Fickell Presser Highlights
So Fickell held his first presser as HC of OSU. Nothing too exciting, but some of the highlights:
He mentioned toughness quite a few times:
"The 2011 Buckeyes will not be compared or contrasted to previous years," Fickell said. "It will be about respect, toughness and being men of action."
"We have a goal to lead the nation in three categories: effort, turnovers and toughness."
He also claimed to have no knowledge of any of the OSU violations:
"I was not informed of any information until it became public knowledge," Fickell said.
With OSU before the NCAA on these issues, I have to imagine that this line was wordsmithed by OSU's counsel, so being a lawyer myself, here is my take: Fickell says that he "wasn't informed" of any info - he doesn't say that he didn't know it on his own. So, for example, he might have known that the OSU players were trading tats for autographs or that TP had more cars than most auto dealers, and if this comes out at a later date, his statement about having not been "informed" is technically accurate. I find this telling, as he had a chance to say, "I had no knowledge whatsoever of any violations of the NCAA rules," and he chose not to.
On the topic of Tress resigning, he wasn't particularly broken up about it:
"I would take the shot any way I can" (in response to his feelings about getting the opportunity to be HC because of Tress' resignation.
'I'm not saying I'm not disappointed, I'm not upset, but we're moving forward."
Not exactly a guy who I would to be stuck in a foxhole with, but I suppose that this is the OSU way.
Nothing else of real substance from the portions that I saw.
I'm not so sure he'll be coaching the buckeyes this year if some more rumors come out. Assistant coaches have already been implicated by some.
If that was the case he wouldnt of got the job, he has violations in his past.
also had violations in his past.
Its the OSU way
"'I'm not saying I'm not disappointed, I'm not upset, but we're moving forward."
Not exactly a guy who I would to be stuck in a foxhole with, but I suppose that this is the OSU way."
Really? I would much prefer my head coach to say this than "I'm extremely disappointed and heartbroken that Tressel was fired, and I'm not sure how we can move on as a program."
He pretty much said that while he was upset, he was willing and able to take over as HC. I see no problem with that.
"Coach Fickell is that high quality H2O?"
My problem is that I look like both Fickell and Adam Sandler. I like to think I'm a hotter version.
He's not saying he's upset, just disappointed at the way things shook out. That having been said, he's also all about toughness. TOUGH!!!
I can see your point, and obviously he can't say "I'm not sure how we can move on as a program."
But, while we all hate him, Tress has been his HC for his entire career - he was the guy that gave him his first real break in coaching. I would have expected something more loyal, along the lines of, "I am obviously saddened to see Coach Tressel leave the program that he loved. It is say for him, it is sad for me and it is said for OSU. Especially the circumstances under which he left. But, that said, we're moving forward."
The whole "I'm not upset" struck me as odd.
"say" "sad" "said" -- someone didn't proof read.
My reading comprehension skills tell me the phrase "I'm not saying I'm not disappointed, I'm not upset, I'm saying blah blah blah" means the guy is saying he is disappointed, he is upset, but blah blah blah.
Full disclosure I never saw the press conference and am just reading what was posted, but the structure of that sentence leads me to believe that is what he is saying.
I really hope we pound this guy into the ground come November.
I can't wait to see his Blackeyes tough the hell out of the competition.
I wonder if they're still researching "research."
Btw, nice catch on the "informed" comment.
osu next year just might lead the B1G, if not the country, in:
- Toughness per Possession
- Effort per Carry
- Turnover Margin
That second one is really hard to achieve.
"We have a goal to lead the nation in three categories: effort, turnovers and toughness."
If you have watched Hoke's pressers, you would know that Michigan will leaf the nation in Toughness per Possession. Fickell said "toughness" a mere 2 times during his intro presser. While I have not counted (or I lost count), Hoke used the word at least 10 times.
As for effort and turnover margain, who cares - if you have toughness, you are pretty much guaranteed to win.
Notice he didn't say turnover margin, rather he said they would lead the nation in turnovers. I think they plan on fumbling a lot.
I think with the awesome lawyering done above, and his failure to address the issue, he knows a bunch more crap is headed his and Ohio's way
Please let that self-prophesy come true, I'll take six for them when they play us
Nice work on his part, try to set it up so that you can only be judged on immeasurables.
Yeah, that was great. Gee and Smith have a long career as a comic duo ahead of them once their tenures at OSU come to an end. Goshdarn slapstick, laugh-a-minute hilarity.
