DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Tailgate Forum Jim Tressel in Hot Water?

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What does it matter what people have to say about a coach? Everyone is allowed to have their own opinion.

What has Tressel done for you to defend him relentlessly?

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So he's allowed to have his opinion but I'm not allowed to have mine? No double standard there.

Tressel has done nothing in particular for me and I'd hardly call one post defending him relentlessly. Don't be a dope.

So let me see if I understand this thread.

OSU fans being homers?

Toledo and Michigan fans swarming all over this like vultures. Its not that hard to figure out. I mean damn Nas posted on this topic and he hasn't posted in forever.

Jim Tressel to miss five games

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Associated Press

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Now that the NCAA has finalized its ruling that five Ohio State football players who took improper benefits are suspended for the first five games of the 2011 season, Buckeyes coach Jim Tressel says he wants the same punishment.

On Thursday night, the NCAA denied Ohio State's appeal on behalf of the players, including star quarterback Terrelle Pryor, reasserting that they must sit out the first five games this fall for selling autographed memorabilia and receiving discounted tattoos.

Tressel had been handed a two-game suspension in a separate investigation by Ohio State after it was discovered he had not notified the NCAA, his Ohio State bosses or the school's compliance department that he was aware for more than nine months -- including throughout his team's 12-1 season in 2010 -- of the players' improper benefits.

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Like my players, I am very sorry for the mistakes I made. I request of the university that my sanctions now include five games so that the players and I can handle this adversity together.

” -- Jim Tressel

"Throughout this entire situation, my players and I have committed ourselves to facing our mistakes and growing from them; we can only successfully do this together," he said in a statement. "I spoke with athletic director [Gene] Smith, and our student-athletes involved, and told them that my mistakes need to share the same game sanctions."

Ohio State had learned of Tressel's knowledge of his players' NCAA violations while preparing a seven-page appeal to the NCAA of the players' suspensions. On March 8, the university announced Tressel would sit out the first two games of the 2011 season.

But before the NCAA could rule on his punishment, he added three games to his penalty.

"Coach Tressel has requested that he sit out the first five games of the 2011 season. I have accepted his request and we are taking action to notify the NCAA," Smith said in a statement. He declined further comment.

The NCAA announced the decision on Thursday night -- during the midst of the first day of men's basketball tournament. The football news may upstage the basketball team's NCAA tournament opener. The Buckeyes are the No. 1 overall seed in the tournament and will play Texas-San Antonio in the second round in Cleveland on Friday.

Pryor, along with starting offensive lineman Mike Adams, leading rusher Daniel Herron, first-team receiver DeVier Posey and backup defensive lineman Solomon Thomas, acknowledged they sold rings, trophies and apparel in 2009.

In addition to sitting out the first five games against Akron, Toledo, the University of Miami, Colorado and Michigan State, they also must repay to charity the equivalent of the benefits they received, ranging from $1,000 to $2,500.

"Like my players, I am very sorry for the mistakes I made," Tressel said in the statement. "I request of the university that my sanctions now include five games so that the players and I can handle this adversity together."

Ohio State disclosed the proposed penalties against six football players (another was assessed only a one-game suspension) in December. But the NCAA permitted all to play in the Buckeyes' 31-26 victory over Arkansas in the Sugar Bowl.

Tressel had repeatedly told investigators that he knew nothing about the players' violations. His contract stipulates that he must disclose any potential violations or could be fired.

Yet he signed an NCAA disclosure form last September that he was unaware of any violations -- even though he had exchanged e-mails in April and June with a Columbus lawyer who told him of his players' relationship with a Columbus tattoo-parlor owner and of the benefits the players had received.

Tressel has said he didn't tell anyone because he felt bound by confidentiality, since the tattoo-parlor owner was the subject of a federal drug-trafficking investigation. The 11th-year coach of the Buckeyes said he was concerned for his players' safety, and said he never even considered that the players' acceptance of the improper benefits might affect their eligibility.

In addition to the original two-game suspension, Ohio State also said Tressel must pay a fine of $250,000 of his estimated annual salary of $3.5 million, must attend a compliance seminar, will receive a public reprimand and must apologize for his actions.

In several speaking engagements in the past week in front of supportive fans -- at most of his appearances he was met with a standing ovation -- Tressel has said he regrets his actions and has apologized for embarrassing the university.

