Jim Tressel: More Than Just a Vest—The Face of Ohio State Football Is Gone

It is quite difficult for me to put pen to paper today. I am emotionally torn by what took place in Columbus today. I personally feel the unthinkable has taken place.

The NCAA, along with the media, should be extremely proud of itself today. Together, they accomplished what they set out to do. They have humbled coach Jim Tressel of the Ohio State Buckeyes. They've brought a good man down. "Tress" is not a perfect man, but a good man. Coach Jim Tressel resigned today.

Many have been very outspoken and expressed that they felt Coach Tressel was overly proud and needed to be humbled. They felt he never truly apologized for his errors. "He should have been tearfully remorseful. He should have begged for our forgiveness." He should have taken on the posture of a charismatic TV evangelist admitting he slept with prostitutes. That's what we wanted, right?

After all, he lied to the fiendish hounds of the NCAA and knowingly played individuals that should have been ineligible—the ridiculous impropriety being that they traded their individual team memorabilia for tattoos. The ink in those tattoos was steroid-based, and it provided those players with a decided advantage on the football field. Those "tats" gave them superior speed, strength and agility. I bet you didn't know that, did you? Well, let everybody know you heard it hear first. LUDICROUS, right?

I apologize if I sound bitter, but I am. I have a serious loathing for the NCAA and its policies. The NCAA fully knows what goes on at these institutions of higher learning. They've decided to go after the big boys, USC and The Ohio State University. Who'll be next? Only time will tell.

Visit any major NCAA power school and examine its student-athletes. What do they look like? What kind of clothes do they wear? What kind of cars do they drive? What kind of girls do these young men date? Whether you want to believe it or not, there are perks to being a "big-time student-athlete" at a "big-time power school"—have no doubt about it.

The culture supports the environment of these student-athletes. Fan adulation and adoration isn't enough. The players are not willing to wait for material gratification. They want it now. They want to know what they will get for their athletic prowess. We live in a society that revels in making a showy display of one's means of life. Show the "bling." Fancy cars, clothes, jewelry and TATTOOS are all part of it. That's why these young people play the game. Play the game until you get caught.

There is no sin until you get caught. Getting caught is the sin. "JUST DO IT!" Nike's next big slogan will no doubt be "JUST DON'T GET CAUGHT!" 

Former Oklahoma coach Barry Switzer readily recognizes the climate of college athletics. He likened Coach Tressel's infraction to jaywalking. Well, Barry, our beloved coach just resigned his post for jaywalking.

We're certainly going to miss "The Vest." He has become the face of The Ohio State University. The press wants to vilify and crucify the man. "He's a fraud and a hoax. He wasn't thinking about the kids. He was thinking about padding his record and his legacy. FBI my eye; he should have gone to Compliance. He shouldn't have lied to the NCAA." The NCAA, the most exploitative entity in the world today, certainly deserves the truth.

The NCAA has "pimped" the collegiate athlete long enough. These kids want their piece of the pie. "Why should they have so much and we have so little?" "But you're getting a free college education." Well, in today's world, that and four bucks will get you a cup of coffee at your local Starbucks.

"Tress" has been such a positive influence at Ohio State. He's active in the community. He's helping the youth of Columbus and Ohio, whether they're at a rec center or in the hospital. He's helping build the morale of young men and women in the armed forces. He is a man of positive energy and action. He doesn't blow a trumpet announcing his philanthropic accomplishments. He doesn't see a need to do that. Jim Tressel is not a phony. He's for real.

I certainly cannot look into a man's heart and read what is there. I don't have that ability. I cannot impute bad motives to an individual I have not interacted with. That would not be proper.

Imperfect men cannot serve as heroes. We elevate them to positions they cannot maintain. We placed him in a position where he could fall from grace.

Today, I feel bad for the university and the coach. I feel bad for college football. However, tOSU is going nowhere. The Buckeye Nation is alive and well. We're taking a "gut punch," but we'll survive. Coach Tressel will survive.  

Thanks, Coach, for all that you've done. It's been a great 10 years.