Jim Tressel Would Rather Not Discuss Ray Small
In what has to be his shortest press conference to date, Tressel cut off his Thursday event with the media four minutes in after repeatedly being asked about freshly suspended Ray Small.
What we were able to find out before the thing was over:
- Conflicting with earlier reports, Small is suspended for one game “to start with” and won’t be traveling to Northwestern this weekend.
- Small will be given a chance to work his way back into good graces.
- Hartline will assume the primary on punt return duties and Robo will join him when the Buckeyes put two deep.
- The Vest was unaware (or claimed to be unaware) of Small’s father’s comments about how the school was out to end Ray’s career.
- Transferring didn’t come up in the conversation with Small about his suspension.
The final question was about whether Small was in the doghouse for the Troy game and at that point, Tressel had decided that he had enough:
“Gosh, I don’t know. Okay guys, thanks. I appreciate it. I thought we were going to talk about Northwestern. Thanks.”
And poof…
honestly, eff tressel. him and his assistants are constantly failing to fix problems that all of us here on this blog identified after week 1. now one of the better players in terms of raw talent has been kicked off and he doesnt feel like talking about it. maybe the reason some fans have been so quick to boo this year is due to the fact that tressel doesnt let us really know whats going on. ever. its the most frustrating thing in the world. i get that you have to keep things mum when the situation is delicate, but i wonder how many more years the fans are going to be willing to put up with this sub par treatment.
LOLpwnt. Something about the Ghost just rubs the Vest the wrong way I guess. Maybe the media blowing the story up made Tressel ease up on the punishment.
Here’s to Ray Ray getting a 24th chance.
Oh, and Hartline as a PR? I guess he’s gotta get his touches somehow. Though I’d like to see Flash more.
JT did mention that Posey was getting some PR work as well, but I don’t expect to see him back there this weekend.
I don’t blame Tressel. He came to talk to the media about the Wildcats and the Buckeyes who would be making a difference on Saturday, not a player who has been nothing but a headache and save one punt return, has been irrelevant all season. The media wanted the “dirt”, Tressel wanted to talk Northwestern.
I’m not a fan of the “Senate speak” either, but I realize that Tressel doesn’t owe me or any other fan anything. I would actually prefer that he didn’t tell us all the gossip BS and handle situations “in house” as oppossed to letting it get out into the media.
This is Tressel, for better or worse. His press conferences have been like this since the beginning, and I’m willing to bet it will be exactly like this at the end. I think anyone who is waiting for that “straight talk” or Mike Gundy rant from Tressel is going to be consistantly disappointed.
Eff Tressel? EFF YOU! LOL
But seriously I agree with Racist Tyler on this one. Keep it in house as a family matter….urkel style.
I actually heard a good point from the Mid-Day show on 1460 (I can’t believe I just typed that).
Remember before the USC game, it was Ray Small running his jib that at Ohio State they made you into better men and it wasn’t all about football. That tune seems to have changed.
http://www.elevenwarriors.com/2008/09/dammit-small.html
I don’t blame Tressel for cutting it short, while the local media is doing their job, they should also know Tress doesn’t discuss family matters beyond what his original statement is.
Here’s an article with the questions Tressel was asked during his 5 minute presser…… I would have walked out too.
http://www.cleveland.com/buckeyeblog/index.ssf/2008/11/_jim_tressel_cut_short.html
Good riddance. Headaches after headaches. No wonder Ray has no accountability for screw ups. Look at his father. This “It’s never my fault.” mentality gets old.
Ray Small is a hack, he’s late to team meetings (when he actually decides to show at all), he doesn’t know the playbook after 3 years, he runs the wrong routes, and he isn’t respected by his teammates. We all have our little hook-ups with insider information, and I have it on good source that this is from the mouth of Dane Sanzenbacher.
I’m tired of the prima donna players ruining it for the rest of them. There’s like 85 players on scholarship, and I don’t hear any of them complaining besides Ray Small. I hope he’s gone soon.
