Spielman says Tressel may not coach in 2011

SHAWNEE TOWNSHIP — Chris Spielman knocked the breath out of countless quarterbacks when he played linebacker at Ohio State and in the NFL.

And a prediction he made on Monday night before speaking at Ohio State University-Lima’s Spring For Scholarships dinner at the Shawnee Country Club probably would have the same effect on many Buckeyes fans.

He doesn’t expect Jim Tressel to be on the sidelines coaching any football games in the 2011 season.

“I’d be surprised if he’s coaching next year (2011). Why I say that is I think there is more stuff coming out,” the Ohio State legend said.

Spielman was an All-American linebacker at Ohio State, where he played four years with Lima Senior’s William White from 1984-87.

After a 10-year NFL career, he began to work in television. He has been a college football analyst for ESPN since 2001.

Tressel already faces a five-game suspension for withholding knowledge of NCAA violations by key players from Ohio State officials and the NCAA for several months.

Spielman did not offer an opinion about what should happen, but said Ohio State and its football coach are looking at tough decisions.

“He’s a friend of mine. I respect him. I would be honored if my son were ever good enough to have him play for a guy like Jim Tressel,” Spielman said.

“That being said, Ohio State is bigger than one individual. It’s bigger than the James Cancer Hospital. It’s bigger than the band and football and basketball and the Fisher College of Business. So what has to happen, in my opinion, is that the people in charge have to take an honest look and say, ‘What is best for the university moving forward?’ Then they have to make a hard decision.

“And I do believe Coach Tressel owes it to our university, he has to look in the mirror and say, ‘What is best for the university looking forward.?’ ”

Candid comments like that have angered some extreme elements of Ohio State’s fan base, but Spielman says he will continue to say what he believes.

“I’ve been on the end of threatening e-mails just for saying something like that. People have to understand it’s not a judgment. Somebody makes a mistake and they’re going to be held accountable for it. We’ll see what happens. Certainly there is no in-between (in people’s opinions). It’s either it wasn’t that big a mistake or he needs to go. Those are the feelings I get,” he said.

Spielman addressed Tressel’s situation in a question-and-answer session after his speech and in media interviews. The focus of his 25-minute speech was his faith, living a life of service and what he calls the “12-year journey” of his family from the time his wife Stefanie was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1998 until her death in November 2009.

Since 1998, the Stefanie Spielman Foundation has raised $8.5 million for cancer research. He has continued that effort with the same determination he brought to football.

“You have an opportunity to have a positive influence on people. It’s not a choice I made because I wanted to, but a choice I needed to make and she (Stefanie) needed to make for the greater good,” he said about sharing their struggle to raise awareness and money.

That journey will be the subject of a book, “That’s Why I’m Here — The Chris and Stefanie Spielman Story,” expected to be published later this year.

The book, written by longtime Ohio State beat writer Bruce Hooley, a former radio co-host with Spielman on a Columbus sports talk show, was started in the last months of Stefanie Spielman’s life.

“It comes from Stef and her 12-year journey with breast cancer,” Spielman said about the book’s title. “And it’s a little bit about football and my journey to that point. What it all boils down to is that when you make a commitment to someone and marry them, you’re there to help them whether it’s good or bad.

“The book was written when Stefanie was diagnosed with a recurrence for the last time and I knew that that was the end. So I wanted to write the book in real time with real feelings and real emotion,” he said.