Posted on 05/30/2011 6:43:16 PM PDT by Comparative Advantage
Interesting tidbit from the story.
The latter interpretation is suggested by a story that has long circulated among college coaches and was confirmed to SI by a former colleague of Tressel's from Earle Bruce's staff at Ohio State in the mid-1980s. One of Tressel's duties then was to organize and run the Buckeyes' summer camp. Most of the young players who attended it would never play college football, but a few were top prospects whom Ohio State was recruiting. At the end of camp, attendees bought tickets to a raffle with prizes such as cleats and a jersey. According to his fellow assistant, Tressel rigged the raffle so that the elite prospects won -- a potential violation of NCAA rules. Says the former colleague, who asked not to be identified because he still has ties to the Ohio State community, "In the morning he would read the Bible with another coach. Then, in the afternoon, he would go out and cheat kids who had probably saved up money from mowing lawns to buy those raffle tickets. That's Jim Tressel."
(Excerpt) Read more at sportsillustrated.cnn.com ...
Reads like Tessel has been doging bullets for quite few years and one finally found him.
But when you play ball with the media, all of these allegations and suppositions never see the light of day, until after the fact. Investigative journalists seem to be real selective on what becomes a scandal and what doesn’t.
Ohio State is going to be poisoned for a year or more. Probably won’t be able to hire a good coach for a while.
They likely will have an assistant take over in the mean time.
They deserve the Death Penalty. And Gordon Gee along with Gene Smith need to be jettisoned right now.
I really have no problem with colleges "preparing" students/athletes for the "real world" - including that of professional sports. However, I would prefer if the schools, administration, media, and professional sports admitted to the whole system/scheme. And maybe put it all 'on the market' so we could place trades on candidates.
... and yes, the above is mostly satire / tongue-in-cheek ... or not.
This entire stinking mess certainly makes the Sugar Bowl officials look bad. Some of the Buckeyes’rules violations were known before the season ended, yet the Sugar Bowl invited Tressel and his merry band of cheaters to their bowl. They even gave Terrell Pryor their Player of the Game award. Very poor judgment from that bowl committee.
Luke Fickell is it until 2012 at least. Urban Meyer and Jon Gruden are on the short list after that.
The problem is far more systemic that OSU and Jim Tressel.
It’s the athlete star struck,”we’re number one” culture and media that makes coaches, AD’s and others abandon their principles in order to survive and accommodate thug culture athletes who can’t read or write beyond a third grade level and have absolutely no moral bearings.
His Old Man, gone a long time now, is a legend in the state. These are sorry circumstances.
“At Mentor, Tressel put together a 34-game winning streak, while compiling a 163 mark in two seasons at Massillon.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lee_Tressel
If it weren't for the Blue Jackets, I would despise the sports scene here.
Buckeyes are going to go down hard. Crocodile tears from fans of other Big Ten teams 5 .. 4 .. 3 .. 2 .. 1 ..
Sorry, can’t manage it. Buckeye fans are the most mean-spirited obnoxious a$$holes in college football. Hope they take to program out and shoot it.
Luke Fickell will be an excellent coach. His guys absolutely love him....he’ll get the job through the sanctions and a nice contract after. He’s been groomed for it.
And, I’ll pass on some of these stories. Unamed sources blah blah blah...crotchety below average coaches or idiot (Ray Small)l wanting to be in the limelight. No thanks.
Preach it. As a MSU alum, OSU has now been elevated to my most hated position, over both Nick Saban and UofM. Their cheating cost MSU a Rose Bowl. Period.
In a word, yes. And the Sugar Bowl crown should be returned.
I don’t say this with any joy. I’ve followed the Bucks for a long time.
The points about college players and pro careers are spot on.
Jim Tressel makes a nice appearance on the field; not bad-looking, well-groomed, clean-cut-looking, etc. But there was SOMETHING about him that projected bad vibes to me, and I never liked him from day one! And now I know why!
Never trust a man wearing a sweater vest.
Forever to be known as "Tressel the raffle rigger." Say that three times fast.
Yes, it’s WAYYYY over the top here. Of course, we both knew how the media would respond when he finally resigned. No real surprise.
“Forever to be known as “Tressel the raffle rigger.” Say that three times fast.”
LOL!!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.