Jim Tressel (official thread)

[Buckskin86]

Article published Sunday, July 13, 2008
Tressel writes 'Winners Manual'


Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel has always enjoyed reading books written by coaches. He's offering 'The Winners Manual: For the Game of Life' for others to read.
( ASSOCIATED PRESS )

By MATT MARKEY
BLADE SPORTS WRITER

COLUMBUS - Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel has a book coming out this week, but if the coaches around the Big Ten are anxiously awaiting a "tell all" and the inside data on the Buckeyes it might reveal, they will be disappointed.

But for fans of the Buckeyes and their ultra-successful coach, The Winners Manual: For the Game of Life should provide some insights into what makes Tressel tick, and some anecdotal information that amounts to a sneak peek behind the curtain of secrecy that normally surrounds the Ohio State football operation.

The book promises to provide an interesting blend of "football stories, spiritual insights, motivational reading and practical application," according to the publisher, Tyndale House. It will chronicle Tressel's success at both Youngstown State and Ohio State, his interaction with a multitude of student athletes, and feature a number of full-color photo pages with images from Tressel's personal collection, and the football archives of both schools.

Tressel, who will start his eighth season as coach of the Buckeyes on Aug. 30 when Ohio State hosts Youngstown, the school he led to four Division I-AA national titles, said he hopes to provide some of the same inspiration that he received from reading books authored by other great coaches.

"Throughout my coaching career I have enjoyed studying from the great coaches throughout the country in order to create my plan for success on and off the field," Tressel said.

"Of course, the players and coaches that I have had the good fortune to work with have shaped my approach the most. However, opportunities to read books written by the likes of John Wooden, Tom Landry, Bill Walsh, Tom Osborne, Tony Dungy and many others has influenced me a great deal. With this book we hope to provide a tool for professionals, leaders of all kinds, coaches, athletes, and especially moms and dads."

In the book, Tressel outlines his method for running a successful program, and always working toward team and individual goals.

"I want Ohio State to be the last team standing at the end of the year, no question about it," Tressel writes. "We tell the players that we're going to work like crazy on our team goals, and if they don't want to be champions, they're probably on the wrong team. But we also help them devise plans for how to obtain the goals they desire as individuals.

"We want to help every player achieve his goals. Goals are important, but it's important to understand that people are not defined by their goals and whether or not they reach them. A win or a loss does not make you or me a better or worse human being. This is where, in our society, we've so easily lost perspective on the truth about who we are. We have to separate who we are from what we do. With our players, it's vital to distinguish between purpose and goals."

toledoblade.com -- Tressel writes 'Winners Manual'

[Buckskin86]

Review The Winners Manual: For the Game of Life
Tressel's book explores far more than football
Sunday, July 13, 2008
By Ken Gordon
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH


The Winners Manual :: Tyndale House Publishers
Hardcore Ohio State football fans, beware: Jim Tressel is not like you.

That much is obvious after reading The Winners Manual: For the Game of Life, Tressel's new book, co-written with Chris Fabry and set to be released Tuesday by Tyndale House Publishers.

Consider this: Tressel writes that he has never been devastated by a loss and he regularly prays for Maurice Clarett.

That right there probably puts him at odds with the majority of OSU faithful.

This is not the book for fans looking for X's and O's. Tressel forewarns of that on the dust jacket, writing that the book "is not so much about football as it is about life."

That's not false advertising.

BuckeyeXtra - The Columbus Dispatch : Tressel's book explores far more than football

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Tressel Hitting The Road To Promote New Book...........

[Buckskin86]

Tressel's book a success
Posted by Doug Lesmerises July 14, 2008
Categories: Ohio State
Columbus -- Jim Tressel threatened his potential guru status Monday while discussing his new book, which is available today.

The initial print order of 100,000 is almost sold out already, according to his publisher. That's a lot of pre-ordered faith in the Buckeyes coach. Remember, it's not "The Winners Book," it's "The Winners Manual," and that implies some sort of game plan for life, does it not?

So what's with the hedging?

"When you're writing, you're thinking, 'I hope no one out there thinks I know everything,' because I don't," Tressel said at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center. "We make plenty of mistakes."


After some persuading, he thought this book at this time was the right thing to do. Tressel had turned down several book suggestions over the years before accepting this proposal from Tyndale House Publishers, which describes its own purpose as to "minister to the spiritual needs of people, primarily through literature consistent with biblical principles."

There are more than 20 Bible verses sprinkled through the book, along with quotes from Michael Jordan, Mark Twain and Eleanor Roosevelt. One of the more interesting insights into Tressel emerges in the "Faith and Belief" chapter, as he explains balancing his spiritual beliefs with his role at a state university.

". . . I don't think it's any different being a Christian where I am than if I were selling cars or making computers in a factory," Tressel writes. ". . . We all encounter people of different faiths, and we all have a responsibility to be aware of other people's thoughts, feelings and beliefs. As a Christian, I never want to set myself above another person or [imply] that I know and you don't. I get it and you don't."

Even in a forum that he controls, Tressel is cautious. He said Monday that one theme of the book is that, "Who you are and what you are ultimately need to be separate." That appears to be a nearly impossible task from Tressel's position. When do you ever stop being the head coach of Ohio State football?

"That is hard," Tressel said. "But that's why your self-concept and your self-image and those kinds of things have to be a lot stronger than what you do. If they're not, it's going to be a long life."

Tressel's book a success - Cleveland Sports News – The Latest Breaking News, Game Recaps and Scores from The Plain Dealer

[Buckskin86]

Tressel's advice in high demand
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
By Tim May
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

Trent Boykin needed pointers fast. He had just been named football coach at Lane College in Tennessee over the weekend, and he called Jim Tressel, his former coach at Youngstown State, for direction.

Tressel, now Ohio State coach, could have just told him to buy his book, The Winners Manual: For the Game of Life, which arrives in stores today. Tressel, a five-time national championship coach including in 2002 at OSU, teamed with author Chris Fabry to write the book that fleshes out the outline -- built on the thoughts of many others -- that Tressel believes has helped him and those around him succeed both on the field and off.

But Boykin needed something fast, "and he said, 'Just give me one thing that made a difference as you began' " as a head coach some 22 years ago, Tressel said.

His answer: "You need to have a plan. That doesn't mean you don't revise your plan as times change or people change. But you need to have a general plan, and you need to have some fundamentals you believe in. ? There are certain things within your plan that can't waiver.

"Hopefully, that nugget will come through loud and clear."

BuckeyeXtra - The Columbus Dispatch : Tressel's advice in high demand

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Tressel the Author.............