Letter From Michigan Fan Praises Tressel
May 7, 2008 11:30 am EST
A letter from Michigan fan that is a devout Ohio State hater...
Before I say anything, I want you to know I HATE, LOATHE, DESPISE Ohio State Football. I am a lifelong Michigan fan and there is no other way for a Michigan fan to feel. Ohio State fans should (and do) feel the same way about Michigan.
However, I can recognize Ohio State's success and reasons for it, and I can carry on a civilized conversation with intelligent Ohio State fans (the "intelligent" part eliminates about 98% of Ohio State fans from said civilized conversations). There are just as many stupid Michigan fans. They embarrass me.
Two years ago, I was teaching 7th grade Language Arts and I had a student who moved to the Atlanta area from Cleveland, Ohio. His name was Philip Dickson and he was living with his aunt, LaToya because his parents were out of the picture (mom, a drug addict and dad in prison). His aunt was a nurse and she was working her tail off to make him responsible and accountable.
It was obvious to me Philip was an Ohio State fan. The first day he walked into my classroom, which was decked out in everything "Michigan Football," he talked about his distaste for the Maize and Blue. That was when he told me about how much he loved Ohio State Football. He and I didn't see eye-to-eye on Michigan & Ohio State, but I liked Philip and I knew he needed to be pushed to be the best he can be.
As time went by, Philip got in trouble in some of his classes and he wasn't putting forth the effort he should have been. Teachers met with his aunt, she disciplined him, we disciplined him (although he was never a discipline problem in my class), but he just wasn't responding. I had an idea.
Without telling anyone, I sent a note to Jim Tressel. I told him about Philip and that Philip wasn't working to his potential. I explained that Philip was a huge Buckeye Football fan and I asked Coach Tressel if he would be willing to send a note to Philip telling him to work harder. The NCAA, which has the some of the most idiotic rules, told me it would be ok for Coach Tressel to send such a letter because Philip was a 7th grader.
Mind you, this was in late September, so Coach Tressel had a few more pressing things on his mind than some kid in Atlanta, Georgia.
About 10 days later, in my mailbox at school, was an envelope from the Ohio State Football office (It was addressed to Philip Dickson in my care). I was shocked, but I couldn't wait for Philip to get to my class. I got out the letter opener for him, so he could open it neatly. This would be a "keeper"!
Second period rolled around and Philip's aunt was at school that day to check in with us teachers on his progress. I told her to stick around to see what I had for Philip. I asked another teacher to come to my door and announce "This came 'Special Delivery' for Philip Dickson." The class stopped and stared at the envelope as I walked it back to him. I handed him the letter opener, and since he had never seen a letter opener before, I opened the letter for him (very carefully)!
It was on the OFFICIAL Ohio State Football greeting card. His eyes opened wide and he was stunned! He just sat silently. He read it once, turned it over, picked up the envelope again and looked at it, and read the card again. It said (paraphrasing), "Philip, I understand you are a very big Buckeye Football fan! We are glad you support us! I want you to give your very best in all your school work and in being the best person you can be. I will be in touch with your teacher to see how you are doing. Keep cheering for the Buckeyes! Go Bucks! -Jim Tressel"
WOW. I love Michigan Football, but I am pretty sure the coaches they have had there in my lifetime (Bo, Gary Moeller, and Lloyd Carr) would not have taken time out of their schedule, especially DURING THE SEASON, to do that for a kid.
Let me add another example of what Jim Tressel has done. Recently a friend of mine, Joe Links, who played for Tressel's father Lee, at Baldwin-Wallace College in Berea (just outside of Cleveland) was diagnosed with colon cancer. I can't imagine what that is like. Joe is a very intense Ohio State fan and his two kids, Greg and Gretchen both graduated from there.
I wrote to Coach Tressel to tell him about Joe and that I thought it would be a nice lift for Joe's spirits and those of his family if Coach Tressel were to send along a "get well" note. I also mentioned that I am a Michigan fan, but that I respect him and what he has done at Ohio State (I don't have to like it, but how can you not respect it?). Tressel remembered Joe and a week later, the letter arrived at the Links house in Hudson, (ahem) Michigan. Joe and his wife Barb were not only surprised, but touched by Coach Tressel's thoughtfulness.
So am I.
I see this guy with his sweater vest, dry answers to reporters' questions, constant beating of Michigan and I think, "Man, do I hate that guy!" Well, I hate that he keeps beating us. I hate that he basically called Michigan out on National TV the day Ohio State hired him (and then backed it up). I hate that his offensive play-calling keeps Michigan completely off balance. I hate that he successfully changes his coaching style and strategies based on the personnel he has. I HATE IT!!!
But I can't help but like WHO Jim Tressel is and WHAT he is as a person.
He sets himself aside for others. He lives by the "What Would Jesus Do?" bracelet he wears. Yep, Jim Tressel sure does aggravate me every Saturday when I cheer against Ohio State (no matter who they are playing - even in bowl games). But, I (and every Michigan fan with a working brain cell) would take him as our coach and the face of our football program in Ann Arbor in a heartbeat (and that is not a slight to the great coaches we have had there and who we have there today).
