Fast Forward to 2012.
A young, hot-shot wide receiver is called into Jim Tressel's office at THE Ohio State University. The young man has been caught selling autographs and game jerseys to help pay for his new car.
Coach Tressel: "Dwayne, I'm sorry. You broke NCAA rules and here at Ohio State we need to be disciplined. You're going to miss the Michigan game."
Dwayne the Player: "But coach, Michigan is the big game! It's Senior Day! My folks are going to be there."
Coach Tressel: "It doesn't matter. You broke the rules. Plain and simple."
Dwayne the Player: "But you let Pryor play the Sugar Bowl after he did the same thing. Why can't you let me slide this time."
Coach Tressel: "Ummm...uh, that was different. That was a bowl game."
Dwayne: "Coach, if we beat Michigan we're #2 in the nation and play for the title. THIS is a BIG game!"
Coach Tressel: uh, but Dwayne...ummmm... Pryor was different. He was our best guy."
Dwayne: "I'm your best guy NOW! I'm #3 on the NFL draft board. You need me Coach."
...What does Tressel do? What can he do? Nothing.
Ohio State can celebrate the Sugar Bowl win today, but the NCAA and Jim Tressel have missed an opportunity to show that it doesn't matter who you are. Rules are rules and they need to be followed.
-Somewhere Dez Bryant is wondering why Pryor got to play but he had to miss an entire season for violations.
-USC is all wondering why their team was suspended from bowl games for similar offenses.
- And in 5 years when Terrelle Pryor is arrested and given a 1 year suspension from the NFL, I hope Coach Tressel looks back the his decision and says "I missed an opportunity to help that boy. I failed him as a coach and as a leader."
Shame on you NCAA
Shame on you Jim Tressel.
Enjoy your new shinny trophy. It cost you far more than you know.
why is cam newton allowed to play with evidence that his dad tried to get $180k. conspiracy is just as bad.
ReplyDeleteanyways...it cost tressel nothing.
As long as you're a big name the NCAA will let you get away with anything. Without Newton they would have risked Auburn losing late in the season and TCU would have been in the championship game. NCAA wouldn't have liked that. And if OSU got rocked by Arkansas it would be a sweep for the SEC and Big-Ten support would go down. Money lets you get away with anything in the NCAA
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