The Vest Isn't Made of Kevlar

I'm going to be brief with this one, as I know my post are somewhat lengthy and it's not my intention to keep you at your computer for too long.  I also don't mean to bump my follow blogger, The Professor, coming around turn #4 and pull ahead on the inside corner, but I can't help myself not to discuss this topic. 

Today, Jim Tressel, better known as "The Vest", resigned as head coach of THE Ohio State University football team, amid an NCAA investigation involving current and former players of his football team exchanging signed memorabilia, athletic gear, and championship rings, for tattoos, leased cars, and other "illegal" substances, with a local tattoo parlor in Columbus.  The Vest is in major hot water with the NCAA because not only did all this happen under his watch, but he knew it was going on, and lied about his knowledge of it to officials when confronted with the allegations.  He pleaded ignorance, both privately and publicly, about the allegations, until he could play dumb no more.  In reality, he knew all along that his players were involved and decided to turn a blind eye, and chose winning over honestly. 

The thing is, this is coming from a guy who preaches honesty as the only policy and writes books about being righteous and how to live as an upstanding person.  He has built up a reputation that has risen to a level that some believe he his coaching career is over, he could run for Senate in the state of Ohio.  The guy was untouchable.  Apparently, the vest isn't made of kevlar. 

I am eagerly anticipating my Sports Illustrated arriving this week so I can fully read and indulge myself in this story.  First off I must clarify, in the highly contested rivalry that is THE Ohio State v. Michigan, I'm a Michigan guy.  It mostly stems from the Fab Five, but I dig their football team from the days of Charles Woodson.  Anyways, I have no sympathy for THE Ohio State or The Vest in this matter.  While I don't doubt that this kind of stuff happens all throughout college football; when you are caught cheating, live up to it.  Come out, admit your wrongdoings, and face the consequences.  If the Vest would have done so in the first place, he would probably still be the coach of THE Ohio State University right now, and probably only suffer the "self-imposed" 5 game suspense he gave himself.  We are taught at a very early age that honesty is always the best policy, but it seems like The Vest was sick that day it was taught in 1st grade. 

When you are the coach of a program as highly thought of and touted as THE Ohio State University is, you better make sure that your program is as clean as possible.  If Urban Meyer can "retire" from the University of Florida after winning the number of SEC and National Championships he did because of a "tired heart" and so that he can "watch his girls play vollyball", then The Vest better take up fishing because he is going to have a lot of free time on his hands.  And for that last sentence to make any sense, I will explain that the reason why I used the "air" quotes is because there are some of us (me to a point)who believe that the reason Urban Meyer really left his coaching job at Florida is because he had the highest arrest rate amongst any college football program, and eventually would have to answer to that.  So instead, he bowed out before facing the music. But anyways, when a program is engaged in this kind of behavior and chooses not to report or do anything about it, as a representative of the football team and the university, the coach is always held accountable. 

Some will argue that this only strengthens the argument for collegiate athletes to be paid, and in all honestly, you are not going to get an argument out of me on that (as I agree collegiate athletes should be paid), but this isn't about that.  This is about the inmates running the assylum, and the warden losing his control of the situation.  And the NCAA will, and should come down hard on the Vest and the administration of THE Ohio State University for their lack of action.  They will be made into an example. 

Tressel will no doubt be punished and punished hard, but this should be to epic proportions.  The allegations coming out of THE Ohio State makes USC paying for Reggie Bush's parents mortgage, FSU players (Laveneus Coles and Peter Warrick) shoplifting and cheating on test, and The U players stealing car stereos in the 80's, look like the 5 year old who "accidentally" put a candy bar in his back pocket and left the grocery store.  Some will argue that the players should share the blame, and those involved will; but the coach is ultimately obligated to put the entire team above those who chose to be involved with wrong doing.  THE Ohio State will not probably not receive the "death penalty" like SMU did in the late 80's, but the penalty will definitely knock THE Ohio State off its high, very high pedestal.  And as a CAL Bears fan who will be attending the home opener in Columbus next year when THE Ohio State plays CAL, our prospects of actually winning that game got a lot better today.  THE Ohio State, have fun fielding a team filled with walk-ons and bowl sub-division players. 


Mr. Armchair Speaking