A blog post ... Thanks Beau and Nicole Hummel and Dr. Hovermale!

SamKat editorial:  Forgive this inept nerd- me.  The pics are in, but not quite in the proper sequence.  Great tribute to one of OSU football's very best coaches!


Subject: Tressel's Legacy


A class guy whose legacy will live on, but his love for OSU and the future of his career ruined by the greed and self-serving acts of those players who he tried to help. To take the blame for so much that wasn't his fault shows the integrity of the man and his life's legacy as it is forming.

Jim

Blog Posted by Beau and Nicole Hummel


Coach Tressel's Legacy...according to me







You won't be able to read or hear about this story on ESPN, Sports Illustrated, or the Columbus Dispatch this week. You see there is nothing, as a fallen people, that we like better than a story of a good man who also has fallen - sad isn't it. (Believe me, I know from personal experience!) We get a weird sort of pleasure reading about it, listening to all the details, and then making comments about it to our friends, family, and posting comments about it all over the Internet. Twisted - I know, but think of how many times we participate in this. Well, this is my blog and I've decided I'm going to do something different. I'm not going to condemn anyone, but I'm also not going to excuse anyone. What I really want you to see after this blog entry is that our legacies do not have to be defined by our failures, our sins, our mistakes despite what some TV commentator might say, but they can be defined by the grace of God working through us day in and day out.



Well, in light of that, I would like to remind you or maybe tell you for the first time my story of Coach Tressel and the legacy that he will carry in my family.



On Aug 17th my son was run over by a lawnmower. It just so happened that on that day Bryson was wearing his brand new #33 jersey. Bryson was probably the biggest 4 year old OSU football fan ever and was so excited about his new jersey. In fact, his dad had on a matching jersey. Turns out his daddy used his jersey to tie around Bryson's leg to stop the bleeding and Bryson's jersey was cut off. While I was in the emergency room with Bryson before he was life-flighted to Columbus Children's hospital he let me know that he was upset about his new jersey. I assured him we would get him a new one, but never did I dream how things would turn out for him.

Bryson on the morning before his accident in his brand new jersey.





Bryson had his leg amputated and then spent quite a bit of time in the hospital as he healed. During that time, through a series of events that I'm not even sure of, Coach Tressel was made aware of Bryson's accident and his love for the Buckeye's. It wasn't a couple of days later and Coach Tressel came to meet Bryson in person. He came alone: no cameras, no media, no support crew. He came. He encouraged. He let us tell him Bryson's story. He let us take his picture with Bryson. He gave Bryson some signed hats and a covered note pad. He promised to get Bryson to a OSU football practice and to an Ohio vs. Michigan game (since that always falls on the weekend of Bryson's birthday). All of that was great, but what left the biggest impression on me was when he handed us his business card and wrote his personal cell phone number on the back. He told us to call if we needed anything - are you kidding me! Who does that! I will tell you - not somebody who is only interested in lining his pockets or winning football games. We were of no value to him, my husband is a youth pastor, we don't live in Columbus, & we aren't alumni of the university. We were just a hurting family who he took time for, in the middle of football season, to encourage.

He fulfilled his promises to Bryson. Bryson was able to go to two OSU football practices and went to the Ohio State/Michigan game the next year and sat in the most amazing seats. On the notebook he gave Bryson he wrote, "The Buckeyes are cheering for you." Bryson was very impressed by that. While watching the football games even now a couple years later Bryson will say, "That's Coach Tressel! That's my friend!"

At Bryson's 1st OSU practice

After Bryson's 2nd OSU practice





OSU/Michigan game - we had to hold him the whole game because he didn't want to miss anything.





So, Coach Tressel's legacy in our family will simply be this that he was an encourager when we needed encouragement, was compassionate when we needed compassion, perfect - NO (but really who of us is), and to Bryson "friend." I'll take that kind of legacy any day of the week.



On a side note, random people have asked me how Bryson is taking all of this (knowing what a big fan he is) and I will tell you this, he is just sad that Coach Tressel won't be coaching the Buckeye's next year.



Posted by Beau and Nicole Hummel at 9:19 PM

Tressel- A day for mixed emoptions... Thanks Sarah R.!

Today is a day for mixed emotions. On Memorial Day when our thoughts should be with those men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice to make this country so great, instead those of us who reside in the Buckeye Nation must struggle with our emotions as Ohio State announces it has accepted the resignation of Jim Tressel.


Unlike many in my profession, I wish it had never come to this and I will remain unconvinced Tressel had to go. Already this morning, the great philosopher Brent Musberger has opined that Tressel’s resignation will not mitigate pending NCAA sanctions against the OSU program. Musberger believes the NCAA will hit the Buckeyes with similar penalties as the ones handed down to USC that include vacated seasons, reduction of scholarships and a postseason ban.

Based upon the outside chance that Musberger isn’t conjuring his opinion out of thin air, why did the Ohio State Board of Trustees feel the need to pressure university president Dr. E. Gordon Gee and athletic director Gene Smith for Tressel’s resignation? And why did Gee and Smith accept it?

It seems to me that Tressel was the only one ready to go to battle. Why else would he have hired an attorney with vast knowledge of the innerworkings of the NCAA Committee of Infractions? I have always believed that with any kind of support – and I mean real support and not the vacuous kind he seemed to be receiving – Tressel could have weathered the storm. An expanded suspension and additional fine could have been in the offing, but he could have remained the coach. Instead, those at Ohio State who made the ultimate decision couldn’t stand the heat. Bowing to a crush of recent stories – none of which contained new information – the trustees and administration have taken the easy way out by caving and casting aside one of the most successful coaches in program history.

