SAN ANTONIO, Texas -- One coach spent most of his time talking about issues surrounding a quarterback that isn't here, while his counterpart was asked to discuss a job he doesn't have.
If you wanted the last-minute lowdown on tonight's Alamo Bowl, Tuesday's press conference with Ohio State's Jim Tressel and Oklahoma State's Les Miles was not the place to be.
Off-the-field distractions dominated the line of question, with most queries centering on Columbus businessman Robert Q. Baker, revealed Tuesday as the sanctioned Ohio State booster who gave money to suspended quarterback Troy Smith.
According to the Columbus Dispatch, Baker gave Smith an unspecified amount of cash and tried to arrange no-work jobs for Smith and freshman tailback Antonio Pittman.
"We're constantly letting (boosters) know this is what allowed and this is what is not allowed," Tressel said. "Outside of building a big fort around your campus and not allowing your (players) to leave the fort, you just have tokeep trying to do it the most tasteful way.
"Obviously, there is consequences, not just for (players), but people who try to get around your program."
Baker apparently also had an employer-employee relationship with former Ohio State player Chris Gamble, now an NFL rookie with the Carolina Panthers. Ohio State investigated the arrangement in the summer of 2003 and determined he had not violated any NCAA rules.
A similar in-house probe cleared Pittman to play in tonight's game.
Tressel doesn't think Baker's conduct gives credence to former tailback Maurice Clarett's allegations of misconduct within the football program, including high-pay, no-work jobs being arranged for OSU players.
Nor does Tressel think the misdeeds of a high-profile booster like Baker -- he reportedly spent thousands of dollars wining and dining people in his Ohio Stadium luxury suite -- will increase the changes of Ohio State being penalized for lack of institutional control during an on-going NCAA investigation into Clarett's claims.
"Do I think we work hard in our compliance office to make sure our young people understand what needs to be done? I think we work extremely hard at it," Tressel said. "Are we flawless? No, but we're not flawless in how our coaches work to study film and try to figure out what to do against the Cowboys. But I don't feel bad at all about our intentions of doing things the best we can personally do them."
Miles' chance to squirm in his seat at the dais came when asked about reports that he's on the short list of candidates to replace new Miami Dolphins coach Nick Saban at LSU.
"This time of year there is always speculation," said Miles, who has gone 26-13 with the Cowboys since a 2-7 start in his debut season of 2001. "I think that is a compliment to our team and the school I represent.
"I want to focus on the task at hand and this is a very, very talented Ohio State team. This is not the time in my opinion to talk about other things."
Unfortunately for Ohio State, "other things" have had a way of trumping football at this time of year.
At the 2001 Outback Bowl, the Buckeyes had to deal with the lawsuit filed by center LeCharles Bentley against fellow lineman Tyson Walter over a punch thrown by Walter. Creating buzz at the 2002 Outback was the late-season DUI arrest and suspension of senior captain and starting quarterback Steve Bellisari.
The 2003 Fiesta Bowl led to the Buckeyes' first consensus national championship in 34 years, but not before they overcame a flap between Clarett and the school over his inability to go home for a friend's funeral.
Most of last season was played under a dark cloud created by the first Clarett-triggered NCAA investigation. That probe exonerated Ohio State.
The Buckeyes took another public relations hit soon after their arrival in San Antonio last week. Freshman wide receiver Albert Dukes was placed under house arrest, facing charges of a sexual nature involving a 12-year-old girl in his native Florida.
"We've talked about what reputation means," Tressel said. "I guess it's in the eyes of the beholder. If I felt we weren't providing the (proper) type of guidance and support system for our young people, perhaps that reputation might be thought of negatively and would be extremely damaging. I feel good abou the way our institution helps young people."
Originally published Thursday, December 30, 2004
