Tressel Press Conference Content

Submitted by Zone Left on

While rumors of his demise have been exaggerated, Jim Tressel did have a press conference today. He actually apologized for the violations and introduced linebacker coach Luke Fickell as his replacement during his five game suspension.

He did not fire Gordon Gee either.

Apparently OSU is also wearing a new helmet this Spring to "honor the military." I think this is the design:

Croatian_Blue

March 30th, 2011 at 2:11 PM ^

OK everyone, false alarm!

We can take down the "Goodbye Tressel!" banner.

O-line, I'm leaving the cake eating up to you.  You guys need to bulk up if we're going to play proper manball.

MANBALL!!!!!!

glewe

March 30th, 2011 at 5:18 PM ^

 

of something I posted elsewhere, but honestly it's more relevant here. Scroll down for new ramblings.

 

To be fair, I have heard similar rumblings through the grapevine.

The family of a friend of mine is on the in with a high ranking OSU Athletic Department person, and they discussed that Tressel is sick of the NCAA, likely owing to the hypocrisy he perceives in the idea of not paying players but profiting off of them. In that respect, I'm with Tressel (brb gotta take a shower. Okay I'm back). The friend relayed to me that he is planning to call it quits soon. This was around the time of the Gator Bowl (we were in Jacksonville when she told me all this info), so it was before all this news broke about him covering up the e-mails, and after all the stuff broke about tatoos and whatnot.

As far as that conversation goes, it makes perfect sense that he covered up the e-mails. Why would he tell an organization he sees as hypocritical? I don't think he was right in what he did, but I don't think the NCAA is right in what it does either; the Fab 5 Documentary brought light upon that: ie, the "Fab 5" sneakers etc. It really is ridiculous how different organizations profit off these athletes, who are only students. It really shouldn't be allowed. Companies like Adidas shouldn't be allowed to market that shoe as such if they have an affiliation with a University athletic department. My opinion.

Even I get a little frustrated when I walk into the MDen and the only jerseys for sale are 16, 5, 7, 12, 2, 20, etc....

Going back to Tressel, I think the reason OSU's punishment was so light was to keep him around (think of it as a peace offering, and also an opportunity: he doesn't have to leave the program before he can reclaim his "honor" and "respectability"). They also don't want him going elsewhere, certainly.

 

The following is no longer repost:

I think in this light, it also makes perfect sense that he forwarded the e-mails to Pryor's mentor. He tried to deal with it internally. He didn't want the NCAA involved. He thought he would be much more capable at meting out punishment on his own, because I don't think he sees what the players did as a serious offense, owing to the nature of their affiliation with the university.

 

I'll be honest, I was starstruck today when I saw Denard for the first time I can remember walking around campus. He's a star; he's not just a student, nor just a student-athlete. The athlete portion winds up coming first, even if it shouldn't. The NCAA is partly to blame for that, I think. In that sense, I wonder why athletes AREN'T compensated beyond scholarships. The way NCAA allows corporations and itself to treat the student-athletes is abhorrent.

I don't like Tressel; I don't like what he did. But I don't think it was unreasonable. Wrong, maybe in a technical sense, but he had his reasons and his convictions and I don't fault him for those. If he would voice such convictions publically (probably why he wants to get out of OSU, so that he can), things, I think, would be different.

Honestly, it's no different than the Fab 5, especially Chris Webber. They accepted improper benefits and Chris is still unapologetic. I don't fault him for that, after seeing the way the NCAA and various corporations treated them. And I don't fault them for accepting the benefits. But what they did was wrong, and our U responded appropriately, I think. I think the slimiest people in this mess are Gee and Smith, for that reason. And while I think Chris should apologize, I don't blame him that he doesn't.

 

TL;DR: Tressel hates the NCAA, and rumors of his leaving OSU have been around longer than this scandal.

aroberts36

March 31st, 2011 at 9:42 AM ^

I did read your entire post and I disagree with most of it. Much of it seems like someones frustration that the students aren't paid more which a totally different argument and will never happen in college sports without some MAJOR changes.

Also, if this really is the case with Tressel there are more appropriate ways to voice that idea than covering up violations of rules that you don't like but contractually signed up for enforcing.

