Could the Browns *Really* Go 0-16?
September 28, 2009While We’re Waiting… NBA Referees, Cavaliers Media Day, and Josh Cribbs at Quarterback
September 29, 2009After the loss to Southern Cal, Ohio State Coach Jim Tressel went on record talking about fans who were wailing and grinding of teeth – in his words:
So, you know, honestly, the thing when I read some of them is I feel terrible for them because there’s no way they’re happy. They’ve got to be some of the most unhappy people in the world, and I feel bad because we just made them less happy, and I hate to be a part of making someone less happy. I mean, they’re already miserable and to make them less happy, I’d feel bad.
This got a lot of people up in arms, mainly sissies who like to complain but don’t like when the tables are turned on them. Personally, I thought the main shock in the quote was the fact that we never see anything like that from the Vest. On its own, no big thing.
Since the SC game the Bucks have been rolling something fierce (no, not a drug reference, kids), pitching shutouts against Toledo’s high scoring offense and Illinois‘ vaunted Zooker athletes extraordinaire. Late in the game against Illinois, senior captain safety Kurt Coleman had a late hit against an Illinois player. The hit itself was late, helmet-to-helmet, and falls pretty clearly within the B11’s policy of hitting a “defenseless player above the shoulders.”
This is where things get neat and fun for me: After the suspension was handed down, Tressel and AD Gene Smith released a press statement, stating the following:
Obviously, we will abide by the one-game suspension from the Big Ten Conference, but we feel as if there was poor judgment throughout,” Ohio State’s statement reads. “We concur that Kurt’s hit was late and a result of poor judgment; he was thus penalized and removed from the game by his coaches. We do not agree that it was ‘premeditated’ or that he was ‘targeting a defenseless’ player. The decision to suspend points to the conference office’s feeling as if there was poor judgment by the game officials for their decision not to eject at the time. In our estimation, the final ‘poor judgment’ is in levying a one-game suspension in this particular case. We will abide by the decision, learn from it, and move forward.
These are about the strongest words I’ve ever heard from the man in the sleeveless sweater. Personally, I’m annoyed that the Illinois player who slammed Pryor into the bench 5 yards out of bounds wasn’t suspended along with Coleman. Aside from that though, I think we have to wonder: has the pressure in big games made Tressel turn a corner –
If Tress has indeed picked up the intensity, I’m all for it. We’ve heard about recent Buckeye teams claiming to have a chip on their shoulder, but if the man in charge is hella-angry, that’s only going to help. Maybe I’m jumping to conclusions quickly here, but I’m all for it if Tress has become angry and suddenly non-Tressel-ish.
18 Comments
Personally, I’m glad that the Vest called out the fans. Buckeyes fans whine too much (and yes, I am a big Buckeyes fan). If we go 11-1, fans whine about the one game we didn’t win. If we win the Big 10, fans whine that we didn’t go to a National Championship. If we go to a National Championship and lose, fans whine about how we have to fire our coach. After 6 years of that, I know I’d be a little sarcastic…
It was worthy of the 1 game suspension. That is not football. It was the very definition of a cheap shot.
that’s crap – that was NOT worthy of a suspension. This is football and there are late hits. go play tennis if you don’t like contact.
In fact, to me, it was very obviously a payback hit for the one on Pryor earlier. A good move by one player to pick up his teammate. I was actually waiting for one of those all game. It is kind of like a pitcher plunking a guy after his guy takes one between the shoulder blades.
I love the new, mean, Tressel. The Bucks still have a shot this year!
Saggy you have lost your mind if you think that hit is football. You want to draw the baseball comparison fine but you don’t throw at the head either.
I like Tressel and the team still has a chance but there is no place for play like that.
The player that hit Prior out of bounds proceeded to throw a punch that missed at the Buckeye sidelines. That somehow was missed by the league. That was intentional. Coleman’s late hit was in fact late and was penalized by the officials on the field. It wasn’t a cheap shot.
