eblade special E EDITION TOLEDO, OHIO TUESDAY, MAY 31, 2011 RISE AND FALL OF OSU COACH TRESSEL ERA ENDS With allegations Reactions growing, leaving to Tressel became inevitable departure BY RYAN AUTULLO was the final nudge OSU need- BLADE SPORTS WRITER ed to encourage Tressel to re- COLUMBUS — Confront- sign. His ouster seemed un- ed Friday with damning de- avoidable after news broke in tails unearthed in a Sports Il- March that Tressel knowing- lustrated investigation into its ly lied to the NCAA about six football program, Ohio State of his players violating rules, officials decided to get rid of and then allowing those ineli- the man who ultimately has to gible players to participate in answer for his players’ trans- the 2010 season. gressions. The magazine published its Successful coach Jim Tres- report Monday evening show- sel tendered his letter of res- ing that since 2002 — Tres- ignation Monday, apparently sel’s second season — at least There are resigna- after being encouraged to do 28 Buckeyes players have re- so the prior evening during a ceived tattoos in exchange for ‘tions and there are meeting with athletic director memorabilia. wink-wink resigna- Gene Smith. Last week, former OSU re- The SI report apparently ceiver Ray Small told the stu- tions. Don’t for a dent newspaper, The Lantern, minute think Tressel THE FIVE PLAYERS he sold his Big Ten champion- wasn’t pointed toward SUSPENDED ship rings for cash and that several of his teammates re- the door... ceived discounts on cars sim- ply because they played foot- ball for Ohio State. Small lat- er refuted his statements, but ...It became more than The Lantern stood by its sto- trinkets and tattoos. ry. In December, when six It became about cars players were accused of trad- and extra benefits... ing memorabilia for tattoos, Smith said the football pro- gram did not have a “system- ...Apparently, winning ic” problem. As SI revealed, Smith was wrong. was so important Of the 28 accused players, 15 to Jim Tressel that are still on the team, including the six whose names surfaced he ended up losing in December. Additionally, Mike Adams everything. nine former players accused of the wrongdoing might fall THE BLADE/JEREMY WadswortH Dave Hackenberg’ within the NCAA’s four-year Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel on the sidelines in Columbus. Ohio State an- statute of limitations. nounced Monday, May 30, 2011 that football coach Jim Tressel resigned as the Current team members ac- NCAA investigates the Buckeyes for possible rules violations. cused of trading memora- There’s still a lot to bilia in exchange for tattoos admire about Tressel, to Columbus tattoo parlor ‘ Fine Link Ink are defensive JIM TRESSEL BIO both as a man and as back C.J. Barnett, lineback- ■ BORN: Dec. 5, 1952 er Dorian Bell, running back Jim Tressel in a football coach, but Jaamal Berry, running back ■ ALMA MATER: Baldwin Ohio State has been Bo DeLande, defensive back resignation letter: Wallace (1975). down this road before. Zach Domicone, linebacker ■ PLAYING CAREER: Storm Klein, linebacker Eti- Four-time varsity letterman Nobody is bigger than enne Sabino, defensive tackle We will be fine. (1971-74); all-conference as the program... John Simon and defensive end a senior. Nathan Williams. ASSOCIATED PRESS Daniel Herron COLUMBUS — The text of Jim Tressel’s resignation let- ■ COACHING CAREER: Bob Hunter, Columbus Dispatch’ Six other current players were accused by the NCAA in ter tendered on Monday to Ohio State athletic director Graduate Assistant, Akron, December of doing the same. Gene Smith: 1975; Quarterbacks, Re- They are quarterback Terrelle Dear Gene: ceivers and Running Backs Since he’s at the top, Pryor, offensive tackle Mike After meeting with university officials, we agreed that Coach, Akron, 1976-78; he had the farthest to it is in the best interest of Ohio State that I resign as head ‘ Adams, running back Dan Quarterbacks and Receiv- Herron, wide receiver DeVier football coach. ers Coach, Miami (Ohio), fall. Posey, defensive end Solomon The recent situation has been a distraction for our great 1979-80; Quarterbacks university and I make this decision for the greater good of Dane Sanzenbacher’ Thomas and linebacker Jor- Coach, Syracuse, 1981-82; dan Whiting. All six have been our school. Quarterbacks, Receivers Central Catholic grad and for- suspended for the start of the The appreciation that (wife) Ellen and I have for the and Running Backs Coach, mer OSU wide receiver 2011 season, with Whiting sit- Buckeye Nation is immeasurable. We have been blessed Ohio State, 1983-85; Head to work with the finest group of young men in America ting out one game and his five Coach, Youngstown State, and we love them dearly. In addition, we cannot thank you teammates missing