Tressels visit Canfield
Staff report
CANFIELD
Former Ohio State University head football coach Jim Tressel celebrated Christmas Eve with family at Canfield United Methodist Church.
On Saturday, Tressel, his wife, Ellen, and son Eric attended a candlelight service with Ellen’s parents (Frank and Norma Watson of Canfield) and Ellen’s sister and brother-in-law (Janet and Jeff Stephens).
The Watsons and the Tressels are major donors for Youngstown State University’s WATTS complex, which opened earlier this year. Tressel was head coach at YSU from 1986-2000 and Ohio State from 2001-10.
After the service, Tressel spent 30 minutes talking with dozens of parishioners and posing for pictures.
Tressel, who resigned from Ohio State on May 29, is a game-day consultant for the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts.
Last March, Ohio State suspended Tressel for two games and fined him $250,000 for failing to report NCAA violations involving Ohio State players. Last week’s NCAA ruling on Ohio State’s penalty included a provision for a five-year show-cause order for Tressel.
While he could resume collegiate coaching, the NFL seems a more likely destination for Tressel.
While most of NFL teams played Saturday, the Colts were idle after Thursday’s 19-16 upset of the Houston Texans.
When the NFL regular season ends Sunday, Tressel’s name could pop up as teams missing the playoffs begin changing coaches. Already, the Kansas City Chiefs, Miami Dolphins and Jacksonville Jaguars have fired their head coaches who began the season. Several other franchises are expected to make changes.
Also, the Cleveland Browns are expected to pursue an offensive coordinator for Pat Shurmur’s staff. Tressel was raised in Berea, the Cleveland suburb where the Browns train.