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Jim Tressel Resigns From Ohio State: Reactions From Arizona Cardinals

So while I was packing up and then driving home from a weekend getaway, apparently there was a big story that broke and Ohio State University head coach Jim Tressel resigned amidst an NCAA investigation of inappropriate benefits to his Buckeye players, namely many players over the course of several years trading their OSU gear and memorabilia for tattoos, a specific rule that college athletes cannot break. 

As for how this is connected to the Arizona Cardinals, there is one prominent player on he team who played under Tressel as a Buckeye -- Beanie Wills. There are also several players (Steve Breaston, Jay Feely, Gabe Watson and Alan Branch)  who attended rival Michigan. The resignation prompted dome reactions on Twitter. 

Star-divide

The reaction from Wells is that of a guy who loves Tressel, and understandably so. He said this via his Twitter page:

I don't understand how some can knowingly do something against the grain and then when it doesn't go their way they get to snitching! Do they not understand that only society will suffer more not having a Jim Tressel around? He's more than a coach to alot of guys!

Alot of the players that came thru OSU are like myself and don't come from the ideal situation and when u have a guy like tress that steps in as a father, mentor, friend and teacher! It only helps the maturation process from a boy to man! And that alone is worth more than winning any football games! 

It's not his fault at all that he had a few go stray out of hundreds!!! U check the success rate of the people that have been around him!!!! And for those of u who say he lied!! U mean to tell me u wouldn't protect ur child by any means???? If Not! Some parent u r!!!

I know one thing and that is he was a great man more than coach that taught alot of u's about life and it's lessons! This will just be another obstacle he will over come and add on to his testimony!

Michigan alum Steve Breaston referred to the "flight of shame" Tressel would be taking, but took a lighter approach, saying that (as he had taken a five-game unpaid suspension already), noting via Twitter, "I mean (he) wouldn't be getting paid right now anyway."

Jay Feely, who never seems to be short on comments on Twitter was more reserved and simply retweeted some OSU reactions. 

As great a guy as Tressel must have been, if there is evidence that he in fact was hiding things that his players were doing, then he should be punished. However, he is a great coach and we should also look at the former players and who all was changed because of him. 

College football is not better off, but it was the right thing for Tressel to do, considering the options.

It's too bad that people we admire have to go through things like what Tressel is doing. 

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I dont think he was the great of a guy.

I dont know the guy, but from the facts that have come out, he doesnt seem like a good dude. He let players receive improper benefits, and then lied to the NCAA about it. Now the reports say as many as 40 players were breaking the rules. 40 out of what? 80 players? thats half of the team. Now i know that OSU is not the only team that breaks the rules, but they got caught, so they gotta pay. They should be banned from bowl games for 5 years, and lose scholarships. Also i suspect the terrelle Pryor situation will get ugly lol.

by forget on May 31, 2011 11:05 AM MDT reply actions  

How did he "let" them recieve improper benefits?

They got rings and such for playing in Bowl games and they took them (their own property) to others outside of his control and they traded them or sold them. That doesn’t make Tressel a bad guy in any way. The fact that he tried to keep it under wraps and didn’t report it is Tressels mistake. He tried to protect and shelter them, for their and his benefit… But he couldn’t prevent them from selling their own property. This whole NCAA rule is horse sh!t. Poor college kids are given things for being in a bowl game, and being poor and the things having value they sold them. Its an idiotic rule from an idiotic institution (NCAA). Tressel made the mistake many parents do… They tried to protect their kids from getting punished, when punishment is a product of a kids mistake. When I got into trouble, my parents told me I did the crime, so you have to do the time…

I understand it against the rules and they broke the rule, but how can you blame the kids, much less the coach? OSU had a huge compliance division for the program and the players knew what they were doing was against the rules, but being poor did it anyway. Go figure…

I’m a UW Badger fan, so OSU getting in trouble is OK w/ me, but the fact the players (and their coaches) are in trouble for selling their own property is ASSININE!

Its akin to giving a crack addict the crack and then telling them they can’t use it… Then expecting them to comply. LOL

You've been Stroh'd™!!!

by Strohman on May 31, 2011 2:33 PM MDT up reply actions   1 recs

Strohman

I know we dont see eye to eye on a whole lot but I think you are spot on!! Good Post!

by Nick Thoreson on May 31, 2011 2:56 PM MDT up reply actions  

Agreed

Lifelong Arizona Cardinals/Phoenix Suns/Chicago Bears fan [I have always lived in Arizona, dad is from Chicago].

by JoeCB1991 on May 31, 2011 3:44 PM MDT up reply actions  

he "let" them receive improper benefits by not reporting ANY of the players that broke the rules.

he obviously didnt frown upon players breaking the rules. Whether the rules are right or not is another matter. But OSU should definitely get a more severe punishment than USC, the NCAA needs to show these schools that they arent messing around.

by forget on May 31, 2011 4:19 PM MDT up reply actions  

Like I said...

