Not only will Ohio State look different during the first five games of the upcoming season (missing 4 starters and Fearless Leader Jim Tressel), but they will also be sporting new helmets in the April 23rd Spring Game. The new helmets will have a custom painted digital camouflage pattern on both sides. They will be worn throughout spring practice this year by all Buckeye players. Following the conclusion of practice, the majority of the helmets will be repainted in Buckeye silver.
The helmets that aren’t repainted will be autographed by Jim Tressel himself, and then sold for $1000.00 each, with the proceeds going to benefit the Ohio National Guard Family Readiness and Warrior Support Program, and Ohio State’s own Learning in Fitness and Education through Sports program and the Ruth and Jesse Ownes Scholars Fund. If you are hoping ot purchase one of these fine, limited edition helmets, you are out of luck. All 25 of these helmets sold within hours after the university made the announcement.
This is not Tressel’s first charitable venture to honor the military. Tressel’s father, Lee, left Ohio State’s football team in 1943 to serve in the Navy, and ended up being stationed in the South Pacific. In 2009, five FCS coaches (including Tressel) traveled to the Middle East to speak and interact with military personel as part of the annual Under Amour Coaches Tour. Tressel also gathered several Buckeye players with him to speak to children of active military members at day-long football camp at Ohio State last year.
I know he has taken a lot of heat lately, and rightly so. But let’s not forget all the good things Tressel does for the Columbus community. Not every big time coach does things like that. Now let’s just sit back and enjoy the start of spring football.
