Ohio State's Jim Tressel Gone: Who's Next to Fall for Buckeyes?

It’s seems there is plenty of blame to go around Columbus, Ohio these days. After Ohio State Coach Jim Tressel resigned on Monday, you wonder if there are other dominoes ready to fall.

Reports are now out about an independent investigation regarding Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor. It seems Pryor has allegedly had several relationships with car dealers in the past and has allegedly driven various cars. Pryor, a senior this fall, is in definite hot water and you wonder if he will compete at all this fall. He is already suspended for the first five games due to the famous tattoo incident that raised its ugly head late 2010.

Some are calling for the heads of Ohio State President Gordon Gee and athletic director Gene Smith. Both men seemed in full support of Tressel until his announcement yesterday. Many thought the two Ohio State leaders should have fired Tressel long ago.

My gut feeling is Gee will keep his job. He is well respected in the academic community and is credited with taking The Ohio State University to greater heights. Gee created controversy during last football season however, when he accused the TCU football program of playing little sisters of the poor. He later apologized. Maybe the guy should stick solely to academics and fundraising.

Smith might not survive this mess. I suspect the media will continue to pound on Smith for his direction during this unprecedented time in Ohio State athletics. He is the boss and the boss is looking bad.

Of course, we haven’t heard the final report from the NCAA. If that thing is really ugly, the Buckeyes may want to clean house.

Ohio State's Jim Tressel Does the Right Thing

The famous sweater vest is leaving Columbus, Ohio. Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel announced today (Memorial Day) that he is quitting his job.

Tressel, who modeled a sweater vest often on the sidelines, made a good call resigning. From tattoos to lying, Tressel’s tenure the last year has been one big controversy. I’m surprised he didn’t hang it up long before now.

Tressel has been dodging so many bullets you thought he was in a gangster movie. The problem was this was no fake movie, but real life. Tressel has made some serious mistakes and he has paid for them and will probably continue to pay for them. Lying about his lack of knowledge about player activities was his biggest sin. The CEO at one of the biggest college football factories in the country should have known covering up would get him thrown out of the game.

But people do make mistakes and sometimes serious ones. Tressel will move on and somebody will hire him again. He has been too successful in the college ranks to retire the sweater vest forever.

This does beg one question, however. The NCAA will penalize Ohio State for the football infractions. Did the Buckeyes part ways with Tressel to lessen the potential penalties? From my corner, it obviously smells like it.

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MY PERSONAL THANK-YOU. On this Memorial Day, I give a large shout out to the men and women of our military. Their sacrifices help keep America free. Thank you for all you do.

Tough on Cheaters?

NCAA President Mark Emmert said that he wants his organization to become tougher on cheaters. I agree. The president can start his mission with a school not far from his office—Ohio State.

Did you see in the news last week that Ohio State is closely monitoring the purchase of 50 cars by athletes and relatives? The news out of Columbus lately seems always negative.

If I was the NCAA, I would have a huger surveillance camera put in the Ohio State athlete offices. They probably already have placed one there.

Ohio State knows it’s on thin ice. The NCAA has taken much criticism regarding its handling of the Buckeyes. Therefore, Ohio State is pleading for mercy and/or checking out car purchases.

It will be extremely interesting to learn what penalties the NCAA gives Ohio State. The college football world is watching. If the NCAA really wants to come down on cheaters, they certainly have an opportunity to make the Buckeyes poster boys.

Will Ohio State Ever Lose?

It’s been since the mid-70s that college basketball has had an undefeated college men’s Division I team. Bobby Knight directed Indiana to a 32-0 mark in the 1975-76 season.

That’s about 35 years folks. That shows you how difficult perfection in basketball is.

Well, don’t look now, but the Ohio State Buckeyes could be knocking on that undefeated door.

The Buckeyes are 24-0 heading into next Saturday’s game at Wisconsin.

Ohio State has a combination of veteran players and young ones. My favorite is freshman Jared Sullinger. This youth in a man’s body (6-9, 280) is a beast. As they say, “he got game.”

Coach Thad Matta had fielded some outstanding teams in the past, but this could be his best one. In an era of parity in college hoops, the Buckeyes stand above this season.

There are dangers ahead in protecting the blemish-free season. Wisconsin and Purdue are tied for second in the Big Ten behind Ohio State. Besides the Badger road game, the Buckeyes must oppose Purdue in Indiana, Feb. 20. With the home crowd against them and the target on their back, the Buckeyes could go down once and maybe twice.

But if Ohio State can win at those places, the momentum for undefeated talk will grow.

At least, they aren’t talking spring football so much in Columbus, Ohio these days. The hoop guys are stealing the headlines for a change.