OSU's Coach Tressell Requires Stars to "Man Up"

OSU Couch Jim Tressel

As was the case with many Ohio State football fans, Coach Jim Tressel was extremely upset that five of his junior players either knowingly or unknowingly broke a NCAA rule by selling or trading various awards that they had been given. He was disheartened by the fact they broke a NCAA rule, but also by the fact that they did not treasure these awards enough to resist the temptation to sell them. Coach Tressel did not question the NCAA's apparent inequitable treatment of his players vis a vis Auburn's Cam Newton or a player from the Georgia who had violated the same rule. He was primarily concerned about his players breaking the rules.


Although many OSU fans thought that these five players should not be permitted to play in the Sugar Bowl, the NCAA said they were eligible because of one of their obscure rules. Again Coach Tressel did not question the NCAA; he questioned his players and gave them the opportunity to "man up". These players understand that they will not be able to play the first five games of next season and that their statistics and the team's success is in jeopardy. Cynics like myself have suggested they will choose to skip their senior year and enter the NFL draft.


Given this situation, Coach Tressel talked to each player and asked them to tell him mano a mano whether they were going to skip their senior year or bolt to the NFL. And obviously, if they chose to go to the NFL, they were not going to play in the Sugar Bowl. Coach Tressel, no matter the possible outcome of the Sugar Bowl, was not going to play those who were going to jump overboard.


To their credit, all five juniors indicated that although they would be sitting on the bench for the first  five games,  they wanted to play their senior year at OSU. They in effect were willing to take responsibility for their actions.


In my opinion, Coach Tressell handled this situation with class and demonstrated to his players that integrity and loyalty are still possible in modern, high-stakes college football. Of course, the players may have lied to him, but if they did, the consequences will be more complicated than they can imagine.


Hopefully Jim Tressel's example will influence not only his players but others in NCAA football.


All of this, however, does not exonerate the NCAA for its apparent inequality and obscure rules.