Michigan football coach Brady Hoke surprised by sanctions leveled against Ohio State coach Jim Tressel
Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel.
Suspended for the first two games of the 2011 season and fined $250,000, sanctions leveled by Ohio State against coach Jim Tressel on Tuesday were the talk of college football.
Michigan coach Brady Hoke declined to address specifics of the case - which involved Tressel’s players selling memorabilia - but he seemed genuinely seemed surprised his rival had been caught up in the aftermath.
“I’ve known Jim Tressel a long time,” Hoke said. “He’s a quality guy.”
Hoke spoke Wednesday at Schembechler Hall, where he outlined the Wolverines’ upcoming spring practices, introduced assistant coaches to media members and talked about his first two months on the job.
“He’s a dag-gone good football coach,” Hoke said of Tressel. “You know, I don’t know that situation, and I do know what we’re focused on here at Michigan.”
Pete Bigelow covers Michigan football for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at (734) 623-2551, via email at petebigelow@annarbor.com and followed on Twitter @PeterCBigelow.
Comments
Tru2Blu76
Fri, Mar 11, 2011 : 7:44 a.m.
I used to say Tressel was a classy guy - Hoke uses "quality" in describing him now. I think I've learned my lesson regarding how easily people can be deceived. In view of the fact that Coach Tressel has managed to dodge consequences for "a few" violations by his players in the past, this looks to be the inevitable catching up in consequences. Tressel now (once again) has to face NCAA investigators. Those guys keep records and have memories - lets see how lenient the NCAA is this time. I don't think they're thinking right now about how much of a "quality guy" Jim Tressel is. Lets look back to Dec. 29, 1978: "Losing by two points with a little more than two minutes left in the Gator Bowl in Jacksonville, Ohio State was driving, and had moved the ball into field-goal range at Clemson's 24-yard line. But then noseguard Charlie Bauman intercepted freshman quarterback Art Schlichter's short pass over the middle on the 18. Bauman was knocked out of bounds on the Buckeyes' sideline. Hayes went over and threw a punch at Bauman before he was restrained by several of his players. The morning after the 17-15 defeat, Hayes was fired. He never coached again. He also never apologized to Bauman for hitting him." OSU has its legacy: It's the home of out of control, win-at-any-cost coaches. These are not "quality guys." If they won't apologize: make them sorry. Think twice, Coach Hoke, about apologizing for them.
PortageLkBlu
Thu, Mar 10, 2011 : 12:09 p.m.
I think Coach Hoke can return Mich to it's rightful place as a major player and when he does I want to see Coach Tressel coaching and Ohio State past all these new problems and at their best, no excuses by either team or Coach.
Jim Nazium
Thu, Mar 10, 2011 : 11:25 a.m.
Coach Hoke, you seem to have been raised with the philosophy of, "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all". I'm not knocking you for that because it is an admirable trait, but Puleezzzzz..... when it comes to that dirty school just south of us, just let your eyes say that you are disgusted by anything from that school and promptly say, "Next Question". Sometimes silence says a lot more than any words could. Remember, future recruits and their families read this stuff too and there is no shame in letting dirty pigs lie in their own filth ( figuratively speaking). Think of yourself walking by that mess with a recruit's Mom and Dad and all you have to do is wave your hand at the barnyard mess, then slowly pan over to the Michigan side so they can see the Big House and the Glorious Maze-Blue. That should help, without even saying a word.
azwolverine
Thu, Mar 10, 2011 : 4:08 a.m.
Michigan will improve under Coach Hoke, and I believe this incident will serve to knock OSU down a notch. I think OSU will obviously still be good, but this will help to even the rivalry back up more quickly than would have happened without it.
Jaxon5
Thu, Mar 10, 2011 : 3:39 a.m.
It was nice of coach Hoke to throw Tressel a bone when he's down. Better to toss him some kind words now, before the season begins and November rolls around. Tressel may be down, but he is still in a position to hand the Wolverines their annual beat-down. On the other hand, Tress is going to have a more difficult time beating coach Hoke than he did beating UM's former coach. Given the latest quotes about drug investigations at OSU, Wednesday, March 9, 2011, it looks like Coach Tressel may have done more damage to his image.
tater
Thu, Mar 10, 2011 : 2:02 a.m.
Brady Hoke may only have a 47-51 W/L record, but he is still batting 1.000 in coachspeak. Outside of Angelique, almost every reporter who ever asks him a question is trying to elicit controversy. Hoke has shown that he is extremely adept at avoiding all attempts to get him to provide free stories for reporters and bulletin board material for opponents. If Hoke is as good at leadership as he is at "playing the game" with the media, David Brandon's fairy tale might yet turn out to have a happy ending.
