It's a perception issue. If you like Ohio State, Jim Tressel you probably think that his decision to abstain from voting this week in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches poll was a tough but correct choice. Perhaps something approaching integrity. If you hate OSU or think of Tressel as Cheatypants Sweatervest, then you see it as a wussy copout exposing the complete farce that is the Coaches voting system. Everyone else gets to fall somewhere in between.His ballot for this vote would be made public -- as will all the voters in the Coaches poll this year. Given the closeness of the difference between the #2 and #3 teams was so close, Tressel would be stuck with trying to choose who OSU plays. Not only that if voted Florida, he has the added burden of going against another Big 10 team -- albeit, the biggest rival for OSU. If he voted Michigan, he'd easily be accused of Big 10 bias.
The flip side is that he is wrapping up the urge to hide his vote -- like most of the coaches have tried to do -- and using the controversy as an excuse to not have his ballot revealed. That he is using the issue as a chance to avoid upsetting anyone rather than make an honest opinion/ballot.
Then there's the bulletin board/disrespect aspect that every coach uses as a rationalization. If he voted Michigan 2 and Florida 3, then Florida would be using the whole "disrespect or they don't want to face us" card as motivation. Regardless of how believable it is as motivation, it would be something typically paranoid coaches hate to provide.
No one is non-partisan in these things. I lived in Youngstown for part of the Tressel reign as AD/HC there and saw how good a coach he was. I told my OSU friends when he was hired how good a choice it was. So, here's how a Pitt grad/Big East biased supporter living in Cleveland views this.
Jim Tressel wussed out and tried to wrap his cowardice in the false nobility of being in a "unique position." Maybe he is damned if he does, damned if he doesn't vote. Tough. He accepted the duties of voting in the poll. He knew going into the season that this vote would be public. He accepted the responsibilities and happily voted all season long. He can't back out at the last ballot at this point -- which just happens to be a public vote -- when he has nothing to gain. His team has been #1 all season. It's not like he hasn't had some sort of influence on the rankings up until this point. What he is really saying, is that he just doesn't want anyone to know how he votes. In that case, he shouldn't have a vote ever again.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
12-03-2006 @ 9:25PM
Rick said...
Regaurdless of how the voting comes out,Weather jim votes or doesn't vote. People shouldn't be so harsh on the man. Lets look at what the man has accomplished
this year. I think we are seeing one of the best college coaches, and I hope we see alot more years of him.
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12-03-2006 @ 9:25PM
Ben Cuttasina said...
Cheatypants sweatervest? (shakes head). I think I heard that one in 3rd grade.
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12-03-2006 @ 9:32PM
Caleb said...
Maybe he should have voted for the Big Least champion? You are right though, he should have voted. And voted for Michigan.
Solve the problem, and get a playoff system intact.
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12-03-2006 @ 9:36PM
L Lucia said...
It is unbelievable that a team who lost to a 10-2 team could beat out a team that only had 1 loss, by only 3 to the #1 team in the nation. Im not a Ohio State Fan, but it will be good to see them beat Florida by 30.
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12-03-2006 @ 9:51PM
John Lehr said...
its obvious who tressle doesn't want to play.....if it weren't for a personal foul by a michigan player , ohio wouldn't be in the championship game....the bcs is in for a big embarrasment when ohio state blows florida out of the game.....the real game to watch will be the rose bowl...
if the people at aol think that the sec is tougher than the big ten , then they need a change in personel...
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12-03-2006 @ 9:51PM
Rose said...
What is the matter with you. What is wrong with intergrity. Is that a bad word in todays society, or is it not understood, instead choosing such mature words like cheaty pants sweater vest. As I search for the words to express myself, I suddenly realize that Jim Tressel doesn't care what any of us think,but will be true to himself. THATS THE SIGN OF A TRUE MAN.
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12-03-2006 @ 9:51PM
Wade said...
I have not problem with Tressel not voting, it was the right thing to do. However, it's ridiculous that Florida will in fact be his opponent. I'm so sick and tired of hearing about the constantly OVER-RATED Southeast Conf and BIG 12 teams...when a proven powerhouse team like Michigan loses a thriller on OSU's home field how can anyone wonder who is really the closest matched team for the big game ??
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12-03-2006 @ 9:51PM
J Money said...
