Jim Tressel: Classy Coach or Downright Cheater?

On any given Saturday, you may have seen him walk the sidelines of the stadium known as "The Hoseshoe" in Columbus, Ohio. As he slowly strides back in forth behind the chalk lines of the football field you may have also taken note of his studious attire, wearing his signature white dress shirt with a tie covered by a red sweater vest which bares the Ohio State and Nike logos sewn onto its chest. His professor-like appearance finishes off with a pair of tinted spectacles. Does this sound like a football coach that would take risks at the consequence of losing everything? Would you believe it if you caught wind of someone in this stature possibly cheating to gain an advantage for his own football team? If you answered yes to both of these questions, then you have probably heard the stunning news about the Ohio State Buckeyes' head football coach Jim Tressel. If you answered no, then please, read on.

According to a report published by ESPN.com, Tressel received an e-mail in April 2010 informing him that more than one of his players was caught up in a federal drug-trafficking case and the sale of memorabilia which constituted as the breaking of NCAA rules. Tressel's response to this e-mail: "I will get on it ASAP." It certainly would have boded well for the coach if he had acted on that bold statement. Instead, he now faces a quarter-million dollar fine and a two game suspension for failing to notify the school or the athletic director about his players' involvement. Like it or not, rules are rules, and standout quarterback Terrelle Pryor was one of those players who sold his jerseys, championship rings and trophies to a local tattoo parlor owner. Pryor and others have since been suspended for half of the 2011 season, but played in 2010.

Now, back to Tressel. The article on ESPN.com goes on to say that the coach never once considered resigning his post in the wake of this scandal. Furthermore, it was reported that university athletic director Gene Smith never seriously considered firing Tressel even though he violated a portion of his contract which states that he must immediately report any (which is underlined) information that pertains to violations of NCAA, Big Ten, or Ohio State bylaws and rules.

Was consideration to terminating Jim Tressel at the Ohio State University never given by the AD because he thought the coach made a mistake? I think not. Let's go with the cold hard facts that since Tressel has been the coach of the Buckeyes, he has nabbed 7 conference championships, been to 10 bowl games (every year he has coached there) and also has a national title in the school's trophy case. It would certainly appear on the front of the suspension that the six figure fine was meant to overshadow the measly two game suspension. In most cases, NFL players, coaches and organizations are rarely slapped with fines of that proportion. And in regard to his contract as an employee of the university, the severity of the e-mail that Tressel received last April isn't exactly the type of news a head coach would overlook or forget about. This recent news story has been referred to as a "scandal" because that is precisely its nature. Without those wrongdoing players, Tressel knew he did not stand a chance against his Big Ten conference opponents, let alone contend for a National Championship. His actions were quite deliberate and obvious. The cliché goes that cheaters never prosper. But in the case of Ohio State's football program, they have. Cheaters stick together, which is why Ohio State is leaving its athletic director and head football coach on the books for next season. If the NCAA cannot see through this slap on the wrist and in turn come down with a harsher penalty, I will be outraged. As should the rest of the world of college football fanatics.