Standing before a large assemblance of media members on Tuesday night, an emotional Jim Tressel admitted that he had indeed violated NCAA rules, confirming a report originally released by Yahoo! Sports.
As a result, Ohio State will suspend its football coach for the 1st two games of the 2011 season. Tressel will also be fined $250,000. These self-imposed sanctions, though, could be altered by the NCAA, depending on how that organization views the offense.
The entire ordeal is filled with numerous details; so, I will offer a simple version of the story. On April 2, 2010, Tressel was notified of a drug-trafficking incident, possibly involving 2 of his players. However, Tressel neglected to inform his superiors, in direct violation to a NCAA rule, because he believed the message, delivered to him by an "attorney", was intended to remain confidential. Tressel thought that by notifying an Ohio State official, he would be interfering with a federal investigation. The situation then disappeared until 5 OSU players - Terrelle Pryor, Dan "Boom" Herron, Devier Posey, Mike Adams, and Solomon Thomas - were suspended by the NCAA in December for the 1st 5 games of 2011. Although the owner of the tattoo parlor whom the players swapped gear with was a part of the drug crimes, the players themselves were fortunately not. Last night, Tressel said he was relieved his players were not involved in a criminal activity, but he was alarmed by the fact that 5 players were in trouble and not only 2. Following the Sugar Bowl, which the Buckeyes won, 31-26, over Arkansas, Ohio State was made aware of Tressel's mistake, leading to this announcement.
In addition to Tressel, Athletic Director Gene Smith and President E. Gordon Gee also spoke, and both were very supportive of their football coach. Meanwhile, Tressel apologized and attempted to give a reason for the way he responded to those April e-mails.
If one reads between the lines of the press conference's transcript, it is quite easy to see the predicament Tressel was in after he received the report from the aforementioned "attorney." Tressel did not want to interfere with the federal investigation, and he was obviously concerned for his players as well. Therefore, Tressel remained silent when he should have immediately contacted Smith or someone at Ohio State's compliance office. This mistake clearly does not warrant a contract termination, as some have suggested, but a 2-game suspension is definitely fitting. And, do not be surprised if the NCAA adds a 3rd game, in part because the Buckeyes do not play a competitive team in either one of the season's opening 2 contests.
The Vest will undoubtedly be criticized in the coming weeks and months, but his body of work, both on and off the field, will eventually speak louder than one mistake, albeit a serious one.
In his closing comments, Gee said to Tressel, "Jim, I am proud to call you my friend."
Buckeye fans should still be proud to call Tressel their coach.
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