I do agree that the presser was about Northwestern. Staying on point would have been nice. That said, I am getting alittle tired about Tressel’s “aw shucks” attitude when asked difficult (for him) questions. Earlier this week he professed to not know the BCS rankings? Now this? Sorry, fielding difficult and yes, inane and repetitive questioning goes along with the salary.
Give me a break Tyler. Tressel wouldn’t get this type of treatment if he ever, EVER gave a straight answer to a question. Seriously, whether the subject is injuries, internal discipline or actual game decisions he doesn’t answer and then gets all huffy when the reporters (obviously) aren’t remotely satisfied.
“but i wonder how many more years the fans are going to be willing to put up with this sub par treatment”
Yes, grand idea. Let’s throw a whole bunch of he-said, she-said bullsheet out to the media so everyone with an ass or a doorknob can chime in and otherwise form an opinion on speculation and heresay. Makes perfect sense to discuss idiotic tit-for-tat like that with reporters, then everyone gets a say in team policy, team expectations and team punishments - let’s do everything by committee - yay!
Tressel: “Well, he’s missed a number of classes and has been late to several team meetings.”
Reporter: “How many is ‘a number of’ - would you say less than 8, but more than 5?”
Reporter: “How many is ’several’ - would you say more than 3, but less than 71?”
Tressel: ….?
Reporter: “Would you say he was 86 percent in the doghouse for the Troy game, but only 37 percent in the doghouse for the Minnesota game?”
Reporter: “Ken Small thinks you are intentionally trying to ruin Ray’s career - is that true?”
Reporter: “Would you say that you’re only 22 percent trying to ruin his career or more in the 60 percent range?”
Tressel: “Why would any coach want to keep a talented player from playing, unless it was for a good reason? Talented players win games, and winning games keeps me employed.”
Reporter: “Ken Small thinks you’re making things up to find reasons to punish Ray.”
Tressel: ….
Reporter: “Would you say there’s cable in the doghouse, or possibly more of a satellite package?”
Reporter: “Would the satellite package have, say, 150 channels, or more of 300 channels?”
Tressel: ….
This situation couldn’t be more clear - Ray Ray keeps breaking minor team rules and is apparently unwilling or unable to prioritize his time better. Discipline for things like that gets progressively worse the more chances you get.
Screw up once, extra running, screw up twice, take away your number, screw up again, lose a series of playing time, screw up again, maybe sit for a half, etc. etc.
One thing Ken Small is correct about is his son being treated differently than other players - if some scrub or walk on kept screwing up, they wouldn’t have nearly this many chances.
other than the one who shall not be named, i can not think of another buckeye besides small i have ever been more anxious to see leave the university.
I agree MSP!! as i read the blogs it talks about Ray Ray not living up to his hype, well that seems of late to be a common theme among our players. I want the coaching staff to be held more accountable for the recent failures. Changes need to be made, not at top yet but if Tressel is unwilling to recognize this, then he needs to go. I am tired of all of the Buckeye bashing and it starts with the BS gameplans. I like JT but lately our coaching as not been good along with our play!!!!
“Hartline will assume the primary on punt return duties and Robo will join him when the Buckeyes put two deep.”
Really? I mean, seriously? Not to bash any Buckeyes, but those two wouldn’t scare a good high school football team.
I think it’s the fact that they aren’t getting any touches as WRs. And that comes back to Tressel giving PT to upperclassmen even though there may be more capable freshmen (Lamaar Thomas).
Reporter: Coach, would say this Small situation is getting out of hound?
Tressel: Gee, I don’t even know what that means. Is that something from the intertubes or what? If things could possible get “in cat” as in Wildcats, as in Northwestern, that’d be great.
I will give you a break MSP, but just this once.
Just this once I won’t point out that you should probably READ my posted opinion before you post your retort. Had you done this, you would have known that, I too, am not a fan of Tressel’s ability to talk for a half an hour without saying anything, but I appreciate it.
My opinion on this matter can be broken down into two points:
1. In this day and age of “the only news worth reporting is bad news”, maybe Tressel didn’t want to talk about the one kid who constantly screws up and, oh by the way, ISN’T PLAYING SATURDAY! Maybe he wanted to praise the countless other players who show up to class, go to team meetings, and bust their asses doing the little things right. Maybe?
