Jim Tressel’s 10 year coaching rein at Ohio State University (OSU) ended Monday, May 30, 2011. It was greatly influenced by the story Sports Illustrated (SI) had coming out about his pattern of investigations.

By JAMES W. WADE III

Staff Reporter

Jim Tressel’s 10 year coaching rein at Ohio State University (OSU) ended Monday, May 30, 2011. It was greatly influenced by the story Sports Illustrated (SI) had coming out about his pattern of investigations.

Tressel, who had been earning about $3.7 million a year, is out at age 58 after compiling a 106-22 record over the last 10 years at OSU. The school said assistant coach Luke Fickell will serve as interim coach for the 2011 season. Fickell had already been selected to coach the team for the first five games of the upcoming campaign while Tressel sat out a suspension stemming from the incident.

"We look forward to refocusing the football program on doing what we do best representing this extraordinary university and its values on the field, in the classroom, and in life," said athletic director Gene Smith in the school's release. "We look forward to supporting Luke Fickell in his role as our football coach. We have full confidence in his ability to lead our football program."

The focus has now shifted to OSU quarterback Terrelle Pryor and his succession of used cars. The salesman who put Pryor behind the wheel of several vehicles said in a sworn affidavit released by Ohio State that he didn’t offer any special deals to Buckeyes.

Pryor, the highest-profile recruit of Tressel’s 25-year coaching career, is one of five Buckeyes who already have been suspended for the first five games of the 2011 season for taking money and tattoos from local tattoo-parlor owner Edward Rife, who pleaded guilty last week to federal drug-trafficking and money-laundering charges.

Ohio State confirmed that the NCAA continues to look into potential violations, including Pryor’s cars.

Even though Pryor’s vehicles have been a focal point of the investigation for weeks, that doesn’t mean he has been riding a bicycle around the city since then.

Pryor drove up to a players-only team meeting Monday night in a black Nissan 350Z sports car with 30-day plates. The automotive information site edmunds.com lists a recent, used 350Z, which it calls “a proper sports car for the everyman,” as costing between $16,000 and $27,000.

The NCAA and Ohio State are probing more than 50 car purchases by Buckeyes players, their families and friends.

Pryor and four other players have been suspended for the first five games this fall for accepting improper benefits from a local tattoo-shop owner. Tressel knew of those benefits and did not report it to Ohio State or NCAA officials.

Tressel resigned early Monday citing NCAA violations which he said had "been a distraction" for Ohio State.

SI blasted Tressel who knowingly withheld information from the university and the NCAA regarding players selling memorabilia last season, and felt that was reason enough to question the character of a man many once looked up to.

The investigative report SI came out with on Monday details eight years of ignorance and, frankly, incompetence off the field by one of the most successful coaches ever at Ohio State on the field.

In other words, this isn't the only time Tressel has claimed he had no idea of his players actions SI stated.

In 2001, as a coach at Youngstown (Ohio) State University, Tressel reportedly said he didn't know of his star quarterback receiving $10,000 and a car from a school trustee and his associates. Court documents later proved it was actually Tressel who told his quarterback to go see the trustee.

In 2003, running back Maurice Clarett was found to have received money and other improper benefits. Although Tressel always claimed he spent more time with Clarett than anyone on the team, he denied that he knew anything of Clarett violating NCAA rules.

In 2004, Troy Smith received $500 from a booster but, once again, Tressel said he knew nothing.

Tressel's leaving does not end Ohio State's issues. Both the coach and the school still face an Aug. 12 hearing before the NCAA Committee on Infractions.

After the SI article release, athletic director Gene Smith issued a statement. “During the course of an investigation, the university and the NCAA work jointly to review any new allegations that come to light and will continue to do so until the conclusion of the investigation,” he said. “You should rest assured that these new allegations will be evaluated in exactly this manner. Beyond that, we will have no further comment.”

In a phone interview with the Call and Post, former OSU Defense Lineman Dave Patterson shared how Tressel was a great man and cared about his players. Patterson played from 2003 thru the 2006-07 seasons under Tressel.

“I most liked how he would have us do the Hometown Test, where you had to know about each player on the squad, such things like their High School, hometown and other information about them. This was to be more like a family, to know as much about your team mate as you could,” said Patterson.

Investigators are also looking into Pryor's relationship with a businessman in his hometown, Ted Sarniak, who has served as his mentor. Sarniak was a prominent player in the recruitment of Pryor, considered the nation's No. 1 quarterback recruit when he graduated.