MGoBlue story: Former Wolverine Mealer Recalls Archrival's Compassion
http://www.mgoblue.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/090115aab.html
Great story I came across on MGoBlue today about how Jim Tressel sent a hand-written note to Mealer's aunt following Brock's Walk to touch the banner.
Elliott Mealer, a Michigan offensive lineman who graduated in 2012, said there is something special -- a human connection he cherishes -- that he's never spoken about before. It deals with a card his family received after his brother, Brock, learned to walk again after being paralyzed from the waist down and touched the "M Club" banner to rousing applause at Michigan Stadium on Sept. 4, 2010.
The card came from Ohio State coach Jim Tressel, who had recruited him to play for the Buckeyes during his standout career at Wauseon (Ohio) High. It was sent to Sandy Mealer Barber, the aunt of Brock and Elliott, who lives in Wauseon, and it read:
"Sandra,
No doubt, the greatest cheer a Buckeye ever received at the Big House!
You must be so proud of those Mealer Boys!
God bless! Go Bucks! Go Blue!
Jim Tressel
P.S. Thanks for the awesome photo!"
September 1st, 2015 at 10:57 AM ^
...regardless of what happened with tattoos and benefits at YSU, etc. He's probably my favorite non-Michigan coach, which I realize is not a popular opinion in these parts.
September 1st, 2015 at 11:08 AM ^
But I would agree. He had a lack of institutional control over his program with Terrell Pryor's six different luxury vehicles, but I respect him for doing something other OSU coaches could not do -- beat Michigan over and over again. His opening speech at the basketball game also has to go down in rivalry lore.
September 1st, 2015 at 11:40 AM ^
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September 1st, 2015 at 12:21 PM ^
Was his greatest accomplishment.
Alex Boone being a drunk was the worst kept secret around campus. He was so drunk he passed out at the wheel and smashed into a parked car on campus. He started the first game of the year. Make no mistake, Tressel was just as ruthless as anyone. Doug Worthington also played in the first game of the year after his DUI. Clarett, Ray Small getting 10 2nd chances, Santonio Holmes in a bar fight 2 nights before Michigan game, Tressel said it would be handled in the off season.
His aww shucks attitude and sweater vest made him appear to be some beacon of morals.
September 1st, 2015 at 11:01 AM ^
Tresses is such an enigma. Pulls classy moves like this but tries to cover up those tattoos.
September 1st, 2015 at 11:15 AM ^
The fact remains that he didn't need to write it did he?
September 1st, 2015 at 11:44 AM ^
Please. The tattoo thing was definitely cheating and he got the punishment coming to him, but don't act like trying to cover up your players getting tattoos (gasp! the humanity!) makes him some villain. I don't find those actions and these that hard to reconcile.
September 1st, 2015 at 12:19 PM ^
The tattoos themselves aren't the part that bothered me. It was the "man of God" type persona he had going while simultaneously lying. Everyone believed in the guy like he was some sort of beacon of morality in a profession full of guys doing it the "wrong way". In truth he's just like the rest of them and the tattoo scandal showed that.
September 1st, 2015 at 12:24 PM ^
It had nothing to do with that. He lied about it 3 times, and signed a document stating he had no knowledge of it when he did. LYING ABOUT IT SEVERAL TIMES is what got him in trouble.
September 1st, 2015 at 11:02 AM ^
It's an easy card to write when you won the game and went 12-0.
September 1st, 2015 at 11:17 AM ^
It's even easier to just not bother.
September 1st, 2015 at 11:03 AM ^
September 1st, 2015 at 11:16 AM ^
Read the rest of the article, if you haven't already. It speaks more to the relationship with Tressel, as well as others in his life (girlfriend, Hoke, RR, Barwis, etc.). It's not only about the note. The headline is just the hook. ;)
September 1st, 2015 at 12:40 PM ^
But putting it into context, it was to someone he knew somewhat, in response to receiving a photo. Brock Mealer was also a student at OSU. I'll give him credit for adding the "Go Blue". I don't think many coaches would have done that.
Tressel has always seemed to treat people well away from his job. It seems like he could compartmentalize his life. He did more than look the other way as a coach. He cheated consistently over the years.
September 1st, 2015 at 3:04 PM ^
September 1st, 2015 at 11:08 AM ^
September 1st, 2015 at 11:16 AM ^
"The finest trick of the devil is to persuade you he does not exist."
September 1st, 2015 at 11:24 AM ^
"I can still recall sitting across from him and talking about that," said Mealer. "You go through something like that, and not a lot can be said. But I told him, 'I've been there and if you want to talk to anybody about it, I'm here.' That got me closer to Brady Hoke in a difficult time."
I didn't really put two and two together in this situation until now, but speaking from a vaguely similar experience (sibling loss in my case - one of my sisters died in 2012), those experiences can bring together people who otherwise might not form close bonds. I've actually come to know a few people at work a bit better because they've also lost a sibling and it helps to talk about that sometimes.
September 1st, 2015 at 11:39 AM ^
September 1st, 2015 at 11:40 AM ^
to leave OSU. We ended up with Urban Meyer instead.
When God truly wants to punish us he answers our prayers.
September 1st, 2015 at 11:52 AM ^
sounds like it was in response to a photo that was sent to him. in that case i would think about 99% of people would have sent a letter back.
September 1st, 2015 at 12:00 PM ^
September 1st, 2015 at 12:33 PM ^
People aren't 100% classy or 100% douche. Benjamin Franklin had 98 illegitimate children and Hitler loved Disney films.
September 1st, 2015 at 1:18 PM ^
The Hitler liking Disney films is an oddity, but it does really support your assertion. That he was an animal lover does achieve that.
September 1st, 2015 at 3:08 PM ^
September 1st, 2015 at 12:38 PM ^
September 1st, 2015 at 1:14 PM ^
Anyone else think of Jim Tressel whenever they see the crooked warden in Shawshank?
September 1st, 2015 at 1:47 PM ^
Nice gesture. Doesn't make me suddenly like Tressel, but nice gesture nonetheless.
September 1st, 2015 at 4:35 PM ^
That's a great isolated story, but Tress was a systematic cheater going back to YSU whose contract with the devil over Bartles & James ran out. Urbz was quick to forge a new contract after the devil saved him from his heart problems.
September 1st, 2015 at 6:57 PM ^