Jim Brandstatter on Tressel's Legacy
On his blog, Jim Brandstatter lays into Tressel and those who would make excuses for him:
I find it interesting that everyone is now opining on what Coach Tressel's legacy is, given his resignation under these very shady circumstances. Correctly, they point to his winning record, his BCS Bowl appearances, his record against Michigan etc, etc, as his shining gift to Ohio State. I find that short sighted, and superficial. In my opinion, a legacy is a bit more than a won and loss record. Lets ask a question; Did Jim Tressel leave the Ohio State program in better shape than when he arrived? Given what is going on in Columbus with the Buckeye program, the answer to that question is, NO
The damage is not yet over. At least in my opinion, there will be more revealed about this program in the near future. The NCAA hasn't had their say yet either. If they choose to add a charge of "lack of institutional control," Tressel's indiscretions will put his Athletic Director, and University President on the firing line. If Ohio State should find themselves on NCAA probation, to whatever degree, like victories vacated, or no TV, or no Bowls, or scholarship limits, whatever, what would Tressels legacy be then? Depending on the final resolution of all the verified violations, this could cripple the Ohio State football program for years. That is not the kind of legacy anybody would want.
The suggestion that Tressel did these things, or looked the other way, because he was protecting his kids/players is very hollow to me. Look, it's naiive to think these kids/players did not know that what was going on was against the rules. For the coach to cover it up, to look the other way, when these rules are broken, sets an example to his kids that is hard to defend. Right is right, and wrong is wrong! "Wrong is OK if nobody finds out," is NOT the message I want my coach to deliver. Sorry, in no way does Jim Tressel come out of this thing looking like a monument to honesty, integrity and the American way. There will be some who will try and spin it that way, but, from my view it doesn't hold up.
Notwithstanding his Michigan homer status, Brandstatter is right on point. But then, I'm a Michigan slappie.
I think anyone with an objective POV can agree. Then again objective fans and OSU....
If you look beyond his Michigan bias, he is spot-on. Tressel did wrong, knew about it, and knowingly did nothing about it and lied. Buckeye fans can spin it all they want, but Tressel fell on the sword he created, not Pryor's sword, not Clarett's sword. I'd also be willing to bet more is coming that hurts the whole program, and Tressel is at as much fault as anyone else involved.
Tressel finds a little seem there he goes 30 35 40 hes at mid field and theyll never catch him Jim Tressel car keys flapping in the wind all the way ohhh he tripped over his own feet sanctions everywhere....
Shit lil tipsy double post.
he finds what seems like a seam, a line where two edges meet
/meat
/sober
Hahaha This is a great day, my spelling may be off but that wont stop the happiness.
love a guy from Michigan with nads?
A legacy is much more than a winning record or beating your rivals. Tressel's legacy really is still up in the air until the NCAA determines the amount of penalties to their program.
I wonder what Brady Hoke will say about JT's resignation?
Knowing Hoke he will be mad cause he never got the chance to beat him.
In a few hours, I think we will know a lot more about what Tressel's legacy will be. That SI article is supposedly going to blow Tressel's percieved innocence out of the water. Either way, the guy cheated, did so knowingly and deserves what he got, regardless of W-L.
Probably say he was a great on-field in-game tactician, we're focussed on Michigan, no control who is on the other sideline, etc etc.
But Brandstatter is absolutely dead on. If you posted this somewhere without a name attached, it could be anyone - even an intelligent, reasoned, well-informed Bucknut fan...
Err...
Before I start opinionating and moralizing about Coach Tressel. I think Jim Brandstatter would have been wise to do the same.
Anybody who was opinionating about Michigan's future, and NCAA sanctions, in September of 2009, would likely have been wrong. (Actuallly, Brian Cook wasn't wrong; Brian had it right, from the start. But Brian was nearly a lone voice in the wilderness, compared to the national media at large.)
We'll see; I'm not taking any pleasure in this day. And I'm mostly disappointed in Jim Brandstatter. There are too many "in my opinion''s" and "in my view's" in that statement. We should let the investigation firgure those things out for us. But I understand; it is Brandy's business to opine about these things.
So if the Ncaa goes light on them then its ok? The Ncaa always messes stuff up ever hear of Cam Newton? Lane Kiffin?
I don't know what the NCAA will do. I don't know what the investigation will reveal. I'd like to know what all the relevant facts are before I make a judgment. That is all.
Michigan got a wrist-slap from the NCAA. Because, what the investigation revealed, was that Michigan deserved nothing more than a wrist-slap. But before we knew the results of that investigation, there were (some) people calling for Rodriguez to be fired, for "major violations." Those people were wrong.
I will feel satisfied that I know enough, when I have a chance to read written responses to the Notice of Allegations, and when the NCAA issues a post-hearing report. None of those things have happened yet.
you are presuming Tressel innocent before being proven guilty? Honest question, not trying to bait.
Most of what Brandstatter said - leaving their program in a worse state - is hard to argue with, given that there is a major NCAA investigation going on, and he has admitted to lying out-and-out to the NCAA.
Tressel has already done the NCAA equivalent of pleading guilty for his first infractions. I don't presume to speak for Section 1 but from my reading of it he's only commenting on long-term legacy and punishment, not the facts of the Tatgate case, which OSU is not disputing.
If it is indeed his "business to opine about these things" then WHY are you disappointed in him for doing his job?
Lets ask a question; Did Jim Tressel leave the Ohio State program in better shape than when he arrived? Given what is going on in Columbus with the Buckeye program, the answer to that question is, NO
I would say that's questionable. He obviously left it in worse shape with the NCAA. But late 2000 was not exactly a happy shiny time for Buckeye fans, either. Just for different reasons.
Tressel NC record 1-0 with coopers players 0-2 both blowouts with his players.....
with everyone who is making this argument today is that the past 10 years happened. we've lived through it. just because the shit is hitting the fan, it doesn't erase the memories of the last 10 years.
Even the W-L doesn't hold up. Unlike the ridiculous thing we went through with practicegate, OSU cheated in a way that made them more competitive on the field. You can attract better talent when that talent knows it will have access to cash, cars etc. His record, especially against Michigan, is a fraud.
Brandstatter's point is well made regardless of where he went to school and regardless of whether he is a fan. Ohio State has strayed from being a University which was proud of its student athletes and worked at making their experience great (the Woody days). Hell, Ohio State's faculty after the 1961 season voted not to permit the football team (a "national champion") go to the Rose Bowl. After the 1940 Michigan game, the fans in the Horseshoe gave Tom Harmon a standing ovation after he single-handedly destroyed the Buckeyes, a feat of sportsmanship seldom equalled by anyone. Those are things more to be proud of than a modern national championship fielding the likes of Clarett and Katzenmoyer.
Yes, Michigan had some guys who weren't perfect. Hell, they had some guys who committed felonies (after Michigan football). But it was never a part of the coaches' plan. Bo, Mo, and Lloyd preferred to lose rather than to shame the school.
This is a step toward leveling the playing field in the Big 10. Can the SEC be that far behind? One can only hope.
I love Jim Brandstatter. Nice to see he has balls.
I love Jim Brandstatter. Nice to see he has balls.