Ohio State coach Jim Tressel resigns amid scandal | College football

Jim Tressel resigned as coach at Ohio State on Monday, an abrupt move in a long but escalating scandal that has ensnared the university in an NCAA investigation.

Tressel said it was in the best interest of the university for him to step aside. The NCAA investigation began over Buckeyes players — including standout quarterback Terrelle Pryor — who sold memorabilia to a local tattoo-parlor owner.

Ohio State officials had seemingly backed Tressel, 58, throughout the scandal, even as he admitted he had not revealed the players' transgressions when he learned of them in April 2010.

Tressel remains scheduled to go before the NCAA committee on infractions in August for lying to the NCAA and then covering it up — one of the most egregious of sins for a coach in the eyes of college sports' ruling body. Tressel is to join school officials at that meeting.

Ohio State is not required to pay any buyout or severance to Tressel, who had a 106-22 record in Columbus and made around $3.7 million a year on a contract that was to run through the 2014 season.

Tressel was known for wearing sweater vests and beating rival Michigan — he was 9-1 against the Wolverines.

Assistant coach Luke Fickell, 37, will coach the team for the 2011 season.

The NCAA suspended Pryor and four other Buckeyes for five 2011 regular-season games, and a sixth received a one-game suspension. But they controversially were allowed to play last season in a 31-26 victory over Arkansas in the Sugar Bowl.

Tressel was fined $250,000 and initially suspended for two 2011 games. He subsequently asked the university to suspend him for five games, to match his players' punishment, and his request was granted.

The university also recently said it was investigating 50 car sales to players by local dealerships for more possible violations.

On Monday, The Columbus Dispatch reported Pryor is the subject of a "significant" inquiry by the NCAA and Ohio State regarding cars and other improper benefits he might have received.

Later Monday, Sports Illustrated reported the memorabilia-for-tattoos violations stretched back to 2002, Tressel's second season, and involved at least 28 players — 22 more than the university has acknowledged.

Those numbers include, beyond the six suspended players, an additional nine current players as well as other former players whose alleged wrongdoing might fall within the NCAA's four-year statute of limitations on violations.

After the SI article's release, Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith issued a statement.

"During the course of an investigation, the university and the NCAA work jointly to review any new allegations that come to light, and will continue to do so until the conclusion of the investigation," Smith said. "You should rest assured that these new allegations will be evaluated in exactly this manner."

Tressel's nickname, the Senator, spoke to a seemingly contradictory nature. It referred to his stately bearing, patriotism and deftness at dodging direct questions. He is the author of two books on faith and integrity.

As the scandal unfolded, Tressel's honor was repeatedly called into question.

At a March 8 news conference, Smith and Ohio State President Gordon Gee praised Tressel — and Gee responded with a joke when asked if he had considered firing Tressel.

"No, are you kidding?" Gee said. "Let me just be very clear: I'm just hopeful the coach doesn't dismiss me."

In his resignation letter to Smith, Tressel said, "The recent situation has been a distraction for our great university and I make this decision for the greater good of our school."