Ohio State Buckeye Football Coach Jim Tressel Resigns after Months of NCAA Turmoil & Scandal over Player Benefits

Once again we are witness to the cover up is usually always worse than the crime, especial in this case with Tressel and Ohio St.

Ohio State Buckeye coach Jim Tressel is out after 10 years in Columbus. Tressel announced his resignation today amid the ongoing scandal and turmoil in Buckeye nation over the fact that OSU players received benefits from the selling of their memorabilia.

As we stated when this first surfaced, not only did the NCAA/BCS act irresponsibly in not suspending all that were involved for the Sugar Bowl, this issue was far from over. The story and punishment seemed far to lame and there appeared to be much more to it than was being put forth. As it turns out, Tressel lied and covered up the events to the NCAA. How many times does it happen that one cannot lie to the NCAA?

“After meeting with university officials, we agreed that it is in the best interest of Ohio State that I resign as head football coach,” Tressel said in a statement released by the university. “The appreciation that (wife) Ellen and I have for the Buckeye Nation is immeasurable.”

Assistant coach Luke Fickell will be the coach for the 2011 season. In the end, Tressel’s 106-22-0 record at Ohio State, the eight Bowl Championship Series games in his 10 years and the outright dominate over arch-rival Michigan Wolverines was not enough to save his job. Tressel will be remembered for the cover up of the crime.

Look for the 2011 season to be a throw away for Ohio St. Also, the NCAA will most likely apply some pretty hefty sanctions on the program and also look for the 2010 season wins to be forfeited.

Of course there is nothing to the timing that Tressel would resign on a holiday weekend and right before a huge Sports Illustrated cover story coming out this week. There was no other choice than to get out of Dodge Columbus. Isn’t it going to be interesting after the 5 game suspension, how Terelle Pryor will be received in the Big Horse Shoe. Imagine that a football coach would be so loyal in protecting his players that he lied to the NCAA. Special thanks to Pryor and the other players who felt the need to sell their memorabilia for $’s and put Tressel in the position in the first place.

UPDATE I: This can explain why Tressel stepped down when he did. Sports Illustrated investigated the Jim Tressel at “The Ohio State” University and the pattern of violations in the football program. So much for that image of “integrity” that so many had of Tressel. SI delves into OSU under Tressel and what really went on as everyone praised him as a model coach.

The character traits that have made Jim Tressel a successful football coach and a beloved figure in Ohio are numerous and frequently cited. Former NFL coach Tony Dungy has praised Tressel’s “integrity” and said he is the kind of man you’d want your son to play for. Eddie DeBartolo, the former 49ers owner, has said that Tressel’s “steady” demeanor and knack for relating to young men reminded him of Hall of Fame coach Bill Walsh.