In addition to a five-game suspension and $250,000 fine, former Ohio State coach Jim Tressel’s punishment from the school for his cover-up/lies regarding violations committed by a handful of his players also included having to attend an NCAA rules compliance seminar in Tampa, Fla..
His resignation late last month, however, caused a change in plans.
Tressel’s attorney, Gene Marsh, told the Columbus Dispatch over the weekend that the former Buckeyes coach opted not to attend the seminar, which was scheduled for last week. Marsh, the paper writes, “said Tressel likely would have drawn a great deal of attention from the media and others because of his recent resignation and Terrelle Pryor’s decision last week to forgo his senior season, and he could have become a daily distraction.”
Former Michigan football coach Rich Rodriguez and current UConn men’s basketball Jim Calhoun, whose respective programs were recently slapped by the NCAA, did attend.
An attorney whose firm deal with individuals with NCAA issues and was a speaker at the seminar told the Dispatch that he advises his clients to attend such meetings if they entertain hopes of coaching again.
“I deal with coaches, too, in my practice,” Michael Buckner told the paper. “I always tell them, ‘You need to self-impose that penalty. You need to go to the seminar. If you want to continue to coach - yeah, we’re probably going to dispute some of these things, but you need to show the (NCAA) committee you are willing to learn new things, that you are humbled.”
Speaking of the NCAA, Marsh stated that it’s uncertain whether or not Tressel will appear in front of the Committee on Infractions to answer the Associations allegations against him. The school’s hearing before the COI is scheduled for Aug. 12.