Tressels mistake is not reporting it. Don’t tell me the players didn’t know it was against the NCAA rules. They are schooled on what they can and can’t do… They knew they were breaking the rules. And the NCAA will certainly punish them and it will be similar to USC and maybe worse. That doesn’t change anything…

But giving a crack head, the crack he needs and telling them not to use it is Assinine. And thats basically what the NCAA is doing w/ student athletes. Here’s a ring and bunch of gifts for playing in a bowl game. But even tho your poor, you have to keep your property and you can’t sell your Property to have some money to take your girlfriend out for a movie… Its just idiotic…

How does the NCAA have the right to tell anyone, they aren’t allowed to do whatever the hell they want w/ their OWN PROPERTY?!

You've been Stroh'd™!!!

by Strohman on May 31, 2011 5:25 PM MDT up reply actions  

Great post Strohman

Completely agreed.

Section 103, Row 19

by CardsFan08 on May 31, 2011 9:33 PM MDT up reply actions  

Facts need to be straight

Please before throwing out that Sweater Vest had this number of players taking benefits look at the sources. The supposed player that is from the SI article is speaking in confidentiality because he has ties to Ohio State(hmmm) and then the tattoo artist who is saying that there may have been 8 more players he tattooed has been fired by not only the one tattoo parlor from 2003-2005 incidents also was fired from the TAT5 scandal parlor for stealing, oh and not to mention that this guy is giving his story from PRISON! C’mon they have to make The Senator retire to save face but the guy is still a better Coach x and o’s wise and morally wise than easily 90% of all College Football. When you are at the top people want to see you come down(ala Tiger Woods) so of course he is getting attacked from all angles but please don’t listen to the Ray Smalls(kicked off the team) Tattoo Guy(In prison) Rose(Kicked off the team.) and an anonymous player who will not show his face because he is a coward. Let’s here Beanie, AJ Hawk, James Laurenitis, Nate Clements and Nick Mangold side of the story, you know people that would actually be credible.

by Nick Thoreson on May 31, 2011 1:36 PM MDT reply actions  

well obviously the happy players arent going to say anything

you’ll see how widespread these kind of things are at OSU once this investigation is over lol.

by forget on May 31, 2011 4:13 PM MDT up reply actions  

He seems like a good guy from everything I've heard about him

He does a lot for the community in Ohio, and like Beanie said he helps some of the disadvantaged players.

But, it was just a horrible decision to cover all of this up.

Lifelong Arizona Cardinals/Phoenix Suns/Chicago Bears fan [I have always lived in Arizona, dad is from Chicago].

by JoeCB1991 on May 31, 2011 1:45 PM MDT reply actions  

+1

Protecting players rather than playing it smart was his downfall.

by Nick Thoreson on May 31, 2011 2:54 PM MDT up reply actions  

I think he would have been fine if he just told the NCAA what was happening as soon as he found out

Lifelong Arizona Cardinals/Phoenix Suns/Chicago Bears fan [I have always lived in Arizona, dad is from Chicago].

by JoeCB1991 on May 31, 2011 3:43 PM MDT up reply actions  

if he told them what was happening

tressel probably wouldnt want to be there anymore. All past infractions would be uncovered, just like they are beginning to be uncovered now. The punishment for OSU will not be pretty. Tressel probably left so he can get a new job.

by forget on May 31, 2011 4:27 PM MDT up reply actions  

Not reporting the violations is clearly Tressels mistake.

But the still was the HC at OSU until the latest stuff came out. Its unfortunate that he gets punished for kids selling their own property so they can take their girlfriends out to a movie. Thats something you (the NCAA) has no business legislating!

You've been Stroh'd™!!!

by Strohman on May 31, 2011 5:29 PM MDT up reply actions  

As long as they don't punish the kids there were innocent

I understand the desire to want to punish the school, but that punishes the student athletes that worked their butts off to get into a top ranked school like OSU.
We will never know all the facts and how deep it goes but I hate when everyone gets punished for a few peoples mistakes.

by Jesse Reynolds on May 31, 2011 7:48 PM MDT reply actions  

Thats part of being on a team.

When one guys F’s up they all get punished. Thats why being accountable to your teammates should deter those that commit the transgressions. Unfortunately they feel “entitlement” to do as they please w/o regard for their teammates.

You've been Stroh'd™!!!

by Strohman on May 31, 2011 8:33 PM MDT up reply actions  

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