Ohio State football: 3 takeaways from win over Youngstown State

2. Gene Smith completely ignored Jim Tressel

Jim Tressel is one of two remaining head coaches at Ohio State who has won a national championship. The others, Jim Brown and Woody Hayes, passed away years ago.

While Urban Meyer has returned to FOX’s Big Noon Kickoff, Tressel has been enjoying retirement since February of this year after serving as President of Youngstown State. This would have been a perfect opportunity for Ohio State’s athletic director Gene Smith to do something special for Tressel who is beloved by both programs.

Tressel won four Division I AA national championships while coaching at Youngstown State. He then came to Columbus and did the same for the Buckeyes in 2002, being the first to do so since Hayes. It is true that Tressel’s tenure at Ohio State ended after being investigated by the NCAA, resulting in a five-year ban. Tressel was accused of withholding information from investigators. The same claim the NCAA has placed on Michigan’s Jim Harbaugh.

In today’s game, Tressel would have received a slap on the wrist and a stern talking-to. For some odd reason, Smith avoids Tressel.

Tressel was at the skull session before the game, which is a giant pep rally for the Ohio State Marching Band, known worldwide as The Best Da*n Band In The Land (TBDBITL). He was recognized by the PA announcer before the band arrived, in which those in attendance at St. John’s Arena exploded in applause.

After that moment, it was like Tressel, who was known for his sweater vests when he was coaching, wasn’t even at the game. No special recognition was given to him during the game at all.

He could have been asked to dot the “I” in script Ohio, which is one of the most iconic traditions in college football. In fact, only two former head coaches have ever received that honor, the first being Hayes, and the other being Earle Bruce. Tressel deserves that honor. His name should also be added to the ring of honor. Both Brown and Hayes have their names hanging on the façade, where is Tressel’s?

Tressel wore a special sweater vest for the game, with both the Ohio State and Youngstown State logos, but outside of a couple of interviews he gave media outlets, and the quick recognition at the skull session, he was once again ignored by Smith.

At this point, one has to wonder why Smith can’t swallow his pride and recognize the fact that the fanbase who pays for him and his athletic department loves Tressel and wants to see him be recognized beyond coming back for reunion celebrations with the 2002 National Championship team.