OSUbeBetter
Thu, Mar 10, 2011 : 12:05 a.m.
I'm sure every one of you haters will be tuned in to the ESPN documentary on the Fab 5. You'll have a tear in yer eye remembering how awesome it was when Chri$ Weber and Jalen Ro$e were Wolverines. Just remember to pay attention to the part about Killing Ed Martin, now that's a real mans violation. Whats the big deal in trading 'Your own Stuff' for Tattoos anyway? Gold pants don't mean anything to the current players due to Michigan's irrelevance in the past decade. Michigan hasn't won a game since these kids were in elementary school. They don't remember Bo or Woody. Soon it will become as irrelevant to the Ohio state players as the Land Grant Trophy has become in Michigan. And what exactly is a Humanitarian award, and how does one earn it by playing football?
Blu-dogg97
Thu, Mar 10, 2011 : 4:21 p.m.
typical flat landers response.. your whole athletic staff knew and covered up the information from the NCAA .. THE FAB FIVE were given money from a booster,and big money for those times..the AD at the time was un aware of it,therefore didn't with hold information from the NCAA ... The FAB FIVE are history,they pioneered and changed college basketball to where it is today.. They were mega stars as freshmen,and they made history..not to say taking money is right.. Terrel Lyior is not a star... he held a press conference to tell everyone that he hadn't made up his mind yet as a recruit,or if you read between the lines,not enough money has come his way from osu yet.. make sure you watch the FAB FIVE Sunday eve on espn..because you'll see a piece of history and Michigan history..
PortageLkBlu
Thu, Mar 10, 2011 : 2:08 a.m.
Look osu, you boys and girls laughed long and hard at Mich the last few months just try to rember the old saying, "he who laughts first laughs last ". Now see, isn't that fun after all we are your rivalry.
PortageLkBlu
Thu, Mar 10, 2011 : 2:03 a.m.
Now, now let's be fair, when ol Maurice Clarett was dragging the integrity of Jim Tressel and the Bucs entire program down I didn't talk bad about the fab five then so let's try to stay on point this is your turn to fry, damn oil is hot isn't it osubetter?
Do not taunt Happy Fun Ball
Wed, Mar 9, 2011 : 11:35 p.m.
The NCAA is such a joke. One one hand they allow a star player to get through the school who can't even read - but on the other they fine a quarter million dollars for a 'violation' that amounts to a player selling a shirt for pocket change. But let's not talk academics.
MichFanTex
Wed, Mar 9, 2011 : 11:02 p.m.
Coach, you're overly generous with your surprise and praise of JT. All one has to know about JT is that he had no issues with Gansta Mo being part of his squad to understand he'll do anything he thinks he can get away with to ensure he has a winning product on the field. For those that suggest Tressel made a mistake, absolutely not. He knew full well what he was doing this time last year when he refused to share the info with his boss and he damn sure knew full well what that he was lying to the NCAA. Unintentional errors are mistakes, intentional acts are never mistakes.
Theo212
Wed, Mar 9, 2011 : 9:30 p.m.
All the good teams cheat. Dumb teams get caught. What is it that you kids are saying these days? Oh yeah.......This is Michigan. Right you are. We are smart. We CAN have it both ways. Cheating and winning go hand in hand. If we win a truckload of Crystal by cheating and we go to our graves none the wiser, hurrah! If we win a truckload of Crystal and eventually get caught, then at least we prevented the other cheaters from winning it. If we don't win a truckload of Crystal, then we didn't cheat. These are modern times, kids. Don't be afraid.
missionbrazil
Thu, Mar 10, 2011 : 11:18 p.m.
johnnya2, you are exactly right ... don't let them try to fool you, they condone cheating if it mean winning (especially Theo). It's funny that they backed a cheater who couldn't win. Talk about dumb.
Theo212
Thu, Mar 10, 2011 : 12:48 a.m.
Dead solid truth, Portage. Reality is reality, that's what I always say.
PortageLkBlu
Thu, Mar 10, 2011 : 12:05 a.m.
John2, try to stay on point, no one is saying cheating is right or that any of us condone it, a point is being made here, a point you have slightly exaggerated for your own amusement.
johnnya2
Wed, Mar 9, 2011 : 11:18 p.m.
I guess based on your reality it is ok to be a pedophile as long as you don't get caught? No wonder you love Rich Rod so much. You are clearly NOT a Michigan man, so why pretend? There are plenty of institutions that prefer cheating and winning to being ethical and honest. Please go cheer for them. Rich Rod will be working at one off them soon enough.
Theo212
Wed, Mar 9, 2011 : 10:46 p.m.
