Ohio State: You've Got It All Wrong, Mr. Herbstreit...

Photo Credit: Jay LaPrete/Ap

When ESPN college football analyst, Kirk Herbstreit, was asked what advice he would offer to Ohio State regarding Jim Tressel—who is currently still the head coach of The Ohio State University football team—he said "stop recruiting guys like Maurice Clarett and Terrelle Pryor into your program".

Really, Kirk? I hope you didn't have Terrelle Pryor on speed dial or anything because while Maurice Clarett clearly had issues—and still does—I'm not sure how you can place Terrelle Pryor in the same boat with him.

However, never mind that, let's talk about the actual piece of trash that you've chosen to place on the pedestal here—Jim Tressel. How about you advise The Ohio State University to get rid of him because he's as much the problem as the guys he's recruited.

At this point, no one should be selling Tressel as some sort of a martyr. He knew what was happening in his program, allowed it to continue happening, and then lied about it AFTER the cat was let out of the bag. It was only after there were no more rocks to crawl under, or football games to hide behind, that he decided to come forward with his version of the truth—this guy isn't blameless, he's a cheater, so let's just tell it like it is.

Tressel is not a victim of deception or poor recruiting judgment, but rather an example of what happened when a grown man makes a bad decision. He did all of this to himself—don't shed any tears for him—he was complicit in the acts of Pryor and the rest simply by keeping his mouth shut. His inaction tells us all we need to know about his priorities so spare us the 'poor coach gets took by his players' story because we're not buying. 

Has Tressel been a winner at Ohio State? Sure, there can be no doubt about that, he's done a fine job keeping the Buckeyes in the spotlight. However, moving forward, if Ohio State continues to break out the knee pads for this sweater vest wearing liar, then the integrity of their university—what little it still has left after Tressel's monumental embarrassment—will definitely leave a scar as long as Lake Michigan on the football program and any attempt it makes at a championship with Tressel leading the way.

He should have been fired when this whole business came to light and, if not then, certainly now. 

"Stop recruiting guys like Terrelle Pryor and Maurice Clarett"?...Wow, if that's code for stop bringing in liars and cheats then Pot meet Tressel.

Related articles

• Jim Tressel Investigation: Coach Contacted Terrelle Pryor Handlers, Shut Out Compliance Department (sbnation.com)
• Ohio State Buckeyes coach Jim Tressel targeted in NCAA's notice of allegations (sports.espn.go.com)
• Ex-Buckeyes not biting tongues on Tressel situation (collegefootballtalk.nbcsports.com)
• Tressel Lies Are an Embarrassment to Ohio State (nytimes.com)
• Jim Tressel, The Lying, Cheating Head Coach That Can't Get Fired (sbnation.com)

Oh Look, ESPN Is Getting A Conscience...Sorta

Perhaps E$PN does listen to the criticism about their being too biased, too corny, and too out-of-touch with what today's sports fan is really looking for in their sports news network—reliable information given without their own pocket-lining spin.

Full disclosure here: I hate E$PN.

I seldom watch anything they have to offer anymore and, at this point, I am just as happy getting the the majority of my sports news from the internet or some other lower-profile sports affiliate. E$PN no longer fits the bill, in my humble opinion, and I just as soon find another network that can do the same thing with less pinheads, for less profit, and with less of an agenda than does E$PN.

That said, it's hard to get away from the "Worldwide Leader" as they are as much a brand as they are a network. So, when I discovered that they were going to make an attempt at reclaiming some of their legitimacy as a credible news network, it was a pleasant surprise.

According to this press release, E$PN has teamed up with the Poynter Institute (one of the nation's leading schools for journalists and journalistic practices) to "review ESPN content across all platforms and publicly comment on ESPN's efforts.  This will include monthly essays and additional timely responses as issues arise.  The group also will address fan concerns during its 18-month tenure".

In other words, E$PN is looking to the Poynter Institute to assess what they are doing right and wrong as a network.

While, again, that's admirable on the part of E$PN, they have always been privy to such a watchdog.  I guess the Poynter Institute is thought to be a better equipped, more distinguished group for them to attach this task too—sort of like 'E.F. Hutton' in the 80's.

Poynter will be expected to give the network a more in-depth analysis of how they can better disseminate information to the masses without compromising their journalistic integrity (excuse me while I go laugh in a corner on that last point) or alienating entire fanbases—that last point is just speculation on my part.

Again, I applaud E$PN's attempt to return to the days when they truly were innovating and leading the way, but, in my opinion, they have concerned themselves too much with being a "brand" to actually be believable—simply too little, too late.

Related articles

• Poynter Institute to serve as ESPN ombudsman (sports.espn.go.com)
• ESPN taps Poynter Institute to be its watchdog (latimesblogs.latimes.com)
• The Poynter Review Project to Launch With ESPN (tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com)