Ohio Stadium Columbus (Photo credit kla4067)
Every holiday season my father gives me a book to add to my personal library. It is a gesture intended to motivate and inspire me as I prepare for the New Year. In 2008 he gave me a copy of The Winners Manual For the Game of Life written by Jim Tressel the former head football coach at The Ohio State University. My father explained that while listening to a radio interview he heard that athletes and executives alike adored the book.
I graciously accepted the gift stored it on my bookshelf and added it to my to read list. However once Tressel s NCAA violations for unethical conduct surfaced and the subsequent five year show cause order limiting his participation in collegiate athletics activities I decided that the book just was not for me. I made a judgment call declaring that the embattled coach could not teach me about winning.
In hindsight I was wrong.
Yes winning involves championships and playing the right way but it is also about handling life s most difficult obstacles. What I overlooked is the power of learning from and reconciling one s past one event does not define a person nor does it eliminate their ability to offer wisdom and guidance.
This is one of the many lessons from Youngstown Boys ESPN Films new 30 for 30 documentary featuring Tressel and the one time elite running back Maurice Clarett.
For Tressel he calls it A story about a young man football a relationship with his coaches his teammates tough times but hanging on to hope.
If you followed BCS college football in the early 2000 s you will remember that Tressel made the leap from Youngstown State a Division I AA football program with multiple national championships to Ohio State where in 2002 the Buckeyes won their first national championship in 34 years. That season Clarett took Columbus better yet the nation by storm.
It seemed as though he could do no wrong and his future as one the greatest Big Ten athletes was solidified. But an NCAA investigation into improper benefits ensued and before anyone knew the university dismissed No. 13. Clarett tried to turn his quest of being a one and done college football player into a reality but he unsuccessfully challenged the NFL s strict three years out of high school rule.
Seemingly with nowhere to turn Clarett started partying and consuming drugs and alcohol which only temporarily masked his depression. Ultimately the NFL came calling but at this stage he was only a shell of his former self after failing to make a roster he spiraled into a deeper depression.
Without direction and purpose Clarett returned to Ohio where on one fateful night he made an illegal U turn which eventually turned into a freeway police chase. From that incident he was cited with a concealed weapons charge which on top of a prior robbery charge meant that Clarett was going to prison. He served a 3 year sentence and released in 2010.
Meanwhile Tressel experienced success at Ohio State winning five consecutive Big Ten championships and competing in two BCS national title games (2006 2007). Nevertheless his storied career at Ohio State eventually came to an end after his failure to report NCAA violations and monitor players.
For the average person these situations would have irreparably destroyed their life and relationships but somehow Tressel and Clarett managed to strengthen their Youngstown bond and find purpose beyond the football field.
Difficulties break some men but make others. No axe is sharp enough to cut the soul of a sinner who keeps on trying one armed with the hope he will rise even in the end said Tressel during an ESPN ESPN 30 for 30 conference call.
Today Tressel is rebuilding his career and reputation currently he serves as an executive vice president at the University of Akron. While he has not given getting back into coach any thought he has said Honestly you miss some of that process of getting ready for a big game and squaring off on the sideline It didn t matter if it was 106 000 people in Ohio stadium or 20 000 people at Stambaugh Stadium at Youngstown. Those were fun things to do.
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