2. Just because you visit 11W daily, or you’ve been to few games this year, or graduated from Ohio State, or have press pass does not entitle you to know everything that is going on with the Ohio State football program. Unless you are on the team as a player or are one of the Coaches or staff, what happens in that locker room or behind closed doors at the WHAC is, to put it bluntly, none of your fucking buisness. JT doesn’t have to tell us anything in order to win football games, so the instead of bitching about the information (or lack thereof) given in the presser, perhaps we should take what little information we do get for what it is, a gift.
Give Lamar Thomas the fucking ball!!!! Im sick of this PC, senior loyalty bullshit!!
I want bad asses that win games and talk shit doing it. JT is not Woody and he DOES owe the fans something. One call the other way and he DOES NOT have a title and he’s on his way out in two years. Its all about the titles baby, not getting good grades, cleaning up your room, saying excuse me after you fart, and winning the suck-ass Big Ten. God Bless Ohio State!!!
hmm seems like people are getting sick of tressels’ shit.
best punt returners have quick twitch muscles and are fast(thomas,posey)
hartline-average quickness looks slow on the field
robo-no quicks and a long strider
equals no big plays on punt returns
hey remember in ‘05 when everybody knew we had mad talent and should contend for a nat’ title? ended w/2 losses.we’re already there, this shit is getting ridiculous. osu’s staff is garbage w/the exception of, perhaps, a few assistants
Why the fuck isn’t small returning Punts and Kickoffs after averaging like 30+ yards per return so far?
This makes about as much sense as him putting Rasta Wells in to return punts..
Henrietta realist. Dude Hartline runs track he’s fast if he wasn’t fast he wouldn’t be a wideout at Ohio State. Hartline has returned a kick for a td. You need guys that will field the ball on punts. Thomas looked shakey on the last kick I saw him try and catch. You have to have guys that are confident back there, and a freshman that has limited touches won’t be that guy.
Everyone needs to chill the fuck out. We have three games left and if we win out we will be going to a good bowl game. I wish there was a playoff because we could make some noise with the d playing so well.
baby booey,
Can you read the English language?
for purposes of entertainment, please put Rasta back there…
Man, the hate is strong with you guys. What laws has Ray Small broken? Did he kick your dog? What has he done, aside from trash talking USC and being in the dog house for undisclosed reasons? Do you people seriously dislike him as much as you did MC?
The last thing I want is to see in-fighing in the fanbase with Pro-Tressel and Anti-Tressel factions facing off. But it seems that this intensely loyal fanbase is dying for answers: How could a team that returned 20+ starters from a team that was national runner up be so much worse a year later? Why does this team seem to suffer from such a lack of leadership? How could the team look so unprepared and quit so easily in what was the program’s most important game in decades? Why do each of the last two championship game meltdowns come with pretty credible locker room fistfight rumors?
I don’t expect Tressel to come out and bare his soul and answer these types of questions. But a straight answer like “yes. right now he’s suspended for two games for academic reasons” or “it appears to be a hyperextended knee and the best current information suggests he’ll miss three to four games” isn’t too much to ask. I think stuff like this is the straw that’s breaking the camel’s back for some fans.
Look, I had as high as expectations for anyone this season. Years of watching sports told me that young teams are usually better with an extra year of experience and hard work. Common sense suggested to me that these players, deemed to be among the most talented in the country, and these coaches would take deadly seriously the opportunity to restore their tarnished reputation out there against USC.
The fact that this team has regressed so much, the fact that the coaching staff could let this happen and the fact that no one in the program seems pissed off about it makes me think that all my passion for this team is for naught. I know Tressel or anybody else doesn’t “owe” me anything, but it seems like such a one way street for me and a lot of other fans right now.
I mean, if you really want to kick the guy off the team for skipping class, well, I know I’d physically never make it as an Ohio State player, but I’d have been kicked off as a true freshman if you guys had your way. You’re telling me you haven’t skipped classes because you knew you didn’t need much more than a pulse to pass them? I know for a fact you have if you graduated: English anything.
