Colts hire Jim Tressel as game-day consultant – yes, seriously

Expect the blue vest to go on sale in a store near you.

Jim Tressel resigned as Ohio State head football coach on May 30th and less than four months later he has found a new job. Friday, Colts head coach Jim Caldwell announced the hiring of Tressel as a “game-day consultant.”

Doesn’t make sense, does it?

The Colts have hired a guy with questionable character and they are now tied to a guy who ignored the rules. Not quite the positive role model.

Tressel, 48,  led the Buckeyes to a 94-22 record in ten years, including six Big Ten Conference titles, 5-4 bowl record, and seven BCS Bowl games.

Jim Caldwell said today on a conference call that Tressel will most specifically assist Caldwell on when to throw the red flag.

“He’s a guy I have known for quite some time and have a good relationship with. We have hired him as a game-day consultant. He was around last night and will be working with us next week.”

Is it really that difficult? One coach looks at the television to see if a play is close and worth an extra look? Sounds to me a lot like somebody’s throwing a bone to Tressel who was out of a job.

The power of relationships are stressed in everything I’ve been around and this appears to be another job handed out to a good friend.

“What we’re going to do is maybe take a couple of things off some of the guys’ plate…he’ll work different aspects for me, more in particular as a replay consultant so the guys up in the box can concentrate strictly on their position,” Caldwell said. “That’s where we’ll utilize him.”

Jim Tressel spent some time observing the team in Anderson during August training camp. He also joined the team in Cincinnati Thursday night for the Colts final preseason game–and now it’s official.

George Atallah, the Assistant Executive Director of External Affairs for the NFL Players Association tweeted a concerning message after the announcement.

“The NFLPA will be watching the Jim Tressel situation with interest.”

Great, just what the Colts need. More attention and more negatively.

Many brought up the brilliant point, if his former quarterback Terrelle Pryor has to serve a five-game suspension, shouldn’t he as well. If the NFL was consistent he would. But no news on that front.

We’ve now seen multiple coaches ignore the rules in college athletics and then bolt for the pros, never to suffer any consequences. Yes, they did not keep the same job but they moved on and trust me, they’re not hurting for money.

Kelvin Sampson, Pete Carroll, and now Jim Tressel. These coaches cheat for wins, leave with good money, and now coach at the professional level.

Where’s the integrity with these guys and why are teams overlooking their past? Doesn’t quite seem fair or right and in this instance, the Colts have much more to lose than to gain.

(Photo courtesy of TheCoverTwo.com)

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