WFNY on TV: More Sports and Les Levine
March 30, 2011While We’re Waiting… Cavalier Fan Opus, Tribe Previews and Kuiper’s Blast
March 31, 2011Jim Tressel held his usual spring press conference today, amidst the most unusual of circumstances for the coach and his staff. Tressel gave his usual assessment of players broken down by position, and while which players are going to step into which roles is usually enough to carry a spring presser, that was quite the side note in this one.
Tressel, of course said virtually nothing of the on-going investigation into his role in the cover-up of the ‘tattoo five’. He did however reveal that Luke Fickell would be the interim head coach on game days during his suspension, and was promoted to assistant head coach. This was probably the worst-kept secret in town, but nothing official had been said until now.
Fickell is of course an alum of the school and was a member of the Buckeyes defensive line. He was part of the squad that beat Jake Plummer and Arizona State in the Rose Bowl. He has served as the defensive line coach, the linebackers coach, and also is the co-defensive coordinator. He said he was honored to be considered for the task of leading the team in Tressel’s absence, but added that everything will be done with the foundation that Jim Tressel establishes. The two reportedly haven’t talked much about the logistics of Saturday afternoons in the fall when the Vest won’t be on the sidelines.
In addition to not discussing the sanctions and investigation of coach Tressel, the University also declined to comment on the HBO Real Sports program that is set to air tonight. In that program several former Auburn players discuss what they were given on campus visits, including cash and other ‘favors’. Ohio State is one of the programs mentioned in particular by Stanley McGlover, who originally had committed to Ohio State, but ultimately went to Auburn.
University spokesperson Shelly Poe said that the University was not aware of violations alleged in the program, and wouldn’t comment on them since they are past the infractions window.
19 Comments
This season is going to be an absolute farce. We’ll have one coach and one offense for five (or more games) and then a new coach and a different offense for the rest of the year.
I’d love to see the players who are replacing the tattoo 5 play so well that the seniors don’t get their jobs back.
This whole episode is a pathetic joke.
i just can’t believe that people are calling for tressel’s head yet UConn basketball gets to play in the final 4 while committing egregious recruiting violations.
Saggy don’t forget John Calipari somehow has a job despite BOTH of his previous schools having to forfeit their Final Four appearances. That and this Fiesta Bowl scandal. Maybe people should realize the NCAA is a joke period.
or maybe the luckeye lovers should wake up and smell the roses…
Jimmy Tressel should be long gone if you really care about your program.
My dad is the biggest lover of them all, and he won’t stop saying how Jim Tressel should be fired…PERIOD. At least I can respect him for that, instead of you other lovers who say that Jimmy Tressel didn’t do anything that other coaches did, or it’s the NCAA’s fault. Plain and simple, Jimmy messed up big time, and the more info. is leaked it looks like he messed up even more. Save some face lovers…and get ticked at your fake savior!!!
Though I agree that what he did was wrong, he’s done too much good for the community, school and players to give him the axe over one mistake. We’re talking about some tattoos, not paying players or recruiting violations or rape for christ sake. There is noone id rather have as my head coach than Jim Tressel and quite frankly I’m not very concerned about “saving face”. You haters are gonna hate no matter what. Good one with the “luckeyes” comment by the way. You’re pretty original.
Um, it’s not just about tattoos. But I am glad you are simplifying the facts.
So when your head coach knows that his players are being investigated by the feds for drug trafficking and does nothing about it your okay with that? Then he lies about it to cover his ass, your still okay with that?
Yep, you must be a lover.
I think you misunderstand the situation. His players were not involved in the investigation for “drug trafficking”. The players had nothing to do with drugs. They were mentioned because the individual (Eddie Rife) who WAS involved in drugs had the aforementioned players’ memorabilia in his tattoo studio.
And I never said I was okay with it. I’m entirely disappointed in him for not being forthright, however, as I previously stated, I think he has done too much good to let this situation be his downfall. I should also note that I’m not a Tressel “lover” because of all the wins. We’ll get our wins regardless of who our coach is. I’ve met the guy, read his books, seen what he’s done for the school, players, poor etc. first hand, so I generally thing that he’s the kind of man that doesn’t come around very often. Its for these things that I’m proud to call him the head coach of my Alma Mater. That’s why the cover-up and pseudo lies make me all the more disappointed. Like every other human being on this planet throughout history, save Jesus Christ, he made a mistake. It wasn’t pre-meditated or malicious, so firing the guy is ludicrous IMHO.
OK I guess I should have said Tressel messed up and is guilty like everyone else. My point is the NCAA has become a joke so people should stop being shocked when news like this comes out- see ESPN and Sports Illustrated.
eh…I think you are giving him the benefit of the doubt a lil too much here. And quite frankly you are contradicting yourself.
Not sure how much Jimmy Tressel has done to benefit the poor or improve the public schools of Columbus but I guess I will take your word on it?
