I am not all in

[Jaxbuck]

There is one thread for those who want to voice their unequivocal support of Jim Tressel. I respect others opinions so instead of turning that thread into a trainwreck I'll simply post my thoughts here and hope for the same treatment.

After reading the emails there is no way I can buy the story about Tressel keeping it quiet for the safety of the kids. IMO he used that as an excuse to keep a couple of players he knew damn good and well should have been ineligible, eligible at the start of what was a NC contending season.

I also think the 2 game suspension by OSU is no better than Tennessee backing Bruce Pearl. Tressel should have gotten a years suspension if not removed from his post.

I know from PM's and feedback that I'm not alone so I thought I'd provide a thread for those of the dissenting opinion to go without starting any holy wars on the site.

 

[chillinvillian]

I think he landed on the grenade protecting his source that was letting him know the people they was dealing with, his players and Ohio State.

 

[Buckeye86]

I support Tressel 100%. At the same time, I would not argue against a year long suspension.

Ohio State and Tressel are clearly in damage control and are covering their asses in several different ways while hoping for the best. Everyone makes mistakes. Hindsight is 20/20.

That being said, despite what the national media and other fan bases say, Tressel's reputation has to count for something. It seems clear that Ohio State tries extremely hard to work with the NCAA as closely and cooperatively as possible. That has to count for something.

 

[Bucklion]

I support Tressel 100%. At the same time, I would not argue against a year long suspension.

Ohio State and Tressel are clearly in damage control and are covering their asses in several different ways while hoping for the best.

That being said, despite what the national media and other fan bases say, Tressel's reputation has to count for something. It seems clear that Ohio State tries extremely hard to work with the NCAA as closely and cooperatively as possible. That has to count for something.

I also would not oppose a longer suspension. I am a big fan of JT, going back to family connections from decades ago, but I cannot look at this with any kind of objectivity and say a 2 game suspension and a couple of months salary (of that, not sure what he makes a year now) is enough. If we want to walk the walk that we are not U$C or the $EC, we should be self-imposing a longer suspension if anything.

 

[Jake]

I haven't seen any of the emails, and I respect you having the courage to speak your mind, but I also trust the people running the University. I will continue my support of tOSU (financial and otherwise) until I see evidence to denounce it. Given what my years at tOSU and my degree have done for me, admittedly, it would take a lot to change my perspective. I would be more apt to be very disappointed, but still loyal to the end. For better or worse.

I would be curious to see the actual emails, though, and it wouldn't surprise me to see the suspension for JT lengthened to match the 5 games given to his players, minimum, by the NCAA.

 

[Gatorubet]

Well, as a guest, I'll leave my opinion on it to what I posted on the main thread. But I applaud tOSU for the self reporting. That may be the one thing that keeps it from going nuclear. And to the extent that the "body of work" from Tress Gee refered to has a basis in fact, that has to count for something. But NOTHING in that e-mail suggested the proper course was to sit on your butt and do nothing.

OK, I will add this. I was more disappointed in the presser than the initial non-action. I could buy Tress being human and making a mistake. I can barely imagine the pressure to win at that level after the 06, 07 seasons. The way the presser was presented, however, rang more than hollow to me after reading the e-mails.

 

[OH10]

I'm not all in either.

I'd be interested to find out if JT forwarded the email onto anyone - the question was asked and avoided. If he did, that kind of shoots down his confidentiality defense.

Second, why didn't he speak up in December when it clearly wasn't confidential anymore? The cat was out of the bag, so why hide it? Did he lie directly to any NCAA investigators? And why let OSU report falsely they the school didn't know about it until December?

Third, he knowingly played ineligible players.

I would have supported a half-season suspension or more leading up to, potentially, termination. This two-game nonsense and measly fine (compared to his salary) are unacceptable punishments IMO.

 

[sepia5]

As much as it pains me to say it, I do believe a longer suspension is necessary. I don't know what, exactly, is the right period, but 2 games is clearly not enough. I also don't think this is a fireable offense in light of the many wonderful things he's done at tOSU and in Ohio. The thing I'm perhaps most angry about is the narrative that Tressel and the AD are now attempting to weave. After reading the emails, I feel like my intelligence is being insulted in light of the story they put out.