Also, I know student athletes are held to a different standard (not entirely sure why), but if you think someone should be kicked off the team for missing class, what do you think should be done to someon convincted of a DUI?
I agree Poguemahone, a DUI is far worse and should be handled as such. I also think that everyone deserves a second chance. A second chance. When it becomes a 5th and 6th chance, then you have to realize that these chances are being wasted and it’s time to cut the kid loose and let him learn the lessons of life like most others, the hard way.
Mahone, You come on here with your holier than thou attitude spewing nothing but proof that you are either a giant weenie trying to stir shit up, or you are a fookin moron. I know for a fact that one of the conditions that Jim Tressel puts on ALL his players is that they develop the self discipline to NEVER skip class without a good reason. EVER. Every recruit knows this before he signs on the dotted line. If a player doesn’t show self discipline with this fundamental requirement, then ye old sweatervest feels that that same unreliability will show up where he can least afford to see it…on the field.
Ray Small has been given many more chances than he deserves. because he, and every other player on scholarship deserves none. IF he gets a second chance, then instead of taking it for granted, he ought to thank every fookin one of his lucky stars individually that he didn’t join the pantheon of woulda shoulda couldas like Reggie Germany, Ken-Yon Rambo, Buster Howe and he who shall never be named.
Scholarship football players are held to a higher standard of behvior than the standard Dean Wormer target like you and I (”Fat Drunk and Stupid is no way to go through life son”)
MSP - Good post.
The realist family has posting on here alot lately..Tom and his daughter Henrietta. Annoying.
As far as small goes,, I had an opportunity to spend 3-4 hours at the WHAC on a day during traiing camp. Of all the guys Ray Ray was the most self centered, rude SOB that I saw. The rest were very cool. Not that I got that close to all of them. I did get close to Small and he did not impress me that he was a good dude. Now if his performance matched his perceived talent then it wouldn’t be an issue(sarcasm).
Pogue I mean that was a little harsh don’t you think?
I realized after I posted that JT was just talking about Punt Returns, which makes sense considering fielding a kickoff is much easier than fielding a punt.. I’m just a little shot out of a cannon today..
Shit I mean Poe
I give up
Todd H - man, I haven’t been called a weenie since kindergarten. You really cleaned my clock with that one.
If you’re asking if I’m trying to stir something up, that’s open to interpretation. I’ve never been a big fan of groupthink. In the previous thread, someone hopped on the “off with his head!” meme and others have agreed for flimsy reasons (see: Doug Worthington, piloting an Escalade - AN ESCALADE - whilst heavily intoxicated = no punishment is fine, but Ray Small doing what college kids do = ARGH BLOOD BLOOD BLOOD)
Look, I’m not apologizing for Ray’s actions, I just disagree with kicking the kid off the team because we only have one known quantity - skipped classes, and according to his dad, some “parking tickets”. Can’t you just hear Judas Priest’s “Breaking the Law” blasting over Ray Small parking in the wrong spot?
If you think Small should be off the team, then the following people also should have been kicked off the team given what they did, regardless of this “repeat offense” BS Tressel is pushing: Troy Smith, Antonio Henton, Alex Boone, Doug Worthington… list goes on and on.
I think a lot of people are missing the point. The point is, Small was given more than one opportunity…and frankly…had he been a walk-on receiver, his ass would’ve been off the squad after the first screw up. He’s had the privilege of several chances now and it appears that either Tressel is a bastard who just hates Small and will do anything he can to ruin his life….or maybe Ray Small can’t seem to get his head straight.
It doesn’t help that his father seems to be doing nothing but pointing fingers and looking for excuses as well. Like father, like son.
i do not want the guy kicked off the team. i just look forward to the day when he isn’t allowed back bc he lacks eligibility. he has been in JT’s doghouse almost as soon as he made it onto campus. as much as we would like to believe that JT is some kind of saint, he is not. if small had any redeeming qualities, tressel would have got his speedy ass on the field. i think it is quite telling that a man as competitive as tressel isn’t willing to bend his own house rules for someone who could help him out. i wish ray luck with his future.
no one is ever in a class with he who shall not be named. but small in my eyes is a very distant second.
