Jim Tressel was enshrined into the Ohio Stadium Ring of Honor Saturday. He was recognized on the field after the first quarter, as Ohio State beat Ball State 56-3. Credit: Cassandra D’Angelo | Sports Photo Editor.
Since Ohio Stadium opened in 1922, only two football head coaches had been inducted into its Ring of Honor.
That changed Saturday, as a new plaque dedicated to a former coach was unveiled on the C-Deck of the Buckeyes’ football stadium.
Former Ohio State head coach and current Lt. Governor Jim Tressel became the third coach to be enshrined into Ohio Stadium’s Ring of Honor, joining Woody Hayes and Paul Brown.
“This is a special day,” Tressel said during halftime of Saturday’s game.?
Tressel was the football team’s head coach from 2001-’10, guiding the Buckeyes to six Big Ten championships and a 2002 national title. Tressel resigned in May 2011 after failing to report NCAA violations involving Ohio State players trading memorabilia for cash and tattoos. The program’s wins in the 2010 season were vacated.
On Saturday, Tressel was recognized on the field after the end of a first quarter in which the Buckeyes took a 14-0 lead over Ball State, and he received a loud ovation from the crowd.?
“I thank God everyday he made me a Buckeye,” Tressel told the crowd.
Tressel emphasized the legacies of Hayes and Brown and described that it was an honor to join them as the third coach in Ohio Stadium’s Ring of Honor.?
“Those are two of the greatest in the history of college football anywhere,” Tressel said.
In 2015, Tressel was inducted into two Hall of Fame classes: Ohio State Athletics and College Football.?
Despite his previous accolades, he said Saturday was special.?
“Probably never dreamed that this day would happen,” Tressel said.
