Embattled head coach Jim Tressel stepped down on Monday, after months of NCAA investigations, suspensions, and scandal rocked The Ohio State University football program.
In a letter to Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith, Tressel said, “After meeting with university officials, we agreed that it is in the best interest of Ohio State that I resign as head football coach. The recent situation has been a distraction for our great university and I make this decision for the greater good of our school.”
Luke Fickell, who was already set to fill in for Tressel as he served a five-game suspension to start the season, will now take over as interim head coach for the entire 2011–2012 football season. Ohio State will reportedly not recruit a new head coach until the football season is over.
It is hard to believe that a well-regarded coach of Tressel’s caliber ended his tenure amid scandal and NCAA sanctions. Jim Tressel was respected by his peers, not only for his work on the field, but also for his demeanor off the field. He took great pride in molding the young men he coached to be not only great football players, but to be great in life and to succeed in the classroom—a characteristic of NCAA head coaches, which is often touted but rarely seen today.
Center Mike Brewster Tweeted, “Coach Tressel was one of the most honorable men I ever had the chance of being around. He taught me endless life lessons.”
Tight end Jake Stoneburner chimed in: “Tress taught me life lessons and how to become a man. I will forever be grateful that I played for such a great man. He is irreplaceable.”
His suspension and subsequent resignation was not a result of what his players did, but because he lied to the NCAA about what he knew. It seems ironic considering honesty and integrity were cornerstones he built his program upon.
Former Buckeye quarterback and current ESPN analyst Kirk Herbsteit commented that loyalty to his players may have “backfired” on the coach. “He got caught up defending his players, trying to take care of his players, to the point of holding information back from the NCAA.”
Loyalty and truthfulness came to a crossroads and Coach Tressel chose the wrong path. From that, he will learn his own a life lesson, one he will not soon forget.
In a letter to Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith, Tressel said, “After meeting with university officials, we agreed that it is in the best interest of Ohio State that I resign as head football coach. The recent situation has been a distraction for our great university and I make this decision for the greater good of our school.”
Luke Fickell, who was already set to fill in for Tressel as he served a five-game suspension to start the season, will now take over as interim head coach for the entire 2011–2012 football season. Ohio State will reportedly not recruit a new head coach until the football season is over.
The End of and an Era
It is hard to believe that a well-regarded coach of Tressel’s caliber ended his tenure amid scandal and NCAA sanctions. Jim Tressel was respected by his peers, not only for his work on the field, but also for his demeanor off the field. He took great pride in molding the young men he coached to be not only great football players, but to be great in life and to succeed in the classroom—a characteristic of NCAA head coaches, which is often touted but rarely seen today.
Center Mike Brewster Tweeted, “Coach Tressel was one of the most honorable men I ever had the chance of being around. He taught me endless life lessons.”
Tight end Jake Stoneburner chimed in: “Tress taught me life lessons and how to become a man. I will forever be grateful that I played for such a great man. He is irreplaceable.”
His suspension and subsequent resignation was not a result of what his players did, but because he lied to the NCAA about what he knew. It seems ironic considering honesty and integrity were cornerstones he built his program upon.
Former Buckeye quarterback and current ESPN analyst Kirk Herbsteit commented that loyalty to his players may have “backfired” on the coach. “He got caught up defending his players, trying to take care of his players, to the point of holding information back from the NCAA.”
Loyalty and truthfulness came to a crossroads and Coach Tressel chose the wrong path. From that, he will learn his own a life lesson, one he will not soon forget.
Rumored Replacements
The rumor mill has already started swirling as to who will replace Tressel as the next head coach at Ohio State. Fickell has been told he will coach through the 2011–2012 season, but Buckeye Nation could start to get antsy if numbers start piling up in the loss column.
Former Florida head coach Urban Meyer, a name high on the list of potential candidates, issued a statement Monday afternoon regarding the vacancy rumors. “I am committed to ESPN and will not pursue any coaching opportunities this fall. I have thoroughly enjoyed working with the people at ESPN this spring and remain very excited about my role with the network this fall.” Meyer stepped down from Florida following the 2010 season to spend more time with his family.
Current Nebraska head coach Bo Pelini’s name has also been thrown in as a potential candidate. Pelini played safety for the Buckeyes. His defensive mentality is highly regarded in college football and makes him another great candidate for the job in Columbus.
This was not how the story should have ended for Jim Tressel. He was too good of a guy to have such a negative end to his tenure in college football.
Some will throw out his 10 years at Ohio State and choose to remember how he left. He should be remembered for his accomplishments. He boasted a record of 106–22 in 10 seasons. He guided the Buckeyes to a National Championship in 2002. He was 9–1 against rival Michigan, a key statistic for the Buckeye Nation.
Legendary coach Woody Hayes left Ohio State amid controversy as well—he was fired after punching an opposing player in the 1978 Gator Bowl. Hopefully history will repeat itself and people will focus less on how Tressel left, and more on his accomplishments.
Former Florida head coach Urban Meyer, a name high on the list of potential candidates, issued a statement Monday afternoon regarding the vacancy rumors. “I am committed to ESPN and will not pursue any coaching opportunities this fall. I have thoroughly enjoyed working with the people at ESPN this spring and remain very excited about my role with the network this fall.” Meyer stepped down from Florida following the 2010 season to spend more time with his family.
Current Nebraska head coach Bo Pelini’s name has also been thrown in as a potential candidate. Pelini played safety for the Buckeyes. His defensive mentality is highly regarded in college football and makes him another great candidate for the job in Columbus.
Tarnished Legacy?
This was not how the story should have ended for Jim Tressel. He was too good of a guy to have such a negative end to his tenure in college football.
Some will throw out his 10 years at Ohio State and choose to remember how he left. He should be remembered for his accomplishments. He boasted a record of 106–22 in 10 seasons. He guided the Buckeyes to a National Championship in 2002. He was 9–1 against rival Michigan, a key statistic for the Buckeye Nation.
Legendary coach Woody Hayes left Ohio State amid controversy as well—he was fired after punching an opposing player in the 1978 Gator Bowl. Hopefully history will repeat itself and people will focus less on how Tressel left, and more on his accomplishments.