There is no timeline for any additional actions by the NCAA regarding Tressel. Although, with the appeal being denied, the penalty for the players is now finalized.

The NCAA could vacate the 2010 season because Tressel knowingly used ineligible players.

http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/spo...ed.html?sid=101


When Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel learned last spring that some of his current players were in trouble, he shared the information with someone he thought could help his star quarterback even though he said he didn't tell his bosses.

Tressel forwarded the information to Ted Sarniak, a mentor to Terrelle Pryor, after the coach received emails warning that Pryor and at least one other player had sold memorabilia to a local tattoo-parlor owner who was under federal investigation for drug trafficking, multiple sources have confirmed to The Dispatch.

Sarniak, 67, is a prominent businessman in Pryor's hometown of Jeannette, Pa. He befriended the quarterback years ago and accompanied him on recruiting trips to Ohio State and other universities.

During a news conference on March 8 to announce NCAA ethics violations by Tressel, the coach said he kept the information to himself to protect the confidentiality of the federal investigation and for the safety of his players.

But Tressel also nodded his head and said "um-hmm" when asked whether he had forwarded the emails to anyone.

Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith quickly intervened to prevent Tressel from answering that question about the matter currently under investigation by the NCAA. The university suspended Tressel for the first five games of the coming football season and fined him $250,000 for failing to report the information to Ohio State officials or the NCAA, but the NCAA could accept or increase the penalties when it issues a final ruling.

Pryor and four other players also have been suspended for the first five games. A sixth player has been suspended for one game.

When asked whether Tressel had passed the information to Sarniak, OSU officials said, "We are not discussing any issues relative to the case until it is resolved with the NCAA."

In a public-records request, The Dispatch asked Ohio State officials for emails involving Tressel and Sarniak, and the university is reviewing its records. So it remains unclear when Tressel forwarded emails to Sarniak, whether the businessman received them and, if he did, what happened as a result.

The Dispatch made numerous attempts to reach Sarniak for comment, both by phone and in person. His wife said the family would have no comment.

Doug Archie, OSU's director of compliance, said Sarniak served as Pryor's contact person during Ohio State's recruiting efforts but is not considered a booster.

"Mr. Sarniak and Terrelle Pryor have been friends for a number of years, and their friendship dates back prior to Terrelle's enrollment at Ohio State," Archie said in an email to The Dispatch. "As the friendship developed, Mr. Sarniak is someone who Terrelle has reached out to for advice and guidance throughout his high-school and collegiate career."

Archie said the university thoroughly examined the relationship between Sarniak and Pryor before the nation's top college recruit arrived on campus as a freshman in 2008.

"The university continues to monitor the association between the two in case any concerns arise," Archie said.

Sources said that Sarniak has served as Pryor's mentor at the request of his family, and Tressel thought that Sarniak could help counsel the quarterback after Tressel realized that Pryor was among the players involved with a man under federal investigation. Sarniak, who has owned the Jeannette Specialty Glass company since 1976, has attended some Ohio State football games in the past three years.

"Teddy has done a lot for Terrelle, and Terrelle has done a lot for Teddy," said Ray Reitz, Pryor's former coach at Jeannette High School. "Terrelle is loved back here around Jeannette, and I think he and Coach Tressel have done a helluva job at Ohio State. He is a kid and has made mistakes, but there are some people that have wanted to see Terrelle fail since he left here."

Pryor arrived at Ohio State in the summer of 2008 after leaving Jeannette, a blue-collar town cut into western Pennsylvania's foothills about 25 miles east of Pittsburgh. It is home to about 10,000 residents, many of whom have been hit hard by a depressed local economy.

Pryor was the most ballyhooed quarterback recruit for the Buckeyes since Art Schlichter in 1978. He led Jeannette to state championships in football and basketball his senior year.

The 2010 season began with Pryor as a frontrunner for the Heisman Trophy and the Buckeyes heading for a shot at a national title. It ended with the Heisman in another quarterback's hands, fans questioning Pryor's inconsistent play and leadership, and the NCAA bearing down on him.

Many in Pryor's hometown said they have been stunned that the local prodigy has been criticized so harshly.

"He has made play after play after play for Ohio State, and it just doesn't seem like anyone over there is ever satisfied with Terrelle," said Rick Pitzer, manager of Pitzer's Townhouse restaurant in Jeannette, which Pryor has frequented over the years. "I know there are rules, but the items he sold were his. And to take away half a season from him and ruin his last chance for the Heisman just doesn't seem right. We are so proud of him, but you have no idea what it would have meant to have a Heisman Trophy winner from Jeannette."

