DaytonDailyNews.com

It was at the seemingly innocent "Coach Tressel's Spring Preview" luncheon earlier this month that the newest round of Rich Rodriguez criticism began.

Jim Tressel, the Ohio State football coach, spoke to a crowd of 1,100 at the fundraiser benefiting the Alzheimer's Association of Central Ohio. Tressel completed the program that included a silent auction and appearances from OSU assistants as well as special guest Frank Broyles, the former Arkansas coach and athletic director, by answering questions from the crowd.

Tressel was asked if there is, indeed, a gentleman's agreement between Big Ten coaches not to recruit players verbally committed to other schools.

Then came five words that have received a lot of play on the Internet, in newspapers and on talk shows.

"I guess," Tressel said, "only between gentlemen."

Many applauded. The comment — which most believe was directed at Michigan's Rodriguez — both underlined the frustration that many feel toward the Wolverines' new coach and stoked the Ohio State-Michigan rivalry at the recruiting level.

Several weeks later, Rodriguez's first recruits to Michigan — upset that Rodriguez has been criticized for recruiting Trotwood-Madison's Michael Shaw and Roy Roundtree, as well as others who had committed elsewhere — are defending their future coach.

"All the coaches try to blame him," said Roundtree, who first pledged to attend Purdue. "It's just recruiting."

Dann O'Neill, an offensive lineman from Grand Haven, Mich., hears such talk in his home state.

"They talk like they know him personally," O'Neill said. "I'm willing to bet most of the people out there bad-mouthing our coach don't have any idea about the actual man."

He is a man, his recruits said, who has preached family and commitment.

Rodriguez later responded to the apparent jab from Tressel by saying, "If not being a gentleman is recruiting the guy until the end, until the signing date, particularly after he visits, guilty as charged."

"I thought it was pretty funny that people are giving him crap and being critical about recruiting athletes already committed," said J.B. Fitzgerald, a linebacker from Princeton Junction, N.J. "Everyone does that. And I mean everyone."

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-7389

or knagel@DaytonDailyNews.com

Vote for this story!