Ohio State's Tressel Resigns Amid Pool of Lies

After ten seasons coaching the Ohio State Buckeyes Football program Jim Tressel announced this morning that he is stepping down from his post. Below is a short statement from Tressel proclaiming the decision.

After meeting with university officials, we agreed that it is in the best interest of Ohio State that I resign as head football coach

Ironic that he finally chose a course of action that was in his university's best interest after exposing them to a host of decisions that will surely lead to further scrutiny and certain punishment from the NCAA.

If you recall, late in 2010 stories broke about several Ohio State football players, including star quarterback Terrelle Pryor, receiving improper benefits. The stink of the matter is not only that Tressel's players had cheated, but moreover he had knowledge of the improprieties more than eight months prior to school officials uncovering the scandal.

Of course, this is not the first time Tressel has been linked to scandals in association with his role in players receiving improper benefits. Former running back star Maurice Clarett accused Tressel and members of his staff and boosters of providing improper benefits, such as loaner cars and 'bogus' landscaping jobs to funnel thousands of dollars into Clarett's pocket. Additionally, Clarett insisted he likely would have been ineligible for the 2002 season, in which he scored the game-winning touchdown in Ohio State's national championship game, if he had not been introduced with an academic advisor who selected classes with teachers who would pass Clarett regardless if he showed up for classes or not.

For the record, Ohio State was never found guilty of any of Clarett's accusations. Perhaps, though, they simply did a better job of covering up that mess than they have with the latest set of wrongdoings.

Another star, former Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith, received improper benefits from a local booster and was suspended for the 2004 Alamo Bowl and first game of the 2005 season. Allegations for another former star, wide receiver Santonio Holmes, indicated receipt of money from an agent while he was playing for the Buckeyes.

Most recently, Ohio State is under scrutiny for its connection to a car dealership and owner of a tattoo parlor, who are allegedly responsible for giving players extreme discounts on their services. Former walk-on Ohio State basketball player, Mark Titus, shared his thoughts on the matter and was consequently berated by crazed Buckeyes fans for his strong remarks challenging his university.

The recurring theme throughout all of those transgressions is that Tressel knew of (either allegedly or confirmed) of the situations and apparently did nothing about it. There is yet to be a report that he handled punishment behind closed doors. If anything, he further encouraged the poor behavior by continuing to allow his players to live their lives without consequence.

His unaccountability is no doubt reinforced by his failure to conduct himself with honesty in front of the NCAA. As reported on CBS via an AP story released this April, it was revealed that the NCAA issued an indictment against the now former Ohio State coach.

In a 13-page indictment of Tressel's behavior, the NCAA alleged that Tressel had "permitted football student-athletes to participate in intercollegiate athletics while ineligible." It also said he "failed to deport himself ... (with) honesty and integrity" and said he was lying when he filled out a compliance form in September which said he had no knowledge of any NCAA violations by any of his players.

What is perhaps most shocking about this ordeal is that Tressel's former players are forthright in showing their support despite the dishonest and unlawful nature upheld by their former leader. To me that is a sign of poor leadership, not good leadership.

As a leader, Tressel owed it to himself and his university to set a positive example for his student-athletes. Lying and covering up scandals are not attributes of good leaders, period.

To be fair, it is understandable that his former and current players feel a connection to the man who led them for years on and off the field. What is not understandable is to blindly declare that he was a good leader. He lost that privilege when he lied to the NCAA and failed to reprimand his players.

I suppose it should not come as a surprise. After all, how should one expect an unaccountable man to hold his followers accountable for their actions? Now his university is left to clean up his mess. The end is most likely not in sight for the Buckeyes as investigations are still ongoing. Also, if the NCAA's ruling against USC's appeal on its transgressions is any indication of what the future will bring, the Buckeyes better prepare themselves for seemingly assured loss of scholarships and potential fines.

So, on this Memorial Day, depending on your relationship to Ohio State and it's football program help yourself to a heaping serving of denial, humble pie, shame, indifference or embarrassment. For me, I'll stick to fan favorite schadenfreude. It is most delicious when served with justice, although Ohio State certainly has a long ways to go before ridding itself of the improper behavior exhibited by its so called 'leaders' of the university.

Improper Benefits at Ohio State, Improper Punishment from NCAA

VIOLATIONS AT OHIO STATE

As taught in any psychology class, punishment (or rewards, for that matter) carries more of an impact when immediately following the action for which the punishment (or reward) is being given. 

