[NU Sports] Tressel out

[SjT (Stephen J. Truog)]

Wow.

I wonder if some of the bigwigs at the school got word of tough sanctions coming down and offered Tressel in return. Or if there was more to the scandal.

In any case, wow.

Tressel always seemed like a good guy (I still hated the Bucknuts, but their coach seemed like a class act) ... he always seemed unfairly labeled as a "can't win the big one" coach even though he DID win the big one, and won most of his bowls (better record than "Big Game" Bob) and thoroughly dominated his rival. It always seemed like more was demanded of him and that pressure got to him.

I've said it for decades now - Ohio State is an SEC school in Big Ten clothing. Now if the NCAA would only get after some of those SEC schools the way they have with USC and OSU in recent years - from oversigning and "gray shirting" to Cam Newton, that whole league is crooked.

Won't be shedding any tears for OSU fans or Coach Sweatervest, but not really gloating either as I would at the demise of Mr. Smugsmirk in Madison or RichRod or Nick the Slick or St. Urban of the Whiners.

This certainly shakes up the league and the balance of power shifts almost entirely to the "west" now. Michigan is still recovering from their disastrous coaching hire (a mistake OSU will try not to repeat). OSU is now in a tailspin and Penn State - while looking good this year - still has the looming question of who succeeds JoePa when THAT major transition comes around. 

Obvioulsly all three of those programs are college football royalty and won't be down long, but their transition could be a smooth one, or one like Nebraska experienced or Michigan is still experiencing.

For this next year, it's good news for Wisconsin and PSU in that quasi-east division, as it should come down to their game. It's also good for anyone who plays OSU early in the Big Ten slate while they're still finding their rhythm. Meanwhile, the quasi-west looks like the more competitive division and our "benefit" from skipping OSU on the rotation doesn't look as big now.

It's a huge shakeup. The question now is who takes over in Columbus.

GO CATS!!!
-SjT

* * * * * * * * *
STEPHEN J. TRUOG
sjtruog at yahoo.com
GO CATS!!! GEAUX SAINTS!!!
Super Bowl XLIV Champions!
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