Jim Tressel resigns

[Marcus]

Embattled coach Jim Tressel has resigned from Ohio State, The Columbus Dispatch has reported, citing university sources.

The news comes two weeks after Buckeyes athletic director Gene Smith affirmed his support for the coach, who has coached Ohio State for 11 seasons.

At the Big Ten spring meetings earlier this month, Smith -- while declining to discuss any details of an ongoing NCAA investigation of Tressel -- said his outlook toward the coach's position hadn't wavered.

"Oh, definitely, no question," Smith said. "I haven't changed, I haven't changed. But I'm not talking about the case beyond that."

Smith noted last month in an interview with The Associated Press that Tressel should have apologized at a March 8 news conference, where Tressel acknowledged he failed to notify Ohio State officials of emails he received about some of his players receiving improper benefits.

Smith has also talked about the high legal costs Ohio State is dealing with, calling the ongoing NCAA situation "a nightmare."

Tressel also received support at the spring meetings from fellow coaches such as Michigan State's Mark Dantonio and Northwestern's Pat Fitzgerald, as well as from Nebraska athletic director Tom Osborne, a longtime friend.

"Coaches are great," Tressel said. "They understand all the challenges everyone has. It's good to be with them."


http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=6606999

 

[Akron330]

Just got the email from Gee.

He put himself in this position but at the same time he was a great coach and I'm sad to see him go

 

[Tornicade]

Now the question is does Tressel return to the NCAA or try his hand in the Pros, This doesnt seem like a guy who will stay out of coaching long.

 

[macbdog]

Wow. I am in shock here. Yeah, the writing was on the wall with how all of this has gone down, but really? The guy has to lose his job b/c of this? A dark day for Ohio State football, far worse than any sanctions or penalties that will come down the road. The thought of Tressel coaching for the next 20 years somewhere else bugs the hell out of me. Now get ready for 5 years o Urban Meyer before he gets bored and moves on.

 

[DougHeil]

I have to admit this is sad. It's sad but at the same time necessary in order for the program to move forward. Now it's imperative OSU gets the right coach in here. I'm not sure Meyer is that right coach nor am I sure he would want to be at this point. I have to think OSU will spend some time with this as there will be MANY current head coaches out there who will put their hats in for consideration.

 

[Steve_424]

Very sad day for OSU football. I've got a feeling they are about to get hit HARD by the NCAA.

Tressel is a great man and a great coach. He will be missed big time. It's unfortunate that one mistake has cost him his job, but I guess that's life. He will rebound somewhere, and they will be lucky to have him.

 

[Surge]

Damn it...

Oh well, the Big Ten championships and the National Championship were worth it. I would have taken that deal when he was hired...

 

[Lee]

Very sad day for OSU football. I've got a feeling they are about to get hit HARD by the NCAA.

Tressel is a great man and a great coach. He will be missed big time. It's unfortunate that one mistake has cost him his job, but I guess that's life. He will rebound somewhere, and they will be lucky to have him.

You wont get hit that hard by the ncaa now. Lose a few scholorships and maybe no bowls for a year (2 at most but unlikely imo). The penalties will file Tressel though and any school that hires him. He will be out of big time college coaching for 2 to 3 years. I dont see him going pro either, but you never know.

Remember the letter the NCAA wrote about the aquisations said it was Tressell that hid things from the competition committee and never said anyone within the University did anything wrong. The only wrong doing here was by boosters and Tressell. With the severing of ties with Tressell, 90% of the guilty party is gone. The NCAA will see this and come down much lighter now on OSU.

 

[Amherstcavsfan]

BUT HE DID NOTHING WRONG!

Just proves that those of us who said he should have been fired were right. The NCAA hammer is going to destroy them for outright lying at every turn.

 

[Lee]

BUT HE DID NOTHING WRONG!

Just proves that those of us who said he should have been fired were right. The NCAA hammer is going to destroy them for outright lying at every turn.

I dont think so. OSU never lied. Tressel will be out of football for a bit though. The NCAA hammer will be more like a rubber mallet now.

 

[Amherstcavsfan]

I dont think so. OSU never lied. Tressel will be out of football for a bit though. The NCAA hammer will be more like a rubber mallet now.

I disagree 100% with you.

This was on Gee and Smith as much as it was on Tressel. I'd be shocked if the NCAA doesn't come down as hard because Tressel snaked out of Columbus in the middle of the night.

 

[Lee]

I disagree 100% with you.

This was on Gee and Smith as much as it was on Tressel. I'd be shocked if the NCAA doesn't come down as hard because Tressel snaked out of Columbus in the middle of the night.

The only thing Gee and Smith did wrong is not treat this like the extremely major infraction by their coach that it was. They had no part in the cover up, but if they would have suspended him for the full year when they immediately found out, it would have looked much better. What Tressell did was hide things from them and the NCAA. The accusations include hiding from the university.

 

[Amherstcavsfan]

The only thing Gee and Smith did wrong is not treat this like the extremely major infraction by their coach that it was. They had no part in the cover up, but if they would have suspended him for the full year when they immediately found out, it would have looked much better. What Tressell did was hide things from them and the NCAA. The accusations include hiding from the university.

Are we really supposed to believe that Tressel did not tell his bosses about the infractions?

 

[calleger]

supposedly the big article from SI will be posted later today or tomorrow that sheds more light on the situation

 

[Maximus]

I'm a huge OSU fan, they're my favorite team. I agree nothing will happen for a year, and that's part of the problem for me. I think if OSU fired him and started over that the NCAA would show some leniency since the "problem" was removed. Instead, we have to wait and potentially get a penalty with a lot of teeth that sets us back years. AND there's still good potential, in my opinion, for more dirt on Tressel to come out....there's a lot of digging going on. If he was fired, the digging for more dirt would subside and if more came out post-firing it would be somewhat irrelevant. OSU could say, so what, we fired him a year ago.

I posted the above comment months ago. I wish they had done it back then for the reasons I pointed out. The NCAA is too far into it at this point and they no doubt resent the fact that the Buckeyes were putting up a fight. OSU is still going to get some very tough penalties...far tougher than if they had removed Tress months ago like I had said.

I feel bad for him, but I'm mad at him too. He sold his soul for Pryor...that ultimately cost him his job and will cost the University years of rebuilding.

For those that laughed when I said he would never coach another game for OSU - I told you so.