Further Debunking Jim Tressel's Undeserved Rap

“Hey, Dad! Can I take the Lexus out on the road and cut some wheelies in the snow drifts?”

That was a proposal made to Ohio State coach Jim Tressel last Saturday by his star quarterback, Terrelle Pryor.

Oh, I don’t think those were his exact words. But you get the meaning. Maybe you’ve been there yourself on one side or the other of that equation.

What brought on this family discussion, into which some of Coach Tressel’s next-door neighbors in the ‘Shoe stuck their noses, was a decision whether to attempt a first down conversion on fourth down and short against a powerful Iowa team.

But you have to back up one play to appreciate the fatherly decision.

On third and short, the Buckeye ball carrier fumbled. He didn’t fumble for long. In fact he recovered his own miscue. But in doing so he took a step backwards, and now it was fourth and short.

Pryor ran toward the sideline to no doubt express his genuine belief that either he could sneak the ball over the line, or let his 6-foot, 6-inch frame fall forward to accomplish same, or maybe let one of the backs do the job.

The Delphic oracles in the bleachers grabbed their crystal balls and immediately saw that Pryor was right. Not only would the Bucks, who incidentally were mired in their own part of the field at the time, succeed. They predicted that the very act would change the game’s momentum.

“Heck, let’s even fake out the nation’s 10th best passing defense with an aerial play!”

“Our team will head on down the field to score. There will be no stopping us. We’ll run up the score and then in the fourth quarter Grandma and Uncle Larry can come in and have some fun, too.”

Meanwhile, Dad Tressel was quickly running the scenario through his analytical mind, and responding to Pryor:

“Let’s see. We’re on our side of mid-field, the game is close, and our opponent is one of the top teams in the nation.”

“There is plenty of time left. Our defense is outstanding. We don’t have a lengthy history of punts being blocked. The risks in this particular case exceed the benefits.”

“Oh, and did I mention that YOU GUYS JUST FUMBLED ON THE LAST PLAY?”

“Ah, but gee-whiz Dad. It won’t happen again. Promise.”

Pryor accepted the Tressel’s rational decision the same way I did when my old man told me I wasn’t getting the car keys that night. He snapped off his toboggan … er, helmet, and headed for his room … er, bench.

“Show me you can drive in a snowstorm, and next week you’ll get the keys back”, Dad yelled in parting.

But leave it to the all-seeing boo birds and the Nostradamus wannabes to stir up the rest of the neighborhood about that stodgy, “conservative” old Tressel household.

If you’re anything like me, Coach, you’ll ignore them and keep winning.