Off the field, Pryor has attracted his share of headlines.

Among them was a Dispatch report in January that Pryor had received traffic tickets while driving cars that belonged to car salesmen. OSU officials knew that Pryor had borrowed a dealer's car while his car was in the shop last spring. He received two citations while driving that car.

Ohio State officials were unaware that Pryor had borrowed a car salesman's personal vehicle and received a ticket while returning to Columbus from Jeannette in the fall of his freshman year. The university has since investigated and found no violation. OSU officials said Pryor took the car, which the salesman said was for sale, for an extended, 48-hour test drive. Because some car dealers occasionally allow customers to borrow cars for extended periods, Ohio State and Big Ten officials concluded that Pryor had not violated NCAA rules.

The salesman has told The Dispatch that Pryor didn't buy the 2004 GMC Denali because he couldn't afford it.

Pryor is typical of many college students: He has made mistakes but has tried to learn from them, said Roy Hall, Jeannette High School football coach and Pryor's former quarterback coach.

"His emotions have gotten the best of him at times, but Terrelle is a good young man who has done a lot for OSU and does a lot for kids and the community back here," said Hall, who remains close to Pryor. "When he was back here around the holidays, we were at Pitzer's having dinner and he was pretty down about what happened and the suspension. But he's learned a good lesson, and he will be back."

A few houses down from Sarniak's glass factory on

N. Fourth Street hangs a banner touting Pryor, "2," and OSU running back Jordan Hall, "7," also of Jeannette. The house belongs to Hall's dad, Derrick Hall Sr.

It's a reminder of how the fortunes of this small Pennsylvania town and one of the nation's most prominent college football powers are linked.

"We stick together in this town and look out for one another," said Derrick Hall Sr. "I know a lot of people are down on the Buckeyes, Terrelle and Coach Tressel, but it's easy to kick people around during tough times."


If true, the NCAA is going to probably kill Tressel's career. he would have lied about it more than 1 occassion, then lied about it again when "coming clean."

the Tressel situation is alot like the NFL labor situation for me. I just want it to be over and deal with whatever consequences happen to fall out from it. All this waiting and slow uncovering is brutal.

The more I read about this the more I get pissed off at Tressel.

He should have freaking came clean from the beginning, and now he may be lieing AGAIN. I mean my lord the lieing is worse than what the damn players were suspended for.

It would appear he's now trying to protect his job rather than the program.

I know some people that are whispering about the death penalty.

And if they bring in Urban Meyer -- I don't care if a Tressel firing is valid or not -- college football will be my new NBA.

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If I were an OSU fan, I'd worry about what's under the rug, not what Tressell has lied about in regards to tattoos / memorabilia.

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Just wishful thinking by a diehard Michigan fan.

Especially because at the end of the day, the NCAA only cares about the money. Giving a top team like OSU the death penalty over one incident that IMO isn't that big would greatly decrease a huge money pulling draw for them.

I think in the end Tressel has coached his last game for OSU.

I think the NCAA is going to need to see more good faith out of the University then the current sanctions.

It is sort of like the Pearl situation in Tennessee. The University has to take a strong position to hope it doesn't get creamed by the NCAA and throw the program in to a real 5 year funk.

He probably won't have to retire though, I'm sure Pete Carroll would hire him.

I don't think he gets fired, I do think he gets suspended for half of 2011, OSU forfeits wins from 2010-2011 and a few years probation.

I agree... I see us forfeiting wins and probably being on 2 years probabtion.... Tressel is already suspended for 5 games (half the season) so I doubt the NCAA suspends him much more... but who knows.

No way OSU fires Tressel... I could see him stepping down either on his own or with some encouragement, but I don't think they will fire him.

I'm very sad for Tressel but think he'll eventually come out alright... I just wish he would have let the Athletic department know right off the bat that something was wrong.

Something to keep in mind here is that the Athletic Dept. was already on probation when all this began (from the O'brien stuff). They could make a ruling for lack of departmental control, which would bring a much heavier hammer.

NCAA alleges Tressel lied to hide NCAA violations
CBSSports.com wire reports
April 25, 2011

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- In a sharply worded rebuke of Ohio State's Jim Tressel, the NCAA on Monday accused the 10-year coach of withholding information and lying to keep Buckeyes players on the field who had accepted improper benefits from the owner of a tattoo parlor.

