Gordon Gee has zero tolerance?

Submitted by RedGreene on

Ohio State President To Press For Changes To College Athletics

Gordon Gee will have "zero tolerance" for player misbehavior

July 13, 2007

 

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - The new president at Ohio State University, the nation's largest, says college athletics must be fixed at the national level and he will have "zero tolerance" for player misbehavior at Ohio State.

Gordon Gee disbanded the athletics department at Vanderbilt University because he felt sports had become too separate from the rest of the university. He doesn't believe the same approach would work or is needed at Ohio State, but his philosophy is the same.

Ohio State, the national runner-up in football and men's basketball last year, is emerging from a troubled period highlighted by the conviction of former football star Maurice Clarett last year on charges of aggravated robbery and carrying a concealed weapon.

"I have zero tolerance for those who do not live by the rules of the university or by the rules of the organizing body," Gee said in an interview Friday. "It's very important for us to set a very high standard for ourselves."

He said Ohio State won't have a bigger fan for players' on-field performance. But, he added, "I'm going to be here to support you to make sure that what we do off the field is consistent with the philosophy and values of the university."

Gee's approach fits the way things work now at Ohio State, athletics director Gene Smith said.

"The focus should always be on what we're here for and that is to educate and to help these young people get their degrees," Smith said. "There's no other priority higher than that."


http://www.cstv.com/sports/m-f.../071307aat.html

Tater

March 10th, 2011 at 2:07 PM ^

Gee knows that if he ever followed through and recommended stiff penalties for the football team, he would be found the next day in the trunk of his car, corutesy of the Olentangy Mafia.

tk47

March 10th, 2011 at 2:14 PM ^

OSU will get a slap on the wrist, and NCAA sports will continue to be just as much of a joke as ever.

It just.  Doesn't.  Matter.

SanFrancisco_W…

March 10th, 2011 at 2:22 PM ^

Sadly, I tend to agree with this.  OSU has the largest AD in the country and therefore is responsible for a large portion of the money that the NCAA pulls in.  I have a feeling there will be a backroom deal between OSU and the NCAA and little will be done. 

MGoVillain

March 10th, 2011 at 3:51 PM ^

I'm normally just as pessimistic but this is Huge deal.  OSU embarrassed the hell out of the NCAA the last few months and especially now with this developing.  I wouldn't be surprised if they drop a bomb on them.  I'm starting to think Tressel will have a hard time keeping his job when this is all said and done.

AFWolverine

March 10th, 2011 at 2:50 PM ^

I'm having flashbacks to when LeBron James announced he was leaving Cleveland. All I could remember was his interview in which he stated something like, "I won't stop until I've brought a championship to Cleveland." Why does this come to mind when reading this article? Because when it all comes around, money and winning are more important than keeping your word, and being a person of good repute.

Kilgore Trout

March 10th, 2011 at 2:57 PM ^

I remember reading this and an article in SI about Gee.  I think it's not completely impossible that his comment Tuesday night was frustrated tongue in cheek sarcasm.  Maybe he tried to fire Tressel and was told he could resign or go along with things.  Just a thought.

Wolverine 73

March 10th, 2011 at 3:05 PM ^

is a jackass, starting with the 10-10 tie with Michigan in his first tenure at tosu which he referred to as one of their "greatest wins," or something like that, all the way through his half-assed comment about how he hoped Tressel wouldn't fire him.  Bad joke, Grodie, when you are trying to dispel the image that the athletic department (and the football program) really runs the university.

mtlcarcajou

March 10th, 2011 at 8:03 PM ^

Gee dismantles Vandy's athletics department.

toss.u, cheating merrily away thinks - get this guy as the mouthpice: he just took no b.s. and looks a harball player. Perfect verneer for our sleaze.

Gee ensconced as toss.u mouthpiece, yadda yadda zero tolerance blah blah. Told offstage: here is the $$$, now tow the line.

Everything about them stinks...but you just know they will get away with it.

Why complain about the SEC when this is going on in Michigan's outhouse?