Trouble Under Tressel

by Joe Patten

Many around the nation are upset by the lewd behavior of the Ohio State Football team under the tutelage of Jim Tressel. Well-documented cases seem to show the lack of social responsibility by many who play ball in the Horseshoe. The question that needs to be asked here is, "who the shit cares about this and why would you blame a coach for the individual’s individual actions?" These boys are dropped into an environment where failure is not an option. Do you really want an example from these football players on how to live life as well as a national championship? Who looks at college football players for life lessons anyway? They are simply bigger than average boys who have been lifting weights and taking classes for the past 12 years. Do you really think they have had time to think and understand their place in the meat market?

Jim Tressel is merely a football coach and should not be scrutinized for the behavior of his players off the field. Many believe they are under intense surveillance. Example: Eric Haw who has been arrested for allegedly puffing on a 'blunt.' The arresting officer (5,9 132 lbs) luckily caught Haw out of a group of 6 people. Does this mean that Haw (6,2 240 lbs) was the only one who could not escape the fiery little man with a mustache? Does anyone think that maybe, just maybe the officer was singling him out? I say let them smoke the reefer and drink a few beers underage. University Police have been hired to protect the student body. There is a fine line between harassment and good police work. Hire some better people.


4 University Police Officers shown after the arrest of 3 OSU players

2001
-Derek Ross, driving without a license, providing false information to police (told arresting officer that he looked like a "child")
-Steve Bellisari, DUI (13 Miller Lights, two Long Island Iced Teas, and 4 shots of 151. Cited for Driving Red Dodge Ram through a stop sign)


Bellasari watches the Mich game after driving drunk through campus

2002
-Redgie Arden, DUI (Arden was arrested for the same offense in 2003)
-Marco Cooper, felony drug abuse, carrying a concealed weapon (caught smoking marijuana out of a two foot bong after sticking a 11 inch booey knife into a table)
-Branden Joe, DUI (Joe also was cited for having an open container of alcohol in 2004)
-Quinn Pitcock, disorderly conduct (caught at 2:30 a.m. with a fifth of Jim Beam in a cornfield while under age. Pitcock told Police he was relaxing)
-Fred Pagac Jr., persistent disorderly conduct (found not guilty and charges were dismissed, Columbus Dispatch ran an apology)

2003
-Maurice Clarett, failure to aid a law enforcement officer (He lied, but if I remember correctly didn't someone steal all of his stuff? Granted it wasn't worth $10,000, but didn't someone steal all of his stuff? I mean he lied and exaggerated, but didn't a criminal steal his stuff? Did they catch the guy who broke into his car?)
-Louis Irizarry, assault, negligent assault and disorderly conduct (single handedly beat the snot out of 5 Marshall University Linebackers.)
-Santonio Holmes, disorderly conduct (charge dismissed; allegedly watched Louis Irizarry beat the snot out of 5 Marshall University Linebackers


Holmes was arrested for watching a fight take place

-Troy Smith, disorderly conduct (single handedly beat the snot out of Marshall quarterback and punter)
-Ira Guilford and Irizarry, two counts each of robbery and receiving stolen property (Guilford convicted on lesser charges and put on probation; Irizarry found guilty of one charge of felony robbery and sentenced to up to three years in prison)

2004
-Albert Dukes, two counts of lewd and lascivious conduct involving a minor (charges dropped)
-A.J. Trapasso, two citations for underage drinking in a 23-day span (punters can drink, who cares)


Trapasso arrested for the second time after walking home from a party

2005
-Jonathan Skeete, marijuana trafficking (400,000,000,000 lbs of pot found in Skeete's basement on Chitenden Ave or was it an eighth of weed? After destroying his name we found out it was a bag of dope.)
-Erik Haw, marijuana possession (getting high outside is always a bad idea in the city)
-Tim Schafer, disorderly conduct (allegedly beat the snot out of some fat drunk who thought he could take a swipe at him)

Note:
Angelo Chattams, who was facing up to four felony counts of breaking and entering as well as theft in 2002, avoided charges by entering a pretrial diversion program for non-violent, first-time offenders.

Lydell Ross was investigated for passing counterfeit in-house currency at a Columbus strip club in 2004 but was not charged. (Received 9 lap dances for free; ahhhhhh good times)