Hailmary

Tue, Jul 19, 2011 : 9:06 p.m.

So honor him if you need to. My question is, will he or did he honor you?

Mick52

Tue, Jul 19, 2011 : 6:21 p.m.

This may be good. Sound Ohio parents may decide Michigan is the best destination for their kids to continue in college.

raddesc

Tue, Jul 19, 2011 : 3:31 p.m.

There's no way I'm agreeing with the "let's move on" stance tosu fans are now employing. Wasn't it just last month that the disgraced coach stood on his front lawn in front of his blind supporters and decared, "Don't forget November 26th, we're still going to kick their...." Doesn't every osu fan still shout out the number of days it's been since UM has beat osu? This arrogance doesn't promote any remorse for JT's discretions, nor does it promote any osu fan truly believing they want to move on. Realize, osu has been playing the secondary violations "game" for quite some time now----their stance is that this is all "old news" and we will self report (no 2010 season...what a joke) and everything will be fine. They have not felt the sting of the NCAA which will make for an interesting reaction to when the penalties do come down. I, for one, want more to come out! I want the LOIC tag! I want osu fan to know this last decade of "dominance" was a complete fraud. And for the record, I'll be walking into my high school in late August handing our football coach his white shirt and tie and laughing my "you know what" off. Remember, unless he was investigating something similar to what has already been reported, Dan Wetzel stated in March they were still investigating tosu football program for a story (a 10!) that would break in August. I'm not holding my breath now that it could be anything worse than what has already transpired.....but if still true....it could put the nail in the coffin for that LOIC charge by the NCAA.

Janis

Tue, Jul 19, 2011 : 1:10 p.m.

What message does it send to the high school players who see their coaches honoring a rules violator and a liar? I bet there are lots of other people the coaches could honor who not only helped Ohio high school football but didn't flaunt the rules.

Tru2Blu76

Tue, Jul 19, 2011 : 6:18 a.m.

Some of us are too young to remember that the same "support" came following the firing of Woody Hayes (as a result of his punching a Clemson player on national TV). This is just another form of double standard. If any of us "lesser beings" lied about something substantial related to our job responsibilities: we'd be fired and forgotten the next day. If any of us punched an employee of a competing company: we'd get fired, get arrested AND get sued. When Rodriguez got fired: the call soon became, Lets move on. I say the same applies to Jim Tressel. Could be that Tressel will end up coaching when the media frenzy quiets. Probably, he'll end up coaching at some southern school.

Blu-dogg97

Tue, Jul 19, 2011 : 4:59 a.m.

Makes one wonder if any of these coaches were on King Tress lawn right after Memorial day singing they're fight song.. the whole state is under denial..

leaguebus

Tue, Jul 19, 2011 : 1:45 a.m.

Tressel, by his "wild west" football rules, has hurt all the players on the team, not just the 5 named in tatoogate. If Pryor had gone to Penn State, he probably would look better to the pro scouts at this point in time. He came to the "wild west" with much talent, but at 18 years old, needed a coach to teach him about following rules and trying to keep his life grounded with all the adulation he receives. Where is he now? A chancy pro pick and maybe driving his last "free" car. Any high school coach that thinks this is good, needs to take Boy Scout training on the 13 points of Scout law. Coaches have much more responsibility to the athletes than just winning games.

1st Down

Mon, Jul 18, 2011 : 11:32 p.m.

Only in Ohio.

Terry Star21

Mon, Jul 18, 2011 : 10:19 p.m.

Agree whole heartily with ERM Ghost - you don't honor a cheating and lying coach to impressionable high school student athletes, no matter how much good that person did. There is a place to honor a coach and ohio did that consistently for ten years. My goodness - this coach had one of the greatest lives in America ! Everyday was like 24 hours of fame for this coach. America will look at this very hard, and the decision will not be favorable. Everywhere these kids go after high school they will be reminded of the disgrace in sports they supported. PLEASE ohio, take a long term look at this and do not honor a disgraced coach/person. Do not continue the extreme denial that this coach was a hero. Do the right thing ohio and save the respect that your state worked so hard for, for a very long time.

Bob

Mon, Jul 18, 2011 : 10:15 p.m.

Another reason I love living in Michigan and NOT in Ohio!

heartbreakM

Mon, Jul 18, 2011 : 9:49 p.m.

Just astounding to me that the entire state of Ohio buys into the notion that beating Michigan trumps all. If Tressel had been even .500 against Michigan, he would probably have been run out of town. But with his record, he is praised beyond belief. He showed his value of wins over teaching by playing the Tat 5 in the Sugar Bowl (even though they were found "guilty" by the NCAA--but hey, a win's a win). But he showed his lack of ethics by lying bald-faced to his bosses and the NCAA. Yikes. Those coaches have to get a clue!!

Blue Marker

Mon, Jul 18, 2011 : 9:01 p.m.

