For Tressel’s in-laws, diplomacy rules field

The Watsons of Canfield are looking forward to a good football game.

By TIM YOVICH

VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF

CANFIELD — Frank and Norma Watson take the diplomatic approach when asked if they favor Youngstown State University or Ohio State University in Saturday’s game.

Frank Watson is a 1949 YSU graduate and their daughter, Ellen, is the wife of Jim Tressel, the Buckeyes’ head football coach and former YSU gridiron coach.

Ellen Tressel is a 1975 YSU graduate, and the Watsons this year received YSU’s Friend of the University award, the university’s highest honor.

It’s going to be a very good game, say the Watsons, who are YSU season ticket holders.

“I just don’t want to see anybody get hurt,” Watson said of the outcome.

If he were a betting man, Watson said he would put his money on OSU because, though they are in a rebuilding year, Buckeye players are a little bigger and stronger than the Penguin players.

“They have excellent players, as does YSU,” he added — not tipping his hand on whom they will be cheering for the loudest.

Where they stand

Norma Watson says she will be rooting for both teams.

Her husband said, in his heart, it’s difficult to shake the role his son-in-law will play in the first meeting of the two teams.

As for their daughter, the Watsons say she will be rooting for her husband and his team.

“She’s loyal to her husband,” Norma Watson said.

Regardless of which team they favor, the Watsons will view the game from “The Shoe” in Columbus. They will be staying with the Tressels.

They got their tickets through the Penguin Club at YSU. YSU fans were allocated only about 5,000 tickets for the game.

Norma Watson feels bad for football fans because more won’t be able to watch the game on TV; it’s blacked out.

Watson likes the idea of both universities playing each other because it keeps the money in Ohio.

Besides player size and strength, Watson believes that the rainy weather gives the Buckeyes an advantage: OSU has an indoor practice facility and YSU doesn’t. Teams that lack such a field are at a disadvantage because their outdoor practice time is limited, he said.

Donation to YSU

That is one reason that the Watsons and Tressels donated $1 million this year to YSU. The money will be used to build an indoor practice facility that will cost between $3 million and $4 million and is part of YSU’s $43 million Centennial Capital Campaign.

Watson, 82, said he would like to see the indoor field ready for the 2008 football season.

The Watsons and Tressels have said the donation is a way of giving back to YSU.

The Watsons have given much to YSU. He is a former member of YSU’s Board of Trustees and a founding and current member of the YSU Foundation Board of Trustees.

He led the campaign to raise $16 million to build Stambaugh Stadium.

Watson was president of Youngstown Welding and Engineering Co. After his retirement, he served as Canfield city manager from 1989 to 1991.

He received an honorary doctor of science degree from YSU in 2003.

Mrs. Watson, 77, has volunteered for many organizations, including the Federated Women’s Club, Mahoning County Residential Financial Cancer Campaign, Fellows Riverside Garden and Youngstown Playhouse.

Ellen Tressel is a former vice president of trading for Butler Wick and Co.

yovich@vindy.com