The fact is the feds were questioning why OSU players where hanging around a drug trafficker so much and wanted more info. about them, though the investigation wasn’t aimed at them, it still included them. Not sure how you think that is a positive.
If your head coach is as good of a man as you claim he is, then I think he would have acted accordingly here and obviously he didn’t.
Yeah he made a mistake. Then he covered it up and continued to cover it up month after month. No that’s not pre-meditated but it’s just as bad. Then when given the chance to come clean he directly lied about it.
Are you starting to wonder if he has lied about anything else?
Coaches have been fired by Universities for things like this. Not every time, every situation is different. But the fact is that coaches have been fired for similar conduct. The fact that your alma matter won’t fire him to me, is a bit alarming as to the standard they are creating for their athletic department. Espcially considering their ludicrous 2 game suspension they handed down.
I understand you have strong ties to this university, but sometimes the truth hurts.
And JM…the NCAA wouldn’t be such a joke if the Universities would hold their coaches more accountable, but I guess we both know that will never happen, because alumni and fans will go nuts if their head coaches, gulp, actually get held accountable for their actions.
How is it up there on your horse, thebigmack?
Now, since you’ve been corrected re: the athletes not trafficking, you’re going with ‘hanging out with’ a trafficker? Because doing business clearly equals hanging out with.
Maybe you’re right though. You know, I’ve heard that some college students drink a lot, do drugs, and generally make a lot of foolish decisions. I BET THE PLAYERS ON OSU HANG OUT WITH COLLEGE STUDENTS! OMG!1! TRESSEL SHOULD BE GONE! WHAT IS HE THINKING!!!
DING
“Paging Mr. Meyer. Mr. U. Meyer please pick up a scarlet and grey courtesy phone.”
DING
@MrCleav
It’s true that we will have differing teams between those the first five games and the rest but the bright side is that Tressel’s suspension (so far) is only a game day suspension.
He will be able to participate in practices, film sessions, meetings etc helping keep some continuity between the first five games and the rest of the season.
@bigmack.
If you actually believe that the NCAA is corrupt or a “joke” because of it’s coaches then you are more delusional than your posts make you sound. I’d quit now if I were you.
dont mind bigmack, clearly chris fedor has joined us. welcome aboard!
the tressel thing is a problem because created and perpetuated an image of himself as the most clean coach in major college football. but ultimately we’re all nuanced. ultimately he decided that his sense of right was greater than the NCAA’s. when i think ‘paragon of virtue’ in college athletic coaching, i think john wooden. yet there is plenty of evidence that his program violated rules and this hastened his departure from UCLA. doesn’t make it right because ‘wooden did it too.’ just saying even the best created rationalizations. which leads to…
ralph nader has it right on this one.
“We’ll get our wins regardless of who our coach is.”
Cooper would have been long gone by now. You beat Michigan and win some bowl games and you will definitely get a long leash at OSU.
No comment on the other stuff from me other than I’m glad that I have my young kids to hang out with on the weekends because both college and pro sports mean a whole lot less to me now than they ever have in the past.
It’s times like these I’m glad I’m an ND fan. Till we’re talking about how Brian Kelly committed recruiting violations two years from now…but I digress….
I’m actually kind of sick of hearing about how Tressel should stay because of his work in the community etc. I get that is a positive thing and all but just because I f-up my job and throw dirt on it doesn’t mean I shouldn’t be fired because I throw some fundraisers and I’m an all around nice guy. The point is, sometimes those rose colored glasses need to come off and we need to look at things in black and white. Just my opinion though, and to those saying that the NCAA is a joke I whole heartedly agree with you. Double standards have become par for the course.
Stin4u,
As a fellow ND fan, I am really interested in how the Mike Floyd situation is handled. I personally think the guy should miss the year but there is already a bunch of fans making excuses to still let him play.
@5k – I agree. I don’t think there is any excuse to not at least suspend him for a portion of the season. I’m not sure if there is precedence in this at all to be honest but he needs to be punished. I also wouldn’t disagree with the program itself being punished for the Declan Sullivan incident. I feel awful for that kids family to have something like that happen for no reason.
There is no reason that the NCAA can’t handle things like this with a heavy hand. Maybe coming down on these kids will help alleviate the inevitable sense of entitlement they pick up over the years.
@Stin
there is a reason the NCAA can’t handle things with a heavy hand…it’s because they know they are as dirty as it gets as well and do not want the probe to turn inward on them.
I don’t know what to make of the Declan Sullivan incident. I think it makes you realize there are a lot of things out there that exist but no one person has accountability for. When that happens, accidents happen. He shouldn’t have been up there but there probably wasn’t anybody who’s “job” it was to tell him not to go up.
But I’ll bet there is now, all around the country (actually ND no longer uses the lift but you know what I mean).
I think Floyd will play again since this happened in the spring, his other alcohol related incidents were off campus and he is a bigtime player. But I will not shed a tear or get upset if they boot him.