mar 9, 2011 : 4:40 p.m.
All he has to do is go coach in the SEC and no one will blink an eye at whatever he does.
cmotdibbler
Wed, Mar 9, 2011 : 4:40 p.m.
Tressel lied and players got dyed.
superbuck
Wed, Mar 9, 2011 : 4:25 p.m.
As we alll know Urban Meyer retired to rest up for his greatest run in his coaching career . Tress is set to retire in 2014 and that is when Meyer comes out of retirement to be the next head coach of the Buckeyes. You hate us now but you will hate us even more in 2015
RudeJude
Thu, Mar 10, 2011 : 12:40 a.m.
Funny...the same statistics apply to the ohio state football team and its graduates! : )
superbuck
Wed, Mar 9, 2011 : 6:28 p.m.
In that case look at te state of mich 28% unemployment in detroit and one of the highest crime rates in te US
RudeJude
Wed, Mar 9, 2011 : 5:48 p.m.
Remember, superbuck, ignorance of the law is never a legitimate excuse.
RudeJude
Wed, Mar 9, 2011 : 4:59 p.m.
I hope the NCAA investigation not to mention the federal drug probe are completed by then. Hmm...I never believed that was a buckeye leaf...I guess with the drug probe, I know whatt kind of leaf it is! Enjoy the NCAA investigation and sanctions, bud. ; D
Blue Marker
Wed, Mar 9, 2011 : 4:21 p.m.
There are two things I find interesting about this story. First, OSU fans keep banging the drum about how what the players did was not that serious, and I agree with them. However, what Tressel did was very serious. If you lie and attempt to cover up to the NCAA and you get caught be prepared for trouble. And don't give me the excuses they were selling during their news conference. Anyone with half a brain can see through that. He had a championship caliber team and didn't want to mess that up. The second thing that gets me is Tressel and his books. All about honor, integrity and doing things the right way. I know this guy is really good in the community and that should not be over-looked. But don't talk the talk (or write a book) if you don't walk the walk. I'll be watching this one unfold.
David Vande Bunte
Wed, Mar 9, 2011 : 6:42 p.m.
Agreed. Richard Nixon didn't resign because of the Watergate break in, he resigned because of the heat on him for trying to cover it up. Bill Clinton did not get impeached for getting oral favors from Monica Lewinsky, he was impeached because he lied to Congress about it. The NCAA doesn't like students violating its rules. But it likes Universities lying to them in an attempt to cover-up those violations even less...and there is little doubt that this cover-up was because of OSU's chances at playing for a National Title before the season began.
doug sportel
Wed, Mar 9, 2011 : 3:54 p.m.
the ncaa's rule committee is a rogue out of control- to attack this mans character, when the committee's character has run amok. of course the u of m would join in on the attack of this good man, since he coached them to 9 out of 10 wins, and i believe 7 in a row. quit straining at knats like the pharisees in the Bible and let us help the young men who are sacrificing so much, and we reap the enjoyment. ps. give them a little spending money!!
Forever27
Wed, Mar 9, 2011 : 4:01 p.m.
this "good man" has a paper trail of NCAA violations following him all the way from Youngstown State. I've never understood this meme of Tressel being a saint. He's one of the most corrupt coaches in the game.
cutty240
Wed, Mar 9, 2011 : 3:52 p.m.
I stated on here yesterday,that sweater vest would be slapped on the wrist.2 games If you don't think Ohio State has some stroke,just look at the Sugar Bowl game,and what THE SISSY NCAA did for them,not to them.Gave them a BIG BRAKE,just like yesterday.So its much to do about nothing.The NCAA is a joke.A friend of mine told me several years that the NCAA got so mad at the Kentucky Basketball Program,they put MIss.State on PROBATION.
jcj
Wed, Mar 9, 2011 : 4:47 p.m.
You do realize the yesterdays"penalty" was put forth by OSU not the NCAA. Now it remains to be seen if the NCAA has any credibility. And a slap on the wrist from them is still possible. But I don't think that will happen this time.
Meangoblue
Wed, Mar 9, 2011 : 3:41 p.m.
The picture in this article looks like some king of strange cult led by a short and deranged mad scientist. 1)What is college football? A great game designed to entertain the masses and build quality character in the participants. 2)What has college football become? A national obsession rooted in the desire for escapism or distraction for the masses.(i.e. tree poisonings, threatening family members of coaches) For the participants- a scathed view of reality and importance. (see the picture above...tells a 1,000 words) Bottom line - How do we make the answer to question 1 the reality? A return to MEEEEEEEEANchigan football is upon us! TiM!!