TRESSEL APOLOGIZES AGAIN FOR MISTAKES, ADDRESSES RUMORS

Jim Tressel
(AP/Terry Gilliam)

COLUMBUS — Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel addressed the media for the Buckeyes spring football preview on Wednesday afternoon in Columbus, but of course it wasn't all about X's and O's.

Tressel, who will be suspended for the first five games of the 2011 regular season for withholding information about player violations, spoke a little bit about what the past few months have been like for himself, as well as apologizing once again for his costly mistakes.

LUKE FICKELL TO COACH BUCKEYES IN TRESSEL'S FIVE-GAME ABSENCE

Ohio State assistant coach Luke Fickell will coach the Buckeyes in head coach Jim Tressel's absence. (The Buckeye Times/Darla Dunkle-Hudnell)

COLUMBUS — Ohio State co-defensive coordinator Luke Fickell was promoted to assistant head football coach, the university announced on Wednesday, meaning that he will replace the suspended Jim Tressel as the Buckeyes top man on the sideline during the first five games of the 2011 regular season.

"I am honored to be able to grow at a place and in a program that I know, love and respect," Fickell said. "It is extremely humbling."

COLLEGE FOOTBALL NEEDS TO TAKE A PAGE FROM THE BOOK OF HOOPS

Virginia Commonwealth will be making the improbable trip the NCAA men's Final Four in Houston. (AP Photo/Scott K. Brown)

College football could definitely learn a thing or two from its brethren on the hardwood.

If college basketball operated its post-season competition like football currently does — where rankings and regular season play determine your fate — the NCAA men's title would've saw the No. 1 rated Ohio State Buckeyes battling the No. 2 Kansas Jayhawks in Houston.

BUCKEYE PLAYERS APPEAL DENIED; TRESSEL TO MISS FIRST FIVE GAMES

Jim Tressel
(TBT/D. Dunkle-Hudnell)

COLUMBUS — Ohio State's appeal to the NCAA Committee on Student-Athlete Reinstatement, to have the suspensions reduced for five Buckeye football players, was denied on Thursday. The ruling means quarterback Terrelle Pryor, as well as DeVier Posey, Dan Herron, Mike Adams and Solomon Thomas will miss the first five games of the 2011 regular season for receiving improper benefits.

"While we are disappointed that our appeal request was denied, we respect the NCAA and accept its ruling," Ohio State director of athletics Gene Smith said Thursday. "The players are sorry for the disappointment they have caused, will learn from their mistakes, and will strive to earn the confidence and support of everyone associated with the university through their future conduct."

PICKING THE BUCKEYES TO TAKE DOWN THE JAYHAWKS IN HOUSTON

I know this is an exclusive Ohio State football site, but there's no harm in picking a little March Madness.

Below is my bracket (click image to enlarge) ...

LET'S GET A GRIP ... TRESSEL DOESN'T NEED TO BE TARRED AND FEATHERED

Jim Tressel, left
The Buckeye Times/D. Dunkle

COLUMBUS — When I arrived at the Jack Nicklaus Museum in Columbus on Tuesday night, I could've sworn I was sitting at a presidential impeachment hearing — not a press conference about a college football coach.

Cameras were stretched across the back of the room, reporters jammed into the limited seating area with laptops a blazing, every eye in the place glued to the entrance waiting for a man to face the firing squad.

JIM TRESSEL ADMITS WRONGDOING; GETS TWO-GAME SUSPENSION, FINE

Jim Tressel
The Buckeye Times/D. Dunkle-Hudnell

COLUMBUS — Ohio State head football coach Jim Tressel will be suspended for the first two games of 2011; will have to attend a compliance seminar; and will be fined $250,000 for not reporting possible player violations when he first became aware of them in April 2010.

An emotional Tressel, as well as university president E. Gordon Gee and director of athletics Gene Smith, addressed the media on Tuesday night in Columbus regarding the recent accusations by Yahoo! Sports that the Buckeyes mentor was made aware of player violations more than eight months before it was reported to the NCAA.

TRESSEL, GEE, SMITH TO ADDRESS ACCUSATIONS TONIGHT AT 7 P.M.

Jim Tressel
The Buckeye Times/D. Dunkle-Hudnell)

COLUMBUS — Ohio State head football coach Jim Tressel, along with university president E. Gordon Gee and director of athletics Gene Smith, will address the media at 7 p.m. tonight in Columbus.

The trio will speak about recent accusations by Yahoo! Sports that Coach Tressel was made aware of violations by five Buckeyes players more than eight months before it was made known to the NCAA.

The Buckeye Times will be on hand tonight to provide coverage of all the happenings.

REPORT: JIM TRESSEL WAS AWARE OF PLAYER VIOLATIONS IN APRIL 2010

Jim Tressel
(The Buckeye Times/D. Dunkle-Hudnell)

COLUMBUS — According to Yahoo! Sports, Ohio State head football coach Jim Tressel, was aware of Buckeye players receiving improper benefits in April 2010, but didn't take immediate action — a direct violation of his contract which if proven to be true could result in his firing.

Neither Ohio State, nor the NCAA, would issue a comment on the accusations as of Monday night.

BUCKEYES QUARTERBACK TERRELLE PRYOR STILL IN A WALKING BOOT

Terrelle Pryor
(The Buckeye Times/D. Dunkle-Hudnell)

COLUMBUS — Ohio State senior quarterback Terrelle Pryor was present at the Buckeyes 6 a.m. pre-spring workout on Monday, but is still wearing a walking boot on his right foot.

Pryor injured the foot late in January's Sugar Bowl victory over Arkansas — where he was named the game's Most Valuable Player — and had to have surgery shortly after to "stabilize some ligaments." Pryor will only participate in individual drills during spring practice which begins on March 31.

BUCKEYES 6 A.M. WORKOUTS BEGIN MONDAY; PRO DAY ON MARCH 11

Ohio State 6 a.m. workouts begin Monday. (The Buckeye Times/Darla Dunkle/Hudnell)

COLUMBUS — The Ohio State football team will begin their 6 a.m. workouts beginning on Monday, March 7, at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center in Columbus.

The workouts are closed to the public, but The Buckeye Times will be on hand with coverage and quotes from the session.