COLUMBUS, Ohio — Jim Tressel spent Saturday back where so much of his legacy was built.
Nearly 15 years after his final game as Ohio State’s head coach, Tressel returned to Ohio Stadium to be enshrined in the Ohio State Athletics Ring of Honor.
Then, during Ohio State’s season opener against Ball State, the banner bearing Tressel’s name was unveiled inside Ohio Stadium.
For a coach who spent 10 seasons leading the Buckeyes, won a national championship and became one of the defining figures in Ohio State football history, it was a moment that carried plenty of meaning.
Tressel became the third coach to be honored at Ohio Stadium, joining Paul Brown (1941-43) and Woody Hayes (1951-78). He also became the first person added to the Ring of Honor since 2014, when one of his quarterbacks, 2006 Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith, was placed on the C-Deck.
After the ceremony and banner reveal, Tressel spoke with Ohio State media on his return to Ohio Stadium, what the Ring of Honor means to him, his father, the memories that came rushing back and what it was like to see his name permanently displayed alongside some of the greatest in Ohio State history. You can watch the full interview with Tressel below.
