Originally Published: March 19, 2011 $2.50 PERIODICAL NEWSPAPER CLASSIFICATION DATED MATERIAL PLEASE RUSH!! C M Vol. 30, No. 18 “For The Buckeye Fan Who Needs To Know More” March 19, 2011 Y Matta’s Road K To OSU Began Tressel In Hometown By ADAM JARDY Buckeye Sports Bulletin Staff Writer The town of Hoopeston, Ill., is not the kind of place one stumbles upon by accident. A dot on the map nestled just inside the state’s eastern border, it is first mentioned as you drive from the east by a sign 16 miles out on Indiana State Route 26. As you cross the Indiana-Illinois state line headed westbound, the road surface changes as the destination Takes Hit approaches. Finally, a two-paneled green road sign greets visitors Head Coach Suspended, Fined who reach the city limit. The top panel notes the name of the town and the population, but it is the bottom half that proclaims the name of Hoopeston’s most famous native son. By OSU; Will Keep His Job In three lines, the sign reads, “Home of Big 10 Coach Thad Matta.” By JEFF SVOBODA In the mid-1980s, Hoopeston was more than just a loca- Buckeye Sports Bulletin Staff Writer tion on a map. It was a thriving, passionate city that found itself rallying around a common cause – high school bas- Despite coming to the conclusion that head football coach ketball. During a period from 1984-86, the boys basketball Jim Tressel violated his contract, athletic department proto- team put together a string of seasons still vividly recalled by col and NCAA bylaw 10.1 by failing to report information that the town’s remaining citizens. some of his players were potentially involved in NCAA rules It was the glory days for the Cornjerkers – the only violations, Ohio State plans to stand by its man. school in the country to have such a trademarked name The university concluded a nearly two-month internal – and Matta was a driving force in the run. In his investigation March 8 by announcing self-imposed sanctions final three seasons against the 11th-year head coach after it concluded Tressel at Hoopeston, had been informed in April of the possibility his players were the Cornjerkers selling memorabilia and accepting discounted services. compiled an 89- Among the penalties, Tressel 11 record dur- has been handed a two-game ing which they suspension for the opening con- lost just one road tests of the 2011 season and fined game. $250,000. In addition, he must The culmina- attend a compliance seminar in tion came during the coming months. Matta’s senior year However, the head coach’s of 1984-85 when the bosses – director of athletics Jerkers reached the Gene Smith and university presi- SONNY BROCKWAY state’s Final Four. dent Dr. E. Gordon Gee – made it PUNISHED – Ohio State head football coach Jim The year before, clear they have no plans to relieve Tressel was fined and suspended by Ohio State the Cornjerkers Tressel of his duties despite following a nearly two-month investigation that reached the state’s Elite Eight and mounting criticism from across concluded the 11th-year head coach had been advanced to play at the University the country that the punishment informed last April of the possibility that his play- of Illinois’ Assembly Hall before is too light given the severe losing to the eventual state nature of the transgression. ers were selling memorabilia and accepting dis- champion. Despite the loss, “I want to make sure everyone counted tattoos in violation of NCAA rules. the team received a police understands, wherever we end up ire from national commentators (for more on them, see a escort home. at the end of the day, Jim Tressel compendium of reaction on page 8), Gee then joked, “Let me Matta does not make it is our football coach,” Smith said just be very clear: I’m just hopeful the coach doesn’t dismiss home much these days. His during a heavily attended evening me.” parents, Jim and Ellanat, press conference March 8. “All All joking aside, the president went to great lengths to now reside in Hilton Head, the speculation about him being make it clear the school is 100 percent behind Tressel. S.C., and the region is not one terminated is pure speculation. “This university is very committed to this coach,” Gee Matta finds himself frequently criss- This case, in my view, does not said. “This president is committed to this coach. He’s had crossing on recruiting trips. warrant it.” great success on the football field and we applaud that. He’s But while the coach might have Gee was even more adamant, had great success in working with young people and we left Hoopeston, his imprint is as large exclaiming, “Are