BEREA Tressel, Geiss gain B-W Hall

Jim Tressel joined father Lee Tressel in the Baldwin-Wallace Hall of Fame.
By JOHN KOVACH
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
BEREA -- Two former Baldwin-Wallace College football players with Youngstown-area ties -- Jim Tressel and Chuck Geiss -- have been inducted into the Baldwin-Wallace College Alumni Athletic Association Hall of Fame.
Tressel, a former B-W quarterback and Youngstown State coach who now is coach at Ohio State, joined his coaching father, Lee Tressel, in the Hall of Fame.
Tressel played for his father at B-W from 1971-74 before graduating in 1975. They are the only father-and-son coaching combination to win national championships.
Geiss, a former running back and return specialist for B-W from 1989-92 from Crestview High, was a two-time All-American at B-W and the school's first freshman to earn that honor in 1989. He also earned it in 1990.
Geiss, now a securities trader for McDonald and Company Investments in Cleveland, was selected as a Division III All-American by Football Gazette in 1989 as a return specialist and in 1990 as a running back.
Tressel and Geiss were inducted into the B-W Alumni Hall of Fame Nov. 5. Tressel was unable to attend the induction ceremony because Ohio State had a game that weekend. But he sent a video clip to address the gathering, while his brother, Dave, accepted the honors on his behalf.
Geiss, a four-year letterman and 1993 graduate whose career was marred for two seasons by a knee injury, was present at the induction ceremony.
B-W was "home" for Tressel
Tressel said he was "very humbled" by the B-W honor. "I am sure it will not even sink in until I have a chance years down the road to think what a special place Baldwin-Wallace was for myself and my family. Basically, that was home."
Three Tressels -- Jim, Lee and older brother Dick -- are one of two three-member family combinations to each win more than 100 games as a head coach. Dick Tressel won more than 100 games at Hamline (Minn.) University, a Division III school. He is now a member of the staff at Ohio State.
Geiss, who helped B-W to a 30-9-2 record with one Ohio Athletic Conference title and one NCAA Div. III playoff berth under coach Bob Packard, said that "playing football for B-W was one of the best things that ever happened to me. Coach Packard was an awesome coach. All the players that I met, I am still friends with today. They are a good group of people. It was one of the best times in my life."
Geiss also was humbled by the recognition. "To be here is just an honor. I don't know if I deserve it, but I will take it anyways. I feel very honored to be here and I am going to enjoy every second of it."
Geiss excels despite injury
Despite losing two seasons of potentially big statistics because of his knee injury, Geiss wound up his career with 1,638 rushing yards in 295 carries and 24 TDs, and 58 pass catches for 607 yards and four TDs.
A two-time All-Ohio Athletic Conference first-team pick, Geiss also returned a school-record 65 punts for a 10.3-yard average, and was among the NCAA Div. III leaders in kick return yardage as a freshman.
Now, one of Geiss' most enjoyable time spent in sports is spent coaching his daughter's T-ball team in the summer.
Tressel loved playing football for his father at B-W where he grew up in a college football family and atmosphere.
"My Dad sends in all the plays but gives me the option of changing the calls at the line of scrimmage if I see something in the defense. Ever since I was a small boy I wanted to play here at B-W," said Tressel, who made the All-OAC first team as a senior when he led the Yellow Jackets to an 8-2 record that culminated in a 17-0 OAC Championship game loss to arch-rival Wittenberg. He threw nine TD passes and ran for three more scores as a senior.
kovach@vindy.com