Tressel hires big gun to represent him in front of NCAA
I don't have a link, but Tressel has hired Gene Marsh to represent him in front of the NCAA. Marsh is the former NCAA COI head. You can read his bio here:
http://www.lightfootlaw.com/alabama-lawyer/attorney.cfm?ID=75
Marsh probably is the most effective advocate Tressel could have hired.
Moved.
I think most people assumed OSU would hire Gene Marsh to help with this. He did a great job for us and makes perfect sense given his experience at the NCAA and connections to OSU. It is even possible Marsh has done prior work for OSU or is on a regular retainer to advise them on NCAA matters as they arise.
If Gene Marsh has been hired specifically to represent Tressel, that's somewhat of a twist. It means Tressel knows he is in deep shit and probably also means there is no major rift between Tressel and OSU. I doubt Gene Marsh would represent Tressel without OSU's blessing. If he has representated OSU in the past, representing Tressel in this matter even could be a conflict of interest. In that case, OSU would have to formally waive that conflict before Marsh could take the Tressel representation.
The best part is that I wonder who is paying for the lawyer's services (this guy ain't billion out at $400 an hour) and isn't alone (he'll have a hugh legal team).
At best, it's the tax payers of Ohio (those who pay his salary) and at worst, it's the same boosters that hooked up tat-gate and the other freebies.
As an aside, I love how OSU is handling this. They are saying FU NCAA, you can't do sh*t to OSU or JT and you know it. Don't mess with us. It's better than DB holding his tail between his legs and paying for an independent investigation.
Defend yourself, damnit!
By every objective sign I can see, OSU is following pretty much exactly the same course of legal defense that Michigan did. Right down to the choice of the same lawyer, in a sense.
I don't know exactly who might be paying the Lightfoot Franklin bill, but your comment that "the tax payers of Ohio" is as moronic as the the people who complained about legal bills to defend "DickRod." It is hard to even know where to begin in trying to explain things to some of you.
Does the mere mention of "Ohio State" lower your IQ's by 80 points?
I would contend that calling everyone idiots, saying they're blabbing out their ass, another moronic comment, etc. isn't exactly contributing anything to this conversation. I normally like what you write, and maybe you're just having a bad day, but everything you've written in this thread comes across as pissy and pretentious. Not sayin', just sayin'.
Clearly, the people posting were clueless about who Gene Marsh is, what his history is, what Lightfoot Franklin does, and how they had assisted the Univeristy of Michigan.
Assuredly, if David Brandon had read a thread that carried on like that for many more posts, it would be a complete embarassment. Brandon worked so closely with Lightfoot lawyers, he told me he had spent more time on Case M-324, than on a billion-dollar IPO.
This is supposed to be an intelligent discussion board. Not MLive.com or Freep.com.
I entirely agree with you that this should be an intelligent discussion board. That said, the following quotes from yourself seem to be more appropriate for MLive.com or Freep.com:
"You are all such complete idiots."
"You guys are acting like dumbshit sports fans."
"Do you have any idea what you are talking about? Or are you just blabbing out of your ass?"
"Another stupid comment."
"I am using the term "ignorant" because I thought I had used up every "stupid," "idiotic" and "moronic.""
"Does the mere mention of "Ohio State" lower your IQ's by 80 points?"
"It is hard to even know where to begin in trying to explain things to some of you."
Despite the fact that previous posters may have been unaware of Gene Marsh's contributions to Michigan's own NCAA case, your personal attacks are unwarranted and unnecessary.
people didn't even know, or recollect, who Gene Marsh is.
So the initial, low-humor attacks on him offended me. Greatly. To wit:
- "...Johnny Cochrane..."
- "...chewbacca defense..."
- "...Surpised that Ohio State graduated somebody from their law school who actually was able to pass the bar exam..." [Gene Marsh didn't attend OSU for law school.]
- Then there was the dogs-licking-butts reference, complete with color photo, and;
- the suggestion that "an OSU grad is the only person that [sic] would take this case on..." not to mention the obligatory and dubious reference to Geoffrey Fieger, who did get a theatre-major degree from Michigan.
