I am not all in

[SmoovP]

Well, not meant as anything but what is out there now. EDSBS is one of the SEC and national sites that everybody loves to read. Big LSUfreek fans early on that got him lots of pub. And everyone knows that they are more humor than substance. But like the Daily Show, humor can reveal perceptions that straight news sometimes can't.

I mean, you have to know that non-Big-10 sites will not be supportive. If it should go on another thread so be it. I picked this one for the (perhaps) thicker skins and (perhaps) broader views.

EDSBS is on my daily reading list. Spencer is perhaps the most highly skilled writer in sports.

 

[DiaBuckeye]

EDSBS is on my daily reading list. Spencer is perhaps the most highly skilled writer in sports.

Just read the article and I must say, it made me chuckle to myself. I quickly turned my misplaced grin into an appropriate frown, however, remembering that is was us he was making fun of :(. But then that frown turned into a sneer as I read some of the typical cocky SEC comments, reminding me why I loathe the region where the two of you reside :tongue2:

The guy can write, I'll give him that. I might be checking in from time to time. Thanks for the link gator.

 

[MaliBuckeye]

Just read the article and I must say, it made me chuckle to myself. I quickly turned my misplaced grin into an appropriate frown, however, remembering that is was us he was making fun of :(. But then that frown turned into a sneer as I read some of the typical cocky SEC comments, reminding me why I loathe the region where the two of you reside :tongue2:

The guy can write, I'll give him that. I might be checking in from time to time. Thanks for the link gator.

Yup- and the gif in the comments ("I'm Sorry") made me a bad person... 'cause I chuckled at it.

 

[Gatorubet]

Yup- and the gif in the comments ("I'm Sorry") made me a bad person... 'cause I chuckled at it.

I lol'd at

And they savaged Meyer and his - er - confusion about his health issues, etc. They are even handedly brutal. Which is good.

 

[scarletngrey11]

I am really torn on how I feel about this.

I love Tressel as a person. Not only for his coaching success, but for the little things we have all heard about. (i.e. inviting a veteran he had just met to practice and giving him the royal treatment).

But this hurts. Our public perception is in the drain. This could very easily affect recruiting as so much of what he sells recruits is honesty, integrity, and accountability.

I want to stand by him, and maybe I still will, but as a die hard fan it is tough right now.

Success does not mean anything when it is accompanied by a black eye.

 

[MaliBuckeye]

My thoughts. I'm of both camps...

Tressel Suspended: What To Believe?
​

 

[kinch]

For me, part of the problem here is that this whole situation blows a hole wide open in the Tressel mystique.

If Cooper did this, I would laugh and say "of course." He had the campus police on speed dial. If Bruce did it, or Woody, I'd expect them to yell back at the press indignantly (this is also given when they coached and the atmosphere then) and still not think much of it.

But Tressel is supposed to be something different-- all about character. He apparently is not so different from other coaches as we were led to believe. He may truly be that father that doesn't want his kids to suffer, but he has a duty, and he failed. I still believe he is more the good man we believe, and less whatever the press will eventually paint him to be. The pressures for coaches at major programs are incalculable to us, maybe nobody can be all character in such an environment, but we were led to believe he was that man on high with his familial outlook (which partly explains this, depending on one's perception).

Still, I don't care if he stays or goes at this point. I have pride in my University, and that pride stems from academics and doing what is right, what is necessary to follow the rules, and not doing what is easy and expedient.

I hope others realize we are alumni and bonded to the University, and everything about it, and not just a football team.

Edit: looking at this from my profession, or many others, we wouldn't simply be given a second chance for our actions. Personally I would never work at a high level again if I violated ethics in such a way. I certainly feel fine holding Tressel to the standards the rest of us face, as incongruous as they may be.

 

[ShakerBuck]

The suspension will absolutely be increased to more than 2 games, probably minimum of 5 and possibly the full year.

Not sure if this has been mentioned but the silver lining here could be that someone like Coach Fickell, who some view as a future OSU HC (without requisite HC experience) could get some on the job training in '11, and we can see how he does in this role

 

[Jaxbuck]

After reading the emails, the only 3 conclusions that make sense are these. Please read all three before creating an opinion.

1. The emails are in some way fabricated. Whether that be from someone internally or not, the wording and reaction to ground breaking evidence that you have players that could be involved in large issues didn't make sense. Does Tress really talk like that in emails? With exclamation points all over them? and upon finding out this news cheerfully say go Bucks at the end so nonchalant?

or

2. Tress is not the man we have all come to know and love behind the mics and media outlets. He has done a great job of building a rep to help players want to come here and have an upright look on the outside but is like many others inside... "win no matter what"(like was said before). And this was another glimpse at that tress.

or

3. Tress is covering for the mistake of someone else. Whether that is Smith, compliance, Gee, or whoever... Knowing that he has the rep that would be least likely for dismissal or for widestream bashing, and knowing that he did pass the info on like he said in the emails, he did what he usually does and took the heat for the issues. No one knows for sure if he passed the info on besides him, Smith, Gee, and anyone else that could be involved with him closely. So if he knew it would just cost him a small hit compared to a larger hit for someone else.... he took the wrap.

