APFor the first time since he exited Ohio State in disgrace and under a cloud of controversy, the Sweatervest has returned to Ohio Stadium.
Between the first and second quarters of The Game between Ohio State and Michigan, the Buckeyes honored the 10-year anniversary of their 2002 BcS title team. The coach of that team, Jim Tressel, had been rumored to be hesitant to take part in the ceremony due to the circumstances surrounding his departure, although several ex-players had been privately and publicly urging their former coach to take part.
The urging apparently had an impact.
As dozens of players from that team locked arms ahead of the between-quarters ceremony, Tressel was front and center in the group. Taking the field to thunderous applause and cheers, Tressel was then raised atop his former players’ shoulders, further strengthening the din inside the Horseshoe.
If there was any doubt how the fans of the flagship football program feel about the deposed coach, the moment erased it.
It’s ironic, though, that this season happens to fall on the 10th anniversary of the program’s last BcS championship and affords Tressel the opportunity to make a ceremonious and triumphant return. While Ohio State is 11-0 heading into the rivalry game, they are ineligible for the postseason thanks in large part to the lies and cover-up perpetrated by Tressel.
Yes, the man almost solely responsible for denying OSU the opportunity to match that ’02 team’s feat is honored in Ohio Stadium. Ironic indeed.
I’m sure Terry Porter was there to give Tressel the last minute boost he needed.
Maybe the stupidist thing I’ve heard. Hey, they should have played ‘hail to the thief’ and brought Pryor back as well.
I mean the guy who caused your team to be out of a National Champ picture and not even a conference contender and you honor him. I must be drunk but its only 10:30 am.
Considering we as TOSU fans understand it was all over some BS tattoo crap yes we still respect the vest and all hes done for us. It Was a really great moment seeing the Vest and that championship team. It Wouldnt have been right without the Vest
Well said! Go bucks!
What a classless act. Bring back a lying cheat. Ohio fan should be ashamed!
LOL @ OSU fans honoring this guy. pretty much tells you all you need to know about that program and its fans. keep it fraudulent, OSU!
You are all stupid. Because his bonehead players needed ink so they sold some memorabilia….come to rocky top mr. Tressel. Don’t listen to these clowns…I for one would welcome a proven winner with open arms..just not petrino…cheatin SOB
Even as a Michigan fan, I find it tough not to respect Jim Tressel. He was always humble and represented OSU well. However, the timing of celebrating his time at OSU today is questionable…
melonheadsdaddy says:
Nov 24, 2012 1:51 PM
come to rocky top mr. Tressel. Don’t listen to these clowns…I for one would welcome a proven winner with open arms..
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No, just no. We here at UT already have enough problems.
You and Tressel can take your forbidden “man love” elsewhere.
Sorry to interject a fact in this discussion, but he wasn’t fired for the players getting tats, he was fired for LYING point blank to those investigating it, and going to great lengths to cover it up… you know, a matter of INTEGRITY, or the complete lack of same. If he’d told the truth, like a MAN would have, y’all would be going to the national title game, no doubt… this is NOT on those kids it’s on Jim Tressell, and him alone.
Seems like the worst possible karma to have him there, but the greater pain would be to go undefeated in the Little 12 and have to stay home because you’ve been sold down the river by the LYING FRAUD you’re celebrating today in Columbus, and here.
Tressel lied you stupid supporters! If you accept lies,
then you have revealed yourselves to be the ignorant
fools you are. You could at least keep your stupidity
to yourself…..
Hasn’t each program that he has coached at gotten into trouble with the NCAA? Also, he got fired lying and trying to cover things up.
They should be honoring the ref that threw the phantom interference flag that gave them the game.
Today we win our Bowl game! Today we win our National Championship! Today we maintain our fraudulent small-mindedness! Go The!
Well Mr. Taylor
How ironic is 12-0?
Go peddle your hate elsewhere.
Jim Tressel is a 1st class individual. Hate on, haters.
This is proof positive that Buckeye fans just “don’t get it.” They’re exulting a man who lost control of a program and is the SOLE reason they can’t even play in the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl.
Quit blaming the NCAA and petitioning the president, and take your punishment like with some class.
He should never be allowed to coach anywhere again.
