The Offseason – What Happened and What's To Come
The last time the Ohio State Buckeyes won a football game was on a Friday, January 1st of 2010 to be exact. Every win from the 2011 season was vacated as a result of a self-imposed punishment by Ohio State.
Not only has the projected starting quarterback, Terrelle Pryor, left the university. After coaching from 2001 to 2011, Jim Tressel will no longer be on the sidelines. Following the high hopes coming into the 2010 season, Ohio State finished 10-2 and was invited to the Sugar Bowl where it beat favored Arkansas.
However, after the suspension of the five players, which included Pryor, for selling memorabilia, just before the bowl game, the investigations and allegations surrounding the story grew, and more unfortunate news was released weekly.
Highlights of Tressel’s coaching tenure at OSU included winning the 2002 National Championship, going undefeated against Michigan, and going 5-4 in bowl games (excluding the now vacated Sugar Bowl victory).
With more sanctions expected, the immediate and long-term future of Ohio State football looks dim. In for Tressel is Luke Fickell, former player and coach for the Buckeyes. In his first press conference as head coach, Fickell emphasized, "The 2011 Buckeyes will not be compared or contrasted to previous years. It will be about respect, toughness and being men of action." Fickell also announced that the other four players involved in Tressel's suspension will serve such punishment at the beginning of the upcoming season.
Fickell hopes to clean up the lasting images and moments from the offseason.
Another change involved adding Mike Vrabel to the staff as a linebacker’s coach. The former Buckeye and 3-time Super Bowl champion hopes to teach some of his veteran experience to the team.
The roster has also been affected by the fall out from the investigations. Many incoming freshman have decided against going to Ohio State due to the possibility of a bowl ban. This will hurt Fickell's first few years as a recruiter.
Possible punishments include bans from bowl games, bans from Big Ten Championship games, and removal of scholarships. Now that it seems all information has been released and Jim Tressel has been removed, the Buckeyes hope the sanctions will not be as severe.
One thing remains true about Ohio State football, and the university as a whole: the tradition and the fans will stand by its side through the tough times.
A new era of football is en route. As the program awaits more news from the NCAA, one can only wander what is to come.
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