Pogue, for the record, Small wasn’t kicked off the team, so you’re making it sound way worse than it is.
It’s been mentioned over and over but you’re continuing to miss the point. The severity of the violations weren’t the deciding factor. Tressel is all about second chances and righting the ship. It’s that Ray has wasted the chances he has been given time and time again. It’s a slap in the face. It has reached the point where you just have to realize that the kid is a cancer.
Student athletes are held at a higher standard because they are supposed to be (or will be at the next level) role models, and they are also the representatives of the school to the rest of the nation. I’d like to think OSU still has one of the more highly regarded, prestigious, clean football programs, and Tressel is a big part of that. As the coach he has to run a tight ship to keep that credibility.
Okay, so they’re normal college mistakes (as far as we know). What happens if Tressel lets it slide? What kind of impression does that give to the rest of the team? They’ll think they can get away with it too, and more. Next thing you know Tressel has lost control of his team. And I might be reaching here but what’s next, we turn into the next “Tha U”?
Mahone,
You obviously have reading comprehension problems. Small isn’t in trouble for one transgression, its for repeatedly violating team rules which means he has been pissing on Tressel’s authority since he got there. Of course, nothing like coming on here and making judgements with no understanding of the big picture. Just proves how full of shit you really are.
There are many comments that were made that have validity to them. Example, the comments made about the DUI’s and other players that have made mistakes and still found themselves on the field. Example, Troy Smith made the mistake of taking money. He was not only suspended for the Bowl Game that we won but also the first two games of the following season. Then he came back and started the next two seasons and led one of the top offenses in the country. The point is he understood he fucked up and fixed himself. Also, lets look at this season with Worthington. I dont think the Vest handled it exactly right but he did miss some game time. As the Vest stated he addresses issues player by player. If it were me as coach he would have missed 2-4 games. BUT, we dont know what happened if Worthington was joy riding drunk or had a family incident he didnt deal with correctly. Does that excuse him for what he did, no, but he has come back and kept himself out of trouble and is having a decent year. Yet another player who learned from a mistake. Now to Small. Skipping class is by NO WAY as bad as a DUI or picking up a prostitute. Oh and by the way on that front i believe his dumb ass never saw the field anyway. BUT, he has done it repeatedly along with team meetings. WHY in the hell would you miss a team meeting. NO wonder this team isnt where they should be there is no unity. They talk about it all the time but thats just talk. There seems to be no unity or leadership. If this guy played with Eddie or Hawk or someone with a spine he wouldnt have these issues because the true leaders this team used to have would have buried his ass during practice. If we had true leaders on this team they would be keeping tabs and making sure he is at class or going to the meetings. He’s had his chances, he’s blown the extra oppurtunities he’s been given. I back the Vest in his decision. If Small really gave a shit he would do as he is expected, not what he wants. He sounds selfish to me and not someone I would want on my team. As for as his pappy goes maybe he should be down there kicking his son in the ass or smacking him upside the head, NOT bashing the Vest for trying to instill some accountability into his son. OH and putty hartline back there to return punts is assinine. put posey and flash back there. I dont see how they are nervous or unsure about handling kicks. They’ve been there long enough. I want to see a tackle missed once in awhile. hartline and robo dont give you that. they may be somewhat fast going in a straightline down hill but not side to side like you need to be on a punt return. just my point of view.
I just realized I wrote small
I was talking about flash the whole time
Brian,
You realize that Hartline HAS returned a kick for a TD right? Have you ever returned a punt in a real live football game? The skill set is way different than that of WR. Not everyone can do it. There are plenty of great WRs who could never master that skill. Unless you are part of the program and been at practices to see how Posey and Thomas handle punt returns, you have no idea what you are talking about. I hate to break it to you, but Tressel knows one fookin hell of a lot more about who the best returner is than you.
You mean just like he knew Rasta and Saine were the best returners? And that Boeckman should start over Pryor? How long did it take to get Thaddeus into the lineup?
Do you know the reasons why those decisions were made? Particularly without the benefit of 20/20 hindsight? The only things we know about those decisions:
KR: Saine and Rasta Ganjaman both showed some ability in the past. i.e. they’ve already done it.
