Jim Tressel: Ohio State Football Coach Tressel Reportedly Resigns from Program

Jim Tressel, Ohio State Football Head Coach, Reportedly Resigns from Program

Jim Tressel, Ohio State Buckeyes head football coach, has stepped down from the program, according to The Columbus Dispatch.

Tressel was being further investigated by the NCAA for violations beyond the ones that he had admitted to earlier in the season.

Between the allegations of knowing about Terrelle Pryor and other teammates selling memorabilia to a local tattoo parlor and former player Ray Small’s confessions, it was a matter of time before Tressel had to step down.

Ohio State President E. Gordon Gee said in a memo that The Columbus Dispatch obtained:

"

I write to let you know that later this morning we will be announcing the resignation of Jim Tressel as head coach of the University's football program. As you all know, I appointed a special committee to analyze and provide advice to me regarding issues attendant to our football program. In consultation with the senior leadership of the University and the senior leadership of the Board, I have been actively reviewing the matter and have accepted Coach Tressel's resignation. My public statement will include our common understanding that throughout all we do, we are One University with one set of standards and one overarching mission. The University's enduring public purposes and its tradition of excellence continue to guide our actions

"

The departure marks the beginning of the end of a tough stretch for Ohio State University and its athletic program.

While the sanctions from the NCAA will still follow for the school, it is hoping that with Tressel leaving on his own, the NCAA will not punish Ohio State like it did USC.

Tressel admitted to knowing what was going on and accepted the blame in the Pryor incident, so to say that what Ray Small said wasn’t true is silly.

The culture of Ohio State was tainted by the lack of control in Tressel’s program, and it will be better off with him out of the program.

Ohio State can use the $3.7 million that it paid Tressel each year and persuade someone like Urban Meyer to step in and bring the program out of the darkness.