 

This quote got me:

"He didn't want the NCAA involved. He thought he would be much more capable at meting out punishment on his own..."

Really? What punishment did he give out upon learning this? I agree with the first sentence, he didn't want the NCAA involved because he knew it was against the rules and didn't want his players and team being punished.

 

"Wrong, maybe in a technical sense..."

Yes, Tressel was wrong in a technical sense as in the rules state you can't do this. I would say wrong in a moral sense since he lied to his employers, the NCAA, his teams' fans, and the general public.

glewe

April 4th, 2011 at 12:29 AM ^

When I read the e-mails, it seemed apparent to me that he had been withholding things as "collateral" (in fact I think he used that term). He wouldn't have followed through to ask for names as he did and used that term if he hadn't been attempting to internally "punish" his players.

What you need to recognize is that Tressel's idea of punishment does not = NCAA's idea of punishment, nor does it = your idea of punishment. Tressel, not I, thinks players should be paid. I don't think they should be; I think the NCAA wrongfully exploits them for profit, along with many other corporations.

Tressel, therefore, sees this is a very minor offense worthy of very minor punishment. That's why he barely punished the players.

I agree that the lie is morally wrong, but I don't think the exclusion of the NCAA's involvement is particularly wrong. If it hadn't come out what the players were doing, and he kept it to himself, I don't think I'd really judge him too harshly, because the NCAA is more corrupt than Tressel.

Anyway, I'm not defending what he did; rather, I'm trying to provide insight into why he did what he did and why I have some vague form of sympathy toward him. I think he deserves severe punishment for what he did, but I think the NCAA deserves more severe punishment for what it has done and continues to do, in collaboration with numerous large corporations.

mfan_in_ohio

March 30th, 2011 at 1:56 PM ^

Tressel spent about 25 minutes saying a whole lot of nothing.  He deflected the question about the Auburn players to his SID, which I think is a little ridiculous.  Here's some tweets from the Columbus Dispatch guy (brdispatch) covering the presser:

**

Tressel: "There are things I need to do better."

Tressel on leave of absence or resigning: "I don't know where those (rumors) were swirling. I never had that thought."

Tressel asked when he first realized he made a mistake: "We can't talk about the ongoing investigation. That's the way we have to go."

Fickell has learned the art of the non-answer from his boss.

And I look outside and it's snowing. Got to be symbolic of something. Hmmm.

Tressel: "We didn't mention everyone's name." Not for lack of effort.

Tressel is naming almost every player on roster as a player who needs to provide leadership.

Tressel can talk with the best of them, especially when there are things he doesn't want to talk about.

The more Tressel talks, the less time for questions. He doesn't do anything by accident.

 

 

Waveman

March 30th, 2011 at 2:38 PM ^

My family has been military going back at least 3 generations, so I have a lot of respect for the military. The timing of the announcement here leads me to believe that this is being done to earn goodwill in the face of bad publicity. It strikes me as pandering, not as patriotism. If there is some evidence that this is genuine and sincere, and that it is appreciated by members of the armed forces, then I stand corrected and will gladly admit that I'm wrong.

Zone Left

March 30th, 2011 at 2:42 PM ^

These types of things are planned well in advance, so it probably isn't pandering to the masses. However, I'm a Marine, and as I wrote above, I think this type of token gesture is BS and it pisses me off.

Giving 1000 tickets for a Big 10 home game in the 'Shoe to Ohio National Guard folks--that's a nice gesture.

DrewandBlue

March 30th, 2011 at 4:36 PM ^

Historically, Tressel has always supported (out-loud) the troops in the past.  He has always been very adamant about recognizing the troops.   I respect that.  The fact that he is bringing it up in this press conference is a different story.  Who cares. 

His gesture would be best served by not saying anything and when somebody asks, he can mention that it is for the troops and/or military appreciation.

However, to his credit, I respect his history and continued support for the military men and women.

Waveman

March 30th, 2011 at 4:40 PM ^

I'm not the expert, and not part of the target audience (unless they are doing this to bolster their own image) for this gesture. I'll just say a sincere thank you to Zone Left and the rest of the military here. Their opinions of OSU's spring practice helmets are the ones that matter.