I'll agree that this seems to send the wrong message. But let's try and keep some perspective here. First of all, some of the most important people to ever don the Maize and Blue are from the state of Ohio. Bo, Moeller, Howard and Charles just to name a few. Let's not throw the whole state under the bus. Second, what Tessel did was wrong and it cost him his job. But it's not like the guy was Charles Manson in a sweater vest. I'm sure he did plenty of good things while he was head coach. I'm sorry but we sound like a bunch of self-righteous babies when we constantly point and yell.

Edward R Murrow's Ghost

Mon, Jul 18, 2011 : 8:35 p.m.

Chad Williams wrote: "Its [sic] the ncaas [sic] fault. " @chad: You really are in denial, aren't you? The problem did not begin in December 2010 when the NCAA let those players participate in the bowl game. The problem began when Tressel found out about it in the Spring of 2010 and did NOTHING. The problem continued when Tressel LIED on a report he submitted to the osu athletic department stating that, to the best of his knowledge, all of his players were eligible when, in fact, he knew they were not. And this investigation has turned up all manner of other inappropriate conduct (e.g., cars given to players at below market value). Yes, the NCAA should never have let those cheaters on the field for the bowl game. And, for that matter, the Big Ten should have stepped in, as well. That neither did speaks poorly of their ethical standards, as well. You are correct—both wanted a good bowl game. But let's not kid ourselves that the first several sins in this cases took place anywhere but inside the osu athletic department. The Nile River flows through Egypt, but de-nial, apparently, flows through Columbus. Good Night and Good Luck

Gordon

Mon, Jul 18, 2011 : 7:58 p.m.

Tressel could be honered for his ability to pick and coach football players. To honor this so soon when he he is the lightening rod for the violations maybe poor timing. But. You have to be kidding me with the majority of comments. It couldn't be the fault of recriuting system - you bet it is. It all falls down from the pros to the colleges to the high schools. Several high school systems has been recruiting players for religous reasons since I was in high school 50+ years ago while asking for donations. The coaches gather around Tressel what do you think the politicians do in Washington and our local governmemts. Hopefully we are all not so naive as to believe that we all try to beat the system and interupt the rules the way that fit us. Careful taking the high road for institution better it's done for the individual. None of the schools walk away with clean hands. Few of us could stand the public vilification that is heaped on Tressel; so a group lends support. Maybe we should do more of that especially when we are bystanders. Either that or College ball is a money sport that doesn't reduce tutition.

Hailmary

Mon, Jul 18, 2011 : 7:49 p.m.

If Jim Tressel is not guilty of NCAA violations then I think Ohio State should do the right and responsible thing and hire Jim Tressel back. I believe that if Jim runs a good clean program and holds players accountable Brady and team can win a fair share of games against the bucs. That darn Tressel had to screw up now just when things were starting to warm up.

a2roots

Mon, Jul 18, 2011 : 7:47 p.m.

This is a bigger joke than Tressel himself..

Chad Williams

Mon, Jul 18, 2011 : 7:42 p.m.

All this integrity talk is ridiculous. Where was the ncaas integrity? Let me guess in their wallets as always. Make the players eligible for big bucks and ratings then after the profit has been acounted for take action. The problem is the ncaa infatuation with money and ratings. Those players should have been ineligible from the beginning and the ncaa had that chance then to do so. UNC football players had the same thing going on going into the season, they made them inelgible so why not the osu players. They didnt leave up to butch davis to allow those players to play so whats the reason for allowing tressel to play his players?

mun

Mon, Jul 18, 2011 : 7:29 p.m.

"It's not my place or our association's place to say if he was right or wrong for what he did at Ohio State." Uh, yes it is. That's a fine message you are sending to your players, lie & cheat.

bluemax79

Mon, Jul 18, 2011 : 7:23 p.m.

wow just WOW some of the people in O-LIE-O really do not get it it was NOT a single incident or 1 thing he covered up, he has been cheating and doing this stuff for YEARS! from YSU to O$U he did the same thing over and over again, cash handouts, free cars from boosters, trade some equipment for tat's, drugs, hugs whatever. it was a patternof lying to the ncaa and blatantly breaking rules. to honor such a man is a disgrace to any organization that does it.

Chad Williams

Mon, Jul 18, 2011 : 7:08 p.m.

Its the ncaas fault. They made the players eligible knowing what happened. They dont allow those players to play in the sugar bowl there will be no issue. They had the chance to put the foot down then a week before the game. Like the ncaa $$$$$$ was on their mind and decided it was ok for them to play. Now Tressel is the scapegoat for this all not even the players who actually sold their stuff. Nor anyone else at the university. Did tressel lie sure he did, did he cheat by no means. What coach will make a player inelgible when the ncaa says others and say yea sure they can play?

Edward R Murrow's Ghost

Mon, Jul 18, 2011 : 7:05 p.m.

