Breaking News: water is wet, Tressel is a liar.

Submitted by APBlue on

I just heard this on WTKA.  This just gets funnier by the day.  So, Tressel says that he kept the information quiet because of the confidentiality of the investigation, really?  Apparently, that's not so.  He felt it was necessary to tell Pryor's Corvette supplier what was going on. 

http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/sports/stories/2011/03/25/tressels-emails-were-forwarded.html?sid=101 

JHey

March 25th, 2011 at 10:05 AM ^

Hannibal: "I don't see anything new and damning in this story."

 

Hannibal, think about it.  Tressel's excuse for not telling his bosses, was the safety of his players and that he did not want to blow a federal investigation.

Now we learn he did tell someone, just not his bosses.  How is telling Pryor's booster, not going to jeapordize the investigation.  How is telling your bosses, going to comprise it?

MI Expat NY

March 25th, 2011 at 10:07 AM ^

The story basically blows Tressel's defense out of the water.  His only defense so far is that he wanted to protect the integrity of a federal investigation and that he thought the information was confidential.  You are not protecting an investigation, nor are you keeping information confidential if you are forwarding the information to somewone with no connection to OSU or law enforcement.  

The story doesn't really add anything to the violations that Tressel committed, it's just hard now to see OSU making any legitimate argument that mitigates Tressel's actions.

Suavdaddy

March 25th, 2011 at 10:20 AM ^

There was a lie to everyone regarding the eligibility.  Then there was a lie to cover up the lie: this was confidential and I had to hold it back.  Here is a nice little video of that sterling defense:

http://sportsbybrooks.com/video-tressel-contradicts-confidentiality-claim-29548

This new little tidbit exposes the defense as a second lie.  The hole just keeps getting deeper.  This guy is pure scum.  Honorless.  It honestly is impossible not to fire him and the AD and anyone else: they were all obvioulsy complicit in the 'confidentiality' defense when they knew that wasn't true either.  I would not be surprised to find out that he did forward the email to the AD.  I am waiting for that bomb.

MI Expat NY

March 25th, 2011 at 10:57 AM ^

It's new, because while nobody may have bought Tressel's reasoning, there wasn't anything out there that directly disproves the fact that Tressel actually did think that he was doing the right thing by protecting an investigation and keeping the information confidential, as unlikely as that may have been.  Now, there is no doubt that the story was just a convenient excuse to make his reasons for keeping the information to himself seem less self-serving.

MI Expat NY

March 25th, 2011 at 12:49 PM ^

I don't think it's come to that point yet.  It is my understanding that with self-reported violations, the school reports, the NCAA then investigates and provides a notice of allegations (or something along those lines), the school responds, and then the NCAA rules.  I believe OSU is only at the first step, so I don't think they have made a defense yet.  I could be wrong, though.

MaizeAndBlueWahoo

March 25th, 2011 at 9:58 AM ^

Dear Ted - can you help out here?  terrelle needs to start getting his cash and benefits from an ncaa-approved source !!  told X i would get on this ASAP so need another corvette and your personal tattooist pronto !!  thanks, happy easter.  go bucks !!  - jt

Ziff72

March 25th, 2011 at 10:17 AM ^

I was thinking the same thing.  This story and Jalen Rose's relationship with Ed sound exactly the same.

I like how they mention Terrel helps him as well.  Doing what?

The 48 loaner is a joke.   Who gets a 48 hour loaner with no money?  You're telling me I walk into a dealership and ask to test drive a $25,000 truck and I have no job and they are going to give me the keys for the weekend?   What a fucking joke.

bing24

March 25th, 2011 at 9:58 PM ^

He was driving a GMC Yukon, those are at least $50k...I believe it was a Denali, meaning the limited edition. My Dad sold these, they do not let ANYONE drive these cars along anymore, the salesperson has to be in the vehicle whether you're driving in the parking lot! Let alone an 18yr old from a modest background. Hell, I tried looking at a 2 seater Ford Ranger in college at 20 & they laughed when I said I was a college student, I come from a nice city in Oakland county too where someone my age could very well have tons of Mommy/Daddy money.

The corruption is neck deep down in Columbus....It's just starting to come out. Their running back Pittman from 2001 team said this stuff has been going on sinced he was there. Vests entire career might be wiped from the record books when said and done (I realize this probalby won't happen, but I can dream right).

iawolve

March 25th, 2011 at 10:26 AM ^

He seems to be in a ton of trouble.

Thankfully though, he forwarded those emails to the NCAA and his own compliance office...errr, maybe the autofill put in a different address.

Blue Lurker

March 25th, 2011 at 10:25 AM ^

It used to be "Tressel can do no wrong".  A lot of the comments now want him gone.  If the local population is turning I wonder how long OSU can last with Tressel.

 

 

Wolverine 73

March 25th, 2011 at 10:29 AM ^

It is amazing how quiet the osu people in my office have been since this story broke.  and it just keeps getting quieter.  but I do not see Tressel getting fired; I imagine he would fall on his sword and resign if things got too bad.  or maybe it would be strongly suggested he fall on his sword . . .