"I was not informed of any information until it became public knowledge," Fickell said.
That has to be the most awkwardly-phrased line ever. I was not informed of any information? I agree, that doesn't mean that he didn't know it on his own. Honestly, if you're going to recite memorized lines, they could at least be well-written. The redundancy of "inform" is staggering. That sentence alone tells me that Fickell was just as complicit as the rest of the athletic department seems to have been.
I also had the opinion that this was a lawyer-speak non-denial. When I heard this all I could think was: TRANSLATION - "I knew about all kinds of violations that I chose to ignore along with JT but nobody officially informed me of any of it (that can be proven anyway) until it was all public knowledge."
he'd better ingratiate himself to the fans instead of the AD. Many of the fans will still be there next year, the AD likely won't. Of course it doesn't matter how many other games you win or lose in Columbus they shitcan you if you don't beat Michigan so I give him until the last Saturday inNovember to look for a new job. :)
I too listened to the press conference and I counted at least two mabey three times he used the phrase "All In". Also he is looking for "a few good men". Lol He is being true to the buckeye way.
You can't tell me he never noticed the star QB driving up to the facility in a new ride every other week. This guy is an Fucking liar too!
Every pompous piece of shit that flies out of anyone associated with THE Ohio State University makes me want to see them pay for their cheating, lying, and stonewalling even more. I know the NCAA doesn't have the balls to do it, but I really wish THE Ohio State University would get THE Worst Penalty Ever Handed Out by the NCAA: two years of "death penalty."
Do you really have to type "THE" in front of their name everytime? Also typing the full name, you're giving them way to much respect. It's much more easy to call them Ohio or OSU or that school down south, anything other than THE Ohio State University. It's pretty annoying. Then again you seem to be obsessed with them and State so you probably just cannot resist.
I didn't catch the presser but I don't see any mention that he used the word "accountability."
I guess that's not a little word, it's a whopping six syllables and requires a metric ton of character. Funny, I remember hearing it a lot in Hoke's first presser.
And I agree with the OP on the wordsmithing. They get pretty cute with the facts down there in Ohio, and if Fickell really had no clue about what was going on then he was doing his job as poorly as Tressel was. But I find it really hard to believe he never once noticed all the nice cars in the parking lot, the artwork on the players...
I think he did say "accountabilibuddy" though.
"I was not informed."
As in, I was aware of a lot of crap going on .....but I was not informed about how much actual crap was going on until we got caught.
We need to inform him that the tide has turned 'round these parts....
"men of action..."
The last regime certainly seemed to have lots of these, right?
"Men of action?" Does he think he's coaching a team of comic book superheroes?
GIven the fact that he's coaching at tsio, he was precluded from saying he was coaching "real men of genius."
Gawd I wish i could up vote this with all the meaningless Mgopoints one could ever dream of
Let me help you with that goal...
+1 meaningless point
Men of Action is the new Christian seminar Fickle will be giving in July of every third year. The Lord continues to bless the buckeye state with strong leaders, full of integrity and adherence for his word in their lives. Praise Be!
from The Princess Bride -
"We are men of action, lies do not become us."
it's uncanny
You'd think the guy would throw the word integrity in there for his goals for the season. There seems to be a complete lack of it in Columbus from the players and the staff. I guess I shouldn't expect that from the Bucks.
as seen by his commencement comments Sunday:
"Let me acknowledge on this day of celebration, in this cathedral of triumph and hope, that many Buckeye hearts are heavy," Gee said. "On rare occasion, this great grand building has been home to disappointment and tumult. That is but a temporary condition."
Um, gee, I think most every transgression took place somewhere other than on the field of the "grand" building. Here's hoping "temporary" starts Sept. 3 and continues for a long time.
I listened to the local media feed on the Cleveland affliate and I was actually shocked at the amount of homers in the local media. You'd think that the Vest had not chosen to dismiss himself and that the Tat5 hadn't ever happened or that the sanctions train was soon enough to stop in Columbus. I think one media guy actually said "love the intensity" to preface his question. I stopped the car and threw up.
My favorite part, was when he said "if I knew that was the last time I'd ever see Coach Tressel, I'd have thought of simething better to say".
Oh wait, that never happened.
Fick Fuckell.
T-shirtz ahoy!
And he had no idea what was going on???? Come on ... everyone knew what was going on, and that includes Fickell. Of course he knew what was going on.