you kidding applaud that. But equally importantly, he’s had great suc- as ever. me?” when asked if he consid- ered dismissing Tressel. Drawing Continued On Page 6 Continued On Page 12 Originally Published: March 19, 2011 OPINION Trying To Find Black, White Answers In Gray World The senatorial demeanor? Apparently just a during a windstorm, even major programs are – the dreaded four words no NCAA member façade. That book, “The Winners Manual For not immune to blurring the line of what could institution wants to hear. The Game of Life,” that was on the bestseller be considered unethical conduct. Lack of institutional control to the NCAA is Vol. 30, No. 18 list? Probably ghostwritten. Countless signed like running away from a cop. No matter what March 19, 2011 cards and letters of encouragement as well as else you may have done, they really don’t like hospital trips to visit sick and dying children? EDITOR’S that. Whenever a school is penalized for lack www.BuckeyeSports.com Simply a charade. of institutional control, it is looking at loss of To listen to his critics, you might believe NOTEBOOK scholarships, vacated seasons, postseason bans Buckeye Sports Bulletin (USPS 705-690, Jim Tressel has spent most of a 25-year college and jobs lost. ISSN 0883-6833.) is published 24 times a Mark Rea year (weekly September through November, coaching career living one lie after another If your coach simply takes the fall, he gets biweekly mid-March through May and and his two-game suspension and $250,000 the sanctions, the scrutiny and the criticism January through early March and monthly fine announced March 8 was when NCAA law Naturally, pointing out the flaws of one pro- – but your program moves on. June through August and December) by: finally caught up to his long pattern of dishon- gram does not absolve another of its missteps. Maybe that is just a wacko conspiracy the- Columbus Sports Publications esty and deceit. But I do have a question for everyone claim- ory. But I would contend it’s no more wacko 1350 W. Fifth Ave., Suite 30 Most of those foisting that opinion were the ing to have a corner on the integrity market: than the overheated cacophony from the sancti- P.O. Box 12453 What exactly would you have done had you monious crowd that believes Tressel should be Columbus, Ohio 43212 usual suspects, of course. If you are going to (614) 486-2202 win 75 percent of your games over a quarter- been in Tressel’s shoes last April? What would fired and the entire 2010 season vacated. century and do so in a rather unorthodox style your course of action have been when e-mails Why do you think Smith – a former chair Periodical class postage paid at unbefitting today’s look-at-me society, you are began crossing your desk regarding two of of the NCAA Committee on Infractions who Columbus, Ohio, and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address chang- bound to pick up some enemies along the way your players and a federal drug trafficking knows that committee inside and out – immedi- es to: Buckeye Sports Bulletin, P.O. Box – disgruntled ex-players who didn’t believe they investigation? ately contacted the NCAA for consultation? Isn’t 12453, Columbus, Ohio 43212. Subscription got enough of the spotlight, the ESPN types Would you have chosen to try and protect it entirely possible those consultants signed off rates: $74.95/year. who rank only slightly better than the yellow those players – as well as yourself and your on the severity of Tressel’s sanctions? You may PUBLISHER journalists of the late 19th century, those who program – or would you have immediately think a two-game suspension and being forced Frank Moskowitz cover the team on a regular basis who long ago informed your athletic director and compli- to write a check for a quarter of a million dol- tired of Tressel’s tight control over the avail- ance office knowing full well that by doing lars is a light tap on the wrist, but piled on top ASSISTANT PUBLISHER EMERITUS Karen Wachsman 1944-1999 ability of his team. so you would be exposing those players and of five-game bans for five starters to begin the You would naturally have expected those that federal investigation to becoming public? 2011 season, the penalty seems to have quite a MANAGING EDITOR camps to come out with guns blazing when (Before you answer, think back to the last time bit of teeth. Mark Rea Tressel was cited for violating NCAA bylaw 10.1, you called into work sick when you weren’t Look, defending the indefensible is point- ASSISTANT PUBLISHER a statute otherwise known as the “Unethical really sick.