If I shut down a thread that was headed in that direction, I consider it a pretty good day.
I understand Section's comment. I don't agree with him as it pertains to Michigan's situation for a couple reasons. But, I too, thought the comment about who's paying was moronic. Tressel's paying with his salary. Which, yes was paid to him by a public university. How is that any different than an assistant coach defending a dui charge with his salary? And, if OSU ispaying for his defense, which it may be, it's because he bargained for that in his contract.
As for OSU"s strategy, though, I don't agree. Brandon knew exactly what he was doing. He knew what the charges were, and had a very very good idea what the ncaa would do and self imposed accordingly.
OSU is not doing that. They have covered it up (tried anyway). Have failed to self report additional issues (cargate). Not only does it appear that OSU has failed to police itself and then self report, but the violations themselves are much more significant.
OSU could take two paths. The first to self impose very serious sanctions, which they are likely not prepared to do. One of those woud be Tressel's resignation. However, if Tressel is terminated, will OSU be afraid of how far up knowledge of this stuff went?
On the other hand they could vigorously defend. The risks seem great, though. The ncaa has already said bigger penalties are looming for offenders, and if there is a defense shown false, it's more likely than not that the NCAA would impose harsher sanctions than if the univesity had brought forth information and suggested meaningful sanctions itself.
I would not want to be Gordon Gee right now.
What did OSU (not Tressel) cover up? You do realize that Brandon and Smith consulted with the same people regarding penalties right? They don't just make stuff up.
It would not be at all unusual for OSU to pay for both its own attorneys and for Tressel's attorneys. It is possible there is a provision in Tressel's contract requiring OSU to pay such bills. Even absent such a provision, a successful defense by Tressel is important to OSU. It is in OSU's own interest for Tressel to have the best possible representation, even if the school has to pay some or all of his legal bills.
I'm not sure why Section 1 is getting dinged here.
I know it's difficult to have a good conversation when Ohio State is involved, but Section 1 is exactly right. OSU is following the exact same course as Michigan did, including using the same lawfirms for both the initial self imposed penalty, and now the NCAA defense.
Imagining the OSU athetic department as a bunch of half-orcs is funny to an extent, but to actually believe it, as some people do, isn't mgoblog worthy in my opinion.
He is calling people "stupid", "idiots" and all sorts of other names. I do not tolerate that from my 8 year old, and the respectful and friendly community of posters on this board should not have to tolerate it from some pompous ass hiding behind a computer.
you do let your 8 year old call people that you disagree with a "pompous ass" though.....
last stipulation is correct.
ole' double post.
The title of the post led me to assume he hired this guy
I just like the fact that on his bio he does not state that he went to "The Ohio State University" just "Ohio State"
can't imagine life without OSU and plans to go down swinging. Good. Prolong the agony, Tress. And appeal your appeal. And make them fire you rather than resign. Let's see here, what am I overlooking? Oh yeah, spill the beans on all and sundry as you go down! That oughta do it.
You gotta hand it to him. If you gonna cheat.... Be a rich cheat who can make you belive though a fancy lawyer cheating makes you a victum..... And why hasnt every one else caught up? Tressel was once quoted as saying..... It isn't a lie if you belive it. NCAA though his Lawyer do you belive It?
has finally met its match and it is you.
to Rosetta Stone and it caused a system malfunction.
He should have hired the Caveman Lawyer. He doesn't know how this crazy thing that sends and receives messages over a box with a screen works, but he does know that Tressel is innocent.
annoying to have to click and open all the worthy content here. Every informative or thoughtful post is dinged as flamebait...this is turning into "LULZ OSU SUXZERS" rapidly.
Marsh is the guy who helped Michigan through our thing as well, by the way.
Still, this applies:
Doesn't matter. Tressel AND their AD will be ousted by August. Mark my words. It is through very inside info through someone who's in direct contact with the OSU program that I know this.
Nobody can save Tressel now except himself by stepping down.