Like Woody Hayes, Jim Tressel's Career at Ohio State Will End Badly

The Columbus Dispatch reported today that Jim Tressel forwarded the infamous emails that warned him that several of his star players were in trouble to Ted Sarniak, a businessman from Jeannette, PA, who just happens to be Terrelle Pryor’s mentor too. 

This revelation blows up Tressel’s explanation for not forwarding the emails to school officials because he was both afraid for the security of the mentioned players and concerned about the confidentiality of the federal investigation.    

Since Coach Tressel can’t seem to bring himself to state what the rest of the world already knows, I will say it for him: He chose winning over principle. 

Last April, Tressel sat in his office knowing he had a veteran team returning, and a schedule that essentially included just one tough regular season game. The BCS Championship was clearly in sight. 

To tell or not to tell—that was the question. 

Fast forward 10 months: Bad decision after bad decision has let a relatively minor infraction blossom into a colossal disaster for the Ohio State football program. 

Is it that difficult to admit the mistake and ask for forgiveness?

As painful as it might be to Buckeye Nation, five bites at the apple is enough.

Jim Tressel must resign. If he won’t, Gordon Gee must fire him.

No reasonable Ohio State fan expects perfection from Coach Tressel. I have repeatedly argued that Tressel not only deserved a second chance, he’s earned it. 

That position has shifted.

Amazingly, Tressel let a blatantly foolish decision stain his impeccable career. 

The Ohio State community will have to live with the fact that the two best coaches to grace the Horseshoe sideline ended their tenure shamefully.