Courtesy of Flickr Creative CommonsOne year ago today, as I woke up in the late morning, I learned that Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel had resigned. A couple of months before, when the news that Tressel had lied about rules violations became public knowledge, in a press conference, a reporter asked if Tressel was going to be dismissed. With all of the public savvy of Joe Biden, university president E. Gordon Gee infamously quipped, “I’m just hoping that the coach doesn’t dismiss me.” Later, Tressel coached in the spring game, and preparations were underway for the 2011 season.
But on Memorial Day, suddenly, the era was over. It was a dark day for the program and for the fans. For a decade, Tressel had been a source of stability. It had seemed like he was weathering the scandal. But then, suddenly, it was over. (more…)
On Saturday, the Ohio State basketball team lost to Michigan State by 10, snapping a 39 game home winning streak. The Bucks shot just 26 percent from the field, their worst home shooting night in 15 years. It was their third loss in conference play, and despite the fact that this team is still ranked in the top six, I think their longterm prospects of success in March are highly questionable.
Don’t get me wrong. I believe that this team is going to continue to succeed and win games. I still think that they will win the conference and that they will be a 1 or a 2 seed in the NCAA tournament,. I’m not worried about any of that. I’m not suggesting their suddenly going to tank. (more…)
It was so metaphorical. The two offensive turnovers for Ohio State came from seniors Daniel Herron and DeVier Posey. They were two players who contributed to the tattoo scandal, and whose suspensions were extended past their initial penalties when news of further NCAA rules violations came to light.
It was their actions that helped contribute to the Ohio State bowl ban for next season. As they each fumbled offensive possessions away, they were assisting in giving up this bowl game, just as their rules violations helped to give up next year’s bowl game. (more…)
Tomorrow afternoon, the final chapter of another Ohio State season will close. In terms of production, it has been a team far removed from that to which Buckeye fans are accustomed.
Luke Fickell will lead the team in his last game in what was a short tenure as head coach. It began in the spring of 2011 when he was named as the interim head coach who would lead the team in the (at the time) five game abscence of the suspended Jim Tressel. As information came to light which proved that Trsssel had lied to the NCAA, he had no choice but to resign at the end of May, and Fickell was named the coach for the whole season. (more…)