The remembrance was the 10th anniversary of the ’02 team. Not what happened in 2010.
Tressel deserved to be there, and I was happy to see him.
I’m cool with staying home this year. Going undefeated helps that out a bit.
See you next year.
Wow. The OSU haters are madder than hell that a probationary season turned into undefeated and immortal.
You just watched the sacrificial beast mule-kick the knife-wielding preist straight in the jaw and then escape. And it bothers you deeply. But it doesn’t matter anymore. What’s done is done. 12-0 right now and forever. Tressel in 2010 means nothing in 2002, either.
Suck it, FOREVER. (But get medical treatment for that shattered jaw first.)
It’s not really a matter of being an OSU “hater” or supporter (I’m an OSU “family member” and a supporter). It’s a matter of manners. It was appropriate to honor the 2002 team, if you buy in to having some sort of between the quarters “honoring” for alums at every game (I think that it essentially being “Senior Day” is more than enough, honor the “old guys” at Homecoming).
The situation that OSU finds itself in this season happened on Tressel’s watch. Tressel should have politely declined to be part of the celebration, and let his players get all of of the glory. It was inappropriate.
That really says it all about Ohio State, does it not?
And the jokes write themselves..
Very awkward and uncomfortable moment today. Buckeye fans will now complain that the season is moving on without them, but have no problem cheering the man behind the lies that put them in this situation.
Tressel was caught cheating at YSU and caught lying at OSU. That’s a pattern of thinking you’re above rules. This was not about tattoos and free cars, this was always about a fake in a vest blatantly lying and getting caught.
I don’t see an issue with forgiveness. No point in burning the guy on a cross, which it seems many opposing fans think should happen. But if it makes you feel better about yourself, by all means, vent away.
@ernie – dude, go f@#$ yourself!
I was at the stadium today and it was a great moment and a well deserved ovation for the team and for Tressel. Yes, Jimmy Tressel messed big time and paid the price for it. That is not what today was about – it about honoring the 2002 championship team and Jimmy Tressel was a very large part of that. For those of you that don’t understand – nobody in the Buckeye Nation cares!
HUH? Buckeye fans, you do realize the main reason why you’re not playing for the BIGTEN title Saturday and a shot @Notre Dame is because of Tressl, right? He was resonsable for the lack of instatutional control. Jim also LIED to NCAA investigators to cover it up, just like he did @Youngstown St. And you give this guy a standing ovation? I hate OSU as much as the rest of the BIGTEN, but come on, ass clowns like Jim Tressl you should Personna Non Gratta, to show you’re serious about compliance.
Regardless of how we feel about what happened in 2010 (which is quite a complicated issue), this was about honoring the 2002 championship run, and he was a big part of that. He deserved his part of the ovation.
And now with Urban Meyer at the helm, we move on. And yes, we stay home this year. It is what it is.
I love all the anti-OSU sentiment, calling the fans ignorant an oblivious, when just the opposite is true. Those who scold and besmirch Jim Tressel’s character are just regurgitating spoon fed information from the puppets on ESPN, national news programs, and whoever else may have weighed in on the issue.
Tat-gate happened. That was on the players. They should have known better. THOSE PLAYERS are the root of the problem.
On the surface, yes, the NCAA handed down sanctions due to the lying and covering up involved with the improper benefits. Here’s where the lot of you stopped paying attention to the story, and this is also where there is a big difference between what you all perceive and what OSU fans truly know.
First, I’d like to point out why the issue was covered up. Was it to save jobs? No. Was it to give Tress the best competitive advantage against opponents? Hah. Not at all. Was it to try and put these young men into the best position to carve out their future plans? Absolutely. Tress did not need these guys to cement his legacy, or to help him be heralded as one of the best coaches in Buckeye/Big Ten/BCS-era history. It was all done for THEIR benefit, to give THEM the best opportunities down the road.
Likewise, the coverup did not start and stop at just the coach. You can bet your money maker the whole program knew what was going on. Tress stood up and took the fall. He shouldered all the blame, and let others keep their jobs. He took it all on because he could — his resolve and integrity were THAT strong to withstand even this egregious scandal. He lost his job so that others may keep theirs.
Should he have been honored today? You’re damn right.