Any way you cut it, something doesn't add up. I do not know if we will ever know the truth, but one of the three have to be true and maybe 1 and 3 could be tied together. I want to believe Tress would do the right thing and believe that he is smart enough to cover himself on things like this by asking vague questions to his own legal counsel at worst. So it tends to make me believe in the 3rd scenario. Tress is a fall guy for someone, but again.. who knows. Go Bucks.

My quick handicapping;

#2: even money (most likely for the non gamblers)
#3: 2 to 1 (slightly less of a chance but entirely possible)
#1: 100 to 1 (Charlie Weis pushing away from a table that still has food on it kind of long shot)

 

[MaxBuck]

After reading the emails, the only 3 conclusions that make sense are these. Please read all three before creating an opinion.

I read them all, and each one is way too simplistic to be accurate in any meaningful way.

This whole situation has become laughable to me. We humans seem to need to reduce life occurrences to fit within a limited number of cliches. Life occurrences are not, however, cliches.

(Edit) Don't mean to imply, Nate, that your post was laughable, nor that your ideas were ill-conceived. They serve as a good basis for thought and discussion. I just don't agree with your premise.

 

[localyokel]

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....

I'm not a moderator, and an inconstant visitor, but for my part, Gator has earned the right to express opinions here, as frequently as he cares to.

This thread, it appears, was intended to deflect some of the passion from the Yahoo thread, to allow the non-Kool-Aid drinkers a place to vent. If those of us who are disinclined to minimize this catastrophic PR disaster and failure of judgment by JT, (and Smith & Gee as well) aren't welcome to post in this thread, I guess there is no place left in this forum for dissenting opinions.

Unfortunately, no matter how many messengers are killed, the reality of the outcome of the war remains unaltered.

 

[Coqui]

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....

Being a lawyer, he also has the most information outside of the powers that be regarding legality of disclosing things.

 

[OneBuckeye]

I am on the fence. It looks bad for Tressel no doubt, but it looks more and more to me like he is falling on the grenade and protecting the program. I hope this is the case and nothing bad comes to the program. If this becomes an issue with scholarships and recruiting and Tressel's ability to produce on the field then I have a problem with how this is handled and who the coach is. However I think Tressel is protecting some people here and the university so I will definately stand behind him and support him 100% as long as this doesn't come completely unraveled.

 

[BB73]

I wasn't sure whether to post this in the big thread that started with the Yahoo story, in the 'I stand with JT' thread, or here in the 'Not all in' thread. But we all have to live with our decisions.

JT messed up by not discussing the e-mails he received back in April with tOSU legal counsel. He's guilty of an NCAA violation because of that and deserves to be penalized.

I think there's a significant difference, however, between JT sitting on that information (at least from an NCAA compliance perspective) and guys like Bruce Pearl committing recruiting violations and then lying to the NCAA about it and trying to orchestrate a coverup by getting other coaches to clam up and asking parents of recruits to not be forthcoming to the NCAA. Seeing JT lumped in with guys like that is sickening to me.

I am very intrerested in hearing who (if anyone) that those e-mails were forwarded to. It seemed like they were sent to somebody, the way that Gene Smith broke in before JT could answer that question.

I'd also like to point out the difference between the way that tOSU handled the matter and the way that schools like USC and Auburn have recently dealt with alleged NCAA violations. My understanding is that USC, as a private institution, is not subject to FOIA requests. Under Mike Garrett it was obvious that their approach was to say nothing, not do a lot of digging to find any internal problems, and hope that the damage would be minimized. I believe Auburn has followed a similar approach, and I believe that they'll still get whacked by the NCAA once more information becomes public. But that discussion doesn't belong in this thread.

It's disappointing to have JT guilty of what's classified as a major NCAA violation, and it's tough to see him being lumped in with the coaches who are serial cheaters and self-serving slimeballs.

But I'm proud of the way that tOSU has dealt with these issues.

 

[CleveBucks]

If the story played out the way OSU says, them count me as "not all in." There was nothing in the first email that indicated a need for confidentiality, and nothing that screamed "don't say a word or your players may be in grave danger." The first email also made it clear that the target's house was raided, so passing along the info would not have tipped off an unknowing subject of a federal investigation. When JT replies "I will get on it ASAP," what exactly did he do? From what OSU says, he didn't contact anyone else in OSU administration. Did he go to the players? Did he contact a personal attorney for advice?

If JT is falling on the sword to protect the program or university as a whole, then obviously I have a different opinion. And I wouldn't be totally surprised if that's closer to the truth.