Today was not a pleasant day for Ohio State football fans. This article could appropriately begin with, “Today marks one of the most memorable moments in Ohio State athletics,” because it is true, today was one for the history books with the resignation of Jim Tressel, now-former head football coach of the Buckeye’s. Earlier this morning, “The Columbus Dispatch” reported his resignation.
While I am not a devout Buckeye fan, Tressel and his team had many other memorable moments spanning 10 years.
I recall watching the National Championship game versus the Miami Hurricanes which looked like the Craig Krenzel-lead Buckeye’s would lose the game at the end until a flag was thrown in favor of Ohio State – a gritty game to the end where Ohio State was lofted on the shoulders of running back Maurice Clarett.
I recall watching Troy Smith grow and blossom and become one of Ohio State’s best quarterbacks under the guidance of Jim Tressel.
I recall watching Ohio State repeatedly beat the Michigan Wolverines in “The Game,” chipping away at an all-time lead heralded by Michigan, which still has the most football wins of any NCAA team.
Then there was the epic games versus the Texas Longhorns, the USC Trojans, and playing against Notre Dame happened to have a peculiar vibe with linebacker A.J. Hawk dating the golden domer quarterback’s sister and she sat in the stands with a shirt that was half Ohio State, half Notre Dame.
Then there were the down periods of Ohio State football under the control of Jim Tressel. Notably, being seemingly unable to defeat a SEC team in a bowl game. Again, and again. It was not until the most recent bowl games where Ohio State defeated the Arkansas Razorbacks, an SEC team, in the Sugar Bowl.
Today will undoubtedly go down as the second finale of the “Golden Age” for Ohio State football, the original one belonging to Woody Hayes.
As mentioned before, I am not a devout Buckeye fan, but I do have speeding tickets to prove that I carried interest in Jim Tressel Ohio State teams, and today was an unfortunate one.