Football
Even Tressel Has Hot Button
By John Porentas

Over the years OSU Head Coach Jim Tressel's demeanor has almost never changed. Even in the most frenzied situations the man has been positively unflappable. Some even questioned whether he knows how to perspire. He always looks under control and rarely looks too excited. This season, however, some insiders say there has been a bit of a change in Tressel.

Advertisement

"He's a little more fiery than he has been in past years. It's good," said OSU offensive tackle Kirk Barton.

"The last couple of weeks he's given some really good speeches before games or a couple of days before games on Thursdays when we usually talk as a team. He's really having a great year this year as our coach."

You almost never hear about Tressel losing his temper or getting after his players in a "spirited" way, but when he does, it is memorable. Barton said one of those moments took place earlier this season.

Kurt Coleman

"Kurt Coleman hit Todd Boeckman in the preseason and I thought Coach Tress was going to eat him," said Barton.

"Todd had a black jersey on which means don't come within five feet of him, don't even think about touching him, and Kurt hit him, and oh man, Whew!, I forget what he said to Kurt but Kurt didn't talk for a couple of days after that. He wasn't happy at all. That was probably as mad as I've seen Coach Tress," Barton said.

The blowup was a rare event, which in part is what made it memorable to team members.

"Not since Bobby Carpenter left," said OSU linebackers coach Luke Fickell when asked when the last time Tressel went off on a player.

"I don't know that since Bobby left that I've heard him yell," Fickell said.

Bobby Carpenter

According to Fickell, it is a rare occasion for Tressel to lose his temper, and when it does happen it's never over performance on the football field.

"Lack of respect or something, not a play or not doing something. There's not a whole lot that upsets him," said Fickell.

Fickell said that Tressel's explosion with Coleman was not exactly inconsistent with past history. Tressel's blowup at Bobby Carpenter was over the same offense.

"Maybe you don't touch the quarterback," said Fickell of the lesson learned from Tressel's last two outbursts.

"There are some things that will get you upset, but you're not going to see him lose control."

This feature was made possible by our sponsors. Please patronize them.

Return to the-Ozone Columns and Features

Return to the-OZone Front Page