Is Geiger the root cause?

[Cajunbuck]

I suspect deep down that Andy is not a very popular fellow in some circles. I'll give some examples:

1. Cooper hated him. He said publicly that Geiger had an agenda. (Man, is he at home with an " I told you so [censored]-eatin grin or what?")

2. O'Brien is a turd....but is now critical of Geiger. ( My perception)

3. Some former players talk about being hung out to dry...namely the idiot I will only refer to as "The Youngstown Virus".

4. The press is obviously out to expose something that discredits or makes not just the program but specifically Big Andy look bad. Has Andy been making enemies?

5. Tressel seems to be on the fringes of the criticism, most of it seems to be directed at the Athletic program...specifically Geiger.

6. This is out there...but what about Conley and Spencer leaving suddenly? Now Conley is semi-critic over on Bucknuts?

I think Andy may be a bridge burner. I also think that if they dig hard enough...something will inevitably be found.....and that could be said for any major program in the country. However, we are the focus now.

I pray that I'm wrong. Let me know what you think.

Go Bucks!

[NJ-Buckeye]

IMO the root cause is Tressel... JT demonstrates so much compassion and empathy for his players that some of them must feel they can play with fire because they know 'Dad' will forgive and forget... they take advantage of his good nature... they don't fear him... history supports their thinking...

If you look at his OSU history... when these players screw up... he always seems to act like a Dad who understands the kid screwed up but what is the best way to handle it for this particular kid... and looking at what is best for the kid in the long run... he deals with things from the kids perspective.. not from the university's perspective... thats good and bad... I have very mixed feelings with this... and the feelings are strong BOTH ways... I love the compassion but it's now affecting the whole program...

It may be tough... but some time he may have to give in.. and go for the death penalty until the rest of the team understands that there is a limit to what can be tolerated... I'm not sure this is within him... and within his makeup... the AD may have to be the one to edict the dealth penalty for a violator... if the AD puts himself in there as the bad guy, Tressel can still be the compassionate one.. but this will take a very understanding AD and one that is willing to let JT not completely handle matters...

As a parent, you learn when you are being taken advantage of... and sooner of later you have to put your foot down... they need to know there are serious consequences... You just get to a point you have to do it...

[UGABuck]

Cajunbuck, you are so close to nailing it. It is frightening how close you are.

[NJ-Buckeye]

I have had the opportunity to talk with Geiger years ago... I'm pretty good at sizing folks up.. just a God given knack.. I came away convinced beyond a shadow of doubt Andy Geiger bleeds S&G... and he will do anything to protect the university... even letting folks (even superstars or supercoaches) hang out to dry, if that is best for the university...He's all about OSU first...

Make no mistake, he completely understands he is a very powerful player representing what is one of the most powerful athletic institutions on the planet... and he'd have no problem laying down the law to media institutions... He does have an ego... but this is a man you want in your battle...

Obviously media institutions don't like that... they too have huge egos... and also, do not forget that the media is all about ratings and if there is not news, they will create news... buttheads Trev and May explicitly stated that the problems at OSU exist in every college in the land.. and let it stop right there... that spoke volumes...

Don't be surprised that if Andy Geiger feels the best resolution to this matter, that helps OSU the most, is for him to take the bullet.. he will... mark my words... But if he feels the best he can do for OSU is to lead the fight... he will do that...

[UGABuck]

I think you are correct NJB. He bleeds S&G and will do what is best for the intersest of tOSU just like JT will. But the difference is that JT has the EQ that allows him to communicate and relate in the social diad that AG does not. Thus he sometimes appears arrogant to those that don't understand him. FWIW, I have spoken to him during severl "recreational" events and he is a personable guy when the topics are not tOSU.

To that end, IMO he has difficulty looking beyond the rules (I am not saying ignoring them) and understanding the motivation of those breaking them to find resolution and prevent repeat offenses. This is where JT excels. Together, they do a great "good cop and bad cop".

