May 30th, 2012 - One Year Ago...

The morning of Memorial Day is usually a hectic one within our household.  Avon Lake has a Memorial Day parade that involves veterans, our high school marching band, our local officials, businesses who care to participate in the parade, and Little League teams sporting their garb.  Naturally, we love to attend the parade to enjoy the festivities.

On the morning of May 30th, 2011, I received a phone call from my best friend Bob that did not surprise me, but did sadden me.

Jim Tressel had announced his resignation as head coach of Ohio State.

Arriving at the Avon Lake Memorial Day parade, I met up with several friends who asked me what I thought of the resignation.  The news that Luke Fickell had been named interim head coach was not surprising to me, as Fickell was previously named to manage Ohio State's team during Coach Tressel's five game suspension.

Even after one year...Even after the Sports Illustrated article that was largely based on anonymous sources, even after Ohio State staggered to a 6-7 record in 2011 under Coach Fickell, even after Ohio State hired Urban Meyer, even after Ohio State was hit by the NCAA with a bowl ban for the 2012 season...

There is a feeling of sadness.  A feeling of this is not how it was supposed to end.  A feeling that people were never truly allowed to say "thank you", for all that Coach Tressel accomplished in his career at Ohio State.

Yes, I will acknowledge that Coach Tressel should have handled this whole situation better.  Yes, I will acknowledge that Coach Tressel only has himself to blame for how this turned out.

But I will ask you...when you watch this clip...and you remember the 2002 National Championship year...Or the victories over Michigan...

Don't you understand why I say there is a feeling of sadness?
Recently, I purchased a t-shirt that I believe summarizes my feelings, even after one year...

Coach Tressel - thank you.