I have completely supported Jim Tressel since the day he stepped onto the Ohio State University campus. My support and belief in him remains unwavering, even after the debacle at Northwestern last weekend. He has demonstrated that he has what it takes to be an effective coach.
Since he has been here, he has proven repeatedly that he knows how to recruit. He has proven repeatedly he knows how to win. He has proven he knows how to beat TBGUN. He has proven he knows how to be a diplomat and gentleman. Most importantly, he has proven he knows HOW to be a Buckeye. However, for the first time since he has been here, he now must prove he has another quality that is needed as the head coach - how to be an "executive."
This team and the rest of the coaching staff are in search of direction. When this happens, a strong leader must step forward. In business, a senior manager can't expect superior sales performance without first having and expecting superior performance from his/her sales managers. It is no different in sports. Strong leadership is necessary to demand and receive a different level of output from the rest of his coaching staff. A head coach can't hold his players responsible without first holding his coaches responsible.
Continuing the business analogy, part of being an effective executive is to establish the correct sense of urgency. Another part is to demand and get the performance out of your personnel that the job requires. It is a fine but legitimate line to walk between demanding excellence and accepting good effort. Ultimately, the executive must decide if the personnel in place are capable of producing at the level required for the job. Hopefully, if you have hired correctly, you will have in place people that can consistently raise their level of performance and output, given the right support and leadership. In other instances, the answer becomes no. It is here where the executive really starts to earn their pay.
I certainly don’t want to overreact to, “Just one loss,” but it is my opinion that this team, while very young overall, is not getting better particularly on offense. The problem as I see it is that this may be the continuation of a trend that has been taking place over a much longer period of time. It is just now that things are “catching up with us.” Our overall offensive performance has been marginal for the last two years. The periodic sparks of greatness offensively have been overshadowed by longer periods of adequacy. This “adequacy” has been enough in the past, given superior senior-level leadership and execution by those players on the field. A smothering, passionate and intimidating defense partially negated any need for an effective and solid offense. Without the “support” of that defense, the trimmings have been stripped away.
It is my personal belief that we absolutely “have the horses” in place with the players. These are high quality kids, many with excellent academic credentials and even more impressive athletic skills and accomplishments. Most of these players were recruited by the best programs in the country and chose to come to Ohio State. Missing now are many of the intangibles that are so necessary for achievers to become winners and for winners to become champions. They need passionate coaching, mentoring, support and reinforcement. They need to be in an environment where lack of moving forward is not acceptable and not tolerated. Yes, it is a fine line to walk, but that is the life of coaches and managers alike.
Without meaning to be indicting, sailors and soldiers reflect their captains, athletes reflect their coaches. No head coach can coach all positions. Jim Tressel MUST like all other head coaches, rely upon his own team of coaches. His “direct reports” are where the rubber meets the road for him. John Cooper used to say his job was to coach the coaches. While not a Cooper fan, he was right-on with this comment. Accordingly, Jim Tressel must start by holding his coaches more responsible. These coaches are where the direct daily contact with the players begin. Their mentoring, training, drilling and preparation is the foundation for what happens on Saturdays. On offense (particularly last Saturday night against NW) I see players without determination. I don’t see them playing as a unit. Missing is on-field senior leadership, but that is partially a function of the youth of this offense. I see players without direction or conviction. I see game plans that look like they were photocopied from previous games. I see little coordination of the offense as a unit of 11 guys. I also see very frustrated players.
I have said repeatedly that I don’t think we have yet to see what Jim Tressel’s idea of a good offense is. As a former quarterback himself, I can’t fathom that he really believes it is good enough to just scrape by and survive. It is now time for Head Coach Tressel as the CEO of this team to get more from his own coaches. It is time that improvement be demanded and received. If not, the head coach must do what the CEO does; if those in place can’t get the job done properly the CEO must find someone else who will.
Whoever said it is lonely at the top had to have been there, because it is. Jim Tressel is imminently qualified and capable as a head coach. It is now time for us to see how he does as an executive. I personally have every faith that he can do this. He has not let us down yet.
PJS Buck
Editorial: Can Tressel Be An Executive?
By PJS Buck
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October 4, 2004
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