With each passing hour, the consequences of Jim Tressel’s *ahem* “resignation” at Ohio State continue to mount -- the latest being that the university isn’t contractually obligated to pay Tressel a dime of his $3.5 million annual salary following the “mutually agreed upon decision”.
Following up on the original Associated Press story, Rusty Miller writes that Tressel’s contract with Ohio State very clearly states that The Vest “shall not be entitled to receive any further compensation or benefits under this agreement [his contract]” if he were to resign -- which he did. Technically.
Under that notion, Tressel can become an associate athletic director at a salary of $150,000 per year, but Ohio State can void that portion of the agreement, which was added to Tressel’s contract in 2010. Given the state of the program today, though, it’s safe to say both parties just need to move on.
For the record, Ohio State spokesman Jim Lynch said Monday he was unaware if Tressel’s resignation would allow for a buyout.
It wouldn’t have mattered either way. If Tressel was fired with cause, which lying to the NCAA and his employer over NCAA violations would certainly constitute, he would not be eligible for a buyout.
Tressel’s contract ran through 2014, and two months ago, it appeared Ohio State president E. Gordon Gee was convinced Tressel would be in Columbus for those remaining three years.
Apparently, so did Tressel.
When asked in March during an initial press conference if he had thought about resigning, Tressel simply answered “No.”