Right again, Portage! Some of them might very well never get caught. You make my point splendidly. It's an honor to have such a fine American as yourself counted amongst the brethren.
PortageLkBlu
Wed, Mar 9, 2011 : 10:31 p.m.
You know Theo, being a realist, it's hard for me to believe that the teams that win Crystal don't cheat and get away with it in some form. Let's take a quick example that we are aware of, Auburn and USC. Are there any of you that think Alabama is squeaky clean under Nick Saban? What about the great Florida teams. Maybe teams of many years gone by but not many in the last 20.
Blue Marker
Wed, Mar 9, 2011 : 9:45 p.m.
You may not believe this but I'd rather have a clean program go 9-3 than a dirty one that wins it all. And I'm betting a lot of other Michigan fans feel the same way.
D21
Wed, Mar 9, 2011 : 9:21 p.m.
The NCAA somehow missed a telling clue when the Vested One's nose grew longer and longer when questioned by them. Can't wait to see what Hoke's game speech to his team will be (this Nov 26th). GO BLUE! The NCAA hopefully will suspend the Vested One but I'd ask them to wait until UM finally destroy OSU first.
D21
Wed, Mar 9, 2011 : 9:11 p.m.
GO BLUE! JUST PANCAKE THE BUCKEYES ALL OVER THE FIELD INCLUDING THE VESTED ONE (if he is still coaching by then)! GO BLUE!
Cash
Wed, Mar 9, 2011 : 9:10 p.m.
O-LIE-O State is going to pay the NCAA for their behavior. At least that had better happen, or there is no conscience left in collegiate sports. Again, before Tressel is fired, he should have to appear on the field at the UM game, to dot the "LIE" in the script O-LIE-O State.......wearing no shirt and a tattooed chest in scarlet letters saying "CHEATER" and scarlet tattoo on his back saying "LIAR".
golfer
Wed, Mar 9, 2011 : 9:03 p.m.
hey guys go after their recruits. i am sure osu used the michigan problem last year in the speech to the kids. now it is our turn. "HEY WHY GO TO THAT TEAM FROM OHIO THEY COULD BE IN TROUBLE" pay back time.
D21
Wed, Mar 9, 2011 : 8:55 p.m.
The Ghost of Woody Hayes Declaring before the trembling eyes Of the deceitful Vested One "Woe upon you and now begone" Woody growled and Tressel's days And legacy at O-h-i-o are gone. 2011 Prediction UM 27 OSU 24 Although a complete beatdown of OSU is long overdue.
David Muzzatti
Wed, Mar 9, 2011 : 8:40 p.m.
To anyone who has read Tressel's book entitled, "The Winners Manual", you'll know where I'm coming from when I say - "Looks like a portion of the "Block 'O' of Life" was never meant to be taken seriously."
redwingshero
Wed, Mar 9, 2011 : 8:39 p.m.
Again, most of those schools that get away with it are SEC
PortageLkBlu
Wed, Mar 9, 2011 : 8:30 p.m.
I think Jim Tressel made a mistake and now he is paying for it. Or, he made a mistake knowing the consequences could catch up at a later date but taking the risk to complete the season, the bowl and the recruiting on a high note knowing the penalties would be of minor consequences, take your pick.
81wolverine
Wed, Mar 9, 2011 : 8:11 p.m.
No offense Coach, but "quality guys" don't lie to investigators or in public about what they did. Sweatervest has ALWAYS been first and foremost about winning games and a distant 2nd about those pesky little things - like ethics, honesty, and integrity.
Forever27
Wed, Mar 9, 2011 : 8:13 p.m.
you're absolutely, 100%, correct. I have always been baffled at the image of Tressel. He's been a slimeball the whole way through. From Youngstown State until the current fiasco, there has been a cloud of ethical sleaziness hovering above anywhere Tressel goes.
GB
Wed, Mar 9, 2011 : 7:49 p.m.
Hummmm several players suspended for the first 5 games next year and the coach for 2.... should be an interesting start up for OSU next fall!
Forever27
Wed, Mar 9, 2011 : 7:46 p.m.
let this be a lesson to you Mr. Hoke. You can cheat and get away with it. Look around you, all of the successful programs in college football cheat in one way or another. Auburn, Oregon, USC, OSU, Florida State, Oklahoma, etc. etc.
azwolverine
Thu, Mar 10, 2011 : 4:03 a.m.
Hopeflly you're being sarcastic. I don't want Michigan ever to cheat to win, we're better than that. I want Michigan to play with integrity, play within the rules...and kick the you know what out of all of those cheaters. They say if you can't beat 'em, join 'em. I say we can beat 'em. We're Michigan.