Stoops brothers and Pelini zoom to top of OSU fans’ wish list

Photo by: Terry Gilliam

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Photo

FILE- In this March 8, 2011 file photo, Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith, right, takes questions during a news conference with university president E. Gordon Gee, left, and football coach Jim Tressel, center, in Columbus, Ohio. Smith, unable to talk about the ongoing NCAA investigation, does touch upon some fine points of the suspensions of football coach Jim Tressel and five of his players. (AP Photo/Terry Gilliam, File)

Jim Tressel at YSU

Gallery

A gallery of Jim Tressel photos from the glory days at YSU.

Associated Press

COLUMBUS

No sooner had the ink dried on Jim Tressel’s resignation than speculation had already started about a successor as Ohio State’s coach.

It’s got to be Urban Meyer, right?

The Stoops brothers — Bob at Oklahoma and Mike at Arizona — are both Ohio natives.

Then there are others with a Buckeye pedigree: Nebraska coach Bo Pelini, who used to be a defensive back at Ohio State; or maybe former NFL coach Jon Gruden, also an Ohio native.

Let the carousel begin.

Tressel’s departure from Ohio State on Monday, propelled by an NCAA investigation for improper benefits and cars and tattoos, shocked many. But for some Buckeyes fans, finding a new coach eased the pain of lamenting the loss of the old one.

Luke Fickell, a previously anonymous linebackers coach, will be in charge of the Buckeyes this fall.

Beyond that? It’s anybody’s guess.

Despite playing it politically correct on Monday in a statement, Meyer will probably be the people’s choice. After all, he’s won two national championships — the first came against Ohio State — and is now working for ESPN. He has Ohio ties, as he coached at Bowling Green before going to Utah and Florida.

“I am committed to ESPN and will not pursue any coaching opportunities this fall,” he said. “I have thoroughly enjoyed working with the people at ESPN this spring and remain very excited about my role with the network this fall. Jim Tressel has been a respected friend and colleague for a long time. I wish Jim and his family the very best now and in the future.”

Buckeyes fans immediately zoned in on two of the 65 words in that statement: THIS FALL. Since Ohio State isn’t hiring anyone until January or so, Meyer’s comment was the perfect non-denial denial.

The Stoops brothers and Pelini are all from Youngstown, but they already have jobs. Gruden was considered briefly when Tressel got the job, and has shown no great interest in returning to the sideline, particularly at the college level.

It’s debatable who will want the job if the NCAA issues additional penalties for Tressel’s problems, in addition to what the sport’s sanctioning body finds out about all the players who were getting used cars at steep, steep discounts.

Someone joked that they had seen a bumper sticker on Monday that said: “[John Cooper] in ’12: Tanned, Rested and Ready.”

With a year to decide, that might not be the most outlandish suggestion you’ll hear.