Stupid

[Spence]

I know the reason behind the rule. Selling them for what they are worth - not as memorabilia, but as a merchandise item, should be allowed. If it was bought for $1000 is should be able to be sold for $800-$1200 dollars.

I do have a problem with selling stuff like that from a right and wrong standpoint and I think they will be sorry one day, but those guys have a handful of those rings. These guys don't get that most players that play in the conference don't get one championship ring. Most Ohio State players don't leave with more than one. They have an arrogance that comes with success.

[GoBoilers]

I know the reason behind the rule. Selling them for what they are worth - not as memorabilia, but as a merchandise item, should be allowed. If it was bought for $1000 is should be able to be sold for $800-$1200 dollars.

I do have a problem with selling stuff like that from a right and wrong standpoint and I think they will be sorry one day, but those guys have a handful of those rings. These guys don't get that most players that play in the conference don't get one championship ring. Most Ohio State players don't leave with more than one. They have an arrogance that comes with success.

Yup, and a rule is a rule whether we like it or not. I just believe the NCAA is out of control. If you want to cheat it isn't hard. Just drop an envelope with cash in his mailbox-no return address.

[Jason G]

So, how should an Akron guy like me feel about this?

Now they will say it is because of the suspensions when we, the 120th ranked out of 120 teams, go in and knock them off in the opener next year.

In reality, it will still be the biggest blowout we have suffered to OSU since Goliath started "letting" us play them again.The previous two meetings had final scores of 28-14 and 20-2 but the 2011 Zips will not be as good as those Akron squads were.
For what its worth, I do think the Toledo game could be more interesting than it would have been otherwise however, especially if OSU has a big 40+ point win over a MAC school already under their belt.

Michigan State already had OSU circled on their calendar because of this year, now they may be favored.

[strawman]

Will they really not bolt for the NFL and uphold this "pledge" to return? Thoughts?

[donovan]

Will they really not bolt for the NFL and uphold this "pledge" to return? Thoughts?

Depends, I suppose how the pledge was recorded. To my understanding, contracts, etc. refusing a person to make a living, eg. many employment contracts, are not that enforceable. What I think this does is take OSU off the hook. I don't think they give a dang what happens to the kids next year.

[Spence]

Will they really not bolt for the NFL and uphold this "pledge" to return? Thoughts?

I think it is so much crap so Tress can justify playing them. I am really disgusted by this. The only reason a couple of them would stay is if they think there will be an NFL lockout. A couple will not jump because they need to raise their draft stock. This is just something that was set up by the school to justify the coach playing the players.

[Derek]

Speaking of stupid and the NFL lockout....It would be REALLY stupid of AJ Green to return to the worst coached offense on the planet.

1st and 25, and you run the ball???????????

[donovan]

Some issues do not seem to die.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=6191585&campaign=rss&source=ESPNHeadlines

[Spence]

Some issues do not seem to die.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=6191585&campaign=rss&source=ESPNHeadlines

This is new. If true, he should be fired. You can't tell kids to do the right thing on one hand and then sweep things under the rug. He has been good for the grad rates and his players have the highests GPA since Woody, so I hate to see him go, but if this is true you can't keep him. They have kicked it around here for a few days, nothing from the school as of now.

[Spence]

The school is holding a press conference between 6 and 7 tonight. Apparently Coach T, Gene Smith, and G.G.Gee all will be there. We will know more tonight I guess.

[billybud]

So Tressel lied...he (and thus the school) knew when they said they didn't......the cover up is worse than the action by far.

[Spence]

He definitely lied. His story is that he was asked by an attorney in a Federal investigation envolving drug trafficking not to say anything. The reason he was contacted was the investigation they believed envolved two of his players (which ended up to be the tattoo thing, but not any drug involvement).

My problem, the thing that keeps me from saying - ok he had a good reason to keep it to himself - is that when it was over he still didn't say anything. He didn't give any reason to us why he kept quiet. He did, according to Gene Smith, tell the NCAA and the school in the investigation. I guess we will find out how valid his reason is by how the NCAA treats the violation. If they accept the school's punishment, then maybe there was a valid reason. If they expand the punishment - well then - I guess I believe he should be fired, along with Gene Smith for not doing the right thing in the first place.

I like the man - Jim Tressel - he does lots of good works around Ohio. He gave lots of time and raised a ton of money for the disease that afflicts my daughter. He graduates players. The collective GPA of his team is above 3.00 - one of the best in the B-10, if not the nation. He represents the university on that level really well. People that I know that know him, say he a good guy. I don't like his coaching style much. He wins so what do I know there. I really do not like him talking in circles in interview and avoiding questions even when they are stupid questions. He didn't do that in this interview, but Smith kept cutting him off when he was asked questions that would really shed some light on what happened. At some point it will come out, but I don't like the seemingly yearly rules violations that have happened every year under this coach and this AD. Maybe it's time to cut ties.


Here is the story ---- http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=6194162&campaign=rss&source=ESPNHeadlines

[donovan]

He does not deserved to be fired. No punk college football player should take down a man who has in the past shown integrity. What it shows is how convoluted the system is. FBI, CIA, NCAA, KGB,KFC...how can anyone keep it straight. I will say that if he was told some fourth tier DE was involved in something, he might not remember, but when it is your Star QB..you would remember, so the FBI thing may have credence. Way out of hand.

[Spence]

He does not deserved to be fired. No punk college football player should take down a man who has in the past shown integrity. What it shows is how convoluted the system is. FBI, CIA, NCAA, KGB,KFC...how can anyone keep it straight. I will say that if he was told some fourth tier DE was involved in something, he might not remember, but when it is your Star QB..you would remember, so the FBI thing may have credence. Way out of hand.

He should have, at least, went to Gene Smith or Gee and reported what was going on when it was going on. I'll wait to see if the NCAA raises the punishment. That, I think, will be telling. Not sure one of the players was in the original investigation was Pryor. We are hearing it wasn't, but again, no real source yet. The federal investigation is over, the truth will come out because it will be a matter of public record. If he was holding back because of an investigation and a possible threat on a player's life - then screw the NCAA and take the punishment and go on. If he did it for self serving reasons - then he doesn't need to keep his job. Whether or not the system is fair has nothing to do with it. If it's not fair then work to change it. Until then, follow the rules.

[Spence]

Here are the emails, which further muddle it for me.

http://www.610wtvn.com/pages/template/tressels_emails_march2011.pdf