Tuesday May 31, 2011 year: 131 No. 77 the student voice of
The Ohio State University
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End of an era
Jim Tressel resigned Monday after a tumultuous offseason
He roamed the Ohio State sideline for 10 years with his conservative attire and conservative play calling. He basked in the glory of a national championship win and took heat for twice failing to capture the crystal football. Now, after one tumultuous offseason shrouded with controversy and scandal, Jim Tressel is gone. Tressel submitted his letter of resignation Monday morning, ending months of debate about his job status but leaving behind plenty of questions. President E. Gordon Gee released a statement Monday morning saying assistant coach Luke Fickell will coach the entire 2011 season and that a search for a permanent head coach will not start until after the upcoming season. Tressel was facing a ÿve-game suspension and $250,000 ÿne for failing to report NCAA violations committed by his players. “After meeting with university ofÿcials, we agreed that it is in the best interest of Ohio State that I resign as head football coach,” Tressel said in his letter of resignation. “The appreciation that (my wife) Ellen and I have for the Buckeye Nation is immeasurable.” Tressel, who didn’t apologize in his letter, wrote that the turmoil within the football program was becoming too much of a “distraction.” “The recent situation has been a distraction for our great university, and I make this decision for the greater good of our school,” Tressel wrote. Tressel could not be reached for comment. A man who answered the door at the Tressel household Monday evening said he wasn’t home. In a February interview with The Lantern, Tressel said that as coach at OSU, “you can’t be perfect and you can’t get everything done.” In a video statement, athletic director Gene Smith said he and Tressel met Sunday night after the coach returned from a vacation in Florida. They met again in Tressel’s ofÿce Monday morning, when Tressel submitted his letter of resignation to Smith. OSU spokesman Jim Lynch said Tressel called a meeting with his players at 8:45 a.m. to break the news to them. Position coaches contacted players not present at the meeting, Smith said. “There wasn’t a huge gathering,” Lynch told The Lantern. “The whole team wasn’t there, given the fact that it was a holiday weekend.” Smith said he asked Fickell to become the team’s interim head coach before Tressel addressed the team. “When we met with the team, Luke had an opportunity to share some things with the team,” Smith said. “He did an excellent job of talking about the things that are important.” Athletic department spokesman Dan Wallenberg told The
Lantern that there are no immediate plans for Smith to address the media. On Dec. 23, 2010, the NCAA suspended quarterback Terrelle Pryor, running back Dan Herron, receiver DeVier Posey, offensive tackle Mike Adams and defensive end Solomon Thomas for ÿve games for selling memorabilia and receiving improper beneÿts from Eddie Rife, owner of Fine Line Ink tattoo parlor. Linebacker Jordan Whiting also received a one-game ban. Last week, Ray Small, who played receiver under Tressel from 2006-2009, told The Lantern he sold his Big Ten Championship rings. A Sports Illustrated report Monday evening said 28 OSU players – including nine current athletes – exchanged memorabilia for tattoos.
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ANDY GOTTESMAN / Multimedia editor
ZACK MEISEL Editor-in-chief meisel.14@osu.edu
Who will coach OSU in 2012 and beyond? … 1B Tressel’s resignation could impact recruiting … 1B Tressel’s legacy: success or scandal? … 1B
Events leading up to Jim Tressel’s resignation... Dec. 7, 2010 U.S. Attorney’s Office calls OSU to inform university officials that player memorabilia was found at Fine Line Ink tattoo parlor.
Dec. 23, 2010 NCAA announces five OSU players suspended for first five games of 2011 season. Sixth player suspended for one game. All were deemed eligible for Sugar Bowl.
Dec. 21, 2010 Reports surface that OSU players were involved in a possible NCAA rules violation for receiving discounted tattoos.
March 8, 2011 OSU suspends Tressel for two games and imposes a $250,000 fine, a public reprimand and apology and attendance at a compliance meeting.
Dec. 30, 2010 Tressel announces he made five suspended juniors pledge to return for their senior seasons before he granted them permission to travel with the team to the Sugar Bowl.
March 7, 2011 Yahoo! Sports reports Tressel was aware of his players’ wrongdoing as early as April 2010.
Dec. 28, 2010 Juniors Terrelle Pryor, Dan Herron, DeVier Posey, Mike Adams and Solomon Thomas read statements, apologizing for their transgressions.
Tressel asks for a harsher suspension to match that of his players.
Luke Fickell named interim coach. May 26, 2011 Ray Small tells The Lantern that he too sold memorabilia during his playing career at OSU.
What’s happening? Buckeye football players tweet reflections on Tressel Cameron Heyward @CamHeyward I have been clean from the get go and #tressel has alway had good intentions for me. I love him and he has been like a father to me. –defensive lineman at OSU from 2007-2010 Michael Brewster @Brewster50 Coach Tressel was one of the most honorable men I ever had the chance of being around..he taught me endless life lessons...Thank you coach –senior center for OSU Jake Stoneburner @STONEYeleven JOE PODELCO / Photo editor
Tress taught me life lessons and how to become a man. I will forever be grateful that I played for such a great man. He is irreplaceable. –junior tight end for OSU
How will Fickell handle the pressure?
Luke Fickell’s expected ÿve-game coaching stint has become a full-season audition. After NCAA violations and investigations prompted the resignation of 10-year Ohio State head football coach Jim Tressel on Monday, Fickell has been named the interim head coach for the 2011–12 season. Fickell, who played nose guard for OSU from 1992–96, was selected to coach for the ÿrst ÿve
March 17, 2011 NCAA determines that punishment against athletes will not be reduced.
May 30, 2011 OSU announces that Tressel has resigned as head coach of the football team.
Source: Reporting MOLLY GRAY / Managing editor for design
Luke Fickell will coach Ohio State’s football team for the 2011 season following the resignation of Jim Tressel.
BLAKE WILLIAMS Senior Lantern reporter williams.3012@osu.edu
April 21, 2011 NCAA reveals initial findings of its investigation against OSU, accusing the university of “potential major violations of NCAA legislation.”
Jake McQuaide @TheWiz96 Coach Tressel gave me a chance and changed my life. Great man.Great Buckeye. Great American. form is temporary, class is permanent –long snapper for OSU from 2006-2010
games next season following Tressel’s suspension. He now will coach for the entire 12-game season. “It will be difÿcult,” Fickell said in March, referring to coaching the ÿrst ÿve games of the season. “We have to know whose team it is. It’s our team. It’s the seniors’ team.” Despite the mixed emotions surrounding Tressel’s departure, OSU football historian Jack Park thinks fans will rally behind the new leader. “I think everybody will get behind Luke Fickell,”
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Jamie Wood @JMWOOD21 This season is gonna be for Coach Tress... Great coach.. Even better person. We’re gonna hold it down, No doubt about it! –junior defensive back for OSU Source: Twitter
KARISSA LAM / Design editor
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