Former Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel has been rather quiet since leaving the Buckeyes under the cloud of the tattoo scandal that unceremoniously ended his tenure in Columbus. Tress has served as a consultant for the Colts in 2011 (while serving the stupidest suspension in NFL history thanks to Roger Goodell) and now works at the University of Akron as Vice President of Strategic Engagement. And now, Tressel is dipping his toe in the television waters, at least locally in Cleveland, as a special contributor for WKYC. As reported by the Plain Dealer…
"Former Ohio State University head coach Jim Tressel is joining the WKYC Channel 3 team as a special contributor. His weekly report, "A Moment With Jim Tressel," will air each Wednesday during the Gannett-owned station's 7 p.m. newscast.
Tressel, 59, was the head coach at Ohio State from 2001 to 2011. In February, he accepted a non-athletic department position at the University of Akron, where he started his coaching career as an undergraduate assistant for the Zips in 1975. He is the school's new vice president of strategic engagement, a position created for him."
Doesn't "A Moment With Jim Tressel" sound like the absolute perfect segment title for a guy who brought sweater vests back into fashion? Can't you just picture Jim Tressel giving life lessons and sage advice while sitting in a wooden rocking chair next to a crackling fireplace? In all seriousness, it's good to see Jim Tressel slowly step back into the public eye. He will likely never coach again, but his non-athletic department role at Akron and this local TV spot are steps towards bettering his battered public image. He may also appear at Ohio State to be honored with his 2002 national championship team.
Given the dozens and dozens of people that have done worse things than Tressel and been given second life on television, I can envision a future scenario where Tressel works as an analyst or contributor for a major network if he so chooses. If Tressel wants to stay away from football, there's also still time to become this generation's Paul Harvey.
