Tressel’s in trouble at Ohio State; Urban Meyer to the rescue?
"Urban, you'd look swell in one of those sweater vests." (AJC photo by Brant Sanderlin)
The NCAA has just accused Jim Tressel, who oversees the football program at The Ohio State University, of lying. Generally speaking, it doesn’t pay to lie to the NCAA. (Ask Bruce Pearl, who used to coach basketball at Tennessee.) There are those who believe Tressel, his stellar record notwithstanding, isn’t long for his job.
And then there’s Beano Cook, who believes Urban Meyer will coach Ohio State in 2012.
Beano Cook, who used to be a big man in college football circles, went on ESPN Radio last week and averred: “I’ve said on my Podcast. . . Urban Meyer will be the coach at Ohio State in 2012. That was my prediction and I stick by that prediction.”
Corporate synergy note: You can find Beano’s podcast, also on ESPN, by clicking here. And Urban Meyer, who once coached the Florida Gators, works for ESPN. At least he does until he decides to end his latest retirement.
A couple of things: Beano has been wrong before. (So have I.) He infamously predicted Ron Powlus would win two Heismans. (I infamously predicted Georgia would beat Florida and Urban Meyer in 2008. Also in 2010. I never learn.) That said, Beano could be onto something here.
Tressel is in trouble. He has already been suspended for the first five games of the 2011 season — Ohio State was ready to dock him two games, but Tressel requested three more — after failing to tell school officials he’d been given reason to believe his players had traded jerseys for tattoos. And Meyer is, among other things, a native Ohioan.
Born in Toledo. Grew up in Ashtabula. Played defensive back for the Cincinnati Bearcats. Started his coaching career at Ohio State. Has his Masters from Ohio State. Can do all the gestures to “Hang On Sloopy.” (Official rock song of the Buckeye State, FYI.)
Meyer does have one blip on his history. He outcoached Tressel and beat the hugely favored Buckeyes in the BCS title game in January 2007, giving rise to the notion that Ohio State couldn’t handle the big boys of the SEC. This was the notion Tressel was so desperate to debunk that he lobbied for those players suspended in the wake of the tattoo investigation to be allowed to play in the Sugar Bowl against Arkansas. (They played. OSU won, just.)
If Tressel does fall, there’d be no better choice as replacement. But one word of warning to Michigan fans: If your team should score a touchdown against the Meyer-coached Buckeyes and your players should feel the need to express their elation via an on-field dance … well, the Urbanator won’t like that. He won’t like that one little bit.
Oh, and one thing more: Readers have reminded me that The Ohio State University will meet The University of Georgia in 2020 and 2021. Mark your calendars, folks.
By Mark Bradley
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
272 comments Add your comment
Historical Dawg
April 26th, 2011
1:42 pm
Buckeye, nice of you to bring up last year’s Liberty Bowl, as I assume it was an effort at reconciliation based upon shared experiences. I am concerned, however, that some readers may not have fully appreciated your intentions. You see, OSU also lost in the Liberty Bowl, 23-11 to the Air Force Academy back in 1990. It seems that we do have some things in common after all.
tony barefoot
April 26th, 2011
1:58 pm
Meyer would excel in the mediocre Big Ten.But I would look at Belotti and Patterson for the programs long-term stability.Recovering from Meyers gimmick spread will take 2-3 yrs.Regarding comments vs the SEC,well Big Ten peeps when you are successful scrutiny comes looking!
tony barefoot
April 26th, 2011
2:12 pm
To Buckeye,re Saban:Saban is a “grinder”he shows up at the ath. facility at 5:30 am and leaves at 10:30pm,he is demanding,driven,and relentless and demands the same of all that are affiliated with the TIDE program.If he is referred to as Satan that would be from MSU&LSU supporters whom feel chided.You will find that Saban runs perhaps the most compliant program in the NCAA.The programs afforded BAMA players are well above and beyond most others.Saban is a football machine and will only get better during his tenure at BAMA.The TIDE program is set to be a force year in and year out as we speak,Saban has just begun to stock the necessary talent to make a long-term run at SEC and NCAA dominance.ROLL TIDE ROLL!Good luck with your current situation and think long-term if you replace your current coach for the sake of the OSU tradition.
It Ain't Rocket Science
April 26th, 2011
2:15 pm
It is said that the best defense is an offense. A lot of the bloggers on here are proving the saying. This blog is supposed to be about OSU and Tressel. Why don’t we all try and stick to the subject for once.
What has Auburn, UGA or any other school got to do with OSU’s coach getting caught. I thought little kids did this sort of stuff.
Auburn Fans are horrible
April 26th, 2011
2:45 pm
It Ain’t Rocket Science…your right it ain’t rocket science! What could OSU, Auburn, and UGA all have in comon in the last year? Hmmm…I don’t know and NCAA investigation!?
Auburn was investigated and either Auburn has gotten so good at cheating that there is no proof or the NCAA is just too stupid to find it.
UGA was investigated and turns out AJ sold a jersey to a person that can be considered an agent.
OSU was also investigated and it turns out that their players sold memorabilia and got discounted tattoos.
So the NCAA handing down consistent penalties and or investigating NCAA violations to the same extent across all schools is pertinent to the discussion of OSU’s coach getting caught.