Urban Warfare

March 30th, 2011 at 6:05 PM ^

Tressel's always had a standing invitation for military personnel to attend practices.  I'm not sure if you'd be allowed in, especially during Michigan week, but they've had a pretty good response.  Plus of course the USO tour and the other stuff he's done-he holds a summer camp for kids of deployed service members, gets tickets for returning vets, etc. 

mikoyan

March 30th, 2011 at 2:52 PM ^

A gesture of respect is one thing....A gesture to deflect criticism is another thing.  It's sort of like how Bill Gates suddenly became philantropic when the Anti-Trust folks were breathing down his neck.

mattg843

March 30th, 2011 at 5:46 PM ^

Walking arm and arm onto the field when OSU played Navy two years ago was a nice gesture.

Honering our military during a press conference describing how the program will run during your half year suspension is a joke.  (I haven't seen how it went down, I'm just sayin')

BlueDragon

March 30th, 2011 at 1:52 PM ^

Apparently OSU is also wearing a new helmet this Spring to "honor the military."

Coming from an ex-military guy, your quotation marks of scorn burn like white-hot phosphorous.

michelin

March 30th, 2011 at 2:49 PM ^

IMHO, associating a buckeye symbol (helmet) with the us military does not honor the military. In fact, a military symbol paired with an OSU symbol--like a helmetic "tattoo" now emblematic of cheating and corruption-- actually dishonors the brave men and women now sacrificing their lives for our armed forces.  

 

Is the military symbol on the OSU helmet not even meant to "honor the military" but rather to “honor the buckeyes?”  If so, it would be another cynical PR trick that seeks to seek to make it harder to criticize the bucks and easier to divert attention from their growing scandal

 

As Charles Barkley once said:

 

"I may be wrong---

 

I MAY BE WRONG about this.....

 

But I doubt it."

 

pdgoblue25

March 30th, 2011 at 2:12 PM ^

He seems like a perfect candidate for a coach in waiting at OSU.  Of course, based on Tressel's current problems that plan may be accelerated or changed.  I've read couple of things about him, and they all sound good. 

I took the class that Tressel "teaches" at OSU my senior year when I was trying to fill hours.  Tressel of course never actually teaches it, he takes attendance, has a few "aww shucks"  jokes and then leaves.  Fickell taught a few of the classes and seemed to me like a guy that people would follow and play for.  To be honest, if it wasn't for Greg Mattison, I was hoping that Fickell would be interviewed for DC here (it would have been a tough sell, but a coordinator position and more money can make some young coaches think).

Urban Warfare

March 30th, 2011 at 6:10 PM ^

the two names on everyone's short list before last season, when people thought Tress would retire if the Buckeyes won an MNC.  I wouldn't be surprised if it came down to those two when he does leave at the end of 2014.  Unless maybe Bill Cowher suddenly wanted to coach at OSU. 

WolverineHistorian

March 30th, 2011 at 2:15 PM ^

It's still not much of an apology if you're only sorry that you got caught.  Would he really be regretting about disappointing people had those emails never surfaced?   I guess it's baby steps, though.  This is the first time he's issued an "apology" where he actually admitted to making mistakes instead of just saying, "I'm sorry you're so upset."

And a correction should be made in that article.  OSU did NOT recommend to the NCAA that Tressel be suspended the first five games of this season.  They recommended a 2 game suspension, missing games against powerhouses Akron and Toledo.  A move that the entire country laughed at.  It was Tressel (who lied about lying about lying) that wanted an extra 3 games added to the suspenion but only after the school's appeal for the players was turned down.   . . 

NateVolk

March 30th, 2011 at 2:26 PM ^

Nothing means nothing on this until the NCAA has it's say. As far as I know, they haven't even served notice of allegations yet. This is a long term cloud and outside of radio call in meatheads and message board patriots playing lawyer, there won't be any talking his way out of this.  

There will be a lot of baby kissing and classic Senator public behavior in the mean time though. Smart people will see it for what it's worth: an attempt to solidify the brand for when the real storm hits.