Tressel wins yet another title: Hall of Famer

By JOE SCALZO

scalzo@vindy.com

YOUNGSTOWN

Tressel Inducted

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Youngstown State President, Jim Tressel was inducted into the College Football Hall Of Fame.

Six months ago, he became a university president.

On Friday, he was selected to the College Football Hall of Fame.

But for Jim Tressel, those two titles aren’t as important as the one he’s about to add.

“I’m gonna be a grandfather,” said Tressel, whose oldest daughter, Carlee, is due March 9. “That’s even better than this.”

He grinned, then added, “Don’t tell the people [at the National Football Foundation]. Strike that from the record.”

Tressel, who coached Youngstown State to four national championships and won another at Ohio State, was one of two coaches (along with Kansas State’s Bill Snyder) chosen for the 17-member class, which includes Heisman Trophy-winning running back Ricky Williams and Oklahoma linebacker Brian Bosworth.

Tressel and his father, legendary Baldwin-Wallace coach Lee Tressel, are the first father-son coaches to be selected for the hall. Lee Tressel was a member of the 1996 class.

“To join him is special,” Jim Tressel said. “I’m sure there were fleeting moments [during my coaching career] when you have those quiet, reflective times that don’t last long and don’t come often that you feel, ‘Gosh, wouldn’t that be cool if that [going into the hall] ever happened.’

“But if you think too long about that, chances are it won’t happen because you won’t be doing what you need to do.”

Tressel went 229-79-2 as a head coach at YSU (1986-2000) and Ohio State (2001-10). He became YSU’s president July 2.

He will be inducted at the 58th NFF awards dinner Dec. 8 at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City. The College Football Hall of Fame is in Atlanta.

“If you keep trying to put one foot in front of another, you’ll be amazed at how good things go,” Tressel said.

“I’m sure I didn’t sit around dreaming about being in the hall of fame, and I assure you that I didn’t sit around dreaming about being a college president. To think two of those things have happened in the last few months, I’m blessed.”