Lane Kiffin Saga Reminds Fans and Recruits About Jim Tressel's Stability

Rarely has one offseason in college football brought as much personnel turnover from the head coaching position as this season.

In just one month, Pete Carroll is in the NFL, Mike Leach, Mark Mangino, and Jim Leavitt are in the unemployment line, and Lane Kiffin has his second head coaching job in two seasons.

With all this turmoil, the recruiting world has been thrown for a loop, as players are decommitting from schools, while those that have enrolled have been told by coaches to not attend classes, which will void commitments.

Few doubt that this is one of the wildest and most unpredictable offseasons in college football history.

But for Ohio State fans, they know, for better or worse, that Jim Tressel is still in the fold.

In this case, Buckeye Nation should be proud that their head man is not leaving anytime soon.

Tressel is one of the more unique personalities as a head coach, as he is not truly outspoken and has conservative values that create a family atmosphere.

He will not be the type of coach that demands players stay in school, but instead says that players should leave if they feel they are satisfied with their draft stocks.

As a recruiter, he lets the Ohio State program sell itself on the national stage and says he wants players who truly want to be Buckeyes.

For those reasons, Tressel is deliberate with who and when he gives out scholarship offers and has a great track record with campus and in-home visits.

Fans will criticize him because of situations like the 2010 Army All-American Game, where recruits that Ohio State could have had, such as Sharrif Floyd, went elsewhere.

But with a lot of controversy through many coaching circles, OSU fans should take pride in knowing who will coach for the foreseeable future.

Tressel will be in his 10th season this year after coming over from Youngstown State in 2001.

Heading into 2010, Ohio State has one of the better rosters they have had in the Tressel era, and a national title could catapult the coach to the level of legend Woody Hayes.

The Buckeyes and their fans know what they are getting in Tressel, and they all expect to win Big Ten titles every season because of what he has done in the years he has been in Columbus.

How long he stays in Columbus before he retires is anyone's guess.

But Buckeye fans who criticize the Vest should take note that Tressel is here to stay for the future, and they should be proud of it.