Were the Tattoos worth it, Buckeyes!!!

I originally was going to write up an article on the craziness of Charlie Sheen but I will on Friday and trust me it'll be good, but now I'm writing on something that upsets me as a fan of THE OHIO STATE BUCKEYES!!! As you all may have know that 5 players this past December got suspendedfor selling their jerseys, gold pants, etc for cash, one of the players was star QB Terrell Pryor. They ended up playing in the Sugar Bowl and won so they are coming back to school to take the punishment and finish school. So it's all over, WRONG!!!

http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/sports/stories/2011/03/09/tressel-i-let-some-people-down.html?sid=101



We found out that Coach Jim Tressel according found out before OhioState did back in April when a lawyer e-mailed him about federalaccusations against this Edward Rifle who was buying these items fromthe players for tattoos and that this man was under federal indictment.In the 2nd e-mail the lawyer asked to keep this confidential or private.Tressel was scared as to who to forward this information to despite thefact that there is a legal offices on campus at Ohio State. My problem with this is why did the lawyer want to keep it confidentialdespite the fact he told Tressel in another e-mail 2 weeks after thefirst one? Ohio State did hold their press conference last night discussing Tressel's 2 game suspension and $250,000 fine for failing to inform themor the NCAA. Despite the self imposed suspensions they still praised forthe job he had done at Ohio State. Here are a few articles from the Columbus Dispatch giving their opinions on this.

http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/sports/stories/2011/03/09/no-one-to-share-the-blame-with-tressel.html?sid=101

http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/sports/stories/2011/03/09/this-was-not-the-time-for-compliments.html?sid=101

http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/sports/stories/2011/03/09/tressel-shows-some-strain-on-the-hot-seat.html?sid=101




I really needed some time to step back after the press conferences, andthen hear what the national and local media and other people's opinions to form my own. I can tell you from a diehard obsessive Buckeye Fan like myself I am terribly disappointed on how Tressel handled this situation. As a fan I'm heartbroken about it. I've been one of the biggest Jim Tressel defenders and fans since he came on campus. 7 Big Ten Championships, 5 BCS Bowl Wins, 9-1 record against Michigan, and a National Championship in his 10 years. He has also written 2 books The Winner's Manual and Life Promises for Success which show what type of character he was. I think after this his reputation as god fearing, well mannered, sweater-vest wearing, coach has taken a fall.

Many of the national media and local media ripped on him and Ohio State kind of like they should. The press conference almost turned into a love fest with E Gordon Gee and Gene Smith saying what has happened but dispite what happened still praise Tressel for what he has done and is still the coach. That may be fine and dandy but still no excuse for what has happened and I think there will be more punishment to come.

There are many grey areas also to this story. If the lawyer who e-mailed Tressel wanted this federal investigation that involved 2 Ohio State players with this drug dealer remain confidental then why e-mail him. Why not do to the legal office of Ohio State University also and the athletic director which is what Tressel should have done in the first place to let them know then in April instead of finding out in December.

I still like Jim Tressel. He has made a huge mistake, we all have some time in our lives. He may have been at a standstill with what to do. He thought he was doing the right thing to protect his players or as everyone could mostly see it he was protecting his players so that they can play and the Buckeyes could still win which is what an outsider may proceive it. He still going to be punished with 2 games and $250,000 but it could be more by the NCAA.

 If I were Jim Tressel I would try to practice a little of what I have been preaching in the books that he has written and try to learn from it and become a better off from it. It's best to root for him to succeed not coming from as a fan but as a christian and a human being that makes mistakes just like the rest of us.

I'm Dustin Whitehair (D-Money) and that is my TWO CENTS!!!