I especially loved Tressel going for the TD on 4th down at the end of the game.
I also loved him going for the TD – Jim Tressel’s new middle name is Bobby Bowden.
I had finally bailed on the game and was safely outside under cover, beverage in hand, and haven’t see the replay. But, I turned to my friend and said Tressel is throwing, in the 4th, with a big lead??? Who is this guy??? Although, oddly, I really didn’t have a problem with it.
Then that night I saw the UI clan tried to jump on midfield and vividly remember watching them do it while at the game in 07 and realized why I had no problem with Tress throwing late in the game and up big. Zook deserved that and brought it on himself. Look at the pic from the pregame, you can see Tress in there trying to get his team back. Where is Zookers?
@1..sounds like every Boston Pats, Celts, Red Sox Fan, Yankees Fan, and every Florida fan…
Don’t anger the Vest. You won’t like him when he’s angry.
I’m all for a new attitude from Tressel & Co. I’ve been very boisterous in the past about how passive I thought he is/was. I felt like Christmas morning when he kept the offense on the field in the 4th quarter on 4th down to go for the TD. I hope this new attitude rides out all the way thru the season. That team up north seems to be winning some games this year.
This isn’t about a “new attitude” for Tressel. What it’s about is ego. Tressel has been questioned on a major scale for the first time at OSU, and he’s taking a bunker mentality. This is not about a new angry dispostion, merely a ruffling of the feathers at the audacity of being challenged. He certainly has earned the right to forge ahead and get things moving in the right direction, but he needs to collect his thoughts in downtime with his wife before he throws the gauntlet out the to fans in such a rash manner. (or, he just needs to run the table).
I don’t care one way or the other if it was a cheap shot or if the Vest should be fired. I like the attitude, and I like how they have destroyed the last two teams they’ve played (even if they are the lowly Rockets and Fighting Zookers).
@10: I love when coaches strike back at the fans and media. The fans and media are stupid and overreact. They take shots at people’s livelihood and character from the safety of their own armchairs. I think it’s awesome when the tables are turned and all the sudden people don’t know what to do.
I’M A MAN! I’M 40!
@ #10 – It’s never about respectful debate, or insight, it’s just about lambasting teams, coaches, etc. with no real valid points. Am I right or wrong? Nothing you said in your section of commenting made even the slightest bit of sense. Ego?!? Tressel is quite possibly the least ego-maniacal coach in the NCAA. If he was, there’d be alot more Florida-type scoring differences. It’s all about a new angry disposition for him, and the team. They haven’t beaten a top 5 since Archie won his second heisman (I know, not that long, but still) and I think the coach and team are fed-up and out for blood.
[…] all due respect to Denny, who brought to light the suspension of Ohio State safety Kurt Coleman and Jim Tressel’s […]
@ # 10 – I’m not sure what a bunker mentality is, but unless we’re talking about using mustard gas and newly invented machine guns I don’t think that’s what Tress is doing. On the contrary, he’s getting aggressive. They haven’t toned down the offense. The D is flying around the field like we haven’t seen in a few years. All the pressure has lit a fire under his bee-hind and he’s gettin after it. It’s reflected in the team, and I’m loving it.
We beat two number two’s in 2006. Let’s calm down with the fire Tressel streak guys. Yeah, we’ve gotten embarassed a couple of times but we played Penn State, Texas and USC to damn near draws the last three games. Sometimes cold streaks happen.
fire tressel
suspension for Kurt Coleman? Weak sauce by the conference. Maybe if they could figure out a way not to suck, they wouldn’t have to worry about helmet to helmets leading to suspensions. the SEC scoffs at following the rules.
And Ben, you are an idiot. feel free to message me.
[…] of the upcoming game for me, so far, has been the possible re-emergence of Evil Tressel. Be it commanding a team that’s posted two straight shut-outs, […]