So why will the NCAA allow more than half of a year to pass before punishment is handed out to five Ohio State football players (excluding the actual repayment of benefits received, which should be deemed as a no-brainer and not a real punishment) for violating NCAA rules?

Well, according the NCAA release, the players "did not receive adequate rules education" from the school at the time of the transgressions.

Star QB Terrelle Pryor, Mike Adams, Daniel Herron, Devier Posey and Solomon Thomas were found guilty of breaking NCAA rules by selling awards, gifts and university apparel, plus receiving improper benefits in 2009.

PUNISHMENT DOES NOT FIT THE CRIME

As punishment, the players must repay money and benefits ranging in value from $1,000 to $2,500 to charity.

Among the items sold by the Ohio State players were Big Ten Championship rings, Pryor's 2009 Fiesta Bowl Sportsmanship Award and gold pants - a gift from the university for having played on a team that defeated arch-rival Michigan. How ironic that Pryor sold his sportsmanship award. Perhaps the Fiesta Bowl meant to give Pryor the unsportsmanlike award?

Purportedly, Pryor sold his items because he was trying to help out his family. That is a perfectly fine sentiment and very admirable that he was thinking about his family instead of himself. However, his attempt to help his family was a direct violation of NCAA rules and therefore warrants reprimand.

As part of the punishment for the rules violations, not only do the players have to repay the benefits they received but they also must sit out five games, including the 2011 Sugar Bowl and the first four to kick off next season.

My apologies, that is the punishment that the NCAA should have shelled out, but failed to. Instead, the players will be suspended five games starting next season.

Some people contend that the punishment of a five game suspension is to severe for what the crime was. While that argument does have some merit, it avoids the fact that immediate punishment in the means of suspension for the bowl game should have been issued. 

Letting the players participate in one more game before serving their actual penalty six months later is akin to allowing a convicted criminal to roam the streets another six months (perhaps committing more crimes) before serving a jail sentence. Yes, the criminal is more dangerous and committed a more serious offense than these players did, but the delay of punishment and is the same.

UNACCOUNTABLE LEADERS

According to Tim May of the Columbus Dispatch, the NCAA "has special dispensation for situations like this, what they call 'special games' like championships to not tip the competitive balance one way or the other."

Is anyone else appalled by this? Allowing the players to play one more game this year, with the knowledge of their violations, is disturbing to say the least. Moreover, the players have the opportunity to turn pro next year, meaning the only 'penalty' they could render from the ordeal is repayment of the benefits to a charity. 

Athletics Director Gene Smith called the penalties "harsh" but he is sorely mistaken. Hardly harsh is more like it.

Head Coach Jim Tressel added, "hopefully we'll do the right thing" with regards to the internal punishment to the players. It would be more appropriate to say "we'll do the right thing" but you have to start somewhere, right? If only we could all say, "I hope I'll follow through on what's right, but we'll have to see."

Tressel must have been too focused on his coaching class at Ohio State instead of concentrating on the personal development of his young players into responsible adults. As the head football coach, it is his job, along with the athletics department, to instruct his players on the can and cannot-dos of being a college athlete.  Moreover, it was his duty to provide his student athletes with "adequate rules education."

Compliance might be a thumbprint on Ohio State's athletics website, but it is something that must be lived and breathed by every collegiate institution. Claiming ignorance surely must feel like bliss in this instance. 

The lack of accountability shown by Ohio State is not the biggest issue at stake here, however. As the sole overseer of collegiate athletics it is the NCAA's duty to discipline in an appropriate manner when dealing with rules violations. Sadly, the NCAA's muscles were flimsy at best in the case of its ruling against the offending Ohio State players.

WOULD PAYING PLAYERS PROHIBIT THIS BEHAVIOR?
Members of the media on ESPN college football live hypothesized today that if players were paid, this type of behavior might be avoided in the first place.

Do you buy that argument?

Think about it. College athletes on scholarship get a full ride to their program of choice. Room and board, meals, tutoring, gear, and most importantly their education is 100% free. How much more payment should players receive?

After all, they are student-athletes, not athlete-students. There is a reason that 'student' proceeds athletes.


NO SUGAR FOR BOWL
Regardless of the punishment that should or should not be enforced to the Ohio State players the Sugar Bowl on January 4 will still go on as planned. Thousands of adoring fans will embark on New Orleans in support of their respective programs. Ohio State will play Arkansas and people will still watch.

This college sports fan, however, will abstain from supporting the Sugar Bowl in any way, shape, or form this year.

I urge you to join me in boycotting the Sugar Bowl this year in a show of disagreement with the allowance of Ohio State's players to participate in the game.

Who's with me?