QB: Ditto Boekmann. You don’t seriously think that Pryor was comfortable enough with the palybook to be effective early on do you? Boeckman, though while flawed, HAD shown that he could be a major college QB. (PSU last year). Plus, again, did you see Pryor in practice during preseason or in the ramp up to the earlier games? If not then you’re just talking out of your ass.
Gibson had other issues, of which we are not toatlly privy. We do know that he did have disciplinary issues. And in the tOSU defensive scheme, discipline is an extremely important facet. If you don’t have the self discipline to do your assignment, your teammates can’t trust you to be where you are supposed to be, which allows them to be where THEY are supposed to be. Its a slippery slope that has destroyed some pretty talented defense int the past. Until Gibson was able to demonstrate that in practice, the coaching staff wasn’t going to make him a starter. Once he did…they did. Thats how football works.
This isn’t a PS3 version of NCAA Football 2009. Real life is alot more complicated. We in the stands know less than 10% of any specific situation with the team. So there is no way we can understand why a situation is the way it is.
Thats why our job as fans is to make noise and make the home environment as unfair as possible. We don’t know enough to be coaches. Otherwise, mail Tressel your resume and maybe he’ll recognize your innate ability to handle personnel decisions so much better than anyone he already has on his staff.
Todd, you do realize the punt he returned for a touchdown was against nobody spectacular. I’m not taking away from what he did. I also know that receiving skills and punt returning skills are much different and quite frankly both Brians have limited explosiveness at either. I DO agree with you that I am not at practices I dont see how Posey or Flash handle it. But I would rather have a chance at a 10 yard return with either of them rather then a 5 yarder from either Brian. I do believe last season Hartline averaged maybe 9-13 yards a punt return. AND the only reason it was *coughed up hairball* that high was due to the punt return for a touchdown. So you are right he did return a punt for a touchdown, BUT it was only ONE. Thats it, ONE. And yes I know Posey hasnt done that and neither has Flash. But hey, I can see them both doing it next year so why wait. Oh, and Flip good point on Thaddeus. He should have been starting from day one. It may have taking him a few games to really get going AND; maybe thats why he didnt get more playing till later in the season but, damn has he impressed!
I really don’t know that Rasta and Saine have shown any return ability in the past, unless by past you mean high school highlight tapes. Then again I have a short term memory, but last I checked they still haven’t done anything in recent history to prove worthy.
As for Boeckman, I don’t blame the Vest for starting him. Solid season, and with a year of experience under his belt he should’ve improved. But rule out the PSU game and it’s been a steep downhill slide since.
You make it sound like these guys are All-Americans in practice, and when Saturday rolls around, the second stringers just happen to play better. You’re right that I’m no coach, but I am not that willing to give them the benefit of the doubt. Don’t get me wrong, I understand where your coming from and I was preaching the same thing too. But the questionable depth chart decisions have piled up, and it’s no longer a question of player ability. It points to poor judgment by the coaching staff.
At least now I can rest easy knowing that real life is more complicated than the PS3 version of NCAA 09. If only I had an Ask Corso button for my real life decisions…
You’re deluded. You have no decisions to make at all. I never made any implications about their all american status. You and I have ZERO information to base those decisions on anyway. At least zero information that should be used.
You freely admit you are not a coach and yet you are not willing to give them the benefit of the doubt. WHY? Give me some reason to believe you are basing this on any valid information that demonstrates you have any facts to contradict the decisions that the coaching staff have made. Otherwise, you are just committing mental masturbation about the coaching decisions.
Brian, you freely admit that you haven’t seen how Posey and Flash handle punt returns. But then you still draw a conclusion! How about the fact that the coaching staff HAVE seen it (in practice) and based their decisions on that. You would rather chance a 10 yard yard return than the 5 that the Brians would give you? Is it worth those five yards if Posey drops every fourth punt? (Not saying he does). Tressel has shown that he IS willing to remove a senior who isn’t doing the job if the underclassman can (LiC, Brewster, Shugarts prior to getting hurt). So why are you accusing him of not doing that in this case? Particularly with no information!