I thought even a little kid could recognize this sort of connection? I know most kids understand when to use a ‘?’ and when to use a ‘.’. You should look into that.
bamafan
April 26th, 2011
2:50 pm
Tressel has embarrassed himself, OSU (or is it TOSU?), and all Buckeye fans. My neighbor who is a Buckeye wants Tressell gone……………how quickly things change! One day Tressel is the most conservative, clean image guy (the seater vests help) and the next day he is a lying scumbag who even lied about the lies. TOSU must make a clean break to retain its image…….might be a good idea to get rid of President Gee at the same time. That guy is an idiot and everybody knows it.
zack
April 26th, 2011
3:13 pm
Tressel not going anywhere. Urban Myer, please
Dr. Kenneth Noisewater
April 26th, 2011
3:14 pm
chuck oliver had a good point today on 680am…AJ Green’s suspension was 4 games for selling a jersey for $1000. Tressel already has 5 games but made it worse by lying about- more punishment to follow. And don’t forget Dez Bryant who had to sit out a whole year for hanging out w/ PrimeTime
Buckeye
April 26th, 2011
3:16 pm
bamafan,
Gee made be an idiot but I like to odds that his W2, benefits package and 401K make yours look like a knat on an elephants caboose.
gcs
April 26th, 2011
3:24 pm
I would be highly surprised if Urban returned to coaching in 2011.
2012 seems like too soon since he had that mental/physical breakdown but OSU might just be his dream job.
I seem to recall his wife is also from Ohio so I am guessing most of their family is in the state too.
.
Buckeye
April 26th, 2011
3:29 pm
Bradely,
Fork time. New topic please.
Ohio State is evil. uga still runs this state though remains a national wannabee program. Bama fans kills trees. Auburn buys players Tech will forever be Nerds Nerd Nerds.
So let’s continue to worship the tattooed, illiterate, dope smoking, rap/bling culture loving hoods that are on every big time roster.
bamafan
April 26th, 2011
3:36 pm
Buckeye – it is not nice to attack folks who are supporting your school and who recognize the pain and embarrassment caused by Coach Tressel and by President Gee. Not sure why President Gee’s net worth is relevant to any discussion on this blog but apparently you think so. I root for TOSU every year against Michigan, but after reading your posts, I may have to change my mind.
Buckeye
April 26th, 2011
3:46 pm
bamafan,
If you are so sanctimonious, take the afternnoon and go pay your respects to Toomer’s Corner. I’ll call the Drug Store and give them my cc # – the lemonade’s on me.
It Ain't Rocket Science
April 26th, 2011
5:04 pm
Auburn Fans are Terrible,
I believe the blog is titled, “Tressels in trouble-at Ohio State-Urban Meyer to the rescue”. So now, what does Aubnurn, UGA, UF, Ala. or any other school not mentioned in the title have to do with it? The article was not a comparison of sentences fitting the crime. Perhaps you need to drop down off that high horse you are on. Let’s not get into a discussion about education either. You will not match mine so leave it alone. And for the record, I type poorly, always have and always will. I don’t need some person whom I am sure is much my junior in both age and intellect, correcting anything I do or say.
bill
April 26th, 2011
9:34 pm
something else to consider, Florida has NEVER beaten Michigan.
Those Urban Meyer-to-Ohio State rumors are starting to bother Urban Meyer’s family | Florida Sports Net
April 27th, 2011
2:33 am
[...] Last year, it sounded like wishful thinking. Last month, it sounded like old-fashioned trollin’. Even last week, it sounded like a bout of senility. But as the NCAA noose begins to tighten and Jim Tressel’s future at Ohio State looks less and less certain by the day, it’s official: The Urban Meyer-to-Ohio State chatter has gone mainstream. [...]
Those Urban Meyer-to-Ohio State rumors are starting to bother Urban Meyer’s family | Popular Events
April 27th, 2011
2:36 am
[...] Last year, it sounded like wishful thinking. Last month, it sounded like old-fashioned trollin’. Even last week, it sounded like a bout of senility. But as the NCAA noose begins to tighten and Jim Tressel’s future at Ohio State looks less and less certain by the day, it’s official: The Urban Meyer-to-Ohio State chatter has gone mainstream. [...]
KS
April 27th, 2011
7:27 am
Just because you were wrong and Cook was right about the prediction of the GA vs FLA game, that doesn’t mean that hes right about Meyer.
Those Urban Meyer-to-Ohio State rumors are starting to bother Urban Meyer’s family | Blue Hair Cut Blog
April 27th, 2011
1:04 pm
[...] Last year, it sounded like wishful thinking. Last month, it sounded like old-fashioned trollin’. Even last week, it sounded like a bout of senility. But as the NCAA noose begins to tighten and Jim Tressel’s future at Ohio State looks less and less certain by the day, it’s official: The Urban Meyer-to-Ohio State chatter has gone mainstream. [...]
BuckeyeBrave
April 28th, 2011
8:46 am
For the record, Tressel did not lobby for the tattoo-gate players to play in the Sugar Bowl, the Sugar Bowl CEO demanded they play so that his bowl game didn’t lose its luster (as if we needed further proof that $$$ rules the NCAA). We’ve has consistent rumors over the last several weeks that Meyer was buying a house here in Columbus. I don’t know whether the rumor is true or not.
zack
April 29th, 2011
1:47 pm
The Buckeye’s are too clean for Urban Myer. Urban would have too much recruiting to do like the 37 arrests his players had in 6 years as him as the coach.
Those Urban Meyer-to-Ohio State rumors are starting to bother Urban Meyer’s family | Hot Celebrities
April 29th, 2011
4:11 pm
[...] Last year, it sounded like wishful thinking. Last month, it sounded like old-fashioned trollin’. Even last week, it sounded like a bout of senility. But as the NCAA noose begins to tighten and Jim Tressel’s future at Ohio State looks less and less certain by the day, it’s official: The Urban Meyer-to-Ohio State chatter has gone mainstream. [...]