August 29, 2008

Tressel says no suspension for DUI arrest

Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel is taken to task by the Cleveland Plain Dealer for failing to hand down any punishment at all to DT Doug Worthington following his July DUI arrest.

According to the article, Tressel held third-string QB Antonio Henton -- who was arrested for soliciting a prostitute last season -- out of seven games last season during the investigation. However, Tressel has decided that Worthington, who was arrested in July, will play this week against Youngstown State.

The decisions in the cases of Worthington and Henton (a criminal offense not related to alcohol) were left to coach Jim Tressel, and different players and different circumstances led to different disciplines. This despite the fact that a DUI might be viewed as a potentially more dangerous offense than solicitation.

"If it were that simple, that would be an interesting discussion," Tressel said Friday.

While players arrested on DUIs from Washington State and Notre Dame, though disciplined in other ways, will be available on Saturday, players from Arkansas, Tennessee, Georgia and Kansas State have been suspended from at least their team's openers after DUI arrests.

I can't pretend that I know what the *right* penalty for a DUI arrest is. At Georgia, a first-time alcohol offense nets you a loss of 10% of all games that season. I suppose that seems right for *some* offenses - minor in possession type things. I think DUI is a more serious offense and the punishment should be more severe... but... again, I'm at a loss as to what the right penalty should be.

Coaches Hot Seat has no reservations and is calling for an immediate suspension until it is resolved through the courts and a one-year suspension if he is convicted.

What is very sad and pitiful for a great institution like Ohio State is that when a Buckeye football player gets one DUI he gets no mandatory suspension from the football team or from playing in games. If an Ohio State football player gets a second DUI, he gets a two-game suspension. That is an outrageous and irresponsible disciplinary policy for DUI’s that is in effect at the Ohio State University, and brings into serious question the judgment of the President (E. Gordon Gee) and AD (Gene Smith) at OSU, and of course, Jim Tressel’s judgment as well.

...

How Jim Tressel can sleep at night knowing he has basically empowered his players to get into their cars and drive drunk is beyond our comprehension. Tressel better just hope that his phone does not ring late at night in the future and there is someone on the other end telling him one of his Buckeye football players killed someone while driving drunk. If that does happen, Jim Tressel is going to be out of job, and probably the people above him that have set this policy, will be out of work as well.

I'll say this... no penalty whatsoever is the wrong message to send to the team and its fans. Tressel should man up and sit Worthington for putting himself and others in a very dangerous situation.

Comments:

Tressel says no suspension for DUI arrest
Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel is taken to task by the Cleveland Plain Dealer for failing to hand down any punishment at all to DT Doug Worthington following his July DUI arrest. According to the article, Tressel held third-string QB Antonio Henton -- who was arrested for soliciting a prostitute last season -- out of seven games last season during the investigation. However, Tressel has decided that Worthington, who was arrested in July, will play this week against Youngstown State.
The decisions in the cases of Worthington and Henton (a criminal offense not related to alcohol) were left to coach Jim Tressel, and different players and different circumstances led to different disciplines. This despite the fact that a DUI might be viewed as a potentially more dangerous offense than solicitation. "If it were that simple, that would be an interesting discussion," Tressel said Friday. While players arrested on DUIs from Washington State and Notre Dame, though disciplined in other ways, will be available on Saturday, players from Arkansas, Tennessee, Georgia and Kansas State have been suspended from at least their team's openers after DUI arrests.
I can't pretend that I know what the *right* penalty for a DUI arrest is. At Georgia, a first-time alcohol offense nets you a loss of 10% of all games that season. I suppose that seems right for *some* offenses - minor in possession type things. I think DUI is a more serious offense and the punishment should be more severe... but... again, I'm at a loss as to what the right penalty should be. Coaches Hot Seat has no reservations and is calling for an immediate suspension until it is resolved through the courts and a one-year suspension if he is convicted.
What is very sad and pitiful for a great institution like Ohio State is that when a Buckeye football player gets one DUI he gets no mandatory suspension from the football team or from playing in games. If an Ohio State football player gets a second DUI, he gets a two-game suspension. That is an outrageous and irresponsible disciplinary policy for DUI’s that is in effect at the Ohio State University, and brings into serious question the judgment of the President (E. Gordon Gee) and AD (Gene Smith) at OSU, and of course, Jim Tressel’s judgment as well. ... How Jim Tressel can sleep at night knowing he has basically empowered his players to get into their cars and drive drunk is beyond our comprehension. Tressel better just hope that his phone does not ring late at night in the future and there is someone on the other end telling him one of his Buckeye football players killed someone while driving drunk. If that does happen, Jim Tressel is going to be out of job, and probably the people above him that have set this policy, will be out of work as well.
I'll say this... no penalty whatsoever is the wrong message to send to the team and its fans. Tressel should man up and sit Worthington for putting himself and others in a very dangerous situation.