I still want Tressel as the coach, but I'm getting an inclination of what big time Buckeye fans must have felt when Woody struck that kid. A bit of the luster has been lost, in my eyes.

 

[ORD_Buckeye]

Mark me down in this thread. I was initially ok with the two games until reading the emails.

At best, JT was done in by an imperious and morally smug management style that constantly refused to look at how his decisions reflect on the larger university and ever acknowledge the need to run those decisions past his superiors. At worst, his explanation is pure dissembling to justify a win at all costs mentality.

The emails themselves strike me as having next to nothing to do with drug dealing and a lot to do with keeping stars eligible. The lawyer borders dangerously close to coming off as some program sycophant funneling confidential info on players off field incidents. This is not good, and anyone not wearing the darkest scarlet and grey glasses should be very troubled by their tone and content.

Over the last few years, JT and the program have made some great strides off field in terms of lack of arrests, increasing (though still not great) grad rates and a top ten apr. Sadly, little of that will now be thought of when the nation thinks of osu football. And JT has noone to blame but himself and his self righteous and insular management style.

If there's one silver lining to this, those days are over, and I would expect that the ad and the president's office will take a much more active oversight role of the program. Honestly, the more I reflect on those emails, the less happy i am with a two game suspension. I now think a full year should have been necessary as both fitting the transgression and sending the proper message nationally.

 

[Bucknut24]

all I know is whatever happens, 2011 most likely won't be a fun season with all this stuff going on

 

[amybuckeye]

Well, as a guest, I'll leave my opinion on it to what I posted on the main thread. But I applaud tOSU for the self reporting. That may be the one thing that keeps it from going nuclear. And to the extent that the "body of work" from Tress Gee refered to has a basis in fact, that has to count for something. But NOTHING in that e-mail suggested the proper course was to sit on your butt and do nothing.

OK, I will add this. I was more disappointed in the presser than the initial non-action. I could buy Tress being human and making a mistake. I can barely imagine the pressure to win at that level after the 06, 07 seasons. The way the presser was presented, however, rang more than hollow to me after reading the e-mails.

Gator I really don't have a problem with you posting on this topic. In fact I gave you a greenie to show support. However, I'm starting to notice that you have probably posted the most out of everybody in the Tressel/NCAA violations related threads. Considering the fact that you are not an OSU fan, your frequency of posts on this topic is starting to morph into troll-like behavior. Let me paint a clearer picture. If BuckeyePlanet were a room full of people discussing OSU football and the recent NCAA violations, you'd be yapping away while the rest of us are gasping for air and reaching for oxygen masks. Think about taking a breather. Just saying....

 

[billmac91]

I think he landed on the grenade protecting his source that was letting him know the people they was dealing with, his players and Ohio State.

Why would a friend send this information to an Ohio State campus e-mail address? Wouldn't a friend have a personal e-mail account?

 

[Jake]

all I know is whatever happens, 2011 most likely won't be a fun season with all this stuff going on

I'm not getting my hopes up, after now reading the emails. I suspect our coach's punishment will be more than we know at this point. I simply find it hard to grasp taking no action if the emails released in the press are accurate. I believe the NCAA will feel the same way. :(

 

[BuckNut65]

I, like many of us here, have been a big supporter of Jim Tressel. I think what he has done for Ohio State is truly amazing. That being said, he of all people should have known what the potential ramifications were going to be for not disclosing this information, and more importantly how it could impact the image of the University and the football program.

I have a very hard time believing his story about protecting players and I have to wonder what the real motive is here. This reeks of the same things we accuse SEC schools of. If we are to cast judgement on all of these other programs we also need to cast that same light on our own university.

I, for one, have a much different perspective on a man I have always had the utmost respect for. JT may say that he hasn't thought much about what others are saying but he should have because image and perception mean quite a bit in this day and age and he has definitely given our football program a nice shiner at the moment.

 

[dragurd]

amy gator is a well respected poster no need to call him out on being a troll. He's been here long enough to have have the benefit of the doubt and have room to talk on these issues without being called out. Especially considering his profession.