Jim Tressel's decision to not report his players' NCAA rules violations might be the principal reason that Ohio State isn't playing for a BCS championship berth against Michigan. But it didn't make much difference on Saturday at Ohio Stadium, where Tressel was introduced as part of a 10-year reunion of the 2002 national championship team.
Tressel received a huge cheer from the Buckeye crowd and was lifted onto the shoulders of the 2002 team to even bigger roars. Photos from Greg Bartram of US Presswire:
And from the Columbus Dispatch, video of the moment:
(Also on the field for the reunion: infamous 2002 running back phenom Maurice Clarett.)
Despite Tressel's role in the current NCAA sanctions, it's hard to blame the Buckeye faithful for the reception, given his rampant success and the nationwide distrust for the NCAA. It's hard to see many other fan bases responding in any other fashion if a former national title winner returned to the field.
