Money versus Integrity

I guess when you make way over TWO MILLION as a football coach, you just hate leave your job. Lie a little, cheat a little, a few little white lies, whatever it takes, but WIN, GO TO BOWL GAMES, WIN BOWL GAMES, Conference Wins.

Now, he and the Ohio State program are being raked over the coals, or as most of the football players call it, Da Ohio State University.

13 coaches have been in his situation with the NCAA, only one survived. I honestly don't see how they can side with and keep him as coach. He lied, was in breach of contract, etc. I wonder if any other coach at OSU would still be around under similar circumstances.

Fortunately, I exited the world of OSU fans, a number of years ago. I did not like what their program had resorted to. Earle Bruce firing upset me, they went to the bottom of the barrel and hired one Eldon Miller to coach basketball, a decision I will never understand. Then they brought in John Cooper from ASU to coach football, ASU sent the AD at OSU a Thank You card

Now, Jim Tressel, looks like a Methodist minister, from reports I have received, left a questionable legacy at powerhouse Youngstown State. Young boys dreamed of playing at Youngstown State, "NO Dad, I don't want to go to Notre Dame, I want to go to Youngstown State." Maybe the promises made were better there.

Now he hid information that may have lead to suspensions and a loss in a bowl game, and that could not happen, maybe there was a "clause" in his contact about bonus money for bowl victories. He specifically signed a contract about "disclosure of certain information," which he lied about and did not disclose, and the won. Nothing happened, now we know who actually has all the "power" at Da Ohio State University.

My guess is that he has had a vasectomy, because if he had "any" he would resign, and give OSU an opportunity to regain some resemblance of credibility, not prolong all of this for many months.

Only 1 out of 13 has survived such a situation, I hope soon, it will be 1 out of 14.

At least he has not dotted the "I" , that would be difficult to undo.

More of my Opinions

The Chairman of the NCAA Selection Committee, Gene Smith, of the Ohio State University, is the same man who decided that a WHITEWASH of coach jim tressel and his lying and deceit was necessary. The punishment, loss of a months salary, and not being able to coach two games, which will then, in fact, be coached by the cheer leading squad, or one of the water boys.

Does HE make good decisions, or what?

Is it any wonder that the Sports World is upset by his decisions?

In my opinion, if the Ohio State University wants to maintain some credibility in the academic and higher education world, they should start at the top, get rid of their bow-tied Howdy Doody president Gee, their highly over payed, never quoted, frequently misunderstood Athletic Director, and their football coach, whose character is no longer misunderstood, we now know him for what he is, and has been all of his coaching career, the Baptist appearing author of books on integrity and honesty, and actually was signing autographs on his latest book when he was informed that he had been caught lying and cheating, perhaps they should let them all go. Tressel, Smith and Gee, what a Trinity that is, sounds like a New Jersey law firm.

One more on OSU

Picture of Coach Tressel and Athletic Director Smith, of The Ohio State University taken at a recent news conference. Tressel is the overpaid football coach, who makes more money than the President of the University. Smith is one of, if not, the highest paid AD's in the country
  They are doing the interview because five of their players got caught doing something wrong, and will be suspended for the first five games next season. BUT, they will be allowed to play in a bowl game this year.
  I would like to think the look on old Tress's face is saying, "You so and so, I wanted to not let them play in the bowl game and you said, NO, they play." But, I am not sure.
  I went to a few of the OSU sites and the general consensus seemed to be that they SHOULD NOT PLAY, and these are die hard Buckeye Fans. Many seemed to think that Pryor, one of the suspended players, and the QB on the team could leave and no one care. They felt that he had disgraced himself and the University by doing what he did. Not a one felt that he was not aware of the rules when he sold the items.
  Some suggested a new coach and a whole new system, getting back to old Ohio State Football and its rich traditions. There are also sites now with lists of replacement coaches for Tressel. I think his honeymoon is over, and reality is setting in. They would like to see him go back to Youngstown State, with all his millions.
  I was surprised, I thought all those fanatical OSU fans would back the coach and the players, but that does not seem to be the case. Many on the OSU sites I looked at were not even going to watch the game if they played, and those are OSU fans.
  I think it was inevitable. The reports I saw on Pryor before and after he signed with Tressel indicated that that something like this might happen. High moral character was not one of his attributes, and Tressel knew it, everyone else did, so no reason to think that he didn't. That was not important to Tressel, winning was the most important thing to him. He liked that million plus salary, he liked being paid more than the President of the University.
  There are rumors around Columbus now that he is thinking of retiring. Apparently the heat in the kitchen is getting to be too much for the sweater vested coach. My guess is he will end up managing a Krogers and I think he is suited for that.

