Why Jim Tressel Should Consider Arizona State Football's Job Opening

Jeff ChaseNov 30, 2011

The Arizona State Sun Devils could be looking for a big-name coach this offseason to replace Dennis Erickson. Before things fell apart at Ohio State, Jim Tressel was the biggest name in coaching since Urban Meyer left the game. If Tressel wants to get back into coaching, the Sun Devils may be his best option. Recently, ASU was argued to be the second-best college football job opening in the country.

With that said, the Sun Devils and Tressel should find mutual interest in one another. Following the scandal that rocked Ohio State, Tressel stepped down as head coach and has taken his year off. In his time off, he has been working with the Indianapolis Colts. While some may think that he may want to follow in the steps of former USC coach Pete Carroll, one would have to assume that Tressel would be open to returning to a college job with a lot of potential.

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He has already been reportedly open to taking a job with the Akron Zips.

If Tressel were to take over the Sun Devils, he would be in position to coach a team with many big games on its future schedule. There are always the USC Trojans, Arizona Wildcats, Oregon Ducks and Stanford Cardinal, but there will also be the Wisconsin Badgers, Illinois Fighting Illini, Missouri Tigers and Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

There is no doubt that the Pac-12 is on the rise, and the Sun Devils are right in the mix to take off with the conference. Tressel is the guy who could coach this team to that level. Over his 10-year career at Ohio State, Tressel led the Buckeyes to an overall record of 94-22. That doesn't even include the 12 wins from 2010 that were vacated due to the scandal.

With the Buckeyes, Tressel has a 6-4 record in bowl games. Three of those games were national title games, one of which he won. While the Sun Devils are far from BCS title contenders for 2012, there is no doubt that Tressel could build this program for the future.

While it seems like a great fit for the Sun Devils, it takes Tressel's desire to return to coaching. Former Buckeye starter and current Arizona Cardinals starting running back Beanie Wells thinks Tressel would be a great fit for the Sun Devils, so perhaps his former player will do some recruiting for Tressel to come to the desert. The Sun Devils would have to feel OK about the scandal issue and figure that Tressel will have learned his lesson.

If the Sun Devils can get Tressel, they would put themselves potentially in the driver's seat in the Pac-12 for years to come. He would be able to expand their recruiting efforts, and Tressel has a track record of being a great recruiter.

There is no doubt that Tressel would be the best fit if he is willing to return. The Sun Devils would be smart to make themselves available to Tressel before they potentially lose out on him.

Jeff Chase is from Chicago and is an undergrad at Arizona State University. He currently is interning with B/R and is in the process of becoming a Featured Columnist for Arizona State football.