Ohio St. AD says publicly for Tressel

CHICAGO - There is a sport that Director sense of Ohio State Gene Smith was is distancing himself from embattled coach Jim Tressel in recent weeks.

But in the Big Ten spring meetings Wednesday, Smith - while refusing to discuss the details of the investigation being NCAA's Tressel - confirmed its support for the coach, who is entering his 11th season with the Buckeyes.

"Oh, definitely, no question," Smith said. "" "". I have not changed, I have not changed. "But I am not the matter beyond this.

Smith noted last month during an interview with The Associated Press that Tressel should have apologized to the press conference, the infamous March 8 where Tressel acknowledged that he failed to notify officials of the Ohio State of emailsIt receives some of its players illegitimate benefits.

Smith also spoke of high legal costs Ohio State relates, calling the situation of current NCAA "a nightmare" and confirmed Wednesday that Tressel is responsible for its own lawyers. Tressel, which is about 3.5 million dollars per season, hired Gene Marsh to represent him before the NCAA on offences Committee on 12 August in Indianapolis. Marsh, Member of the Committee of the offences of the NCAA for nine years and President for two years, is a graduate of the State of Ohio. He said he has never attended a Buckeyes football game during his student years.

Chuck Smrt, former member of the NCAA enforcement staff will handle next to the State of Ohio of the case.

Tressel received support at the spring meetings of colleagues coach Mark Dantonio the State of Michigan and Northwestern's Pat Fitzgerald, and the Sports Director of the Nebraska Tom Osborne, a longtime friend.

"Coaches are important," said Tressel. "They include all the challenges that everyone has." "It is good to be with them."

Tressel also spoke on new coach Michigan Brady Hoke and fuel that Hoke added to the Ohio State-Michigan rivalry.

"The great Brady", said Tressel. "Everything that is good for the of the Ohio State-Michigan game, I'm for it." "And good for her Brady."