OBSCENE Politics in a small community

This angelic looking county commissioner, in my opinion, instead of being concerned about Licking County, spent his time contemplating Estate Planning and his retirement. He is fleecing and milking his friends, taxpayers and voters out of their hard earned dollars. And the old DOUBLE DIPPER is going to get away with it. I honestly don't think the voters would have re-elected him if they had known. HE IS TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE PEOPLE WHO  VOTED HIM IN OFFICE. He has raised the bar on POLITICAL DISTRUST. The Republican party should be very proud of him. There should be an outcry by HIS co-workers, the voters and ALL taxpayers in Licking County. LEGAL and IMMORAL ... another example of WHY politicians cannot be trusted ..................

Licking County Commissioner Doug Smith set to serve, draw retirement
Nov 25, 2010
AMY HOLLON Advocate Reporter ...
 
NEWARK -- Licking County Commissioner Doug Smith will start receiving retirement benefits this year despite his recent re-election to office, a decision that has at least two of his fellow elected Republicans disgruntled.

Smith said he intends to serve the full four-year term as county commissioner.

However, for Ohio Public Employee Retirement System purposes, Smith will retire at the end of this year, just before his new term begins. The move allows him to continue to receive his paycheck as county commissioner and start receiving retirement benefits from PERS.

"I am not retiring from Licking County government but for a millisecond," he said. "I contacted PERS earlier in the year when I was debating whether or not to run ... I asked them if there was any advantage to continue to (wait) or should I just take the retirement. They said there wasn't an advantage."

Often referred to as "double-dipping," the choice to start receiving retirement benefits before actually retiring is not uncommon among government employees and is permitted through PERS rules with certain stipulations.

But Licking County Auditor Terry Evans and Treasurer Michael Smith said the decision is dishonest to voters who just reelected the commissioner.

"Personally, myself, if I had known this up front, I don't know if I would have supported him (in the election)," Evans said. "I had the opportunity to do this ... (and) I know there are some people that say it is allowable, but I couldn't do it."

The treasurer, who also is the auditor-elect, agreed.

"The economic situation, with unemployment where it is, and the economy where it is, it just doesn't bode well with our voters out there," Michael Smith said. "I think we are all held to a higher standard as elected officials and promise to do the right thing. This doesn't appear to have been the right thing to do."

Michael Smith said if the commissioner wanted to retire and knew it ahead of time, he should have notified the board of elections, which can be done in several ways.

One is to notify the board 90 days before the election, at which point it becomes public record. Another is to notify the appropriating authority. A third choice, Michael Smith said, is to retire 90 days before the general election.

It also is common to notify the political party, he said.

Michael Smith said because the commissioner did not follow any of those options, the retirement money he receives during his term will go into an annuity that he receive in a lump sum at the end of his term.

The auditor and treasurer have delivered a letter to Doug Smith asking him to either withdraw his retirement application or vacate his office.

But the commissioner said he made a personal financial decision. He has worked for local governments since the 1970s and has paid into the retirement system since that time. Counting his additional military time and time he has "purchased" through the years, Doug Smith has maxed out the benefits he will receive.

"There is nothing illegal or unethical about it; it is just a personal decision I've made to start drawing my retirement," Doug Smith said.

Doug Smith said it also is an estate planning decision. If he were to die today, his heirs could recoup only the money he has paid into the system. After he retires, however, they also can recoup the money received during the retirement period.

"By delaying it, it would not have been any benefit to me," Doug Smith said. "I make no apologies for paying into this and accumulating 45 years of service."