Four days later, a call was placed from Tressel's office phone to the home of FBI Special Agent Harry Trombitas of Columbus. The call lasted less than a minute. Trombitas' son, Matt, is a former walk-on quarterback who was on the roster of Tressel's 2002 national championship team.
The next night, Trombitas called Tressel on his cell phone and they spoke for five minutes, records show. Trombitas told The Dispatch that the call "wasn't related to anything like the situation that came out in the media."
Trombitas said he believed the call involved Tressel seeking information on behalf of a "friend of the coach or a former player who knew of a kid interested in (a career with) the FBI."
Trombitas said he and the coach never discussed the situation underlying the NCAA violations leading to the school's proposed five-game suspensions for Tressel and five players. Ohio State and its coach face possible NCAA sanctions for ethical misconduct and allowing potentially ineligible players to compete.