Honestly, I think Tressel made the best decision. If he votes for Michigan, Meyer's would whine "BIG 10 Rivals"... though if he voted Florida, Michigan would say "OSU is scared." Bottom line, the only reason Michigan was in that game was because the OSU center had a broken hand. It was 28-14 at half. TWO fumbles by the center is the ONLY reason Michigan stayed in it. You can all whine as much as you want, but not only will OSU have the HEISMAN WINNER, but they'll have ANOTHER BCS National Championship!!!
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12-03-2006 @ 9:51PM
Tim Allen said...
Ohio State (there is only one OSU and that is in Oklahoma) beat Michigan by three at home... Tressel and the Ohio State team and fans don't want to play Michigan at a neutral site. I can't believe that Florida passed Michigan just becuase Michigan wasn't playing yesterday. I know they beat Arkansas and that was a win... but Florida lost to Auburn, Michigan's only loss was to Ohio State. Michigan deserved a second shot on a neutral field.
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12-03-2006 @ 9:52PM
Ted Panaretos said...
I believe Ohio Stste will blow Florida out. The best game of the post season will be USCvUm.
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12-03-2006 @ 10:18PM
Chris Milburn said...
As for Tressel not voting in the coaches poll he did the right thing in not creating a stir over a Big 10 coach voting for another Big 10 team. I, as an Ohio State fan, for one would have loved to see a rematch of the best two teams in the country.
What is really a shame though is that once again two of the top teams were left out because of the "no more than two teams" rule. Wisconsin and Auburn were let out of the BCS because of this idiotic rule. I would hope that when the season ends with the Buckeyes beating Florida by at least 10 points the argument for a playoff system will be long and looked at very hard by the powers to be.
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12-03-2006 @ 10:18PM
KEVIN said...
Either way it won't matter. As an Ohio State fan and resident of Ohio I can say i am completely proud of Jim Tressel and the proigram he has run at Ohio state since the day he accepted the job. He is the most inovative coach in football today and NO one can match his brilliance. Vote for no one Jim because you will beat anyone who faces you. Ohio State is the best team in college football barring no other team and Ohio is proud of your accomplishments here.
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12-03-2006 @ 10:18PM
ed said...
Jealousy rearing its ugly head again.The championship will be decided in Arizona. End of story.
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12-03-2006 @ 10:18PM
JEFF said...
I agree with J Money, You hit it right on the nail! Michigan would not have been close if Ohio State did not make mistakes in the second half. Go Bucks!
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12-03-2006 @ 10:19PM
Bruce said...
If you were ever was an AD/HC I am glad I never played on your team.. A coach should give his team every legal advantage he can ..and thats just what Tressel did... by the way what bowl game is Pitt playing in?
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12-03-2006 @ 10:19PM
Mike Gee said...
I'll be interested to see how all of the coaches who did vote voted............and maybe in the future coaches who whine should be penalized...........
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12-03-2006 @ 10:19PM
Clarence said...
Tressel was right to not vote. He did his part in getting the Buckeyes into the national championship game. It was left to all the know-it-all sports genius,s to name the opponent or complaine about how he should have voted.
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12-03-2006 @ 10:19PM
Rambo said...
He was correct in not voting. Every team he, or his team has played was defeated. The media and the rest of the voting population should make the decision as to who he/the team plays. I don't think he cares either way. When you are at the top of the totem pole you have earned the opportunity to "wait and see". Shame on all of you sour pusses who do not support his logic.
What would playing Michighan prove? OSU won and Michigan needs to get over it. To be the best you have to play EVERYONE and beat them. How many times in our lifetime have we said, "Gee if only", I wish I had it to do over, well to bad. You had your chance, now allow some else the same opportunity.
And besides, there was bad officiating on both sides!
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12-03-2006 @ 10:20PM
Lin said...
I would like to remind Tim Allen which OSU won their bowl game match-up(Alamo). I do believe it was OSU(Ohio State University). Jim Tressel was OSU coach then and has won every bowl game since. We OSU fans have the best QB, the best coach and the best team in the nation. GO BUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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12-03-2006 @ 10:20PM
ken said...
im not sure why its a big deal that tressel didnt vote. it seems to me that it was the correct thing to do. i do believe,however,that the wrong team is playing ohio state. the bcs system is designed to put the 2 best teams in the country against each other in the championship game. ohio state and michigan are the two best teams in the country. as to the michigan fans who believe that ohio state doesnt want to play michigan because they only beat them by 3 at home, the truth should be pointed out. ohio state dominated that game. they were minus 3 in turnovers,gave michigan the ball at their own 9 and own 27 and still beat them. it wouldnt be so close in a rematch but michigan does deserve that shot.
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