We can debate forever the merits of Tressel’s decision to withhold information after he learned his players were involved in improper activities. What is not up for debate is that this is one of the darkest days in Ohio State football history.

Those of you taking sanctimonious victory laps today have gotten your wish. When your euphoria wears off, I wonder how long it will take you to realize just how far back Tressel’s exit just set the Ohio State program. Then again, maybe you got bored beating Michigan every year, stringing together a record number of the Big Ten championships and playing in meaningful bowl games.

Some may believe Tressel’s resignation will begin to bring this whole sordid mess to a close. Speaking strictly for myself, I think it’s the beginning of a nightmare.

Tressel made a mistake and there is no denying that. But he did not pay his players, he did not commit recruiting violations and he did not run a rouge program. The majority of his players graduated on time, his program’s academic standing was exemplary and his production on the field was superlative. Add to those successes the untold number of charitable donations of both money and time that Tressel made over the past decade and you have one of the giants of his profession.

And still his superiors could not muster the fortitude to stand behind him when the heat was on? I would never in a million years have believed that could happen at The Ohio State University.


70 Votes



May 30, 2011

More Tres by Sarah R.

hope you saw Buckeye Blitz at 8 pm... Coach Cooper was great as was Bob Carpenter. seems more are for Tres than against.




i guess jack is talking about Pryor.. more about that at 11pm



I have to remember my prayer



:God keep your arm around my shoulder and your hand across my mouth"
 
Sarah R.

More Jim Tressel Thanks Sarah Rapp! and Jack H P.!

Retention of mutual respect continues with me too Sam, but you are


considerably more liberal than I thought you might be, like having a

tatoo was a right of citizenship and maybe we should wink at those who

break the rules to get one or a car which I never had until I was two

years out of college.. Make that three( I was back in the service

51/53.There is an aura....suggestion... "Everybody does it" here Sam.

I ,for one, am happy to see the re-affirmation of the old adage ,"

cheaters never win". Jack P. Glad I couldn't afford an OSU ring when J

graduated, I'd throw it away now.

Jack H P.


I am with you. seemed like a witch hunt and maybe there is more to a mere chance that Urban has moved to Cols. some kind of deal with someone in the NcAA? I don't like Urban but if he becoes the coach I will have to suport him.. I am a buckeye fan thru and thru.


I knew that Jack would love this and he would also like to see urban up there

if some one give s me something don't I have the right to dispose of it as I see fit? making that rule is dumb.. aren't the super bowl rings for sale?? money, money money

and now they are trying to dig up stuff clear back in Youngstown. and Gorden Gee is under the gun also..stupid. stupid stupid...why isn't some one having witch hunt for O?

Sarah Rapp

--- On Mon, 5/30/11, Sam Kegley wrote:





From: Sam Kegley

Subject: Re: Fwd: OSU

To: "Jack Plymale"

Date: Monday, May 30, 2011, 4:15 PM





Well Jack, this OSU football fan remains ashamed of the NCAA. I hardly see a young person without a tatoo as students of Columbus State Community College. If they found a way to trade their awards for them, it helps I am sure. The skin tabs are not cheap. One girl told me her shoulder tatoo (color and legible) cost $400. I don't know what the full body jobs are costing. I doubt that there is a FB team (college) in America without similar happenings. Yes it is ridding Ohio State of a good and very successful football coach and apparently a decent human being. Will there be any other similar cases? If not, the NCAA is putting its head in the sand.



I still respect you, good Trojan warrior.



Sam

www.skegley.blogspot.com The Blog of Sam Kegley.

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Monday, May 30, 2011

RE- OSU FB coach Jim Tressel Resigns

Labels Football, Ohio State Well Jack and Jim, this OSU football fan remains ashamed of the NCAA. I hardly see a young person without a tatoo as students of Columbus State Community College. If they found a way to trade their awards for them, it helps I am sure. The skin tabs are not cheap. One girl told me her shoulder tatoo (color and legible) cost $400. I don't know what the full body jobs are costing. I doubt that there is a FB team (college) in America without similar happenings and violatuions. Yes it is ridding Ohio State of a good and very successful football coach and apparently a decent human being. Will there be any other similar cases? If not, the NCAA is putting its head in the sand.







I still respect you, good Trojan warriors.



Sam







--------------------------------------------------



From: "Jack Plymale" Sent: Monday, May 30, 2011 11:12 To: "Sam Kegley" Subject: Fwd: OSU





Date: Mon, 30 May 2011 10:55:27 -0400 Subject: Re: OSU To: JAMES FOUT







It had to be!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! A slap on the wrist wasn't possible. I imagine the university left this option open to him( right in front of me --now. there is a small spider carrying a moth about ten times his size straight up a single web.) Now there will be hugh conjecture about whether this has been in the works for a year or so and has just become a matter of public knowledge. Urban Meyer quiting at Florida, coming back to Columbus and buying a house is just too much of a coincidence. It may not come to pass but I'll bet that was the plan. Nobody could have predicted the publicity, but anyone familiar with OSU football should have been able to There is enough shame in this fiasco for everyone officially associated with the university to share We all know what Tressel did is not uncommon. The way OSU handled it is. Shameful!!!!!!!! Jack P.







On 5/30/11, JAMES FOUT wrote: TRESSEL RESIGNS



Jack P.