I want to congratulate these coaches for displaying in a crystal clear manner that the problem is not just at Tosu. Not at all. The problem clearly infests the entire State of Ohio. And they will send one heck of a message to their players: Lie, cheat, and steal to win so long as you can get away with it. So much for high school athletics building character. Good Night and Good Luck

blueiniowa

Mon, Jul 18, 2011 : 6:34 p.m.

tressel should be revered for being an "advocate" and "supporter" of ohio football about as much all of us should be revered for being an "advocate" and "supporter" of the company who employs us. This is just a pathetic attempt to gloss over what he did, but trying to make his job description sound nobler than it wass. The guy wasn't curing cancer. He was winning football games, and it was proven he couldn't even keep clean doing just that. ohio just can't help itself, can it?

scott

Mon, Jul 18, 2011 : 6:30 p.m.

I'm glad I'm not in a state where high school coaches claim it's not their place to deem judgement on right and wrong.....

Lorain Steelmen

Mon, Jul 18, 2011 : 6:22 p.m.

For a while now, I have tried to relate that football in ohio is a bit more 'intense' than in most other states. I think this article illustrates where I'm coming from. Remember, supposedly, these are adults here! Coaches...'molders of young men'!. What a joke!

Mick

Mon, Jul 18, 2011 : 6:07 p.m.

St Xavier Coach Specht makes sense, at least he gets it. I think it sends a bad message to kids by doing this, honoring a knowing cheat and liar who tried to cover up but he got exposed and they want to honor him, what a joke. Like 81Wolverine wrote, he did this for himself not anyone else, he wanted an unfair advantage and got away with it for a decade. He is a pathetic individual and a big phony. TSIO, man I don't know what they're trying to do, they better wake up and quit being in denial, face the music and move on. I'm so glad our program is in good hands now after 3 years of misery, unlike that school down south.

semperveritas

Mon, Jul 18, 2011 : 6:05 p.m.

jim mandich was from solon, ohio. better the coach and his cohorts honor jim mandich. SOLON, as you all know, was a greek legislator who (as wiki says) 'worked to legislate AGAINST political, economic, and MORAL decline..' there is something ironic in there somewhere.

AceDeuce

Mon, Jul 18, 2011 : 6:04 p.m.

Believe me, even as a die-hard Michigan fan, I always respected Tressel. Hated Columbus Ohio, but I always respected Tressel for his professionalism on the field. But this is just ridiculous. My favorite quote from an Ohio coach is "What exactly are we honoring here?". I know he did a lot for the state and football, but you just don't honor someone who has been having NCAA violation problems since 2003. Does anyone know if they even honored Hayes with something like this? My guess is no. I know those people love The Vest, but you don't honor someone after they admitted doing wrong, and possibly crippling a universities football program.

Spud

Mon, Jul 18, 2011 : 5:41 p.m.

Hey, I hope what Luke Fickell says is true. That the "interim tag" has been removed. That way when the Buckeyes have a disappointing season, and they end up replacing him with another coach, the turmoil will start all over again. Recruits will be pissed because Fickell told them he was going to be the real coach not an interim. Ohio State will be accused of deceiving recruits for the sole reason of getting them to commit. Slimey situation. Thanks Gene.

Spud

Mon, Jul 18, 2011 : 5:31 p.m.

"After e-mail correspondence indicated he had violated NCAA regulations". That makes it sound like he didn't know it was a violation up front. Kyle Meinke , you are kidding. Right?

Atticus F.

Mon, Jul 18, 2011 : 5:11 p.m.

This is typical of how Ohio football fans view sportsmanship. They even teach their children that it's ok to lie and cheat. As a matter of fact, they not only teach bad morals to their children, they also HONOR bad moral character.

81wolverine

Mon, Jul 18, 2011 : 5:02 p.m.

You have to just scratch your head and wonder why coaches blindly stick up for each other NO MATTER WHAT one of them does. Why would they want to honor someone who has shown a huge lack of integrity? What kind of message is that sending to all the young coaches and high school players out there? "(Tressel's) been a tremendous advocate for our coaches association and for high school football in our state". Maybe if they thought just for a minute or less, that in light of Tressel's lack of honesty and integrity he was doing this for HIS benefit and not the greater good.

trespass

Mon, Jul 18, 2011 : 4:57 p.m.

Honor a man that is fired because he cannot follow the rules. Really good role model!

richagain

Mon, Jul 18, 2011 : 4:43 p.m.

Maybe they should get a tat saying "O Lie O state" would be a better fit. I guess beating UM every year all Ohio coaches overlook the fact he did the same stuff at Youngstown St and OSU The guy was a good coach, I'll give hime that. But to honor a man for lying,cheating, and the cover up. I have problems with that

glimmertwin

Mon, Jul 18, 2011 : 4:32 p.m.

Honor a person who lied. Nice. I respected the guy - up until that little admission.

15crown00

Mon, Jul 18, 2011 : 4:11 p.m.

Are these clowns not aware of what "sweater vest"did?Or don't they care?