COLUMBUS, Ohio -- When new Ohio State football coach Jim
Tressel addressed his players for the first time Thursday
afternoon, he did all of the talking.
"The only thing they said on their way out was their names,"
Tressel said.
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OSU fans give
coach warm greeting
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COLUMBUS, Ohio -- New Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel
stole the spotlight at his first public appearance.
Four hours after being formally announced as Ohio State's 22nd
head coach on Thursday afternoon, Tressel was introduced at
halftime of the Buckeyes men's basketball game with Michigan in Value City Arena.
Tressel was met with a standing ovation as he walked through the
stands with 3:55 left in the first half and Ohio State leading
28-19.
At the half, athletics director Andy Geiger introduced Tressel
to the crowd.
After another minute-long standing ovation, Tressel took the
microphone and said, "I'm so proud, so excited and so humble to be
the football coach at The Ohio State University."
Then he added, "I can assure you that you'll be proud of our
young people in the classroom, in the community -- and especially in
310 days in Ann Arbor, Mich."
The crowd, which watched Ohio State defeat Michigan 78-61,
roared its approval as he walked off the floor.
As he left the building, he said of his reception,
"Unbelievable. That's what Ohio State is all about -- the
electricity running through your body when you get a reception like
that."
Asked about the reference to the days remaining until the
Michigan game, he laughed and said, "Now they know and they can
get ready for it."
-- The Associated Press |
Tressel likes to talk -- he admitted as much during his first
news conference as the Buckeyes' head coach. But given the chance,
the players probably wouldn't have said much, quarterback Steve
Bellisari said.
The first meeting between a football coach and his players
always has been a time to listen, Bellisari said. And Tressel had
plenty to say about what he expects from his players and his team.
"The second he walked in the room and he started speaking,
everyone's heads were up and everyone paid attention," Bellisari
said. "I think he's a real honest guy. He's real knowledgeable
about the game."
Tressel said he's a disciplinarian, but there won't be a rule
book outlining dos and don'ts. He wants to get to know each player -- their likes and dislikes -- and then mold them into a cohesive
unit, much like a family.
"If we can build relationships, there is nothing we can't do,"
Tressel said.
Former Youngstown State quarterback Jared Zwick said Ohio State
players should take Tressel at his word.
"He doesn't talk out of both sides of his mouth," Zwick said.
"He's going to implement his philosophy, he's going to stick to
it, he's going to follow it, and if they stick to that and follow
it, they will be successful."
Linebacker Joe Cooper, who along with Bellisari were the only
players on Ohio State's search committee for a new coach, said
Tressel has proven that his philosophies work.
Tressel won four Division I-AA national championship at
Youngstown State. The fact that he has not led a Division I program
until now does not matter, Cooper said.
"I believe you can't question that," Cooper said. "There are
coaches who haven't won on I-A, and he gets the job done. He has
four national titles. In my opinion, I don't care what level it's
on."
Bellisari said it should not take Tressel long to win over any
doubters, including those who still support the fired John Cooper.
"A lot of the guys are happy with what we had," Bellisari
said. "People don't like change. But in the long run, I think it's
going to be very good."
Perhaps more than any other player, Bellisari's status for next
season is uncertain. He struggled last season, and questions have
surfaced over whether Tressel, who coached Ohio State's
quarterbacks under Earle Bruce from 1983-86, might decide to go in
another direction.
One possibility would be redshirt freshman Rick McFadden, who
grew up in Struthers, Ohio -- near Youngstown -- and was recruited by
Tressel.
Tressel didn't say who his starting quarterback would be, but he
said he believed Bellisari was committed to winning.
"Who knows," Bellisari said when asked about his status.
"That's up to Coach, that's not up to me. For me to be able to
learn from him, I'm very excited."
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