Jim Tressel is just a good man.
Thom Dartt Marietta, Georgia (Native of Toledo, Ohio)
Gentry Equipment Came from Fitness Quest
December 13, 2007 9:45 am EST
According to Reporter Todd Porter of the Canton Repository, the story that has been circulating all over the web, about Coach Tressel buying equipment for Tyson Gentry is not true. At Buckeye 50, as we want to provide the most accurate news as part of our site's coverage, we want you to hear the whole story. Especially when what we originally posted is not correct. Although we certainly believe that the type of person Tressel is is consistent with the story, it appears the details of the news item are not real. You, our loyal readers, need to hear the real truth. Thanks for your continued support of Buckeye 50. - Gregg
The product that Gentry uses is the BioForce, a strength-training machine that uses resistance force instead of weights. It allows Gentry to change the amount of weight he is lifting simply by moving a resistor. An e-mail nearing urban legend proportion that is circulating the Internet has given Gentry’s story a life of its own. That version has Ohio State Head Coach Jim Tressel buying Gentry a $6,000 machine. Never happened. It also has the machine in Gentry’s apartment. Again, Gentry said, not true.
“Pretty much everything in that e-mail that’s going around isn’t true. The only thing that’s true is I’m from Perkins,” Gentry said. “I don’t know where it came from or why, but it’s a little irritating.”
Tressel said he did talk to Gentry about the machine, and asked Ohio State's conditioning coach if he knew the company that made the machine and if it were possible to get one. He also looked into NCAA compliance issues about helping Gentry get one of the machines when the company replied to an inquiry from the conditioning coach and provided one of the machines to Gentry.
Tressel did mention to OSU football strength and conditioning coach Eric Lichter that Gentry enjoyed using the BioForce. Lichter starred in an infomercial for the machine prior to his hiring at Ohio State. He also has a previous working relationship with Fitness Quest. Spinner said Lichter contacted the company and inquired about the machine. Upon hearing Gentry’s story, Spinner said the company used its community fund to purchase the $1,000 machine and sent it to Columbus in October.
Gentry, 22, who has more than a year left to complete his degree, can remove the seat to the BioForce and use the machine from his wheelchair. He also is undergoing therapy at the Ohio State University’s Medical Center and as part of a study conducted through the Christopher and Dana Reeves Foundation.
Gentry still attends practices and meetings. He is planning to travel to New Orleans to watch his teammates play in the BCS National Championship game Jan. 7 against LSU. He has regained some movement in his arms, and sensation has returned all over his body.
“The sensation and feeling ... that gives me real hope that one day I will walk away from this,” Gentry said.
You can reach Repository sports writer Todd Porter at (330) 580-8340 or e-mail: todd.porter@cantonrep
Tressel Donates Fitness Equipment for Gentry
December 5, 2007 10:45 pm EST
..... submitted from one of our web site readers
Here is a story for your OSU friends.....
My brother is friends with Tyson Gentry and his family. When he came up to Columbus a couple of weeks ago he spent an afternoon with them and came away with the following story:
Gentry works out (rehabs) at the OSU football facility and on one machine in particular he spends a lot of time. About a month ago Tressel is walking through the room and stops by to say hello. Real small talk type of stuff, generic in fashion but pointed toward Gentry.
One of the last things Tressel asks is about the rehab, etc... and Gentry mentions things are going well. Tressel asks about some of the exercises that Gentry does and Gentry mentions that the machine he is presently on seems to do the best for him and that he uses it whenever it is available. Apparently it is a popular machine to use in the facility.
After a couple of more minutes of talk, Tressel leaves and that's it. However, the following week Gentry goes to the doctor's office for a visit, etc.. comes back home and in his garage is a brand new-version of that machine. Paid for ($6,000) by Tressel himself with a note that says "you'll never have to wait in line to use it again."
Jim Tressel : The Man Behind the Vest
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The Coach's Influence Goes Beyond the Field
12/5/07
Tyson Gentry is a young man that is from our area, Sandusky Perkins High School. He walked on at OSU as a freshmen for wide receiver. He was doing well, but he went up over the middle for a high pass and was hit and came down wrong and has been paralyzed from the waist on down.
Now for the rest of the story.
Tyson Gentry
No one at Fitness Quest headquarters has ever met Tyson Gentry. No one had to meet the paralyzed former Ohio State punter and wide receiver. All they had to do was hear that Gentry needed one of their products, and now he has one sitting in the Woody Hayes Athletic Center. Gentry was paralyzed during a 2006 spring practice when he caught a ball and the right side of his head hit the ground, snapping his neck and breaking the C-4 vertebrae. A donation from the Canton company’s community fund is making therapy a little easier.
“We’re thrilled we’re, in a small way, a part of this kid’s road to recovery,” Fitness Quest marketing director Stephen Spinner said. “What Tyson Gentry has to deal with and go through on a daily basis is much more than any of us have to.”
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