The Problem with College Football- The Jim Tressel Chapter- Part 2

To be perfectly honest, I thought the whole Jim Tressel situation had blown over. That was until I heard the whole ugly sequence once again on my car radio on my way home from work. In case you have been living under a large rock, here is the sequence of events that is dogging the Ohio State legend.

1 Terrell Pryor and friends decide to get tattoos at a local parlor. In exchange for the tattoos, Pryor decided to sign a few jerseys.

2. On April 2,2010, Columbus,Ohio attorney Christopher Cicero ( a former walk on Ohio State football player in his younger days ) decides to e-mail Tressel that the Feds have raided the house of the tatoo shop owner-Eddie Rife. In that raid, the Feds found a plethora of autographed Ohio State jerseys, helmets, cleats, etc...

3. Tressel responded to Cicero that he would get on this ASAP! Tressel then failed to notify anyone else in the Ohio State Athletic Department... but rather forwarded the e-mail to Jeanette, PA businessman Ted Sarniak who is a mentor to Terrell Pryor.

4. In September 2010, Jim Tressel signed a mandatory and routine NCAA compliance form that acknowledged that Tressel did not know of any NCAA violations

5. Fast forward to December and tatoogate is in full ink!

Jim Tressel has always been an inspiration. His matter of fact style has always transcended the sport. Tressel has always preached character. This was part and parcel of his success while at Youngstown State University and his many 1AA National Championships. In the past ten years as the Head Coach of the Buckeyes, he has amassed many victories over Michigan and has an incredible 106-22 record with a 2002 National Championship. These are feats of a disciplined coach and program- not that of a cheat.

Do I believe that Jim Tressel lied to the NCAA about the scope of this scandal. Yes! Do I beleive that Jim Tressel should be punished? Yes... but the punishment must fit the crime. The only crime that has been committed has been the crime of trust with the fans of both Collegiate Football and Ohio State. There will always be a patina of skepticism much like the skepticism that falls over unfaithful couples. It is a stain that can never be removed from the fabric. But... it can be overcome.

I thought it was curious that Tressel had requested a stiffer penalty than what he received. But- looking at this situation, I believe he understood the gravity of this situation and wanted it to "go away". If he were a lesser coach or even John Cooper, he would have been fired. But Tressel is legendary and I believe that he hoped that proposing a stiffer penalty on himself would help the situation "go away"

The only way out there to make things right in the land of Buckeyes is for Tressel to get everyone on the same page at Ohio State and take charge of what happened. He must stand tall- like the stoic vested general that he is and admit to his transgressions. But- he must also use this bully pulpit to help forge new rules for NCAA Sports. There is no reason why a college player cannot sell his autograph or even his personal property. It is perfectly legal for the players parents to do this, but not the player. The NCAA is full of archaic and questionable rules. There must be reform and there is no better person to lead the charge for reform than Jim Tressel. I find it very odd that Coach Kelly from Notre Dame is not on the hot seat for the death of a Notre Dame student who was ordered by Coach Kelly to videotape practice on top of a high lift during a windstorm.

Tressel must take the high road and lead the charge for NCAA reform. Yes, the stain of what he did can never be removed, but it should stand as a reminder to us all that the system needs to be changed!