[BuckBackHome]

It does appear from an outsider's perspective that Tressel looks at throwing someone off the team as an option of last resort. He will do anything he can with a player to give them the opportunity to fix the problem and show they can be good citizens as well as athletes. However, his approach may come to a fault if players feel they can get away with anything and only have to worry about missing a few games.

The times we have had players thrown off the team (Ira and Irizarry) was when Geiger stepped in. I don't see their relationship (Tressel and Geiger) as being good cop, bad cop, but one where Geiger will step in when he knows there is no choice but the ultimate one of throwing a student-athlete off a team and possible out of the school.

I wonder if Tressel needs to have a period of allowing kids who may have violated but the violations are not known (ala Troy Smith) to come forward and admit their violations. They will then receive their punishments. After that period it almost needs to become a two-strike or zero-tolerance policy, depending on the incident and violation.

Unfortunately, I think Tressel needs to send the message himself to the players that if they have a serious violation (NCAA rules or otherwise) there is a strong possibility they will be gone. Until they know that their own coach is willing to throw them off the team some will continue to play to his compassionate side and take advantage of him.

[UGABuck]

I might be the naive one here but I happen to believe Troy's punishment for his $$ handshake is quite severe. I know that tOSU is recommending the minimum two game suspension but the results are catastrophic to his tenure at tOSU and any future Sunday career aspirations. He is not at the bottom of the depth chart...if I heard JT correctly even behind Boeckman. Couple that with Zwick's good game in the AB and some nice freshman QB's coming in and he is what you might call "screwed".

[Steve19]

Gieger does appear to bleed scarlet and gray. He seems to have decided up front that he is near retirement and it is in the interest of OSU that he, rather than Tressel, confront the ESPiN demon. You can call it selflessness or a realization that he had the basketball thing on his desk anyway, but I think it is the former.

He is NOT the root cause, but he started indicating this week that he is quite prepared to retire early if that will make this go away. It will be very sad indeed if he does.

[Sloopy45]

Are you people crazy?? Do you have any idea what Geiger has done for this school in his tenure?? Lets see:

1. Hired Jim Tressel.

2. Won a National Championship in football for the 1st time in 34 years.

3. Went to a Final Four for the first time since the 1960's.

4. Oversaw the renovation of the HorseShoe and the bulding of the Schott.

5. Hired Jim O'Brien and made the basketball program somewhat respectable.

Name me another Athletic Director in this COUNTRY who's done as much for his school's athletic department. Name me ONE!!!

[Holy Buckeye!]

Mike Garrett

[BB73]

Pete Carroll saved Garrett's job.

[sandgk]

Originally Posted by Cajunbuck

Is Geiger the root cause?
6 lines of "arguments"
I pray that I'm wrong. Let me know what you think.

Go Bucks!

Yeah - go bucks is right.

By the way, I think you are dead wrong about Geiger.
Only way that events might get close to supporting your opinions on this subject is if AG elects to take an early retirement -- a falling on his sword exit to save tOSU any NCAA related issues. Likelihood of such an eventuality right now IMHO <10%.

[Holy Buckeye!]

Hey Buck Bill

He hired him!

DoooH!

[OSU1978]

NJ, I agree with everything you stated.

Sloopy, add the baseball stadium and new track and field to that list.

[sandgk]

Originally Posted by BuckinMichigan

I wonder if Tressel needs to have a period of allowing kids who may have violated but the violations are not known (ala Troy Smith) to come forward and admit their violations. They will then receive their punishments. After that period it almost needs to become a two-strike or zero-tolerance policy, depending on the incident and violation.

Unfortunately, I think Tressel needs to send the message himself to the players that if they have a serious violation (NCAA rules or otherwise) there is a strong possibility they will be gone. Until they know that their own coach is willing to throw them off the team some will continue to play to his compassionate side and take advantage of him.

If the suggestion you make could be put into action without ESPiN or others getting a whiff of it then I think its a good idea, in fact a very good idea.
If it gets out in the open though - bad, bad spin would result.

Still - the idea has merit. I wonder if it is something that Geiger et al can engineer correctly.