In a "notice of allegations" sent to the school, the NCAA said Monday that the violations relating to the coach are considered "potential major violations."

Ohio State was not cited for the most serious of institutional breaches since Tressel hid information from his superiors for more than nine months. The university has 90 days to respond to the ruling body of college sports' request for information before a scheduled date before the NCAA's committee on infractions on Aug. 12 in Indianapolis.

In a 13-page indictment of Tressel's behavior, the NCAA alleged that Tressel had "permitted football student-athletes to participate in intercollegiate athletics while ineligible." It also said he "failed to deport himself ... [with] honesty and integrity" and said he was lying when he filled out a compliance form in September which said he had no knowledge of any NCAA violations by any of his players.
Tressel appeared at an awards banquet outside Cleveland on Monday night, ducking out of the rain to shake hands with Cleveland Browns president Mike Holmgren before slipping into a side room. Tressel ignored reporters' questions about the NCAA allegations on his way to the hall before accepting a coaching award named for his late father, Lee Tressel.

Athletic director Gene Smith said he would have "no comments until the case is resolved." The university issued a statement that the allegations were consistent with what it had already self-reported to the NCAA on March 8.

Tressel's troubles began with an April 2, 2010, email from Columbus lawyer Christopher Cicero. Cicero, a former Ohio State walk-on player, informed Tressel that a federal agency had raided the house of tattoo-shop owner Eddie Rife and discovered a multitude of autographed Ohio State jerseys, cleats, pants and helmets, Big Ten championship rings and the "gold pants" trinkets given to Buckeyes players for beating archrival Michigan.

Tressel responded, "I will get on it ASAP."

Yet he did not notify Smith or Ohio State President E. Gordon Gee, anyone else in the athletic department, the NCAA compliance department, or anyone in the university's legal department. Instead, he forwarded the email to Jeannette, Pa., businessman Ted Sarniak, a friend and mentor to star quarterback Terrelle Pryor, who was subsequently discovered to be one of the players involved with Rife.

The Columbus Dispatch reported Monday that Tressel went on to exchange at least 12 emails with Cicero, and also had numerous lengthy telephone conversations with Sarniak over the weeks and months ahead. Tressel still did not tell any of his superiors, anyone at the NCAA or his own compliance or legal departments.

In September 2010, Tressel even signed a mandatory and rather routine Ohio State compliance form which clearly and simply asks if he the coach has knowledge of any NCAA violations. By signing and dating it, he said that he did not.

The U.S. Attorney contacted Ohio State in December to notify the university that it had come across the memorabilia. That prompted a cursory investigation -- Smith conceded to the Associated Press last week that the effort was rushed -- that did not turn up the telltale emails between Cicero and Tressel but did uncover the players' involvement with Rife. After consulting with the NCAA and the Big Ten, Pryor and four other top players were handed five-game suspensions -- curiously not including the next game, the Sugar Bowl, but beginning with the first five games of the 2011 season.

Tressel was asked at a news conference if the players knew they were doing something wrong.

"I suppose that would be something rattling around inside the head of each of them individually," he said. "We all have a little sensor within us, 'Well, I'm not sure if I should be doing this."'

At the same time he said that, Tressel later admitted he was covering up his own knowledge of the players' violations.

The NCAA and Ohio State say the case against the players is closed.

It was only when Ohio State began appealing the players' suspensions that it uncovered the emails, leading to Tressel ultimately receiving a five-game suspension and a $250,000 fine. Smith said last week that the fine given to Tressel -- who makes around $3.5 million a year -- would not cover Ohio State's costs of the investigation.

Tressel has a record of 106-22 at Ohio State and won the 2002 national championship, the Buckeyes' first in 34 years. His team went 12-1 last season, including the 31-26 win over Arkansas in the Sugar Bowl.

The NCAA could accept Ohio State's suggestion of sanctions -- the five-game suspension and the fine -- or could levy much more severe penalties. Since the NCAA says that Tressel knowingly used ineligible players, it would seem probable that the 2010 regular season would be vacated -- ending the Buckeyes' run of Big Ten titles at six in a row. The NCAA could also come down hard on Tressel, compelling Ohio State to add to Tressel's suspension or issue sanctions leading to the school firing him.

