College Football: Has NCAA Probe Tainted Coach Jim Tressel's Legacy?

Throughout college football’s vast landscape, coaching legacies can be made or lost with an errant punch or even an ignored e-mail. 

Until recently, Jim Tressel’s legacy was definitely on the rise. A sparkling record at Youngstown State followed by what might be the finest coaching run in Buckeye history, had made him the toast of the town and the most respected coach in the Big Ten. 

Until now. 

Tressel, you see, has run afoul of college football’s governing body, the NCAA. 

There are no misdirection plays here, no forgetfulness and, of course, no deception. 

The crime? Well, everyone’s aware that five Buckeye football players broke NCAA rules by trading assorted memorabilia for tattoos at a local Columbus establishment. To make it perfectly clear, these jerseys, pants or other trinkets are NOT for resale. 

It’s believed that Tressel was aware of the problem beforehand. Ouch. 

Then at a university news conference, Ohio State president Gordon Gee was asked if Tressel’s job was in jeopardy. I’m “glad he didn’t dismiss me,” Gee quipped. 

Tressel, just a few months earlier. may have been bigger than the school president. But now he’s ready to serve a five-game suspension at the outset of the 2011 season. 

That is, if he lasts that long. 

Tressel’s squeaky-clean image is gone. The 106-22 record, a national title and sparkling Big Ten record (66-14) have all been relegated to the back burner. To the forefront are visions of playing Michigan State without Terrelle Pryor. 

Even thoughts of Maurice Clarett are resurfacing. 

As a freshman running back, Clarett helped Tressel lead the Buckeyes to a 31-24 double-overtime win over Miami in the 2002 national championship game. Clarett, many believe, was part of a play-for-pay scheme that could be traced back to Youngstown, Ohio. 

Youngstown, of course, is where Tressel coached the Youngstown State Penguins to four 1-AA national titles. Under Tressel’s tutelage, the NCAA was also looking at a similar payment situation. 

In both cases, the NCAA found nothing, but a glance around the Internet suggests that Tressel’s past is beginning to haunt him. His legacy may be headed in a similar direction of Ohio State’s most recognizable icon, Woody Hayes. 

After Ohio State lost to Michigan in the 1950 Snow Bowl, Hayes was brought in as the school’s 18th football coach. Woody wasn’t only a great football coach, he was a superb orator, a student of history and a devout military man.

His 1968 team was called by many the best in the history of college football. He too, was the toast of the town. 

But Woody took the great fall, too, after continuous bouts with the media, sparring matches with yard-markers, and an ill-advised punch at a Clemson football player. 

Late in the 1978 Gator Bowl, Hayes took exception to the game-clinching interception by Clemson’s Charlie Bauman.  After Bauman was tackled near Hayes' sideline, he supposedly taunted the mentor with the football.

Hayes, slightly upset, hit Bauman with a left hand, then charged an official. Woody’s coaching career was over. 

To this day, however, there is still a warm place in fans' hearts for the late Hayes, who’s been honored in so many ways. Who can forget the scene when Woody was chosen to dot the “I” during a performance of “Script Ohio.” 

And despite his disdain for the school up north, Woody was always welcome there. 

After Ohio State and Michigan played to a 10-10 tie to conclude the 1973 season, many pointed to Woody’s post-game speech as the key point in the debate over which team should be the Big Ten’s  Rose Bowl representative. 

Tressel, on the other hand, faces an entirely different kettle of fish.