Todd, seriosly man. These are just my points of view. Hartline and Robo returning punts is not going to put fear into any team we play. Kind of like they put no fear into opposing teams DBs. As we saw in the championship game last year. They each got bitch slapped and disappeared until garbage time. Against penn state flash returned two kicks and averaged what 30 yards. I KNOW ITS NOT PUNT RETURNS. I DO KNOW THE DIFFERENCE. But, what happened in the fourth quarter when they scored their TD and then kicked off. Who did they kick it away from? FLASH. Then what happened? A SENIOR chest bumped the ball out of bounds. Now, flash or posey could have done the same thing. BUT, you cant tell me with there speed and agility you wouldnt mind seeing them return some kicks and even punts. Thats really all I am saying. I want to see these guys get a legit chance to see what they can do. IF they botch a punt put in Hartline and Robo. I honestly dont want to see them turn the ball over but if they can get up the field and make something happen then hey, i say its worth it. And really this week would be a great time to give them a shot since we are going up against a banged up northwestern team. Tell me why they shouldnt be given a chance. thats all. and once again, this is all my point of view, i respect yours, respect mine
be kind to todd, he voted mccain
umm, so did I….
it was a joke, he seems a litte tightly wound
He’s does a little bit now that i think about it
LOL…How did you know?!?!?! Now I’m scared!.
What I would like to see is ANYONE who has the job perform to the level of expectations that we all have. By the way, we did have that Punt Returner until he proved he was too stupid to appreciate the opportunity he had by repeatedly breaking team rules. What I reject is anyone on a message board implying they know more than the HC. That applies equally to us here and Jim Tressel, or all the wolverweasel fans and the Big Hillbilly. Coaches know more than we do not only technically, but specifically to their personnel. So to second guess that is absurd. Thats my point. Your implication that the only reason the Brians have the hjob is they are seniors is silly. The reason they have the job is that our starter has gotten into trouble again and the sweatervest feels these guys are better for the job and not Flash or Posey. We can GUESS why that decision is made, but we don’t KNOW. Tressel’s fanatical obsession with the importance of the punt tells me that the issue has to do with ball security.
todd h- i cant understand you with tressels’ dick in your mouth, take it out and try again. hartline and robo are not very good anymore for some reason…dont take it personal
pretty much everybody knows the only reason they have the punt return job is b/c they’re upperclassmen…except you that is, except you.
Todd (not Boeckman):
“Small isn’t in trouble for one transgression, its for repeatedly violating team rules which means he has been pissing on Tressel’s authority since he got there”
No, reports yesterday indicated that it was missed classes that sealed the deal. His dad summed up Small’s entire experience at OSU (parking tickets, poor -but apparently still passing - grades, etc.), but none of that is being mentioned as the “official” reason for the supension.
And I’m not against the suspension at all - it seems a proper punishment for a student athlete who’s skipping classes. Booting him off the team, after he has not broke the law like, say, Alex Boone or Doug Worthington, is too harsh.
Flipbuckeye - I’m not for “letting it slide”, as I’ve stated numerous times. The suspension is fine and it’s what I would have done in JT’s situation. Kicking the kid off the team is simply ridiculous.
If you followed this program closer pogue, you would know that Tressel doesn’t do anything in a vacuum. You would also know that this isn’t Small’s first, second or even third transgression in his career in Columbus. Tressel even intimated when Worthington got into trouble that the fact that this was the first time Worthington was even near trouble had a lot to do with his punishment. If Tressel does kick him off the team, which by the way, he hasn’t it won’t be for one violation. It will be for the total package.
The funny thing about all this is that I am not a Hartline fan, for off the field issues. I’m not defending him. I am basically just saying that there isn’t anyone here that knows 1/10th of the whole story and to question Tressel on it because in your eyes he suddenly got stupid is laughably ignorant.
Thas not kissing Tressel’s ass (or anything else) that’s just recognizing that I’ll trust that he knows what he is doing one hell of a lot more than some anonymous poster and an interloper from some other B10 team.
