Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio calls Jim Tressel 'a tragic hero'
One line from the Big Ten Conference media days in Chicago getting plenty of attention around the Internet: Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio calling Jim Tressel "a tragic hero."
Greg Johnson, the Michigan State beat writer for MLive.com, leads his media days notebook with Dantonio's thoughts on the recent rules violations at Ohio State and the resignation of his former boss and friend.
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“To me, it’s tragic,” he said. “He becomes a tragic hero in my respect, in my view. Usually tragic heroes have the ability to rise above it all in the end, and that’s what I’ll look for in the end.”
More from Johnson's story:
Dantonio would not elaborate further on Tressel, but said his reaction to the situation was sadness.“Very heart wrenching for me and my family because we are close to coach Tres,” he said. “He’s had a lot to do with my life as a mentor really since 1983, and that’s a long time.
“He’s done a lot of good for college football. Every person he’s come in contact with as a player and a coach, he’s made a positive impact on their lives.”
Comments
missionbrazil
Fri, Jul 29, 2011 : 5:42 p.m.
A hero is someone who is willing to die for their country and for freedom. A hero is someone who lives for the good of others, and not for themselves. A hero is someone who lives their life to make a difference in someone else's. A hero is not some football coach who continually breaks the rules and then continually lies to cover it up.
A2lover
Fri, Jul 29, 2011 : 4:21 p.m.
Tragic hero? Ridiculous! Tressel is a charlatan, who knew exactly what he was doing, and got caught. Why can't people be honest and call things what they are instead of sugar coating bad news. It's a typical mid-Western custom. Even OSU back pedaled withTressel, even though he put them in a terribly embarrassing situation. And as for Dantonio, he looks like a fool saying Tressel is a tragic hero. Doesn't he realize that as he was "...close to coach Tres" and, in Dantonio's opinion, Tressel made a positive impact on peoples lives, Tres was LYING all the time. I've lost a lot of respect for Dantonio, and anyone else that condones, supports or sugar coats Tressel's behavior
scott
Fri, Jul 29, 2011 : 12:11 p.m.
I can't believe that so few of the coaches will express disgust with what tsio is doing to the big ten's reputation. I think I heard that Beliema called out Tressel but not by name....
Craig Lounsbury
Fri, Jul 29, 2011 : 11:40 a.m.
"tragic hero", "....we are close to coach Tres" "He's had a lot to do with my life as a mentor" The old apple doesn't fall far from the tree hey coach? are all your pals just one IRS investigation away from being "tragic heros"?
heartbreakM
Fri, Jul 29, 2011 : 4:54 a.m.
Dantonio should have said: "The situation is a good teaching one. It's very sad that my good friend is out of the game which he loved so much, but it's an important lesson about telling the truth and having standards. " Tragic??? This is football, not real war or senseless deaths. Hero??? Huh?? Tressel LIED!!! Flat out, bald faced lies. To the NCAA and to his superiors. He failed the system, his players, his institution and his sport. In that way, maybe it's tragic, but Tressel lost all credibility by playing the Tat-5 in the first place, and lost all moral standing upon lying.
BornInA2
Fri, Jul 29, 2011 : 4:08 a.m.
I don't see how knowingly breaking rules and obscuring the same for years makes him any sort of hero. A coach winning games while preaching one thing and doing another is perhaps more accurately described as a cheating hypocrite than a tragic hero.