Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Shut Up And Go Away
Jim Tressel, the head football coach at The Ohio State University, wants everyone to know how sorry he is for embarrassing the university by showing the public the specially designed helmet his players will wear this spring to honor the men and women in our military. This guy just doesn't get it and should just shut up and go away. The once proud example of all that is good about college athletics is now the poster child for all that is wrong with it. For starters, he covered up the mess created by some of his star players who sold game jerseys to make some extra money. Tressel was too busy trying to win another national championship while hoping to secure another pay raise to discipline the players when it was first brought to his attention. Next, when it became public knowledge what his players did, Tressel denied any knowledge. He then, with his boss' approval, played the five players in their BCS bowl game to help maximize ticket sales and revenue to the university rather than suspending them like he should have. Instead, the five stars were informed they would be suspended for the first five games of next season even though there was nothing preventing these young men from leaving school and turning their talents to the NFL. Then we find out Tressel lied to the NCAA and his University and actually was aware of the transgressions committed by his players. His punishment was swift; a two game suspension next season. No big deal because their first two games are against teams I could beat if I coached the Buckeyes. Seeing a huge public outcry over his lame punishment, Tressel regrouped and asked the university to make his suspension the same length as his players. Sounds noble but it was actually done with the hope that this would keep the NCAA from dropping the hammer on him and the school causing the program to face NCAA probation penalties. It was only then Tressel was made to apologize to the Buckeye supporters. We just do not know if the apology was for his wrong doings or for getting caught. Now his latest move is to show the world what an honorable man he is by trying to give our military special recognition for their service to our country. Give me a break. Do Buckeye fans buy this? You actually have to be intelligent to go to The Ohio State, unless of course you play football. If Tressel had an ounce of honor, he would have resigned long ago. Lucky for him, his employer does not hold him to the same standard as the military would. If Tressel had been an officer who pulled what he has done, he would have faced court marshalling and possibly time in the Brigg. Tressel forgets most of the young men who play for him would have few options besides military service if they did not excel on the gridiron. Coaches like Tressel, Brian Kelly at Notre Dame, and countless others love to view themselves as generals who lead their men into battle when in reality they are only playing a shell game with the public. Jim Tressel needs to shut his mouth, take his punishment, and then if he had an ounce of dignity, resign from The Ohio State. Maybe then someone with a real sense of values will replace him, someone who actually practices what he preaches.
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