Ohio State Legendary Coach Jim Tressel to be Honored on Saturday
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Two straight years of a college football icon being honored inside Ohio Stadium in week one of the year. Last year, it was Lee Corso, as he recorded his final College Game Day before Ohio State vs. Texas in week one, and this year, former Buckeyes head coach Jim Tressel will see his name go on the Ring of Honor.
Tressell's name will hang next to Woody Hayes on the east side of the stadium. Next to his name, all of his accomplishments will be listed, including the 2003 National Championship, 8 Big Ten Championships, and being a member of the College Football Hall of Fame.
Tressel took over an average program after his predecessor John Cooper's time ran just too long. Cooper is the second-most winning coach in the history of Ohio State football, but his final two years left a lot to be desired.
He finished going 6-6 in 1999 and 8-4 in 2000 before the Buckeyes turned the keys of the program to Tressel.
Tressel got off to a mediocre start, going 7-5 in 2001, before he poured gas on the flame of the program. The 2002 season was a perfect 14-0, with a win over the Miami Hurricanes in the National Championship to cap that historic season.
Outside of his first year and the 2004 season, Tressel's Buckeyes never had fewer than 10 wins in a season. That is eight total years when they had 10 or more wins, and only three times he had more than 2 losses.
Tresel's time as the Ohio State head coach came to an abrupt end as he was forced to step down after "Tattoo Gate" in 2010. Funny how things in college football have changed.
The end of his time at Ohio State marked the end of his coaching career. He never got another job after spending a decade as the Buckeyes' head coach.
When many people in Buckeye Nation are asked who they associate with Ohio State football, the vast majority would say the man in the sweater vest. Tressel was the perfect ambassador of the Ohio State program, and he was the reason why they somehow pulled out that National Championship against Miami.
Just as all of the coaches do when they leave Ohio State, Tressel is a mainstay around campus during football season. It is never a surprise to see him floating around the field pregame.
Now, it will never be a surprise to feel his presence on Game Day inside Ohio Stadium. His name is going to live on the wall for the rest of time.
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