I’m glad you trust him as much as you do, but when that many starters get replaced by second stringers that instantly outperform their predecessors, I’m going to continue to question his depth chart decisions. Who exactly are you to tell the fans they don’t have a right to their opinions? No one’s saying they can do a better job than Tressel, but we sure as hell can give our opinions.
Go to buckeyeplanet or whatever that website is where they ban you for saying anything negative about the Buckeyes if you want an OSU circle jerk.
Not to step on Pogue’s toes, but I think what he’s driving at is that Tressel’s punishment - a one-game suspension, and the promise to allow Ray to work his way back into his (Tressel’s) good graces - is effectively a dismissal from this year’s team.
How long did it take Ray Small to work his way back onto the field from Spring ball until the early part of the season? Quite a while. Does anyone really think that Small will see significant playing time by the m*ch*g*n game? Based on Tressel’s record with Small, I don’t.
Effectively, this punishment removes Small from the team. Is it justified? Only Tressel and Small know for sure.
Brian Hartline is slow. Period.
I also found it most interesting that Small is not permitted to be in the WHAC, and not permitted to be around the team. If Tressel really feels that he’s that bad an influence on the others, he should, in fact, be dismissed, and removed from the program altogether. He should have been given his release during Spring ball, and told to find an opportunity elsewhere.
I’m not saying Tressel isn’t justified for doing what he’s doing by suspending Small. But if the kid is so bad that he can’t be permitted to hang around his teammates, and run sprints at the WHAC, there are deeper, bigger issues in play.
I’m here for the OSU circle jerk……oh wait, wrong blog.
Nope Racist Tyler-
YOUR RIGHT ON TIME! lol
Flip,
Starters being replaced by second stringers isn’t a bad thing. It happens all the time. Youngsters gain confidence and experience and their natural ability might allow them to pass someone ahead of them in the depth chart. Thats a good thing and is NOT symptomatic of anything other than a heathy and competitive team environment. Now if a THIRD or FOURTH teamer slid into the starting lineup…now THAT would and should set off alarm bells.
Please remember, at this level of football, athletic ability alone will not get you a job. You need to know play responsibilities so completely that you don’t think about them. Because if you take time to think, you are out of position. Thats why players like Brewster and Shugarts, who came into Cbus with more athletic ability than that out of shape tub of goo at RG were unable to break into the starting lineup right away.
You can always count on a member of the Realist family to uninteligent.
“and to question Tressel on it because in your eyes he suddenly got stupid is laughably ignorant”
I’m not questioning Tressel, doofus! I said the punishment he handed out was the same punishment I’d have done in his position. I’m questioning the armchair offensive coordinators and quarterbacks on this blog who think Small should be kicked off the team. I personally would bet my entire meager personal fortune that if Ray Small had 35 catches for 700 yards and 8 touchdowns this season, people here would be begging for Tressel to have mercy on the young man.
And I’m sorry, I’d sooner kick a kid off the team when they do something that could endanger another human being’s life, like a DUI, then kicking them off for acting like a kid in college. I guess that makes me a bad person.
Scholarship Football players are held by Tressel to a higher standard of behavior than a “typical” college student doofus. And in case your reading comprehension is lacking, I’ll mention it again:
Tressel isn’t kicking Small off the team for one violation of team rules. He has been suspended from the team for at least the third instance (the ones we know of) of violating team rules. One thing Tressel has said in the past is that all diciplinary action taken is partially based on a player’s disciplinary record.
I doubt anyone WANTS him gone. Most think he is gon because of Tressel’s disciplinary methods, which are much more stringent than say JoePa’s or DickRod’s.
What I do want is for Small’s Dad to STFU.
Let’s do this Buckeyes!
Here is why Ray Small is suspended indefinitely:
Ohio taxpayers are, in essence, sending that kid to school FOR FREE. When he is tendered a scholarship offer, to continue to attend The Ohio State University AT NO COST TO HIM OR HIS FATHER, he better have the understanding that if rules are consistently bent and broken, there will be consequences.
Young men make mistakes — think back to when you were an 18 year old kid. But there’s only so many times you can give those young men second chances, especially when there is no sign of growth or maturation.