The guys on PTI mentioned that 13 coaches have received this letter in the history of college sports...12 were eventually fired (they said a woman coach was the only to retain their position). I can't back that up with facts, but it is what it is. Regardless, something tells me this letter is setting the NCAA up to slap a bigger punishment on the Buckeyes. What punishment, I don't know, but I think it's laughable to think they'll ok the 5-game coaching ban.

More or less nervous?

You can bet your sweet Bippie a larger sanction is in order.

I don't know how it will end, but it won't be good.....and it shouldn't.

I like Jim.....but not reporting that is pretty big and totally changes my view of the guy.



He needs to do the right thing and step down.

The university should have fired him a long time ago. As soon as it became apparent that he knew of the violations but did nothing about them, he should have been fired. Immediately! Now it will be worse for the university.

I agree. Jim has done great things on and off the field, but I see him having a hard time surviving this. He has really embarrassed the school, and football program.

My only concern in hiring him in the first place (-- back when everybody thought I was nuts for suggesting at all that they hire this "dude from Youngstown State" --) was that he would eventually succumb to the pressure to cheat at this level, as it is an absolute requirement to succeed.

I hope he gets to stay, but it doesn't look good.

I've lost all respect for Tressel and I'm pissed that he and some stupid players have put the team in this situation. I expect this from a lot of people, but I didn't expect it from him. Time for some new blood.

The crazy thing about it, Tressel didn't get caught cheating in recruiting, where a lot of the violations take place. I think if it was any other year, and didn't involve such marquee players Tressel does the right thing, and turns the info to the school, and ncaa. But I believe he didn't wanted to waste an opportunity to win a championship. At any rate, I believe needs to step down. You can't keep a coach that cheated, and lied about it. You lose all credibility as a football program if he remains.

I'd like to see Tressell step down, have someone else step in and the Buckeyes not miss a beat. It would be a lot of fun to rub the michigan noses in that.

As a buckeye fan (granted, not as die hard as some on here - but the bucks are my college team), I"m not liking the way this is looking.

I also think that while off topic ... has anyone considered the actual alternative?

Can you imagine being a top athlete already considering Ohio State in the big 10 where it's cold or going to a USC / Texas / Florida / Florida State / Miami / Alabama ... (and so on) ... and THEN despite the competition would you really trust a guy who is recruiting you as the head coach if you knew that he turned in his own players including T.P.?

Look I'm not defending anyone here, but that's a very awkward situation. Tressel can turn his guys in even before he knows that they are actually doing anything wrong and potentially ruin some trust as well as break the whole recruiting trust that any future 4 or 5 stars would want to have anything to do with OSU (If Tressel would turn in guys like Pryor... why in the world would he be faithful to a relatively unknown freshmen ....?) ...

I just think it was a very bad situation that Tressel might have been (for lack of a better term) ... SOL regardless of what he chose. Lose the players and keep the job, or keep the players and lose the job.

If they break the rules, you have to hold them accountable and turn them in. I think most players are aware of that. Just look at the debacle that happened at north carolina?? having a player sit out a few games is a whole lot better than putting the entire football program at risk for the unforeseen future.

OR, do the right thing, and gain even more respect. Believe it or not, a lot of h.s. players would have seen, had he turned in the players, "hey, here's a coach that DOES practice what he preaches". He would've lost a few top recruits, but he would've gained far more recruits that would've thought "this guy is gonna teach me not only the game of football, but the game of life".

Hindsight is 20/20. Tress screwed the pooch - maybe with the best of intentions - but, right is right, wrong is wrong. Every day, and any day.

I'm waiting this out to make sure I know all the facts first but.. I'm slowly becoming of the opinion that it's time for a new coach.

Trella and Arch, I agree with both of you... I really do. ThÚt's why I'm not trying to say I am sticking up for him. BUT ...in a time when one player can make the difference in a star class or not (such as a Terrell) ... and in an age where the Reggie Bush / Cam Newton recruiting scandals occur ...

I really don't buy into the concept that *most* 17/18 year olds are interested in learning "life lessons" at college. Some will be, and some parents will be too. But most of their concern will be 1. Playtime and Prestige.... 2.Women / Parties at the school ... and 3. Can I fit in here / Can I buy into the program (which includes can I trust the coach and can I trust him to give me what he promises me for opportunities and play time) ...

If he turns in those players, I think a lot of top players dislike OSU where they think they can get turned in by the head coach and might favor another school where they can get away with stuff...