the first 1986-2000 (135-57-2 re- Many coaches in the five games. enough. ... the high school coaches we have worked with over these many years. cord); Head Coach, Ohio past probably handled The beginning of the end of State, 2001-2011 (106-22). ‘ Tressel’s 10-year run at OSU We know that God has a plan for us and we will be fine. We will be Buckeyes forever. ■ OVERALL RECORD: player violations in DeVier Posey seemingly began Sept. 13. It was then that Tressel signed — Jim Tressel 241-79-2. the same way. But the an annual NCAA certificate ■ ASSISTED UNDER: times have changed. of compliance form indicat- Jim Dennison (Akron); Tom ing he knows of no violations Reed (Miami of Ohio); Dick Bill Livingston ’ and has reported to the school MacPherson (Syracuse); Cleveland Plain Dealer any knowledge of possible vi- Earle Bruce (Ohio State). olations. But about five months pri- ■ HIGHLIGHTS: Led or to his signing of that form, Youngstown State to the INSIDE Tressel learned in an e-mail 1991, 1993, 1994 and that two of his players — Tres- 1997 Division I-AA National ■ Former Buckeye Luke sel and Posey — had traded Championship. Led Ohio Fickell, an assistant memorabilia for tattoos. By State to seven Big Ten under John Cooper and not reporting the violation to Conference titles and to six Jim Tressel, takes over the NCAA, Tressel committed bowl victories in 10 appear- as interim head coach a violation of his own, and one ances, including 5-3 in BCS for the 2011 season. that almost always ends with a games. Won the 2002 na- Page e2 Tyrelle Pryor coach losing his job. tional championship game Despite his mistakes, many with a double-overtime win ■ Ohio State football OSU followers still support over Miami. Had a 9-1 re- coaches’ careers often Tressel. They instead have cord against rival Michigan. don’t end on a good note. cast blame on Pryor and the ■ ACCOMPLISHMENTS: other accused players, the American Football Coaches Page e2 OSU compliance office, and ■ the media for its perceived Association National Coach Buckeyes face uncer- witch hunt. of the Year in 1991, 1994 tain future after decade Tressel had enormous suc- and 2002; Eddie Robinson of success under Tres- cess in his 10 seasons, posting National Coach of the Year sel. a 106-22 record, a 9-1 record in 1994 and 2002; Bobby Page e3 against rival Michigan, seven Dodd Coach of the Year in 2002; Paul “Bear” Bryant ■ Many fans, players Big Ten championships, and a still support Tressel double-overtime win over Mi- Award in 2002. ami (Fla.) in the Fiesta Bowl Source: The Associated Press Page e4 to win the 2002 BCS national Solomon Thomas See JUMP, Page e4 The June 6, 2011 edition cover of Sports Illustrated. Cyan Magenta Yellow Black SECTION E, PAGE E2 eblade special THE BLADE: TOLEDO, OHIO ■ TUESDAY, MAY 31, 2011 Endings often not good for OSU football coaches By RAY STEIN The departure: COLUMBUS DISPATCH Widdoes had been As a friend of Jim Tressel and an installed as a gate- occasional colleague on the ban- keeper of sorts un- quet circuit, Jack Park was sad- til Brown could dened to learn the news yester- return to run the day of Tressel’s resignation as Ohio show, but he found State football coach. instant success As a longtime chronicler of Ohio with an unbeaten State football history, however, team in 1944 that Park was anything but surprised. included Ohio State’s first Heis- “We’ve never really had a coach man Trophy winner, Les Horvath. who left on his own terms,” Park But Widdoes did not find happi- said. “The only guy who really left ness. He was a quiet man who did on his own accord was Paul Brown not particularly enjoy dealing with (in 1944), and that’s because he the media and alumni clubs, Park was so young and going into the said, and on Jan. 2, 1946, he asked service[in World War II]. to return to his former role as an as- “I really thought Tressel would sistant coach. St. John granted the be the first one who would coach request. 15 or 18 years or whatever and say, ‘I’m going to retire. I’m going to go Paul Bixler out on top.’ ” Year at OSU: 1946 That didn’t happen, of course, Record: 4-3-2 and instead Tressel became the lat- The departure: Bixler was el- est to leave on terms other than his evated from assistant coach to re- own. Here’s a quick look at the exits place Widdoes, of the 10 Ohio State coaches prior to but he found the Tressel: seat no cooler than most of his prede- John Wilce cessors. OSU won Years at OSU: 1913-28 only one of its first Record at school: 78-33-9, three four games and Big Ten championships finished the sea- The departure: Wilce resigned son with two loss- on June 3, 1928, effective at the end es, including a hu- of the season, to practice medicine miliating 58-6 de- and to continue teaching at the uni- feat at home against Michigan.