MGlobules

March 25th, 2011 at 10:33 AM ^

that breaks this camel's back, the final nail. . . excebera. This certainly ends all that unwarranted speculation that he told the AD/was "falling on his sword." It also places him in a far less flattering light about such activity in general because as I see it, we are now in the smarmy realms of CYA with smarmy cronies. Not sure he's left with a virtuous leg to stand on. 

UAUM

March 25th, 2011 at 10:41 AM ^

This is all part of Urban Meyer is going to be osu's football coach next fall:

http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/sports_bianchi/2011/03/in-wake-of-bruce-pearl-firing-urban-meyer-will-replace-jim-tressel-at-ohio-state.html

Rumors around town are that Meyer already bought a house here:

http://www.ohiochatter.com/forum/threads/23947-Urban-Meyer-buys-house-in-Upper-Arlington.?p=720348

As much as I want osu to suck and suffer, bringing in Meyer scares me.

momo

March 25th, 2011 at 11:27 AM ^

Love - LOVE - this from the comments:

I think Ramzy is counter-pointing the people that have pissed me off the most in this whole mess: the haters (I'm looking at you MGoBlog commenters) who think this is just the latest in a pattern of cheating by Tressel.

I don't personally know Jim Tressel, I'm not involved in the decisions he's made over his career. However, like most of us here, I feel I know him better than most of his haters know him. Because of that, I'd like to think he hasn't been tricking me for 10+yrs. I'd like to believe I didn't have wool over my eyes all this team. Maybe that's naive and biased because I don't want to feel like I've been made a fool of all this time. But I doubt it.

"I feel I know him better than most of his haters know him." Poor, desperate OSU fan. So sad to see the edifice come crashing down.

I am now laughing the laugh of the truly evil. 

SO EVIL IT CANNOT BE RENDERED AS HTML.

pdgoblue25

March 25th, 2011 at 11:44 AM ^

That elevenwarriors is even putting his head on the chopping block now.  That place is sanctuary for even the most delusional buckeye fans. 

"With every emerging detail of this story, Tressel becomes less and less virtuous (I was trying to protect the kids) and increasingly stupid (I emailed the shadiest character associated with Ohio State football since Robert Q. Baker without using an alias or a secure connection)."

That's my favorite sentence.

Dezzy

March 25th, 2011 at 10:51 AM ^

Will Gene Smith still be the NCAA's bitch when it comes to supporting the BCS should the NCAA finally come down hard on Tressel?  Ironic if Ohio State breaking the rules would somehow lead to a playoff system.  Yes, I know, slippery slope, but still.

Hannibal.

March 25th, 2011 at 11:11 AM ^

What is Ohio State's strategy in all of this now?  Are they simply hoping that the public and the NCAA will perceive Tressel's five game suspension as being harsh enough for the crime committed? Are they hoping that the NCAA will just tack on a few games to Tressel's "suspension"? 

If I were a Buckeye fan, I would be delighted to get out of this without significant loss of scholarships and at least one year of bowl ban.

elaydin

March 25th, 2011 at 11:15 AM ^

not really news.

Tressel almost said as much in the press conference before Gene Smith hushed him up.

The NCAA already knows this.  We'll see how they feel about it.

m1jjb00

March 25th, 2011 at 11:23 AM ^

People are debating how new this is.  Screw it.  It keeps it in the news, and I'm enjoying the hell out of it.  Here's hoping another morsel comes out next week.

jraiderh

March 25th, 2011 at 11:42 AM ^

Saw the article earlier.  Being in Cow Town heard it mentioned on the radio.  Not enough points to start a thread so I wasn't able to post earlier.  Just another in a long line of crap ol'boy Jimbo has perpitrated against NCAA.  Interesting that tOSU investigated TP's use of a used 2004 Denali to visit PA during his freshman year and found nothing wrong as several dealerships offer a 48 hour test drive.  The dealership says he brought it back because he couldn't afford it.  WTF!  How could a college freshman afford such a vehicle???

elaydin

March 25th, 2011 at 11:47 AM ^

College athletes with pro potential get deferred loans all the time.  It's a relatively shrewed business move.  Get in good with an athlete before they have tons of money.

Heck, lots of people get loans with crazy terms to buy stuff they can't afford.  Welcome to America.

 

UMfan21

March 25th, 2011 at 2:07 PM ^

Is there an NCAA definition of what a "booster" is?  I found this which is UNC's internal definition from google (see below).  It seems to me Pryor's "handler" at the very least is #3 since he was involved in the recruitment process.  I would not be surprised if he was more than #3...

I only ask because it seems to have a different connotation had the article said Tressel gave inside info to an OSU booster rather than a "prominant business man who befriended Pryor".

 

 

You are a representative of UNC’s athletics interests, more commonly known as a “booster,” if you meet any of the following conditions:

  • You are a member of any organization that promotes UNC’s athletics program (e.g., Rams Club).
  • You have made a financial contribution to the UNC Department of Athletics or any of its booster organizations.
  • You have ever assisted in the recruitment of prospects for UNC.
  • You have provided benefits (e.g., summer jobs or occasional meals) to enrolled student-athletes.
  • You have ever, in any way, promoted the athletics program at UNC.

NOTE: Please remember that once you become a booster, you retain that identity indefinitely.