Jim Tressel showed he was human. And that disappointed me.
With his ever-present vest, his human touch, his apparent honesty, Tressel portrayed himself as a saint among the not-so-saintly world of college football. We all thought he was different.
Then he sinned. And sinned. And sinned. And sinned. Four times he had a chance to come clean about the eligibility and indiscretions of several of his Ohio State players. And four times he remained silent. He denies the silence was to ensure his prized players stayed on the field. Few buy that line.
For this, Tressel lost his job. And his reputation, at least outside Ohio. The man is essentially banned from college athletics. That’s what the NCAA thinks of his conduct.
He has since found a golden parachute in the University of Akron. For $200,000 a year, UA has a terrific ambassador and lobbyist at a discounted price tag. This will especially come in handy when it comes to developing donors and bringing dollars to the campus. We’ll see more buildings, perhaps an arena.
And while the majority of folks in Akron are jumping like cheerleaders at Tressel’s move north, some within the university are stomping their feet in anger. It seems fiscal restraint only counts for some. Spending upwards of $1 million on five personnel moves the past two months is almost mind-boggling. Equally odd is the lack of outcry. No one but a few seem to care about the payouts for football coaches, a VP and a couple of PR types. It’s business as usual.
And while UA president Luis Proenza spends, tuition rates grow. Fees grow. And the graduation rate remains stagnant. Truly, we can all be impressed by the expansion of UA. But at one point is enough enough?
It’s amazing the wrath that Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic incurs whenever he touts a major development project using public money. Yet, no one says a word when UA spends $340,000 on two PR types, as they did late last year. Public dollars fund Akron. They also fund UA, either through state money or tuition. Yet, there’s a double-standard in place. While mud is tossed at Plusquellic, we all follow along, gushing like high school kids when the likes of Jim Tressel comes to Akron.
Will he succeed? Maybe. Will it result in lower tuition and better graduation rates? Fill in the blank.
{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
You really come off as bitter towards The University of Akron. To compare one of Ohio’s major public universities with how the city of Akron operates is comparing apples and oranges. The University of Akron is about the region, state, nation and world, Its obligation go far beyond that of the city of Akron. And I don’t agree with you when you claim tuition money is public money. It is not. I think you are making a bit of a stretch there.
Show me one public university that has lowered their tuition rates. UA’s tuition rates are the lowest among the four largest public universities in Ohio and the university is constantly working on improving its graduation rates. It becomes a struggle to do so when the governor demands that UA stay with open enrollment. Given that choke hold by the state, UA will still improve its graduation rates.
I believe that Tressel will be an asset to The University of Akron and this community. Dr Proenza has proven that he knows what he is doing. That he demonstrates greater capabilities than the mayor is something to rejoice over instead of begrudge