Deceitful Tressel gets just what he deserved

This is one of those times when the big picture will be debated, dissected, strewn about by those trying to determine why and how it came to this for one of the nation's most powerful college football programs.

People will say how the mess that was Jim Tressel's final days as coach is a mere bug on the windshield of a much bigger problem, that the game is so corrupt at so many levels, the Buckeyes have simply been added to a sullied list that in the last year counts such programs as Auburn and Southern California and North Carolina.

What a shame if that's how a majority see it.

It would only detract from the real story: Tressel got exactly what he deserved.

It was always going to end this way because in the massive business that college football has become, one cover-up will almost always reveal a much longer string of lies and disregard for the rules or, in this particular case, a whole lot of fancy cars being driven by football players.

The media, as it should, will doggedly pursue every rumor, angle and scumbag of a tattoo parlor owner. Tressel had as much chance surviving as the Astros have winning the National League Central.

Tressel was as good at deception as he was coaching, and the man went 106-22 in 10 years at Ohio State. He won a national championship, and his teams played in eight Bowl Championship Series games. He was 9-1 against Michigan, which around Columbus is akin to solving world hunger and discovering cures for deadly diseases all in one day.

College coaches around the country should take note. Tressel is not stupid, but his unwillingness to be forthcoming did him in. If someone so successful, so incredibly defended by those high-ranking administrators and boosters and fans of a program the stature of Ohio State can ultimately pay the price through a forced resignation, it can happen to anyone willing to keep his mouth shut about an email concerning potential violations.

It's not over for the Buckeyes, not close. They must still face the NCAA's committee on infractions on Aug. 12 and are probably in for a serious beatdown. Check the history on this part: Lying to the NCAA never ends pretty for the implicated school, especially one that kept the embattled coach around for months after the first wave of sordid details became public. But, well, you know, he beat up on Michigan so often.

A bit of irony to it all: In the end, Tressel's downfall will be pointed directly to his star quarterback, Terrelle Pryor, one five players suspended for the first five games of the 2011 season for accepting improper benefits from a tattoo shop owner. On Monday, we learned the NCAA and Ohio State are investigating whether Pryor also received cars and other benefits, with reports suggesting the player has been connected to at least six vehicles in his time time at the school.

I have been connected to one for 11 years, but I'm also not a 6-foot-6-inch specimen who runs the 40 in 4.33 seconds.

Woody Hayes was a lot like Tressel. Highly successful. Beloved in Columbus. His career ended when Ohio State's star quarterback, Art Schlichter, threw an interception in the 1978 Gator Bowl and wacky ol' Woody hauled off and punched the defender (Clemson linebacker Charlie Bauman) who made the pick.

It was a sad ending to a legacy then and is again now, although Hayes was getting up there in years and a bit looney -- he actually telephoned Bauman weeks after the incident, not to apologize, but to inquire what defense Clemson had been running on the play.

Tressel has no excuse. Sports Illustrated on its web site Monday published an investigative story that, in part, says the memorabilia-for-tattoos violations began in 2002, Tressel's second season at Ohio State. It goes on to say that at least 28 players have been involved.

Tressel might be gone with all his words of wisdom and books about being responsible for one's actions and true discipline being what we do when no one is watching, but underneath the scholarly look of a sweater vest and glasses was obviously a coach whose inclination to look the other way when it came to his players and extra benefits stretched to his time winning national titles at Youngstown State.

The big picture can wait another day.

Jim Tressel is out at Ohio State.

There could be no more deserving a fate.

Las Vegas Review-Journal sports columnist Ed Graney can be reached at egraney@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-4618. He can be heard from 3 to 5 p.m. Monday and Thursday on "Monsters of the Midday," Fox Sports Radio 920 AM. Follow him on Twitter: @edgraney.